June 30, 2024 A Meditation Retreat

June 30, 2024•3 min read

Pussycat Onyx wasn't very happy today. I know she could feel the impending doom....an afternoon in the house without my Mom.

All the signs were there: my Mom carrying a change of clothes to the bathroom, my Mom setting out things at the side door that she didn't want to forget, preparing Onyx' lunch and snacks, pulling in Onyx' front door perch and closing the front door. Onyx knew it was coming, she just didn't want to face it. I can totally relate. I never wanted my Mom out of sight but hey, she has a life, and today my Mom was going to a meditation retreat and I went with her. I've never been, then again, my Mom hasn't either.

The retreat was on the property of one of the members of her meditation group, the group is referred to as a Sangha. They meet weekly for an hour and meditate as a group but today was a celebration of the group's 10 year anniversary. My Mom is new to the group as a real member but through the years, having visited with her sister Robin here in South lake Tahoe, my Mom would participate whenever she was in town.

The retreat started with a group meditation, sitting quietly for 20 minutes, then it went to a walking meditation for 20 minutes. John, the property host, led the silent walk around the property which is filled with the most beautiful trees and wildflowers. John and his wife hosted the retreat at their home and property.

After that, everyone was to find a spot and meditate privately for another 20 minutes. I was watching my Mom of course, who was doing an open eye meditation (apparently that's a thing), staring up at the trees and butterflies and beautiful blue sky.

Then there was a relaxation meditation. I think my Mom was already relaxed when this started. Apparently, a meditation retreat has a lot of meditation. The idea is to quiet one's mind from the constant "chatter" and to be present in the moment. That's what my Mom said anyway. It's not easy to do. Even harder for me since I'm always super focused on my Mom and at the same time I was supposed to be quieting down. I'll bet that happens to a lot of meditators. Maybe not the really advanced meditators though. My Mom thinks that horses may be meditators, they sure have something special about them. And, they definitely seem to be very present in the moment.

Karla, our troup's "coordinator" led the group in this meditation, it was about Buddha, Sangha and something else, I can't remember. Basically, she spoke in a beautifully relaxing voice while the group members were each lying down on the tarp and towels or yoga mats provided. I thought I was relaxed before this started, nope there was even more relaxing. I could barely keep my eyes open.

After this last meditation part and while my Mom and everyone else were still lying down, my Mom took a photo of the sky and the trees.

The afternoon ended with snacks and chatting and everyone looked very happy. My Mom was glad she went and I am too. We are liking living in California more and more. We're experiencing all sorts of new things and people, very relaxed people.

“Life is short.
Be swift to Love,
make haste to be kind.”
Henri-Frederic Amiel

Hurry!
Maisy❤️

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