When the Monks Call
What is that old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"? How about Spain, does that line hold true also? Well, you are about to find out.
In the spring of 2025, excitement rippled through my body. Never before had I decided to put myself first; heading off to the other side of the world was a BIG DEAL for me. For months, I had pondered on going, asking my pendulums for guidance, but they were silent to the question I was asking. Until the day I decided to ask them if I was going to Spain. The answer was finally loud and clear: YES. The pull to go was overwhelming; I just knew I had to be there, didn't know why, just knew in my gut.
So now I was heading off to a retreat on manifesting hosted by Colette Baron-Reid, and two weeks before I was to leave, my girlfriend, Marta, decided to join me on this epic journey across the water to Valladolid, Spain. The journey to Abadia Retuerta Monastery was long and arduous, but having sleeping pods across the ocean made up for it.
The excitement I felt was rippling through my body. I just knew something amazing was going to happen while I was here.
The site of our idyllic retreat was originally the Abbey of Santa María de Retuerta. It was founded in 1146 after the land was gifted by the daughter of a Count. It was a monastery until the 19th century, with vineyards and vegetable and fruit gardens tended by the monks. To raise war funds, the Spanish government expropriated and privatized all monastic properties in the 1830s. The Abbey has passed through various private hands, including a grain company, and by the late 20th century, it was pretty much a ruin. The Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis bought the property in 1988 to everyone's surprise. The Italian architect Marco Serra transformed the abbey and grounds into a luxury hotel, winery and spa that opened in 2012.
Abadia Retuerta Monastery was everything and nothing we expected. It was so much more. After the meet-and-greet with the other attendees on the day of our arrival, the following morning, we headed to our first of many manifesting sessions.
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The walk down the long stone hallways where monks had once walked centuries earlier was spine-tingling. With the soft tapping of my sandals and the awe-inspiring architecture, I suddenly heard Monk’s chanting, their voices echoing off the stone walls. For the next several days, every time I walked down the halls that were located by the outside atrium, I heard the chanting. Lower and deep, the sound vibrated into my body, resonating with a sense of spiritual presence I couldn't explain. I couldn't find where the speakers or sound system were located in the hallways. This time, I looked at Marta and asked her if she had heard the chanting, and she nodded 'yes'. I thought to myself WOW, they have a good sound system in the monastery, but I also felt the profound spiritual energy that made it seem alive.
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Outside stood a tall stone pillar nearly thirty feet high. Curiosity has always been one of my traits, and, thinking of Outlander and the standing stones, I placed my hands on the pillar. Not sure what I expected: to disappear into another dimension? But to my surprise, I could feel its vibration-an energetic resonance that seemed to connect me to the ancient stone. It felt like a low hum that seemed to resonate from the center of the stone, as if I was tapping into a deeper, mystical energy. WOW, so cool.
I could not help but wonder what other delicious surprises were in store for me on this trip. What was even cooler was that when Marta placed her hands on the pillar, she felt the vibration also, reinforcing the idea of a shared energetic connection.
I could not help but wonder what other delicious surprises were in store for me on this trip. What was even cooler was that when Marta placed her hands on the pillar, she felt the vibration also, reinforcing the idea of a shared energetic connection.
One evening, we had gone into the great domed cathedral; the high-vaulted ceiling was breathtaking, and I could not imagine this space reduced to holding grain at one time, such a travesty. As I stood in the center, suddenly I heard the Monks chanting again. The sound echoed off the walls and ceiling, but I still could not see a sound system. Finally, curiosity got the better of me, so I went to the front desk and asked if there was a sound system installed during the renovation. To my surprise, they said that there was no sound system anywhere in the building.
Holy Moly……
So, I then asked some of the other guests if they had heard any chanting, and none had. Well, what does one say to that epiphany?
During one of our sessions, we had a window open, and a light breeze blew in, along with the sound of wind chimes. There were no wind chimes anywhere outside the building. Interesting.
On our last evening, everyone was asked to meet in the large cathedral room. There we all joined hands in a large circle. Colette led us off with a humming/chanting prayer that started low. Since I can't carry a tune in a bucket, I was reluctant to join in with my scratchy humming, so I just listened. Standing beside me was the husband of the event coordinator, Franco; his voice echoed around the room, mixing with everyone else. Listening to his voice, I knew instantly that he had been one of those monks in the 14th century who had lived there. I could see him in his greyish or brown monk's habit, his head lowered, and I could see the top of his hair was in the tonsure style. The chanting was flowing from and through him at the same time, creating a profound sense of spiritual continuity. His voice was steady and calm, with a soulful chant echoing off his throat. I was transfixed listening to him; time slipped past me, and I felt a deep connection to the mystical energy of the space, as if I was momentarily part of a long-forgotten spiritual tradition.
Later, I told him what I had seen and that he had been a monk at one time in his life. He just smiled at me, and I got the impression that he already felt that.
Well, I can say the event was more than I expected, and many surprises came from this adventure. I knew that my life had changed in ways I didn't yet know, but I was ready for what was in the cards.
What I learned from this amazing experience is that being curious about life can be so rewarding. When you drop all belief systems, old habits, and prejudiced ways of life, you can see things that may blow your mind in a good way, if you allow it.
Holy Moly……
So, I then asked some of the other guests if they had heard any chanting, and none had. Well, what does one say to that epiphany?
During one of our sessions, we had a window open, and a light breeze blew in, along with the sound of wind chimes. There were no wind chimes anywhere outside the building. Interesting.
On our last evening, everyone was asked to meet in the large cathedral room. There we all joined hands in a large circle. Colette led us off with a humming/chanting prayer that started low. Since I can't carry a tune in a bucket, I was reluctant to join in with my scratchy humming, so I just listened. Standing beside me was the husband of the event coordinator, Franco; his voice echoed around the room, mixing with everyone else. Listening to his voice, I knew instantly that he had been one of those monks in the 14th century who had lived there. I could see him in his greyish or brown monk's habit, his head lowered, and I could see the top of his hair was in the tonsure style. The chanting was flowing from and through him at the same time, creating a profound sense of spiritual continuity. His voice was steady and calm, with a soulful chant echoing off his throat. I was transfixed listening to him; time slipped past me, and I felt a deep connection to the mystical energy of the space, as if I was momentarily part of a long-forgotten spiritual tradition.
Later, I told him what I had seen and that he had been a monk at one time in his life. He just smiled at me, and I got the impression that he already felt that.
Well, I can say the event was more than I expected, and many surprises came from this adventure. I knew that my life had changed in ways I didn't yet know, but I was ready for what was in the cards.
What I learned from this amazing experience is that being curious about life can be so rewarding. When you drop all belief systems, old habits, and prejudiced ways of life, you can see things that may blow your mind in a good way, if you allow it.
