• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  Peace and Wonder

  In 2018 I stayed at Silentstay for over two weeks, with Brenda leading the meditations each morning and evening. It was exactly what I was looking for. I reconnecting with my childlike wonder and I remembered how we are all connected. The love and peace of this land is so present and it is a gift to all who come.

• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  What you created cannot be destroyed

  Dear Ruth and Bruce,
  
  You have been in my mind and heart over the past days. This news hit me in such a profound way; such heavy sadness for the loss of the extraordinary place you created together.
  
  I wouldn’t feel this way if not for the deeply meaningful experience I had staying with you this past February. I am forever grateful for that opportunity.
  
  No fire can destroy the energy and love you created at the center and I know that in time you will be able to create a refuge for peace and stillness as, if not more, powerful than what has been taken away.
  
  I want to help in any way I can.
  
  Please let me know how I can be of service to you in this challenging time.
  
  Brad

• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  May the love and peace of Silent Stay spread far and wide

  Oh dear Ruth and Bruce,
  I was there only once a few years ago, and it was exquisite for me - the land, the vibration, your temple space, the trees, the hills, the intention, the practices you shared, truly magnificent. I’ve always intended to come back. I ask God why must these beautiful sacred places burn rather than the mundane or harmful. The answer I feel within is so that the powerful uplifting peaceful love consciousness generated there can be freed and expanded even more far-reaching, like when a Guru leaves physical body and is experienced even more vastly. May you be safe and blessed wherever you go and whatever you do. I hope to spend time with you again.
  Love Kari

• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  Message of Love, Gratitude, & Support

  Dear Ruth & Bruce,
  My heart broke when I read the subject line ("Silent Stay Destroyed by fire" and saw the photos of the destruction... I am so deeply sorry to learn about the loss of your home, your hermitage, your memories, your possessions, and your community gathering space that was truly so sacred. All the years I came to be with you in the Silence were life changing for me - every time and cumulatively. (And I know hundreds of others through the years had such life changing experiences in your presence and on your blessed property). You two are bright lights and sacred beings. Thank you for sharing your grace, your home, and your hearts. Thank you for all you have given and contributed to all of us and in our journeys. I am so deeply sorry for your unimaginable loss and the hard days ahead. I have just made a small donation online (I wish it could be more!) to your rebuilding fund that I found on your website. Hopefully every little bit helps. Please know I am holding you in my heart and sending much love during this painful time of destruction and reconstruction (G_d willing soon!). I hope you raise all the funds needed to complete rebuilding. I am so looking forward to visiting the re-birthed heritimate (whenever that day comes).
  With love & gratitude for all you've done (and will do) for us all,
  Rebecca

• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  Another Lesson in Impermanence

  Attached to nothing, connected to everything… this is the journey of the soul inside the human body.
  
  Sometimes I feel trapped in liminal space, neither enlightened nor completely engaged in suffering. This is the dance of spiritual growth I suppose. Some days I have my shit together and some days it’s as if my world is falling apart.
  
  Meditation is the path to enlightenment, but for me, a smooth road it is not. Sometimes it feels more like a treacherous climb. Connecting with my true self, which can also be referred to as divine self or buddha nature is to connect with my pure essence and source of all light and life within. I’ve found that it is easiest for me to feel connected to my true self when I am away from daily routines, responsibilities and challenges. I was having a conversation about this recently with my meditation teacher. I was explaining that it is hard for me to maintain a state of openness and to “still the waters of my turbulent mind” when I am off the cushion and going about my daily life. I told her I often turn to a retreat or a vacation to allow myself to just be and I would like to learn to be in a more open and meditative state always.
  
  Three days ago I reached out to Ruth Davis, who with her husband Bruce, own and run Silent Stay Retreat Center. I was planning to book another stay there. Silent Stay promotes connecting to our spirituality, truth and wisdom through what they call “the great silence”. Precious days free from our daily story. Nothing to do, nothing to say, just opening to the simple peace that is within our hearts.
  
  This morning Ruth emailed me that Silent Stay completely burned to the ground last night. What struck me more than this terrible news was Ruth’s beautiful response. She wrote: “Dear Jennifer, we lost everything… the great God of Fire took Silent Stay to a higher realm… but the deep silence, the deep love in our hearts remain. Stay in touch dear… we will regroup and offer the daily 9am meditations online wherever we are. Love, Ruth”. I am so moved by the strength and hopefulness she exhibits. Another reminder that nothing is certain, everything is impermanent, except the great silence and love in our hearts.
  
  So much gratitude to Ruth and Bruce for the gift of their beautiful spirits and energy and the gift of Silent Stay. Silent Stay will live forever in my heart and I am thankful for the lesson in living with grace.
  
  So, until I can retreat again I will practice living with the gift of the great silence in my daily life and will join Silent Stay in meditation and prayer in the meantime.
  
  Many blessings and stay safe,
  Jennifer

• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  The 3 Silences

  It was a bright, new day. The hermitage lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts. The first was an indomitable quiet that came from nature. This silence lay in the valleys, climbed the hillsides and covered the serene landscape. It was a silence that absorbed the birdsong flitting through the air. It sat unperturbed by the gusts of wind who created a slow, rhythmic ocean sound as it blew around the trees and the hermitage. These sounds paid reverence to the silence and strengthened the knowledge of it. In this way the birds and the wind contributed to this vast and first silence. The second silence was from things that were lacking. If there were people chatting on phones, cars bustling up and down the road or the click-click of key strokes as people did their work then the silence may have been chased away, scared off by the busy-ness of the modern world. Of course there were none of these things, and so the silence remained. The third silence was not an easy thing to notice. It lay in the hands of the occupants as meals were prepared and dishes were cleaned. It was in the careful and meandering steps as the paths were tread. And it rested deep in the hearts of the people of the hermitage. The third silence was a vast emptiness - vastly filled. It was this silence, above all other silences, that was being recognized and cultivated at the hermitage. It was this silence that contained the boundless joy, and love and wisdom of the people here - it was the greatest silence of the three. Thank you Bruce, Ruth, and Brenda for helping me find silence. I am truly grateful.
  

