I drove out of Melbourne toward Hepburn Springs to hold a gathering called Deep Healing Retreat - a precious time where one departs from the regular world and meets deep inner silence.
That morning was the day we all received news that the Queen had died.
Processing such a significant event, away from screens, devices and chatter, felt regal to me.
On retreat we experienced Noble Silence, withdrawn from speech and free from having to be anyone to anyone for the entire first morning. Silence is a powerful way to meet the need for rest, slowing down and finding one’s feet. But it also means more than that.
Over this past week we have witnessed historic scenes of silence as reverence:
~ Streams of people have moved silently through Westminster Hall to honour the Queen and even more watched this silent vigil.
~ When on screens we are not used to silence, yet the funeral was televised without commentary, and we watched, ourselves becoming a silent witness.
~ London streets lined with people in a unique and special way befitting an extraordinary life and extraordinary role for a human to step into. How uncommon to see a gathering of people not wanting to barrack for a team or be entertained, but instead, to honour something other, bigger, more significant, even ineffable.
In silence we depart from our chatty ego-self and we can enter a greater depth of awareness and a spiritual sense of self and life.
That is what the role of the Queen represents to me: a departure from the everyday mundane world of likes and dislikes, opinions and preferences, being on this team or being on that team. A queenly state is one that witnesses all, is open to all and remains neutral and unsullied.
In yoga we call this neutral state Vairagya. It is known as one of the wings of the dove that can fly us on our spiritual path. The other wing is Abhyasa dedicated commitment.
Perhaps you can sense how the three elements of silence, vairagya and abhyasa can lead to a deepening of one’s spiritual path.
A retreat participant wrote these insightful words about being in silence:
“Even after talking resumed, that feeling of compassionate unity stayed.”
I feel strongly that in life there is much less we need to say and much more depth we can touch upon in silence and with a little neutrality. Especially, for me, when being present to children and partners in that all too common domestic setting.
I invite you to be the gift of grace, dignity and silence.
I am sending out a special thank you to those who attended Deep Healing retreat. I honour your for the wholeheartedness of your participation. It was a joy and privilege to hold space for you.
With love,
Katie
Here is a thorough article about our dove’s two wings that enable flight: perseverance (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya)
https://hridaya-yoga.com/abhyasa-vairagya-the-essential-aspects-of-spiritual-life/