The Non-Management of Spiritual Retreats

My approach to spiritual retreats is to not manageDuring a session with client I heard myself say,
the retreat. On the surface it sounds strange, but"Give wisdom the benefit of the doubt!" Wow,
I continue to go deeper with this idea or non-ideathat really made sense to me. If we make a
of non-management here in the Magic Kingdomcommitment to "wait" for our low mood to pass
and in my own life. What does it mean? To notwithout trying to do something with it, our natural
do the work with clients out of a model but to letfeeling of well-being will reappear, our wisdom will
go and open to Spirit or my own wisdom forspeak to us. If we just give it a chance. But it
direction and guidance. To not respond to clientsfeels hard to wait, we want to figure out why we
questions from my memory but to open to myfeel sad or angry, etc. We think that will make it
wisdom and let the response come from there. Itstop; we want CONTROL! But it's truly an illusion.
takes patience and faith.Understanding our low mood will come when our
Sometimes when I sit in silence in front of clientslevel of consciousness rises, in other words, when
or stand peering into the distance in the vortex, itour mood rises. Then that nice feeling will open
feels like a long time. I am waiting for my wisdomthe door to our wisdom.
to speak but with no expectation of when it willIn the last few weeks, I feel clients really hearing
speak. I don't try and reach for it. In thatthat understanding comes through a nice feeling
moment, I deepen my trust in this great gift wenot the other way around. This is major distinction
were all given:the gift of wisdom. And before Iand if you can get it, your life will change
know it, an original thought comes out of mydramatically. Stop trying to figure out your
mouth and I smile in gratitude.problems in a low mood! Find a nice feeling first
Have the results been different with clients whothen that nice feeling will automatically give you a
are here on retreats or for a vortex experience?bigger perspective about your problems. A bigger
Yes, most certainly! When I speak from wisdomperspective means more understanding
it fans a client's wisdom. And this is the goal: tocompassion and common sense.
help clients remember or realize their own innateHow does my non-management of retreats
wisdom. And it appears more and more of themtranslate down to your day to day life or mine
are finding their own wisdom quicker.for that matter? So many ways! Here is an
Syd Banks says "an insight is a moment whenexample: stop trying to manage your moods! Just
you touch your own wisdom." When I heard thatlet them be, it will shift. If you give your natural
it really penetrated me. One of my teachers 6nice feeling a chance to return. What are the
months ago encouraged me to be teaching thiscomponents of managing? Assessing, analyzing,
fact more. To encourage clients to know that aexplaining, projecting, comparing, worrying,
feeling of well-being is our natural state, living in arationalizing, etc. You get the drift!
nice feeling is our natural state. That all the spiritualI am always circling around to these themes with
knowledge we are seeking is right now inside ofclients. I see when they hear these principles at a
us. If we quiet our thoughts more (or what Ideeper level,it makes major shifts in their lives in
refer to as "more waiting") that natural state ofthe quickest amount of time.
wisdom will come back.