The individual alchemical retreat begins with an interview between the trained, certified retreat guide and the retreatant in order to discern the appropriate path of meditative practices for the individual’s retreat. Together the two create a safe space for the delicate operation of alchemy. The retreat guide accompanies the inner traveler as the territory of transformation is revealed and experienced. The retreatant is gently guided toward integration of the realizations and states experienced with the return to daily life. The core orientation of the retreat guide is to honor and reflect back to the retreatant the beauty of the soul and its precellence in life.
Individuals, particularly Murids, often take numerous retreats as they study the inner life, in order to absorb the depth of the teachings. Lengths of retreats range from three to 15 days.
Students with higher initiations may take 21, 30 and 40 day retreats with the approval of their guide. Only Retreat Guides with this level of experience may guide such long retreats.
In all cases, the recommendation of the Murid’s guide or Ashiq’s mentor is advised. For more information contact retreats@inayatiyya.org.
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