The Restory Retreat Centre

  Help With Motivations “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.  God is love...” ‭‭1 John 4‬:‭16 NRSV                               ‬‬ ~ ❖ ~ “Come to me,  all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,  and I will give you rest.” ‭‭Matthew 11:28 NRSV                             ~ ❖ ~  The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ “If you would only switch on the light of awareness  and observe yourself and everything around you throughout the day,  if you would see yourself reflected in the mirror of awareness  the way you see your face reflected in a looking glass,  that is, accurately, clearly, exactly as it is without the slightest distortion or addition,  and if you observed this reflection  without any judgment or condemnation,  you would experi...

I have not written for a long time. I’m exploring why. I love writing. I love the process of allowing a story to unfold through me and to then hone it until it shines with the sheen of something made with utmost care and appreciation for the beauty of the material, in this instance, words. How words fascinate me with their beauty! I love how they look formed in my own handwriting, or in the handwriting of someone I hold dear. My long departed mom’s left-handed longhand, or in many cases all capital letters when she needed to make it legible, looking very much like my own. George’s penciled-in notes in books he’s read, make as good reading as the book itself; tiny scribbles often with page numbers as cross references or main themes pointed out. But even if they are typed, there is a balance and feel to every word that make me want to simply sit with it and look at it, pronounce it maybe. “Maybe” – “ Maybe” – “Maybe” – “Maybe” – “Maybe” So why then this long period of not w...

A historical ruin at The Restory shrouded in early morning mists. Photograph by Marinetha Marais To retreat quite literally means that we step out of our normal day to day life and responsibilities and isolate ourselves for a time to restore energy and to find renewed balance in life. This may be for a few hours only or extended periods of days or weeks. In our busy lives, this may sound like a complete waste of precious time. To the contrary, new perspectives arise by reconnecting to our inner selves through practices such as gentle exercise, rest, meditation and contemplation. This leads to higher levels of energy, creativity and productivity. Being in an environment dedicated to provide the necessary support and guidance can be of immeasurable value in bringing meaning to life. The mindfulness practices introduced at a retreat center can and should be continued in normal day to day life.  It holds the key to a heightened awareness of our moments and days which is life c...