The design for this retreat was for me a time to purge myself of all the impurities which accumulate in my mind, my body and most importantly my soul, during the course of my “normal life.” I often times get to the point where I cannot quiet myself in my mind and my heart feels dull and lacking in compassion for myself and others. There's a frequent sense of anxiousness and negative thought patterns, pessimism I guess. My plan was simple, to get back to God's garden of stillness and quiet through prayer, meditation, reading and fasting.