Hosted by Natalie Brown of Sounds Heal Studio & Erica Miller of inSpirit Healing Arts
Location: Hokyoji Zen Practice Community, 2649 County Rd 5, Eitzen, MN
Registration link: https://www.inspiritheals.com/events-1/the-medicine-of-silence-a-silent-retreat-at-hokyoji-zen-community
Silence is not empty—it is alive, intelligent, and profoundly transformative.
This 5-day Silent Retreat at Hokyoji Zen Temple invites you into noble silence, a sacred and intentional practice of refraining from speech, digital communication, and external distractions. Within this shared field of quiet, the nervous system begins to unwind, the mind softens its grip, and a deeper layer of awareness naturally emerges.
In silence, we stop performing, explaining, and responding—and begin listening. Thoughts slow. Sensations sharpen. Emotions that have been waiting beneath the surface are given space to move, integrate, and settle. Many experience a deep recalibration: clarity where there was confusion, peace where there was agitation, and a renewed sense of connection to self, nature, and life itself.
Held within this powerful container, we will gently weave together:
Seated and walking meditation
Mindful movement: contemplative and restorative yoga & qi gong
Forest bathing and immersive time in nature
Sound healing journeys that work subtly and deeply beyond words
Supportive shamanic practices
Nature based rituals
Spacious periods of rest, integration, and simple being
Silence allows these practices to penetrate more deeply. Without the need to speak or process outwardly, the body and psyche are free to reorganize themselves organically. Old patterns loosen. Intuition strengthens. A quieter, wiser inner voice becomes audible again.
The retreat is supported by simple, nourishing meals and peaceful lodging at the sacred Hokyoji, a Zen Practice Community. Hokyoji is nestled in the heart of the scenic Driftless Area in SE Minnesota, just a few miles from the Mississippi River and is located on 105 acres of beautifully wooded land. It is the perfect place to surrender into rest and inner work.
No prior experience with silence, meditation, or yoga is required—only a willingness to meet yourself honestly and gently.