The Sound of Silence
Once in a while, I get the urge to go on a silent retreat. The first time I did this, I went through a 28 hour trip to Brazil to see John of God where I spent 2 weeks mediating 8 hours a day…Phew! Since then, luckily, I’ve found deeply spiritual places that offer the quiet I need within a reasonable driving distance of Portland, Oregon…
My most recent discovery is the Hidden Lake Retreat
Sometimes you can’t help but being in awe at how Divine Will reveals itself in certain circumstances of your life. Finding the Hidden Lake Retreat was one of those experiences for me.
My life is filled with situations where I am primarily a caregiver. As a mother, I am always monitoring my son’s well being. As an Intuitive, I’m always keeping an eye on my clients energy. As a wife, I’m always aware of my husband’s state of mind.
It also spreads to friends and acquaintances who, even though they might not be aware of it, are always on my intuitive radar for quick energy work or intuitive suggestions to enhance their lives. And I love every second of it!
I also take very good care of myself. I know what I need and I know how to get it.
But once in a while, I long for the quiet that comes from not taking care of anything at all. And the best way for me to achieve this is through a silent retreat where I let other people take care of me.
But this has been tricky in the past…Not only am I deeply sensitive to my physical surroundings (meaning that some location are beautiful but their energy is jarred, overwhelming or troubled) but I am also easily affected by people’s inner thoughts and feelings. And although it feels great to turn off my filters and take off my daily armor, so to speak, it does mean that I am many times more sensitive to what’s around me.
When I am in this state of total openness and vulnerability, I need to be surrounded by people who possess an unusual and powerful sense of calm, inner peace. Otherwise my hyper sensitivity to their energy keeps me up at night…
I’m sure you can see how that can be difficult to achieve. How many people do you know have this quality? And I don’t mean that they can put up a nice smile when they greet you. But rather that they have a sense of profound peace at the core of their being. I don’t see that very often…
So most of the time I ended up trying to find a place where I was totally alone, which excluded being taken care of by someone else…
Well, not this time! The Hidden Lake Retreat is a magnificent mansion, tucked away on a private lake. Every inch of it has been renovated in perfect harmony with the original grandeur of the house. And yet, they’ve found a way to blend the historical knotty pine walls and claw foot tub with stunningly modern kitchen and bathrooms.
The owners, Lauri and Judith, are both accomplished chefs. But what
struck me the most was Lauri’s intuitive cooking…She just knows
what to cook for you. And even though I do this for my clients on a
regular basis (intuitively take care of their inner most needs), it was
both surprising and oh so nurturing to have it done for me…
I was also delighted to find a room full of drums, Tibetan and crystal bowls. I always take my Tibetan bowl with me but I was happy to see and hear Lauri’s collection (she’s a Shamanic Sound Practitioner).
But the most striking quality of this house is harmony. Every inch is filled with a powerful intention to balance, soothe and nurture. Near every chair, there’s a foot stool. Warm blankets lay at the end of the patio chairs. A side table for your tea is always within reach. Even when no one else is in the house, you feel taken care of.
I was brought to tears on my first evening at the lake, overflowing with gratitude. I felt as if this place had been designed for me, grown for years for the sole purpose of taking care of me. And I’m sure everyone who has been a guest here has felt the same way, at various levels of consciousness.
Sometimes I feel frustrated that I am so sensitive. It sure makes my life more challenging than most people’s. But then again, it allows me to appreciate what is going on here from every fiber of my being because I am so sensitive.
I will be going home tomorrow, feeling taken care of and rejuvenated from the sound of silence that I have found here.
Thank you!
In love,
Elise Lebeau, M.Sc.
Professional Intuitive
www.EliseLebeau.com
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