Corrie’s Experience

I learned that I could work at the Dwelling in exchange for the retreat experience, so I brought my tools with the intention of helping out. I am a carpenter and I was having a difficult year in business—I was having a difficult year in general, actually. I needed a break from running my business. This was in January.  At the Dwelling I was received with wide open arms.  I felt like I was held in this embrace for the entire time I was there.  I slowly leaned into it, and not long after, trusted it would be there for me as I needed it.  The support I found at the Dwelling can be attributed to many things at once:  the warmth and loyalty I felt from the people there, the smooth snow, the morning fog, the satisfying meals, walks, watching the sunrise or, plainly, years upon years of intention. 

I was warmly welcomed when I arrived at the Dwelling, and right away I noticed the day stretching out around me, as each day after that did.  I was encouraged to voice my intentions for my stay and invited to participate in what the Dwelling had to offer: Meditation with the guests each morning, walks, silence, and solitude.  The staff at the Dwelling emphasized how happy they were to see me each day, and how helpful and important my work there was.  At the same time, the staff encouraged me to rest, eat, and work as I felt I needed and wanted.  Meditation and rest in the midst of a project was challenging for me, but when I panicked, I looked to the staff because in the midst of their projects I noticed they, too, rested, meditated, took walks, and took time to thank me and each other -- this felt profoundly supportive.  I felt very safe and secure and space opened up inside me—that is the only way I can describe it. 

The daily intention of holding and revering quiet and the peaceful calm of winter allowed me to settle into some new compassion for myself.  I found myself proud of my work and my work ethic in a new way.  I observed myself as open hearted, curious, sympathetic and trusting!  I also observed some grief and regret for things in my past and in this sadness, felt as though I had a gentle hand on my shoulder that made me feel loved and supported.  It was a new experience for me, I realized, to trust myself completely, and this is what I was expected to do!

So thank you to the Dwelling (and to you Patricia) for having me there and holding me tight!