The New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, CA (https://contemplation.com/) is a very valuable resource for those who appreciate the chance to retreat from the world as we usually know it and embrace stillness, silence, simplicity and solitude for a while.
The Monks who live here and provide this opportunity are welcoming, inclusive, progressive and respectful of all retreatants’ religions, spiritualities and lifestyles.
Rooms and cottages are available for individuals, as well as for couples who wish to deepen and renew their relationship. Group accommodations are offered as well.
In the past 33 years, I’ve been blessed by many personal retreats here. Some of the high points in each stay have included:
– spiritual counseling from a Monk, offered as a gift without charge
– long walks on the amazingly beautiful 2 mile access road, with changing views of the Big Sur coast with every switchback
– enjoying the very private separate backyard that is attached to each retreatant’s room in the main guest house, which also has a large picture window and ocean view
– participating in services and silent meditations open to the public in the monastery’s chapel
– perusing their wonderful bookstore which carries a diverse array of spiritually nourishing titles, CD’s, cards, gifts and artwork
During my most recent stay, 3 poems emerged from the Silence. I offer one to you here.
Re-Membering
Here
in the Silence of the hermitage night
with only crickets and ocean waves
resounding,fragments of my broken self begin
to find each other
In new ways,only to be shattered by the beauty
of the Pacific dawn
come morning.An ever evolving mosaic,
I release the desire to know who I am
and embrace
my eternal becoming.– L B Chaikin 10/28/18
(Copyright Pending)
With gratitude to First Lady Michelle Obama for her excellent book “Becoming”.
For ThetaHealers and ThetaHealing Clients:
You are invited to consider checking for and downloading as necessary The Creator’s complete understanding of:
Beauty, Ecstacy, Meditation, Relaxation, Renewal, Rest, Sacred, Serenity, Silence, Simplicity, Spiritual Surrender, Stillness