We can change our thoughts

Byron Bay Meditation Retreats

Sunset in Byron Bay.


In and out.
There we are.
We are already feeling better.
The pure beauty of silence.
K. Wilson

Our mind is full

Our mind is full of thoughts.
Thoughts are an accumulation of sentences.
Sentences are made of words.
Words are a mix of letters.
Letters are just a drawing on a piece of paper.
Our thoughts are random drawings in our heads.
We gave them meaning and power.
But by themselves they aren’t that much.
Little letters floating around, dancing in our heads.
They go here and there.
Calling us for attention.
For us to listen.
To give them life.
They come and go.
And we watch them all day long.
The only story of our life.
K. Wilson

Who are we choosing to be?

IMG_4890We can’t change the world unless we change ourselves.
We need to start giving more to receive more.
Find peace within before expecting it outside.
Learning to love ourselves so we can love others.
Be ready to question our system of beliefs to create a new society system.
We can be all, create all, become anything.
What are we doing?
What are we choosing?
Who are we choosing to be?
K. Wilson

Stressed Out? Try Some ‘Mindfulness’ Practice


Contribution from freelance writer Sally Writes

Stressed Out? Try Some ‘Mindfulness’ Practice

The word mindfulness has become a prominent fixture in western vernacular in the past couple of decades. It is a direct translation of the pali word ‘Sati’ which literally means to ‘keep something in mind’. So then, what exactly does this practice entail? In brief, we should understand that mindfulness is essentially a ‘centering’ practice that aims to make users more aware of how their bodies and minds function.

For example, a common method for being more mindful is through the observation of one’s breath. While this may sound like an easy task, it is much more difficult than you might think. For starters, you can begin with five minutes a day of watching the ‘in and out breath’. This steady awareness helps us tackle difficult emotions more efficiently and allows us to have a better perspective on things, as and when we are faced with them.

Some handy mindfulness techniques..

  • Walking awareness: this technique was widely propagated during the time of the Buddha as it is highly portable and can be done on the go. The method entails the user being aware of his/her footsteps so that the attention is focused on the pressure sensations on our feet.
  • Mindful Eating: this is another potent method that is highly useful to make ourselves more aware. While this might be difficult to practice during work hours, it can definitely be a handy tool when eating at home or when on a mindfulness meditation retreat.
  • Visualisation: this is another method that has been propagated for centuries by various Hindu and Buddhist meditation practitioners. It involves us focusing on a visual image (candle, photo) and centering our awareness on the object for a certain period of time. This technique helps gather our awareness and allows us to feel refreshed in a small period of time.

How does mindfulness help me in real life?

Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between mindfulness and lowered levels of stress. For example, people with a 15 minute daily practice were on average seen to be 46% less likely to face issues related to stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. These numbers are quite startling as they reveal that a practice this simple can greatly influence the way our mind works.

Where to get started?

There are many useful books on this subject that can help us get started into a regular practice. Other than that, it is also beneficial to check out local teachers who have had prior experience of meditation and mindfulness. Lastly, users can also go online and find a teacher that connects with them.




Why You Need To Go on A Spiritual or Yoga Retreat

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By Guest blogger Sally Writes

Going on a spiritual vacation is one of the best ways to clear the mind, get in touch with one’s inner self, and achieve enlightenment. Every year, thousands of people go on a spiritual or yoga retreat to refresh their minds, with many travelling all the way to New South Wales to learn meditation techniques and reconnect with nature for a better quality of life.

With most people living a fast-paced lifestyle, it seems that the proliferation of mindfulness retreats seem to be timely as more individuals are seeking positive ways to reduce the stress of everyday life. Visiting spiritualist destinations around the world provides many benefits for those in need of spiritual, mental, and physical healing. Moreover, taking a trip to these vacation destinations can contribute to a person’s overall health and happiness as they learn to go on an inner journey and discover deep truths about themselves. Here are all the reasons why you need to go on a spiritual or yoga retreat.

You get ample time for self-care

Most people eschew self-care as they take on the demands of work and family, but taking some time to care for yourself is crucial to avoid burnout and restore your energy. Just having the time to meditate, pray, read, walk, or do nothing at all can do wonders to help you unwind and reflect on what’s truly important.

The Awaken Meditation Retreat in Byron Bay is a fantastic example of a spiritual destination that promotes mindfulness and self-care. The serene vacation spot holds mindfulness and meditation workshops as well as daily yoga lessons to help you quiet your mind, reduce stress, and have inner peace.

You become more mindful

Going on a spiritual or yoga retreat helps you become more aware of how your actions impact the environment and the people around you. As you grow mindful, you focus on the people around you and you find ways to improve yourself every day.

You’ll make healthy choices

Some yoga or spiritual vacation destinations provide healthful food during your stay, so your body becomes well-nourished as you feast on fresh food every day. Most retreats also prohibit unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking, and some even require you to go on a technology detox to get the full benefits of the retreat. By going on this type of vacation, your body and mind get a break from all the pollutants and toxins that you get from your daily environment and lifestyle.

You’ll look and feel better than you ever did before

Doing yoga, meditation, and eating healthy food will make you feel physically and emotionally better. You may find that your muscles don’t ache as they used to, and even your skin glows as your appearance reflects all the tender care that you’re giving your mind and body during your stay.

These are all the reasons why you should opt to go on a spiritual or yoga retreat for your next holiday. You’ll find that taking some time to reflect and care for yourself will give you the priceless gift of peace of mind, health, and happiness.


Next retreat in Byron Bay from the 18th to 23rd of February 2018. Book now on www.awakenmeditationretreats.com 


Free will


Free will and life

Not everything is as we want it to be, or as we try and force it to be, right? We are all young and happy thinking we are invincible and that life belongs to us.
Then along the way, no matter what we do or don’t do, we get hurt, we get sick, we get old. We experience pain and we experience loss.
No matter how hard we try we can’t avoid this and we can’t control Life.
We are not always free to choose all that happens to us.
So where is our free will then?
Our free will is what we do with what we have been given.
It is how we respond to Life.
It is what we do with our perception and our thoughts.
As I always say, we can always cry or laugh no matter what is happening around us.
We can change and choose our thoughts.
We can be miserable or we can be happy.
And that’s true freedom.
That’s our free will.
K. Wilson



The power of the Word.

What does one word mean

when all is meaningless

when words like thoughts are just ideas floating on clouds

made of thin air

with no beginning and no ending.

What does one word mean

when we are all day bombarded by random texts

by thousand words we catch here and there

that we read, we hear and then we forget

What does one word mean

when we spend our days listening to the ones in our heads

all messed up, pulling us here and there

backwards, forwards,

we are running behind them trying to catch them

looking for answers

searching for their meaning in our lives

What does one word mean

when it is lost among all these?

And what would it mean if it were to stand alone,

in its glory

in its power

in its simplicity

It is everything, it is all that is, it is all we are looking for.