Dear Reader,

I recently returned from three days on retreat at Kripalu—practicing what I preach, resting in quiet, listening inward, reconnecting with my deeper essence, and studying with a Huichol Shaman. Of course, leading up to my departure guilt and excuses plagued me, and I tried to talk myself out of what I desperately needed.

Now home, I’m reminded once again just how powerful it is to step away from our everyday lives—even briefly.

Retreat-Reconnect, Reset, Renew, Rebirth

Something shifts when we claim some space for ourselves, change our venue, and give ourselves permission to pause. The constant noise and distractions can quiet. The nervous system settles. The mind and body reconnect and begin to breath and move as one again. And slowly, the usual fog or chaos clouding our eyes clears. The world before us appears anew.

Spring is the perfect time for a retreat to reconnect to oneself and reset. The earth models rebirth for us—buds open, light returns, bird song fills the morning air—life and color sprout from the sepia and snow spotted pallet of the land. All of nature seems to remind us to wake up and begin again.

A friend who also just returned from retreat up the road from me captured the feeling beautifully:

That is the magic of stepping away.​
We remember that beneath all the madness and urgency, life can still unfold with great tenderness and beauty. We recall what it is to care for ourself. The resilience of nature provides respite and a balm for the soul. And, we remember that the power of our own energy and stillness is ours to tap into and much needed in the world.

Retreat has a way of smoothing our defenses, settling our business, and reminding us of our shared humanity. We return home not necessarily changed dramatically, but we are more present, more grounded, and more open to the beauty and blessings there all along.

This is exactly why I love creating retreat spaces for others—places where we can pause long enough to hear ourselves again, to soften, to reconnect with what is essential.

If you’ve been feeling the desire and need to step away for a little while, I’ll be holding space in upcoming mini retreats, weekend retreats, and sound journeys this spring.

Spring is a beautiful time to begin again. You are warmly invited.

DIY (Do It Yourself) at Home Retreat

So the last time I went on retreat was at least five years ago. We can't always escape, but we can take an intentional reset. I offer you this for your individually curated retreat...

1. Set an Intention

Ask yourself: What do I most need right now?

· More Rest

· More Fun or Play

· Clarity

· Grounding

Next: Based on the above, write a simple intention for your retreat to guide you.

2. Create your Itinerary

Listening to what you said you need most, create a list of 3-5 activities for your DIY retreat.

Will you: do some self-care, journal, color, dance, take a walk outside?

What will revitalize you and fill your cup? Your intuition knows.

Where and when will you take this min retreat?

3. Create a Sacred Space

Start in a quiet corner of your home and make it feel special.

You might include:
• a candle and cozy blanket
• fresh flowers or a new plant
• a journal and/or art supplies
• meaningful objects to reflect on

Let the space signal to your body: this is a special time just for me.

3. Begin with Stillness

Sit quietly for a few minutes.

Close your eyes.
Breathe slowly.
Notice your body softening.

Let yourself arrive fully in this moment and give yourself credit for taking this time.

4. Move + Revitalize the Body

Gently wake up the body:

· Take a Bath or shower with fun scents
• Do some slow stretching or yoga
• Walk mindfully outside
• Dance to a raise your vibe playlist

Then journal for a few minutes:

Ask: How do I I feel now; how has my energy shifted?

What types of movement or activity would my body like on a regular basis?

5. Nourish Yourself

Prepare a simple tea, smoothie, or meal.

Practice enjoying it slowly & mindfully.
Notice the flavors and textures.

6. Close with Gratitude

Before returning to your regularly scheduled life…

pause and reflect.

Ask: What shifts did I notice? What felt meaningful?

What small practices might I want to continue.

Offer gratitude for this time of reconnection.

An example of my at home, solo mini retreat:

I might take a bubble bath while giving myself a facial and listening to singing bowls on Spotify. Then, I'd take my journal into the woods where I would just observe and notice everything with my 5 senses.

I might take a thermos of tea and a favorite yoga dance play list and dance like no one is watching. An ideal mini retreat!

Any break from ordinary life approached with intention can be a retreat. Just this weekend, I attended the spring bulb show at Smith college. There were new sights and fragrances; I learned about horticulture; and was truly present with my company of sisters-in-law. We emerged refreshed!

Thinking back, on my first retreat as an adult, I was taken to a Buddhist talk and meditation in Boston followed by a Grateful Dead concert with Jon Kabat-Zinn and his son Willow. I'm quite sure the mindfulness guru doesn't remember me, but I remember him. Since then, I've been on a path of mindfulness exploration and self-discovery. It is my passion to bring others along for the ride. Let's journey into retreat together.

With love & light on your path,

Jess

p.s. If you know someone who needs a retreat or might enjoy this news letter, please share.

​Visit: ​https://jessicabanerobert.com/ to get your free gift of 4 meditations and journal prompts for daily mindful living and to learn about retreats and sound baths.

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