• 

  ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Photo

  I did not come for Silence

  I did not come for Silence, but I found the Quiet.
  I did not come for Solitude, but I did find silent companionship.
  I came to do Nothing. And nothing was something I ended up Doing.
  I didn't expect anything, but I found almost everything

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  A True Sanctuary

  Bruce and Ruth have created a true sanctuary for healing, meditation, contemplation and self-care. The environment supports your focus on what most needs your attention. The silence was a profound experience - I want to return for more. This place is a treasure.

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Beautiful, calm, nourishing

  I came here for a vacation and ended up deepening my meditation practice. This place is great if you would like to do a solo practice on your own schedule, surrounded by natural beauty. And with all the conveniences of home with a full kitchen, as well as the hot tub and pool. I enjoyed the sense of spaciousness, peace, and community that is here

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Nourishing and lovely

  My wife and I had a short weekend at Silent Stay; the natural beauty and kindness is palpable. We will return.

• VocalReferences Text

  I came to find silence

  In a world of constant noise and distraction, I came here to find the silence I needed to open my mind to face important changes and decisions in my life. I found that silence that I needed, but I also found more than silence. I found myself and understood awareness. Those learnings will be with me forever and will help me to understand the world beyond intellect and emotions. I think this will help me, but will also help me to help others. I want to come back with my beloved ones, especially my daughter. Thank you so very much... Luis

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Silence was golden

  My time was magical. I fell in love with taking time to nourish myself, preparing my meals and having  free time in my week for being rather than doing. Although I had meditated on my own for years, my time with Ruth and Bruce allowed me to deeply understand my ability to receive and offer in my own stillness. After four days, I gained more rest and clarity in my mind and heart than I had felt in years. This is a sanctuary I will hold dear and look forward to returning “ home” here soon

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Something I Really Needed

  I had the most peaceful pressure-free time at silent retreat. Ruth and Bruce are lovely easy going people. The meditations, particularly the one on one with Ruth, are incredibly profound. Everything you need to relax is there. I was taken aback by the incredible surroundings and peacefulness of the property itself. I will be back as soon as possible and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a safe place to just relax and to have the permission not to talk and just enjoy yourself.

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Heart Introduction

  Ruth and Bruce introduced me to my heart! I am relatively new to meditation and in just a few short days, I learned to mediate with their guidance, released my 'inner child' with the help of their books and one-on-one session, and discovered self-healing in my energy healing session. My stay was truly a life changing experience and I will be making this a regular routine for myself to maintain the sense of connection, lightness, joy, and fulfillment I had leaving Silent Stay. I am infinitely grateful for these two wonderful souls!

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Spreading love around the world

  I visited Silent Stay back in November for a couple of nights. When I had my session with Ruth, I had mentioned that I was upset about what is happening in our world, with the state of US and global politics, the great divisiveness in our country, etc. In response, Ruth talked about a monk meditating an a cave and how he is putting higher vibration out into the world and suggested that by me being kind, loving, etc, that I could do good by putting that into the world. She used the metaphor of dropping a pebble in water and the ripples spreading outward. Fast forward to January when I was at a yoga retreat, hosted by San Francisco musician Michael Franti. The first night, Michael asked each one of us why we were there. I talked about about our conversation and that I want to learn how to be a bigger pebble to ripple good out into the world. He came back to that metaphor at the end of the week and is now using it as part of his music !!! I wanted to let you know so you know how you are creating positive ripples in the world. :)

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Peaceful

  I loved the quiet, calm and peaceful environment Silent stay provides. The meditation led by Bruce is a reminder to incorporate that in my life, the one on one with Ruth was definitely one of my favorite experiences. The property was quiet and clean and not crowded. I can’t wait to return again. You can bring in your books but their library is pretty rich. They also have books written by them. And some merchandise we purchased as well. Bring some cash for the merch and donations. There is a shared kitchen that’s fully equipped. You can bring in groceries so you can cook or you can bring already prepared food. The view from any angle of the property was amazing! There is a swimming pool and  hiking trails. One of my fav activity was to lay on a hammock and watch the sunset. Taking guilt free naps, practicing mindfulness and spending ME time. Bruce and Ruth were warm and welcoming. Serena welcomed us and answered all our questions.  She gave us an orientation upon our arrival. We enjoyed our stay. Definitely will be back and highly recommend to others :)

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Extremely refreshing

  I'm so glad I took the time to go on this retreat. It was a great opportunity to reset and level up on my meditation (I meditated several times throughout the day in addition to the morning and evening sessions with Ruth and Bruce). Through the silence, I was able to really take a deep look into my own thinking patterns and get to know myself on a deeper level. I'd love to go back! 

• ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 VocalReferences Text

  Finding silence

  I didn’t realize just how much the experience meant until I left. I am very grateful for the retreat and the hospitality provided by Ruth and Bruce. The 1:1 meditation that Ruth leads with each guest was especially interesting and eye opening. I've been to a few different retreats, and I particularly enjoyed Silent Stay better than others for it's intimate setting. I look forward to returning!

No testimonials match your filter. × Clear filters & show all