What 10 days of silence taught me about presence

Dear Lovely,

Before my 10-day silent retreat, my mind felt like a wild animal — constantly racing, restless, and hard to settle. During the retreat, something shifted. By sitting hour after hour in silence, I learned to tame my mind. I began to feel the space between my thoughts.

This retreat wasn’t about escaping. In fact, it was the opposite. The practice was about becoming fully present in the body — by feeling the sensations within it, moment by moment. Not all of those sensations felt good. At times, I wanted to run from the pain, the fear, and the resistance. But I realized there was no way out except through.

The meditation I practiced is rooted in fully accepting reality as it is — not clinging to what we want, not resisting what we don’t want. This mirrors how we live our lives: craving the pleasant, pushing away the unpleasant, and creating misery in the process. Through the body, I was able to experience acceptance on a deeper, more visceral level.

What became so clear is this: consciousness and awareness in the body are the gateway out of our misery. When we can turn toward our direct experience with presence, we open the door to freedom.

And the beautiful part? You don’t need 10 days of silence to begin. Here are a few simple ways you can practice presence in your everyday life:

Pause. Breathe. Allow.

1. Pause — While waiting for your coffee, standing in line, or waiting for a friend, pause and notice the sensations in your body.

2. Breathe — Without changing it, simply feel your breath as it is — shallow or deep, soft or tight. Let it be.

3. Allow — When discomfort arises in your body — tension, restlessness, or pain — take a moment to stay with it. You might be surprised to find that when you allow it, it begins to ease.

During the retreat, we meditated 12 hours a day with only walking breaks, ate two simple meals, and lived without talking, eye contact, or distractions. It was hard. But it was also life-changing.

Not everyone is ready for this kind of deep work — and that’s okay. What came to me in the silence is that the programs and services I offer are supportive stepping stones that prepare you for this kind of presence.

Coming up soon is our Seasonal Cleanse — 12 days of intentional living to clear the mind, reset the body, and begin again with clarity and lightness. It’s a group experience with a shared goal, but each of us takes our own path to get there.

I’d love to hear from you: 

👉 Would you ever consider doing a retreat like the one I just did? 

👉 Which of these presence practices feels most doable for you right now?

With gratitude,

Catherine

Wellness Mentor | Massage Therapist

ASL & English

Deaf Community Cleanse - ASL

Sacred Seasonal Cleanse - English