Hi Lenka and Tomáš,
first of all I’d like to thank you for the chance to do a dark retreat. For the excellent food and the chats 😉 when I needed them. The darkness gave me the chance to see what is important to me. For example, it didn’t bother me at all that the cabin isn’t completely soundproof, because I finally realised how strongly I’m connected to nature. Even today, when I close my eyes outside and listen to the birds singing, I’m back in the cabin.
The darkness helped me understand
It helped me understand that I’m not a programmed robot in a permanently positive mood, and that this is simply part of life. It’s fighting against it that’s the problem. In the dark my back started to hurt, a little at first, then a lot towards the end. And that was even though I was exercising. After I got home, all it took was that proverbial last straw in the form of one wrong movement, and I ended up with a slipped disc. It wasn’t a coincidence. I realised how for years I’d ignored the signals my body was sending. I’ve had problems with my back for a long time, and it was practically begging me to slow down a bit, both physically and mentally. Now I have a road to recovery ahead of me, and I believe I’ll manage it.
A dark retreat is no coincidence
Now, more than ever, I simply believe that nothing is a coincidence, that everything has its timing, and that if I’m even a little bit receptive, life will always show me what to do and when. All I have to do is ask and wait.
The darkness reminded me what patience, humility, gratitude and trust are.
With love
Markéta
