Temple Update with the 3 day Retreat
From the 7th to the 9th of March I stepped away from the noise, the responsibilities and the constant movement of everyday life… and returned to the monastery for a 3-day retreat.
From the moment I arrived, there was a sense of coming home. The stillness that lives within those grounds is something I can’t quite put into words it’s felt. Held in the quiet presence of the monastery, surrounded by nature and the sacred energy that has been cultivated there over time, I allowed myself to soften.
This retreat wasn’t about doing more… it was about being.
Being present.
Being aware.
Being honest with myself.
Without the usual distractions, I was gently invited inward and in that space I met parts of myself that had been waiting patiently to be seen.
There were moments of deep peace, where everything felt aligned and my heart opened in a way that only stillness can allow. Sitting in meditation, listening to the quiet rhythm of breath, I felt a deep connection not just to myself, but to something far greater. It reminded me why this path matters so much to me… why the work of healing, of awakening, of returning, is so important.
But as with all true healing spaces, it wasn’t only light.
There were moments of discomfort. Moments where old emotions surfaced grief, fear and stories that have lived quietly beneath the surface. And instead of turning away, I stayed. I allowed myself to feel, to witness and to release. This is the part of the journey that asks for courage… and it is also where the deepest transformation lives.
Each meditation, each teaching, each shared silence within the monastery became another brick in the foundation of my inner temple. A reminder that what we are building within ourselves is just as sacred as any physical structure. That the temple is not only something we visit… it is something we become.
Being back at the monastery also reconnected me deeply to the intention behind the stupa and the work that continues to unfold there. It reminded me that this journey I am on of healing, of guiding others, of building something meaningful is not separate from my own inner work it is my inner work.
I left this retreat feeling clearer, lighter, and more grounded. There is a deeper sense of trust within me now and a quiet knowing that I am exactly where I am meant to be, even in the unfolding.
And more than anything, I am reminded of the importance of creating space, space to pause, to reflect, to breathe and to come back home to yourself.
If you’ve been feeling the pull to slow down, to reconnect, or to step away from the noise for even a moment… I invite you to listen. There is something powerful waiting for you in that stillness.
Thank you for walking this journey with me, and for allowing me to share these pieces of my heart.
With love and presence,
Joy 🤍
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