For starters let me say that I am not a professional meditator, yoga star, or green to the extreme practicer*. But I just experienced heaven on Earth in an environment where I was afraid I wouldn’t fit in in the slightest. I spent the last couple days at a silent retreat in Bali created for anyone who wanted to partake in silence. This meant for people practicing meditation, wanting to heal in any way, or people who simple just needed a moment of silence and break away from life. There was no waste on this self sufficient property everything was composted or recycled, we washed our own dishes, reused all our towels, everything was used and cleaned by us. The electricity was solar powered so we recharged our own lanterns during the day to use at night. No electronics, no service, no WiFi just peace and quiet nothing to worry about. (Although on my last day I snuck some pictures when no one was around)

I cannot stress enough that this place is not what your imagining. It broke down all stereotypes you can imagine.  It was a true oasis for all kinds of people coming through all walks of life roaming around the lush jungle of Bali living in harmony while in silence. It was magical, from the landscape to the food, every last detail paid careful attention to with love and understanding. The food was mostly vegan all vegetarian and was the best food I have ever tasted in my life, I must have gained 10 pounds. Every last bite left you wondering how something almost directly from the garden could taste so wonderful. It was as fresh as it gets, they grow all the food on site and the only beverages are water and fresh herb do-it-yourself tea. Absolutely amazing I was in heaven making my own brews, drawing, and writing while in complete silence.

What did I do all day?

I showered and enjoyed my mornings by laying on my bed and just simply relaxing. Enjoying my fresh cup of tea and carefully smelling and tasting trying to identify every herb I experimented with inside it. Then I would walk around the ground, through the rice terraces, the jungle walk, to the river, through the farm, and figuring it the labyrinth. I meditated during guided sessions, tried out some yoga classes, did a water meditation and was cleaned by Balinese Holy Water. Which was freezing and I almost screamed in the sacred place because it touched my sunburn. In between all this was a lounging area where you’re surrounded by other people who are meditating, reading, writing, sleeping, all over these bean bag chairs and couches. I spent a lot of my time sleeping and thinking in the hammock by the fire at night and during the day looking out from the hammock to the jungle.

The most amazing part was that I honestly didn’t think about much at all. I was stressed that I would go crazy replaying things that are happening in my life over and over. I’m an over thinker and when something bothers me, my mind will not stop thinking about it. So going somewhere where all I could do was think all day naturally scared me. But it was quite the opposite. I think because it was so shut off from EVERYTHING I didn’t think about anything that’s currently stressing me out in real life. I just relaxed and because there were really no demands or reminders of “life” there I didn’t have anything on my mind. It was just completely peaceful.
This really showed me how simple life can be, and how complicated we make it. Now I’m reflecting on this experience and how I felt there and trying to figure out how I can have a balance of the two, how can I still face real life, but find peace and serenity in it. I don’t want to have to dirastically cut myself off from my personal life to find peace, there should be a way to have both.