20-Minute Retreats: Revive Your Spirit in Just Minutes a Day with Simple, Self-Led Practices

by Rachel Harris

This collection of step-by-step practices from ancient cultures, world religions, and psychological disciplines provides readers with the self-renewing, spiritually, uplifting rewards of retreat anytime, anywhere. We all crave periods of silence and introspection, but with lives lived at an ever-increasing pace most of us find fewer opportunities to fill that need. Now, psychologist Rachel Harris has come to the rescue with this unique collection of 20-, 5- and 1-minute mini-retreats-short periods of meditation, contemplation or self-discovery drawn from traditions and practices as varied as Buddhism, the Quaker faith, Sufism, art therapy, ritual magic, Gestalt therapy, and Jungian dream analysis. Provocative sidebars, stimulating quotes, and touching first-person stories make this book as inviting to read as it is practical to use. With these brief retreats, readers of any age or occupation will be able to catch their emotional breath regardless of what is happening in life, to pause to listen to the sounds of their souls, and to reemerge balanced and refreshed.

Genres: Spirituality, Health, Self Help

304 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2000

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Reviews

[Lisal Kayati Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers. Great short practices! I have incorporated many of them in my daily meditation. Clear and simple. I recommend!

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're too busy for contemplation, avoid self-improvement books, or get bored just thinking about doing meditation, this is a book to pick up. There are so many different techniques used, it's possible to find at least a few that sound intriguing. I started with a couple of the 1-minute and 5-minute exercises which are sprinkled throughout, and started noticing my essential voice as a result.

The author's advice to pick and choose, trusting your knowledge of what will have meaning for you and trying whatever exercises resonate, is freeing. It's good advice for someone methodical like me, who might otherwise think I needed to start at the beginning and work my way through from there.

I use the word exercise because, with the variety of techniques used, no one word describes them all. Some are meditation, some guided imagery, I understand some use writing and art although I haven't yet tried any of those.

So, when I get home from work can I find 20 minutes, or 1 or 5, to be with me? I think I can.

[Rebecca]

I would recommend this book to family cause its a little bit hard to admit I've read it to anyone else. As it is though I am trying to integrate meditating into my life and July was a much better month because of the addition of this book. Before you judge me try the yes retreat. In your head, say yes to the things in front of you, "yes to the couch, yes to the chair, hell yes to the Tel Aviv skyscape." It is a good feeling.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

well actually I didn't finish it, I couldn't renew it any more times from the library. So ironic I couldn't find the time to do 20 minute retreats regularly! But I liked the idea and enjoyed the parts I did read. Nice ways to make time for yourself everyday with a specific focus and intent.

[Julie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly like the 5-minute mini-retreats. During a super busy day, it's great to have these easy go-to practices to get me re-centered.