Personal Retreats
The Importance of Personal Retreats
How to Schedule a Personal Retreat
The Importance of Personal Retreats
It was 30 years ago that a friend suggested I take a personal retreat for 24 hours. He saw that I was overwhelmed as a single mom, a part-time bookkeeper and a student in the midst of finals. I was numb and I needed to step away from my day-to-day life by giving my spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical bodies a rest. He lovingly gave me a list of ways to be during my personal retreat.
- No talking.
- No reading or listening to current affairs.
- No reading business or school papers.
- No sex.
- No alcohol or mind altering drugs.
In other words, his suggestion was for me to be truly with myself without any distractions.
At first, I resisted. How could I take 24 hours off? I had so much to do.
Luckily my higher intelligence stepped in, and I did exactly as he suggested. I realized it was the first time in my life that I had taken time for myself; there was no one else I had to consider during that one full day but me. I walked on the beach, watched the moon rise from my small motel room and sat quietly with myself. The next day I resumed my day-to-day life feeling rejuvenated, grateful and reflective.
So often when we take time off to get away from our daily schedule, we forget that we need to alter our way of relating with ourselves. We need to learn to be kind and gentle to ourselves and allow ourselves to simply be.
Ten years ago when I conceived Stillheart as a sanctuary for humanity, I was guided through meditation that Stillheart would be located on the ridge above Silicon Valley to energetically support people who were working hard to meet the challenges of the day—to have a life of abundance and to compete in the business world. Most people were also raising families. Today, 10 years later, the economic environment has gone from boom to a near bust. Fear of loss sits frozen on the division of unconsciousness and consciousness. It is a time of extreme stress – and a perfect time for reflection and rejuvenation.
Stillheart Institute is available for you to take a hiatus from the world, to be alone and to rest. You are invited to do it the way that serves you best. The most important thing is that you allow the natural beauty of Stillheart to support your natural beauty—the natural beauty that may have been pushed aside to “make it” in the world.
Always let your heart guide you.
Joan Porter
Founder and President
Stillheart Institute
How to Schedule a Personal Retreat
Stillheart Institute is available for personal retreats and self-study programs for the purpose of private meditation, self-inquiry, study and reflection. Reservations may be confirmed up to 24 hours in advance and no longer than 14 days prior. Personal retreats are limited to a minimum of one person and maximum of four people. Individuals are responsible for their own food and meals. Two kitchens are available for use at Stillheart. Children must be 16 years of age or older with adult supervision at all times.
For inquiries or to book a personal reservation, please contact our main office: 650-851-6622.
We hope to see you at Stillheart and wish you the best in resting and rejuvenating. The night before we had our first group at Stillheart in 2003, I asked for some words I could put on a card to lay on the group participants' pillows. The words that I woke up with in the morning were, "Stillheart, a sanctuary where the body can rest and the soul can reveal itself."
May you rest and enjoy revelations,
Joan
