In praise of retreat Finding sanctuary in the modern world

Short story writer MacLeod (The Animal Game) delivers a satisfying exploration of and testament to the healing benefits of "removing yourself from society to a quiet place." Seeking an escape from a harried professional life and feeling unfulfilled creativity, she and her partner decamped from Toronto to "a retreat in the woods." They found there a "relief from life's rushing and chafing" and an opportunity to "stop, gain clarity and make space for change." MacLeod's satisfaction in solitude sparked her to wonder: "What has inspired people, ancient and modern, to retreat?" She answers that question by drawing on her own research into philosophy, Western religion, culture, music, and Eastern spirituality to argue that retreat cultivates virtues of "freedom, attunement to self, attunement to nature, reflective perspective and creativity." MacLeod also includes evocative descriptions of personal retreats to "wild places," such as Scotland's northwest Highlands, and "new sanctums," such as Le Monastère des Augustines wellness center in Quebec. Her reflections on a difficult pilgrimage along Hastings Heritage Trail and a disastrous ashram retreat also demonstrate the difficult sides of getting away. But hardship, MacLeod writes, makes a retreat worthwhile. Anyone looking for a respite from everyday busyness or struggling through quarantine will be inspired by MacLeod's fresh perspective on the benefits of solitude. (Mar.)

I'm sitting on the old footbridge that leads to my cabin in the woods. Beaver Creek passes silently below. Ducks fly overhead. Ferns, cardinal flowers and moss grow amid grey rocks at the water's edge. Spiders wander over my notebooks, which are spread out on the bridge's rough planks, pages held open by stones. This is the place that inspired this book. By the creek and in the forest, I discovered a rich inner dimension I didn't know existed. Far from my city life and work-obsessed routines, I began to know what gives my life meaning. And to recognize the value of protecting a divine spark, though I'm not religious, and of amplifying the extraordinary--nature, spirit, art, creative thinking--in impoverished times. A retreat means removing yourself from society, to a quiet place where moments are strung like pearls, and after long days apart in inspiring surroundings, you return home refreshed and with a new sense of what you want to do with your life. In the fraught modern era, you'd think our timeless human desire to retreat would feel more urgent than ever. Yet taking a step back has become an act of 21st century rebellion when disengaging, even briefly, is seen by many as self-indulgent, unproductive and anti-social. But to retreat is as basic a human need as being social. To withdraw from the everyday is about making breathing space for what illuminates a life. Excerpted from In Praise of Retreat: Finding Sanctuary in the Modern World by Kirsteen MacLeod All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.