Finding peace in stillness

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear”

- Ram Dass

Hello beautiful souls,

I recently attended a silent meditation retreat at Kripalu in the beautiful Berkshires, and it was challenging, refreshing, and even life-changing.

Several years ago I read Dan Harris's book?10% Happier?and laughed as he reluctantly signed up for a meditation retreat, thinking that would be a nightmare. Little did I know, I’d be in the same position, wanting to deepen my practice and experience growth.

Surprisingly, the no-talking part was easy. The real challenge was having nothing "to do" between sessions. At home there is an endless list of social events, errands, and work, leaving me constantly feeling behind on my list.?

At the retreat, all I had was time...and silence.?

I took movement classes. I took walks. I gazed out the window. I was bored. I had non-stop thoughts at times and felt emotionally scattered. I?colored. While some of the other retreat attendees were ready to leave life behind and become a monk, I could not wait to leave and get home! But the joke was on me.?

Back in NYC, my senses were heightened. I noticed how glued people are to their phones, always looking down, how distracted and impatient people are, and how cluttered my closets were.

Most of all, I realized?I had?no time for silence. No time to just?be.

Now, all I want is to return to Kripalu and the peace of silence and stillness.

Some reflections:

1. What thoughts or feelings come up for me when I sit in silence?
2. Why do I find it difficult to embrace stillness?
3. How can I incorporate more quiet moments into my daily routine?
4. What might I discover about myself if I allowed more silence into my life?

The power of stillness is profound—give it a try, and see what unfolds. It can be hard to be still, but that is why it's a?practice.?Join me at a sound healing event or two this month to enjoy stillness and the calming sounds of the crystal bowls.

With gratitude,

Katie