Retreat: Withdraw to a quiet, secluded place
(Oxford English Dictionary)
Why do people go on a retreat?
A retreat is an intentional "time-out" from your life, time to get away from the busy-ness, responsibilities and demands
that fill most of your waking moments.
Depending on the focus of the retreat, your intention might be to
- Take time out to reflect on the direction your life is going and if it's where you want to go
- Devote time to your spiritual path
- Make a space for creativity & inspiration to emerge
- Be fully present to yourself - nurturing mind, body & spirit
And, sometimes the focus is not to have a focus - it's about living in and being present to the moment.
Whether you experience an intensive week-long retreat, a one day retreat, or an hour-long "mini-retreat", the benefits of an intentional time-out can be life-changing.
Some
benefits you can expect from going on a retreat are:
- Renewed energy and spirit
- A clear sense of direction
- Sharing ideas and experience with like-minded people
- More creativity in your life
- A deeper connection to your Spiritual Source
To go on retreat is to refuel mind, body and spirit. You come away with energy that will
- enrich your relationships
- bring more enjoyment to what you're currently doing, or
- help you take steps to bring more joy back into your life.
| Imagine a calm, peaceful space...no ticking clocks, no deadlines to be met, no demands pulling at you...Imagine time and space to connect with what your own needs are, to reflect on what's feeding your spirit, what's keeping you going...Imagine giving yourself the same attention, support, time, energy and compassion you give to others... |
 |
Retreats are especially important for Women, because when you're so busy working, loving and looking after other people, it's easy to lose track of yourself.
Selfish
or Self-Caring?
Many women think that to spend precious resources like time and money on themselves is selfish. To take this time for yourself, to spend your hard-earned money on a retreat is not selfish: It's self-caring.
Think about what the flight attendant tells you during the safety demonstration on an airplane, prior to take off:
"Be sure you put on your own oxygen mask first before offering assistance to others."
The message is clear: You won't be able to take care of others if you haven't taken care of yourself first.
Visit my Current Offerings. You'll find one-day and weekend retreats listed, in both Ireland and the US. (It could be the perfect opportunity to visit the other side of the pond!) I also do custom retreats for groups and individuals.
A retreat is a wonderful gift of time... for yourself or as a present to someone you love.
“My retreat experience was thought-provoking, comforting and fun - all the ingredients for a wonderful day. Maggie’s skills as a Life Coach are gentle, encouraging, focused and for me, very powerful.”
- Eileen C.
