Welcome to anyone new to my blog and Welcome back to those who have been here before, thank you all for taking the time to read.

Healing modalities and spiritual practices

For more than a decade I have now been exploring different spiritual practices and healing modalities. From fasting to movement medicine, living without alcohol, different styles of yoga, sweat lodges and plant/animal medicine. These and many more have had beneficial impacts in my life and those around me, thus my inspiration for sharing about them.

In recent years, two practices have become integral parts of my spiritual journey: Meditation and Mauna (silence).

I have now been meditating for almost a decade, but it was 4 years ago that I first went to Hridaya for a 3 day silent retreat, during which my perception and experience of meditation began to shift.

A couple of years ago I wrote an article sharing my reflections after a 10 day silent retreat and last year I wrote one about my time at the 17 day silent retreat, all at Hridaya, where I went back this year for a 6 day silent retreat.

The plan

After the 17 day silent retreat last year I felt deeply calm, clear minded and full of love so I decided I would take part in it again this year. I kept an eye on the events page and as soon as I saw the inscriptions were open I signed up for this September.

In the months coming up to the retreat I thought about it and even spoke about it A Lot. I can even see that I had become rather passive in my morning meditations…. after all I’d be meditating for 5 hours + every day for 17 days! or at least that’s what I thought…

Slight change of plan

A couple of days before the retreat was due to start I was in London, where my boyfriend had a flight booked to return to Guatemala and me one for Marseille so I could make it to Hridaya on time.

Totally unexpectedly our flights were cancelled. I overheard the airline staff say there had been a cyber attack on the UK control tower, though this was later denied in the news, either way it didn’t really matter, we couldn’t leave.

I saw people crying at the airport and felt for them, but I still had hope for me and was clinging onto the idea that I could make it happen. I called my boyfriend’s airline and they told me the soonest flight for him would be the day after the retreat was due to start.

I knew the right thing to do was to stay with him in London until he could leave and say goodbye to the retreat, to which I had grown very attached and I could only see that in the moment.

We went back to my friend’s place and I realised all was ok and was able to laugh at the irony of my ‘situation’: attached to the teachings on non-attachment haha!

Sneaky attachment

Out of curiosity I checked to see if there were any other silent retreats happening while I would be in France and I discovered there was a 6 day one in French with a teacher I didn’t know.

I was very happy and booked instantly telling myself that this was such a precious gift.

I had convinced myself that I had made total peace with the fact that I wouldn’t be seeing my beloved teacher Sahajananda this year and that I’d sit in meditation 6 days instead of 17.

The 17 days were on day 10 when our group arrived and I realised as I sat by the window in the introduction session that I could hear my teacher’s muffled voice from the top meditation room and I was still gripping a little.

Once the other participants started to introduce themselves my attention moved away from the upper meditation room and as I listened to everyone in the room my gratitude dissolved my nostalgia.

Our teachers Xavier and Lucie also introduced themselves and I felt I was exactly where I needed to be.

Journal entries

As with every silent retreat I find it interesting to try and write or speak about my experience. It’s so intimate and profound that words seem limiting. Having written so much already I won’t say much more but I’ll share a few of my rare journal entries during my time in silence.

Day 1: I feel peaceful and grateful more than anything. Silence is so wonderful and receiving the teachings I am already familiar with from Xavier is different and interesting. Being here is so nourishing in many ways.

Day 2: Still many thoughts in meditation but also peace, joy and nada (the sound of silence). Thankful for this place and for the space in my heart. Beautiful how much can drop off in 2 days. Loving every moment.

Day 3: I have numerous insights during the day and meditations, alongside the many thoughts. Of these thoughts, many are random, some hilarious, but I’m not frustrated about them how I used to be. I feel content, grateful and peaceful most of the time. […] I am truly enjoying the slow pace, the meditations, time without a phone, or speech, the hatha practice, the meals, the rain, the trees… I find myself thinking ‘I love this part of the day many times a day haha!’

Day 4: Another beautiful day in the paradise of the heart. Not much to say other than Thank You.

Day 5: Silence, gratitude, laughter. I feel inspired, replenished, peaceful and joyful. What a gift to be here. The song of silence is truly sweet. Thank You.

Day 6: My heart is full and my mind is clear. This path, thought challenging at times, truly cultivates compassion and peace as well as joy, so much joy. Forever thankful.

And a picture of the beautiful group who sat the 6 days of silence.

Moral of the story

Things are always perfect as they are, simply because they are as they are. The more we accept and surrender the more easeful life is.

Spiritual teachings support a joyful, meaningful life.

Pausing, be it a week in the year or simply a minute in the day can help us see the beauty that is already here all around and within us.

Last words

If you are interested in the daily schedule and the teachings, I spoke of these in my earlier blog articles, for which you can find links at the beginning of this article.

As always thank you for reading and please know that you can reach out if you have questions about silence or meditation.

Big Thank You to Xavier, Lucie, all the Karma yogis at Hridaya and all the brave souls who embark on this journey to the Self. And of course to Shajananda, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj and all the great sages who came before them and dedicated their life to Self Realisation, for the benefit of all beings.

To find out about Hridaya’s offerings in France and in Mexico check their website.

For our upcoming offetings check our website.

With Love and so much Gratitude,

Melissa