My First Introduction To A Retreat

Retreat In Rio Largatos

As I told in the hunger knock blog I went on retreat in Rio Largatos, Yucatan, Mexico for the necessary reflection and relaxation. A bit of yoga and meditation that I can handle and nice to experience a fire ceremony. Probably the same as a campfire with meditation, right?

Walk With My Coco

I had a Coco at the start of the weekend that I had to name and represented my blockages. I had to drag the coco to everywhere I went. Yes, everywhere I went I walked with a Coco in my hand!

A Name For My Coco

I named my Coco ‘Coco Loco’ (A drink I got on Cuba) and stood for letting go of the past and future and to live in the now. Ok nobody knows me in this village so walking around with Coco that will work out if that is the strangest thing this weekend. I will be fine.

Letting Go Of The Past

I was also told that during the fire ceremony I was going to throw the Coco into the fire as a symbol for letting go. No problem, please!

Fishing Village

After a delicious shrimp’s meal (fishing village), tastier and fresher I can’t get it anywhere. I went by boat to a deserted beach. Sky full of stars, blowing wind, sound of splashing water and an occasional boat. The fire was lit while I watched the stars.

The Fire Was Ready

When the fire was ready, I was called to stand in semicircle around the fire with the Coco in front of me. As an introvert, I had prepared myself to share something small about the blockages the Coco represented. So check I was ready! Yes?

The Fire Ceremony

I was going to participate in the entire fire ceremony with invocation of the elements, ancestors, earth and the four wind directions and the sky. OK, I had not prepared myself for that. Everyone in turn seemed to know how to do that and what to say. Whole verses were chanted. It made me more and more nervous, and I panicked a bit. THINK, THINK! Did they come up with those verses on the spot or had they prepared in advance? How stupid I was not to read about what a fire ceremony represents! The introverted mind that just doesn’t like living in action that is unprepared! My turn: Thanks West, ohm!

It was one of the most beautiful experience of my travels looking back till now.