Personal Retreat

By Rick Dearman

Personal Retreat is a book for anyone who desires to remove themselves from the daily cares of life for reasons related to stress, spirituality, or lifestyle concerns but do not desire or cannot afford a commercial retreat.

This book will show you how you can retreat to your home or other locations and use meditation to increase your spiritual awareness, or simply relax and become more aware of your life.

It will show you all the basic requirements of a retreat, and also give sample schedules for retreats lasting 1, 3, 5, or more days.

You can learn now how you can 'retreat' from your everyday life and immerse yourself in silence, prayer, meditation, or participate in simple work, art, painting, etc. You spend time reflecting on your life and where it is heading, helping you make decisions when you go back to everyday life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rick Dearman
• Release date: Mar 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9798215053188

Rick Dearman

Rick Dearman (1964 - ) is a prolific author who has written extensively across multiple genres. Born in Newark, Ohio, Rick spent 10 years in the USAF before relocating to Britain, where he currently resides in Chelmsford with his partner and beloved dog. With a passion for storytelling and an imaginative mind, Rick has created captivating works in the realms of fantasy, action, and more.Rick's literary journey began with non-fiction works available on Amazon, covering topics such as problem-solving, language learning, and meditation. However, his true calling lies in the realm of fantasy. Rick has launched two popular fantasy series, namely "Frontiersman" and "Librarian," which have enchanted readers with their immersive world-building and memorable characters.In addition to his fantasy series, Rick Dearman has delved into other genres, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and research. His action-packed series follows the adventures of a former French Foreign Legion soldier, providing an authentic and gripping narrative.Beyond writing, Rick Dearman finds joy in reading, exploring new places, and spending quality time with family and friends. With an insatiable appetite for knowledge, Rick hosts the Autodidactic podcast, serving as both producer and podcaster. The podcast caters to self-learners and polymaths, offering valuable tips and methods for learning.Furthermore, Rick is an accomplished speaker and language learning enthusiast. He holds the esteemed position of administrator on a popular language learning forum, where he actively contributes his expertise. On his YouTube channel, Rick shares insightful tips, tricks, and information on language learning, writing, and other subjects that pique his interest. His dedication to self-study and becoming an Autodidactic is also showcased through his podcast.In total, Rick Dearman has written over twenty books under his own name or as a ghostwriter. With a diverse background ranging from being a cook and dishwasher to an aircraft mechanic and IT manager, Rick brings a wealth of life experiences and knowledge to his writing. His fiction works are known for their thrilling plots and action-packed storytelling.Throughout his journey, Rick's passion for learning has been evident. He has taught himself French, Italian, and numerous computer languages, highlighting his relentless pursuit of knowledge.Whether you're seeking high fantasy adventures, heart-pounding action, or valuable insights into language learning and self-study, Rick Dearman's writings offer a diverse range of experiences to captivate and inspire readers.

Book preview

Personal Retreat

Rick Dearman

Copyright 2011 by Rick Dearman

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

Why a retreat?

What is a retreat?

The term retreat has several meanings, however for the purposes of this book it means removing oneself from the daily cares for reasons related to stress, spirituality, or lifestyle concerns.

A number of organisations have taken up the word retreat to focus on strategic planning, problem solving or other topics.

A retreat can be either a solitary or communal experience. For a communal experience the reader is advised to approach one of the many companies that provide these types of services. In a communal retreat, members would often spend time in conversation, work, or spiritual pursuits. These types of retreats are normally held in places which are rural or remote and allow the participants to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life.

Spiritual retreats are designed to allow time for reflection, prayer, or meditation and when in a communal retreat these are designed around specific times and speakers.

Spiritual retreats are common in almost all religions. Certainly Buddhism is one of the most famous for this activity, but Christians have taken retreats similar to Christ’s forty days in the desert. Sufism a mystical path of Islam, has an important tradition of retreats. Once a widespread practice of Sufism, khalwa (retreat) has become less common in recent times. Sufis practice retreat to concentrate on the divinity of the Almighty and to derive spiritual inspiration.

Retreats provide us with a rare opportunity to simplify our lives.

Do I have to be religious?

Although spiritual