Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

What comes to mind when you hear the word “retreat”?

Do you think of an expensive Luxury Hotel?
Do you think of a day at the spa?
Or the Women’s Retreat that happens yearly with your church?
Does the word bring a sense of panic at the thought of trying to afford it or find the time for it?
Or does it bring a sense of longing?

Does the word feel unrealistic? 

In my world, the idea of taking a weekend-long retreat to get away and refresh feels like an expensive dream. As an added bonus, I can see myself getting bored. I get bored easily. 

If I started planning a day-long or multi-day retreat I would start setting aside time to work or research an idea. Which then I would feel guilty for doing and that would defeat the purpose of the retreat. 

But I knew I needed a break.
And from this need, the idea of a mini-retreat was born.

Have You Ever Considered Mini-Retreats?

Retreat: A Strategic Withdrawal

A mini-retreat is a strategic withdrawal that is:

  1. Planned. 
  2. Purposeful. 
  3. Productive (in its own way).
  4. Needed. 
  5. Essential, not just a luxury. 

Mini-retreats are short activities that are easy to plan, require few supplies, and usually require little to no travel.
Unless you want to. 

Mini-Retreats are short activities that are short enough to be effective, to enjoy before restlessness kicks in,
and most importantly, easily repeatable. 

Introducing the Mini-Retreat Guide Collection

“I did a “noticing walk” mini-retreat by Selah Reflections on Sunday. By the pre-retreat assessment in the workbook, my stress level was an 18 — the top score. By the time my walk (approximately an hour and a half) was done, my stress had dropped to a 9. Reduced by HALF in just over an hour. This is huge to me! Even more than that, I had regained a sense of awe and wonder about God’s presence in every aspect of creation — including me.

I am disabled and made some small adaptations to make the walk work for me. This noticing walk has made such a difference that I plan to incorporate it into my life twice a month as a kind of reset. Thank you, Marta, for making a tangible difference in my life!

~Shelby B. Ketchen

To retreat means you are stepping away from the frantic pace of your thoughts, to-do list, errands, caregiving, and unrealistic expectations.

Instead, it means planning a simple and enjoyable activity that brings you peace, quiet, and restoration.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this journal. In today’s crazy world, I find I’m having to take more moments of mental rest. This journal provides a basic knowledge of why it’s important to rest. But, she references so many scriptures that every time I do it, I open them up and read them again.

I absolutely love that the author is also the photographer. Just her images alone give me a moment of refreshing. This isn’t about creating huge moments of rest. She reminds me to take small moments and I needed that reminder.

~Kim Steadman

Each Mini-Retreat Guide has three main goals: 

  1. Change your perception, and expectation, of what a retreat is. They can be short, simple, and doable. 
  2. Retreats are a necessity, not a luxury, and need to be on your calendar and scheduled as a non-breakable commitment to yourself. 
  3. Help you create a simple, restorative retreat practice that you look forward to and welcome and not have it be another item on your to-do list or “hopefully someday” list. 

There are currently two retreat guides available:

The Selah Journal is an interactive journal with thoughtful articles, beautiful photography, and reflective journaling prompts.

Cover of: Take A Photo Noticing Walk: A Mini-Retreat Guide

Take A Photo Noticing Walk is an invitation to take a walk in nature and slow down long enough to look and see, really see, the small details you normally miss as you rush by.