Has life ever become so stressful that you feel you need a break in order to recalibrate? As an empath I often feel that way as my sensory awareness is more finely tuned than others. As a result, I often find myself needing to retreat fully from engaging in all senses in order to feel whole again. At the beginning of July I had an opportunity to do just that at Kripalu’s Silent Retreat. Kripalu is a spiritual sanctuary located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, hosting retreats and many different types of spiritual classes and workshops, including meditation and yoga. 

Since I have attended retreats at Kripalu in the past, I was already aware of the beauty, stillness and peace that awaited me. Life had become too loud, fast and demanding and my nervous system was screaming for relief. I knew just the place that could provide the sense of deep rest that I desperately needed.

At a silent retreat, one is consenting to a period of time in which one retreats from all talking, using phones, watching tv and any other mindless activities. This can be especially difficult since we are accustomed to talking and responding all day long. This has become so automatic for us that we often don’t realize the amount of energy we utilize to engage in this process on a daily basis. 

Imagine how much energy one can maintain if we intentionally practiced periods of time where we conserve this energy and instead tune into our inner voice. 

During my time in silence, there were a few challenges that presented themselves at first due to withdrawing from speech. Initially I had to keep reminding myself that I had agreed to silence for the next five days amongst others who had not (there were other retreat experiences happening simultaneously). We were provided a name tag that said “In Loving Silence” to let others know our intention. I was instructed that if I needed to communicate a need to someone it was ok to speak briefly. Since I am naturally a more introverted person, not feeling pressure to talk to others was a welcome reprieve. I eventually settled into the idea that for the next five days I could get away with just turning inward and not feeling the pressure to engage in small talk with others. Once I gave myself permission to do so, it became such a beautiful and sacred experience. I sat with myself and journaled about any feelings that had been coming up. What I discovered is that when I gave myself time and space for sacred silence with no distractions, I was able to more freely receive impressions from Source in the form of intuitive thoughts, synchronicities and conformational nudges. I was able to resolve mental challenges I had been holding onto much easier during this period of sacred silence.

Since Kripalu is nestled in the Berkshires’ lush forests and terrain, I spent plenty of time cradled by Mother Nature by engaging in grounding, sun gazing, bird watching, and being enveloped in an overall feeling of expansiveness. During retreat we engaged in mindful practices of yoga, meditation, breath work and journal writing to facilitate nervous system regulation, which resulted in a feeling of deep rest.

When I returned back to the world after five days of being unplugged, I was instructed to return gradually to the distractions of everyday life as my current state would be more raw and sensitive. Upon my return to my family and obligations, I have felt an increased sense of space. A space is present before responding, space for increased thinking and a space for awareness. I have been less likely to grab my phone to fill time and space and instead use that time to allow my mind to wander. I walk more slowly and with no need for urgency. I notice more of the things around me and the beauty in life. 

If you are needing a nervous system reset and renewed mindset, I highly recommend attending a silent retreat. You can learn more about Kripalu’s offerings, including scholarships for BIPOC communities here.

In the meantime, I challenge you to discover where in your life you can create your own sense of sacred silence.

Christina “Satya” G.

Holistic Therapist

Holistic Herbalist

Holistic Writer

Ayurveda & Meditation Teacher