Silent, Yet Profound

It’s been said that the quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.

And that rings true at a unique retreat where guests stay don’t speak for nearly a week in an aim to pause, reflect and reconnect with their inner self.

Whilst the idea of living in silence for several days may be daunting to even the most skilled meditator, the length is imperative to allow guests time to sit in their discomfort, release intruding thoughts and feelings, and to experience unconditional self-love and inner healing. 

The results are transformative.

The Silent Retreat by Mindfulness Works Australia is facilitated by two of the nation’s leading meditation and mindfulness teachers, Stephen Archer and Karl Baker. They recently conducted a six-day immersive meditation retreat at the Matripa Centre in Healesville.

Stephen told Unwind that the purpose of the retreat was for guests to take a break from ordinary life, to have a space with no distractions, and to experience their off-line reality.

‘We invite guests into silent sitting, walking meditations and teacher check-ins throughout the day, and we encourage them to not read or listen to music- but it’s not strict and there are not lots of rules. It’s not a bootcamp,’ Stephen said.

‘Some people can let go and slip into the experience quite easily, new people might take a day or two. There’s static in their mind and resistance, but as the retreat moves on, they become more relaxed, and they find it quite therapeutic. We do encourage them to be kind and gentle with themselves.’

For one guest, retired chiropractor Dr Lisa Shortridge, the retreat was incredibly valuable. No stranger to meditation, Lisa ensures she practices every day for at least thirty minutes and she also teaches others to do the same.

Lisa admitted that she found the first couple of days of sitting in silence to be quite difficult – both mentally and physically. But with the magic of Stephen and Karl’s teaching and guidance, she was soon able to lovingly embrace the stresses and pressures of life and the parts of her that struggle with them.

‘I went to the retreat because I wanted some dedicated time away from my normal life – which is pretty busy – to meditate and get in touch with the peace that I know was within me. The retreat allowed me to have the space to do that  where I didn’t have to cook or clean or worry about getting anything done that I would need to do at home,’ Lisa said.

‘Initially the hardest thing about the retreat was all the sitting! I got uncomfortable physically – but then it was the stresses of life that came up in my thoughts and I didn’t have anything else to distract me.

‘Stephen and Karl guided us through how to manage these thoughts. These thoughts are often about things that we avoid in our everyday life.’

Lisa said after a couple of days at the retreat she found a chair outside overlooking the beautiful gardens and watched a tree produce it’s leaves. ‘It was a magical experience that I would have never done at home. It was just beautiful,’ she said. ‘I watched the tree, I watched Kookaburras. The more you stay still, the more you see around you.’

Lisa said she felt supported and connected to the group – despite the silence between them.

 ‘It’s amazing that we all find the same thing in our own way – there is a peace that arises, a quietness that we crave, and we go inwards to get it.’

Another attendee Claudia Gattt agreed. Like Lisa, Claudia makes meditation part of her regular routine, but Claudia wanted to incorporate it more throughout her week. She had been on a silent retreat run by another organisation in the past, but as a CEO navigating an intense period in her professional life, Claudia said she felt ‘called, almost pulled to this retreat.’

‘I’ve been drawn to this centre for years, and finally, the timing aligned. I knew I was meant to be there, and I’m so blessed it was with this duo,’ Claudia said.

‘Meditation connects me back to myself, beyond the noise of my full, demanding life. While I’ve long craved a more consistent practice, this retreat offered the space and the reset I needed to reprioritise it.’

Claudia said that she loved being without her phone, emails and other distractions and found it easy to slip into the silence.

‘The stillness allowed my nervous system to recalibrate.  I formed a long-awaited connection with my inner child, and cracked open my heart, to feel the feels…and with the teachings of Stephen and Karl, I used the tools to deeply connect and speak with myself, all of me,’ Claudia said.

‘One of the most profound experiences of silence is noticing the power of the senses. When sound, and the constant stream of external input is removed, the other senses heighten.

‘I connected more deeply with nature, with myself, and with the food I was nourishing my body with. Each moment was of gratitude, watching the birds and the bunnies, savouring flavours, and giving thanks to everyone and everything that brought each meal to life – something I otherwise have to remind myself to do, in the rush of life to live and eat in the present moment. It was a simple yet powerful reminder of this.’

Stephen said guests left the retreat feeling relaxed and recharged, as it served as a mental detox- allowing the body to be less active and the mind to be free.

This state of being is widely sought after across the world where people are navigating pressure and stress arising from careers, finances, family, politics and more.

‘Mindfulness if enjoying popularity right now because there is strong evidence that it’s a tool for self-regulation and decreasing stress and anxiety,’ Stephen said. ‘(When you put yourself in an environment such as a silent retreat) things just fall away, people start to experience a natural clarity of mind.’

For more information about Mindfulness Works and upcoming retreats, visit https://mindfulnessworksaustralia.com.au/meditation-retreats/