Buddhist Retreat Centre ~ Let Your Light Shine

January 15, 2023

Buddhist Retreat Centre ~ Let Your Light Shine

A beautiful group met at an auspicious time, the day after Christmas and during the last waxing New Moon of 2022, to explore a full bouquet of ancient energy practices.

@charisselouw So very grateful to end the year at the Buddhist Retreat Centre near Ixopo in South Africa 🙏🏾 🌀 💙 What an honour to facilitate this gorgeous group of shining hearts in their profound healing journey 💖 Always remarkable what happens in the circle 💫 Thank you for your Authenticity Creativity & FUN 💓 The vibe was 🔥🔥🔥 SO special to have my family with me 💞 PS Group photo taken after dancing our hearts out in a thunderstorm 😂 ⚡️ 💛 From a retreatant who said that when he booked, the dance was the one thing he intended sitting out - “That was the best experience of my life” 🤩 💃🏾 ❤️‍🔥 Here’s (some of) what we got up to ~ #Deeplistening #qigong #arttherapy #processart #cocreation #mandala #meditation #walkingmeditation #japameditation #pranayama #sunning #yinyoga #dance #freedance #dancemeditation #soundhealing #sharingcircle #journaling #freewrite #poetry #energypractices Yay for #retreat #healingcircle #wearelove #natureheals ♬ Asato Ma Sadgamaya - Meditation Veda

Amongst them qi gong, tapping, yin yoga, free dance, sunning, breath work, shaking, meditation techniques, while exploring creative expression through movement and stillness, the written word and art.

The magnificent Buddhist Retreat Centre in the rolling hills of KwaZulu Natal provided the perfect space to heal in Nature through mindfulness & co-creation.

The beautiful BEings of the Buddhist Retreat Centre

This was a compassionate and open-hearted space for celebrating the light that we all are.

We arrived in the mist and after a delicious meal met in a circle to breathe and dance.

Our journaling – a free write process which is really writing as meditation rather than as premeditation -- led us to the first poem of the retreat and after surrendering to deep listening we came to our intention setting. This personal mantra provided a touchstone through the retreat…and beyond.

Nourish - what a treat to have my fam with me

My sweet mom guided us through Yoga Nidra – a deep relaxation tool. This deep rest is where the healing resides.

We then took our peace silently into the night and next morning which began with Qi Gong and the playful realization of our elemental beings.

Qi Gong - Energy Work/Play/Cultivation/Awareness

Breakfast was followed by creative Play – an art & writing process that inevitably leads to wonderful realizations. The exclamations of recognition as the knots untangle themselves is always such a delight. We came to our second poem of the retreat.

It's all about the journey

Yes! Be Kind! Compassion is the Key

Oh the magic when we surrender to the process

After lunch many rested deeply, others explored and bonded with their fellow retreatants. My dear mom offered a beautiful gentle yoga in the Buddha Boma. This was such a wonderful diverse group that cohered. We are joined through mindful heart centred compassion.

Yin Yoga

After supper we met for pranayama and japa meditation. We chanted 108 times:

Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya | Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya | Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।

- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1-3-28)

Lead me from the unreal to the real

Lead me from darkness to the light

Lead me from death to eternal life

For some it was the first time working with mantra and mala beads.

It is a good way to soothe monkey mind and attendant anxiety.

The beautiful vibration took us gently into the silence.

Meditation - the medicine

In the morning after a silent meditation, a beautiful day guided us to sunning & Qi Gong beneath the heavens, while firmly planted on the Earth.

Sunning, strobing, breathing, smiling, going slowly

After breakfast a soothing Walking Meditation, with mini-sound healing & mandala co-creation in the beautiful forest. Some quiet free writing took us to lunch and then a gentle afternoon of integration.

Walking meditation & Sound bath

Mandala Co-creation

Once again the magic when we slow down and pay attention

Our evening was an absolute blast – the DancingMeditation was, & I quote, “the best experience of my life” ...and this from someone determined to give it a skip.

We danced and laughed in a thunderstorm. Absolute glee.