In the Woods, I Found My Muse Again …and Other Benefits from Going On Retreat

In my last post, I talked about getting away for a few days to rest, relax and hopefully write. Well, I just returned from my getaway and I’m so grateful that I finally was able to do this after several years.

Going on retreat, whether locally or further away, reaps many benefits beyond the expected rest and relaxation. Here are five benefits I received in a mere 48 hours.  

1.   A Visit from My Muse

It’s been several months since my second book, Writing Through Your Grief, was accepted for publication (expect a late 2023 release). And, I had every intention of diving right into my next project because it had been ping-ponging in my brain for the better part of two years. But I just couldn’t bring myself to start it. I detailed the reasons why in my last post, all of which boiled down to that thing called fear. So, as I started thinking about getting away for a little bit, I hoped a change of scenery would jumpstart the process.

It did! In a six-hour period, I was able to write eleven sections. To the reader’s eye, these sections look short, but they contain meditations, reflections and questions that are time-consuming and emotionally draining for me to write, so it did take me almost all day. My muse came back and she blessed me with insights to share beyond measure.  

The next benefit I received while on retreat was … 

2.   A Chance to Reconnect with Nature and the Divine  

I purposely chose a bed and breakfast in the woods with a water view because both of those features are essential for me to reconnect with my source of inspiration, which is God. Lucky for me, I found one not too far from my home, leaving me with more time to relax and write.

There is something about nature that automatically calms you and makes your brain more receptive to ideas. Strangely enough, while at this B & B, I did not ruminate about the 1,001 things I have to get done in a day because I was too in tune with what I was seeing in front and all around me – deer, frogs, many kinds of birds, bunnies, squirrels, and the resident friendly cat named Minnie who became my writing buddy. Plus, from my porch, I could hear water flowing from one of three ponds. The sound of water always calms me. At night, we stargazed. No light pollution where we were and it was glorious! 

3.   An Accountability Partner 

My original intention for this retreat was to go alone. I’ve done that before, and it has worked out well. This time around, I invited my husband on a lark. Although we travel quite frequently, we don’t always get to travel with just the two of us, so I took advantage of the opportunity. This decision turned out to be one of the best ones of the trip for he ended up becoming my accountability partner.

Throughout our stay, he would ask how many pages or words I had written. His questioning was just enough to keep me on task without being annoying. He was encouraging and supportive and made sure I had what I needed, such as earbuds so his business calls wouldn’t distract me. He knows how much I like nature, so at one point, he suggested I go outside, which I did. As I wrote on the deck – my outdoor “office” – he worked inside.  

A herd of deer meandered through the yard and pond area, watching me every so often, which I took as confirmation that I was doing what I was meant to be doing. (This might be the topic of another post – how the deer is my spirit animal!)  

4.   Motivation

After getting several sections done over the last two days, I’m motivated to keep going with this project. I think I’ve kicked the fear into the corner, and I hope it stays there for a good long while. What is helping me is that I’m really focusing on just writing everything down as I feel it coming through me instead of writing and editing as I go, which is what I normally do. So far, this approach is helping. 

I am about a third of the way done with the first draft. If I keep going at this rate, I may be done by the beginning of summer. We’ll see. I’m not playing the “Fast and the Furious” with this though because of the emotional toll it is taking on me.

5.   Research for My Dream

I believe I have mentioned in this blog that someday, I would like to host writing retreats in person. I am currently hosting retreats online, such as the Writing for Wellness class. While that modality is great, there is something special about hosting an event in person. I’ve been to many retreats, writing-related and otherwise, and can speak to the power of being in a group sharing our thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams. It is a soul-shaking experience, and that is saying a lot coming from this highly sensitive and introverted writer.  

So, aside from writing, my ulterior motive for this retreat was to do some research on venues. My ideal venue is either a B & B or VRBO-type of house small enough to feel cozy yet large enough to have space for meaningful discussion and activities. The place I went to, the Inn at White Oak in Gettysburg, PA, appears to fit the bill. It has several suite-like bedrooms, a walking trail, a water view, a cottage, an indoor heated pool and plenty of space for group discussion. Plus it’s tucked back in the woods for the ultimate in privacy. On top of that, for you history buffs out there, it is just three miles from Gettysburg, the site of the famous battle that helped to decide the outcome of the Civil War.

But, I have much more research to do, so stay tuned for updates on this writing dream of mine.  

So, now I’m back in the real world and am already planning my next getaway.  Maybe I’ll write a post about what to look for if you’re interested in going on a retreat, especially a writerly one.  

But first, it’s time to get back to the book I’m writing.

Write & Rise, my friends!