You might not have the opportunity to take a full week of silence and rest, but you can still create mini-retreat for a day (or even hours!) in your own home. The idea is to create more “yin” (restful) energy and take refuge from the hyper-“yang” (active) world we live in.
The day before your retreat begins:
- Clear all the clutter and then deep clean your bedroom and master bath with essential oil products such as Mrs. Meyers. Better yet, delegate it and have the whole house cleaned! Make certain there is no clutter underneath your bed (so chi can circulate round you and help refresh you).
- Menu-plan, make a shopping list and stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables, juices, smoothies, supplements, detox teas, little spa treats and so on. If doing a cleanse, buy all your necessary herbs (I love the Enzymatic products, personally)
- Put fresh green colored sheets on your bed and clean gold towels in the bathroom to support your healing.
- Surround yourself with beautifully scented, fresh flowers.
- Gather contemplative music, meditation cd’s, and dharma talks as well as sacred texts or poetry you’d like to read.
- Unplug all computers, phones, televisions and have a sabbatical from your cell phone, email, the nightly news and newspapers. Make sure to unplug all electronics in your bedroom.
- Mix up an aromatherapy spritzer using filtered water and sweet orange, neroli or bergamot oils. When you spray it on yourself or in your environment, it will enhance and lift up your chi.
During Your Retreat:
- Drink from pitchers of filtered water with fresh orange slices.
- Create little at-home spa treatments with a reflexology roller; steam inhalations or scented hot cloths with essential oils; herbal foot soaks; body brushing; salt scrubs; facials and so on.
- Take part in tea ceremonies with beautiful pots, cups and teas from Japan, India or China. Try one of the flowering jasmine flower buds that open magically before your eyes!
- Play singing bowls, gongs, tingshaws or bells around your own body and throughout your space.
- Move your body each day with movement practices such as qi gong, yoga, tai chi or free-form dancing.
- Eat your meals (super-healthy ones!) outside in the fresh air.
- Pray at sunrise or beneath the night stars out in the dewy grass.
- Write honestly in your journal about everything in your life that is draining your life force—people, events, situations, things, thoughts and habits. Make a vow after your spa retreat to begin to clear them one by one until you feel free!
- Turn off all the lights at sunset and go by the light of candles or lanterns. Go to sleep early and give your chi deep restoration.
- Create a special altar in your bedroom dedicated to your healing, rejuvenation and spiritual life.
- Be quiet. Meditate. Take naps.
- Adjust your chi with the Inhale/Exhale Breathing Meditation which you can find over at my blog: www.10KBlessingsFengShui.typepad.com
And now? Open your calendar and schedule yourself for some deep rejuvenation—a week, a day, half-day—for as long as you can! And don’t forget to make time for the preparations. Enjoy and luxuriate in the Feng Shui of your body, mind and spirit.
