What's stopping you?

A retreat forms an integral part of the cycle of a practitioner's life.

To retreat means to step out of the deep ruts of our normal daily life and encounter the present anew. Imagine skiing in the mountains after a fresh snowfall, where we are no longer conditioned by the well worn tracks of the inner landscape of our habits and mental patterns. With a fresh coat of snow, we see the opportunity available to us in new ways and in a new light.

Many people aspire to go on retreat, even a short retreat, but often don't.

There's always something coming up. They're too busy, don't have the money right now, have other responsibilities to attend to. They don't know how to start, don't know of anyone who has been on one for advice, and don't know where to go.

But it doesn't need to be that complicated.

Start small. Smaller than you think.

What is the smallest version of a retreat that fits into your life? Go do that.

That could be a Friday night at home, a half-day retreat in the mountains on the weekend, a day off of work, or a week at a cabin.

What are the upsides of doing a small retreat?

Everyone can do them.

You don't need to do a ten day retreat to have a retreat experience. You don't need to go to a center for 3 months, or 3 years. These smaller moments of awakening are open and accessible to everyone if we choose to take them.

Rather than endlessly planning for the retreat of a lifetime, why not consider a lifetime of retreats?

There's nothing stopping you.