The Journey of Spiritual Retreats: Insights and Reflections

Have you ever participated in a spiritual retreat? If so, what was it like? As someone who has experienced several spiritual retreats, I aim to share my insights and reflections on what these retreats entail and what we can learn from them.

My path to spiritual growth has led me to explore various spiritual retreats sponsored by New Age groups, conventional religions like Roman Catholic and Fundamentalist Christian groups, and mainline churches. I’ve also participated in a Native American 3-day Spirit Walk, been in retreats with alternative spiritual organizations, and conducted solo 4-day wilderness retreats with a focus on nature meditation and reading uplifting best-selling books on growth and healing.

Why Participate in Spiritual Retreats?

The most important lesson I learned from these retreats is that I spent a significant amount of time, energy, and money 'being a Spiritual Tramp.' This phrase isn't meant to be derogatory but rather reflects my journey of testing different spiritual paths to be intellectually honest about my chosen path. I knew deep down that I didn’t trust myself regarding something as ethereal and vast as spirituality.

Lessons Learned from Spirituality Retreats

While there was no accurate comparison due to variations in retreat length and quality, many experiences helped affirm my inner truth and challenge me to expand my consciousness. However, I deplored retreats that condemned any other spiritual group as a whole or made people feel wrong for being different.

For instance, self-righteous attitudes often led me to leave early, and I didn't need drugs or physical experiences to expand my spiritual essence. I realized that spirituality is highly personal and based on one's own observations and experiences.

Enlightenment and Personal Growth

Through various retreats, I discovered a part of myself that is all-loving, infinite, and entirely connected to everyone and everything. This realization is not unique to me; it is a common experience among spiritual seekers. While I may have interpreted some 'Eureka' moments and near-death experiences (NDEs) inaccurately, I now believe that everyone has the ability to guide themselves through their own inner knowledge.

I advocate for the idea that very evolved teachers, such as figures like Christ and Buddha, existed in a pure state, but religions and fanatics took advantage of these teachings over time to control and intimidate others. However, the core teachings of these figures still hold immense value.

Personal Spiritual Practices

The best spiritual retreat for me was a 7-day retreat where we meditated daily, did a nature walk, journaled new awarenesses, and tracked dreams. We also engaged in many processes with others, such as looking into their eyes while asking scripted questions about life.

Reflecting on my solo wilderness retreat, I found that these practices could be achieved anywhere and at any time. I believe we can glimpse enlightenment, even though we may not always be in that state. My goal is to live in this state more often, and I am grateful for the moments where my dreams become more real and significant.

A Final Reflection

As my physical body continues to lose its life force and my organs become more compromised, I experience both fear and peaceful surrender. My dreams are becoming more vivid as I sleep more, and these experiences are less about the fear and more about the acceptance.

It is my hope that some day, whether through a movie, song, book, stranger, or the natural world, you will be guided towards that fleeting bliss of beauty, love, and great awareness, and have your 'AHA' moment. May we all live in that state more and more.