“Do everything with a mind that lets go.
If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.
If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.
If you let go completely, you will have complete peace.”
This weekend I go on retreat. A time away from all the busy-ness of life. A time to rest. Restore. Rejuvenate.
A time to let go - and return to center.
I also began a practice a few months ago of taking time off from - letting go of - all news during the first week of each month - print, radio, TV, phone app - a complete reprieve. A time to clear my mind and step away from politics and what too often feels like a constant onslaught of negativity and tragic events.
This, too, is a kind of retreat. A time to clear my mind and refresh my heart. To return to a more natural state of being.
So I feel doubly blessed that this next month of November just happens to begin this coming Friday - also the first day of my retreat.
One of my most beloved teachers, Sebene Selassie, recently shared with me a really interesting perspective about retreats - and just why they are an essential part of our practice, why they are so very needed, and the powerfully transformative and rejuvenating purpose they serve.
She was talking to us about ‘dukkha’ (or ‘duhkha’ in Sanskrit) the word in both Sanskrit and Pali that is translated most often as ‘suffering’. This word comes from two parts - ‘du’ which means “bad” or “difficult” and ‘kha’ which means “empty.” Originally this referred to the empty axle hole of a wheel. So if there was a bad alignment or fit of the axle into the center hole of the wheel - remembering, especially that the reference here would be the ride of a poor axle fit on a chariot! - then the ride would be bumpy indeed!
On the other hand, the word ‘sukha’ is translated as happiness, pleasure or ease. ‘Su’ means ‘good’, so sukha meant the axle was well aligned and thus our ride would be relatively smooth and easy.
This is a wonderful analogy for how the road of life is sometimes bumpy - and sometimes smooth. Thus times of both suffering and contentment occur...
What we seek to do through our practice - and really, our ultimate responsibility in this life - is to smooth out the road when the ride gets bumpy. When the road of life is bumpy, it is time to slow down, to find genuine ways to alleviate both our own suffering - and that of others.
Our daily practice helps us to do this - by providing tools and a means to find inner peace and whole body health - but also by helping us to become more aware and to identify the places we might be creating our own bumpy rides…
There are other times, though, when we need to pull off the road entirely. Times when our vehicle (in this case, our precious bodies, minds and souls) to do some major body work.
This is where retreats come in. This is what retreats allow. I time for deeper work, for stepping away so that we might clear our vision, become more aware of what might actually be causing our suffering, and nurture the various ways we can alleviate that same suffering - both for ourselves and others.
There are many, many retreat opportunities around the country and around the world - each and every day. I mentioned the one I have coming up - for which I’ve extended the deadline through today, if you are interested. You can find more info and register here: https://www.cindynovelo.com/events/womens-retreat-the-gateway-to-grace-2019.
And I have another coming up January 24-26 - Your Year of Living Mindfully: A Women’s Meditation & Mindfulness Retreat. This retreat will allow us the opportunity to really approach the coming year in a more open, aware and mindful way. Registrations are already coming in for this retreat, so early registration is advised. Early bird rates through Dec. 30. For more info and registration, visit https://www.cindynovelo.com/events/your-year-of-living-mindfully-womens-retreat-jan-2020
I encourage you to consider offering yourself a retreat soon - if not one of mine, then another that appeals to you!
May you find respite, rejuvenation, peace and the road to a smoother ride filled with happiness and light as you step away and let go…
I bow to you,
Cindy ♥