It was the day we all dreaded. It was called the day of silence. No talking, Wifi or gadgets. No one could speak to us (even the wait staff), call or message us. We couldn’t even read a book.
“It’s a time to sit with yourself, to be with you and your God,” our retreat master told us.
I was in my first ever yoga retreat in Bali, just a few weeks after I had left my long-term job. During the first days of the retreat, I experienced a temple purification ritual and had the most relaxing massage, followed by a bath in petal-strewn waters. I also did yoga twice a day. I chattered away with the other retreat attendees, who were mostly women, curious about why we were where we were.
But on that day of silence, there was no talking. There was only the rustling of the leaves, the whisper of an Ubud breeze, the clink of a spoon against my cup of ginger tea.
Because I had nothing else to do, I wrote. Letters to my loved ones. A letter to my mom who passed away and who I missed terribly. Lists of all the hurts that I wanted to let go of. My dreams and hopes and wishes for meaningful work. Ideas.
One idea that kept repeating itself in the pages of my journal was a retreat. A place where you could get away and get in touch with your inner knowing. A time to experience new things. A pampering gift for yourself.
It took three years before I could make it happen. I wanted to do something I was interested in and yet was different from all the other retreats. I wanted a mix of my passions: books, coaching, writing and pampering. I also tested the waters by partnering with Flow Retreats. I searched for the perfect venue and found the peace of Casa Luminaria conducive to the quiet time you need for writing.
And so Write Away moved from the pages of my journal into reality.
Finding my partners, Sam Sotto and Mina Esguerra, was the easiest part. Sam was my editor in our college newspaper. I published Mina’s first book. Their energy and passion for writing have always inspired me. I know their wisdom and experience will give you the push you need to get over the hurdle of the first blank page or writer’s block.
Write Away WILL NOT be a silent retreat. But it will, hopefully, be a precious time where you can get away and kindle the writing fire inside.
Oh, and that day of silence. It was one of the most memorable moments in the entire yoga retreat. As I wrote in my journal: “it was a precious gift since it gave me time to write my story and hear my voice.” I hope Write Away gives you that same experience.
