Arrival in an unfamiliar world

Not particularly inclined toward wellness practices but nonetheless curious to discover what lies behind them, I challenged myself to participate in this retreat offered by Aurélien Millot and his team.

On the first day, I arrived in an idyllic setting, a place perfectly suited for disconnecting from a personal and professional reality that can sometimes be difficult to manage. I met the other participants with whom I would share these few days, and with whom this retreat would ultimately take on its true meaning. For while we are here first to reconnect with our Self, the group brings meaning to the experience.

Who are we, without others? What identity do I have, without others?

After an introduction to wellness with Shambali (link to article), the program for the coming days was presented to us.

At first glance, it is dense, intense, varied and will undoubtedly appeal to everyone. The reason the proposed activities are so diverse is that they have "the vocation to be intense and rich. They integrate a significant number of parameters and disciplines to guide our travelers on their path, to awaken them to new perceptions and spheres of consciousness".

And it begins now...!

 

Retreat at the heart of it all

Connection with my Self began with a seemingly simple question that resonated quite deeply: "Why do you live?"

It took me a moment to understand the profound meaning of the question, which ultimately challenged me not just about the meaning of life, but rather about the meaning I give, or wish to give, to my life, up until now and beyond.

Through the exercises, activities, and encounters (especially those), I allowed myself to explore my inner Self. Sometimes anxious, often curious, but above all eager to discover why I was there, to "become more receptive and feel life: the environment, nature, people...[...], to aspire to inner and outer harmony."

My breakthrough came during the Sufi music concert. I was immersed in a state of non-consciousness whose effects were deeply liberating. The vibrations of the different instruments allowed me to reach a dimension of which I had been previously unaware.

An incredible and unforgettable experience.

All the other activities in which I participated, while not allowing me to fully reach an "altered state," enabled me to re-center myself and learn to listen to my Self, my body, my spirit.

 

And while it is not easy to grasp all the workings of our world, our body and our mind, from now on I have learned to see with my heart.