I am an avid hiker, happiest when I’m on a trail, open to whatever each step may bring. Mountain paths in the Colorado Rockies are my favorite, yet any trail invites me into presence. I carry deep gratitude for every sighting, no matter how “small” it may seem. I’ve learned that the smallest encounters often carry the biggest messages. Once, even a grasshopper hopping ahead of me became a guide with a lesson—but that story is for another time.
When I’m on the trail, I try to notice everything: the delicate columbines and wildflowers blooming at my feet, a squirrel chattering to warn me not to come closer, birds soaring overhead, the wind whispering through the aspens and evergreens, the rush of streams fed by snowmelt, and the vast mountain views that take my breath away.
Each experience is a gift.
I love sharing hikes with friends, but I especially treasure the ones I take alone. On solo hikes, I feel truly present—fully open to everything around me and within me. One of the most precious aspects of these hikes is silence.
No music, no podcasts, no conversation. Just me, the trail, and the primordial sounds of nature.
In silence, everything slows down. Even if my breath is heavy and my heart is racing from the climb, I still feel an inner stillness. The hum of daily life fades. My mind softens. And in that space, I begin to hear the whispers of my soul—the gentle nudges that remind me I can do “this,” whatever my current “this” may be.
In silence, I remember my truth, my authenticity, and the healing that already lives within me.
I’ve also experienced silence in structured retreat settings, where the depth of stillness becomes even more profound. The longer I refrained from speaking, the clearer my inner voice became.
I found that the whispers of my soul had always been there—I had simply stopped listening.
During those retreats, practices such as meditation, yoga, wisdom teachings, and evening sanghas created a supportive backdrop, encouraging me to go deeper. And in that depth, I discovered that silence is not empty at all—it is full of guidance, healing, and truth.
If you feel called to go deeper and hear the whispers of your own soul, I invite you to join me for the 3rd annual When the Soul Whispers Silent Retreat in beautiful Colorado.
Monday, October 27 – Friday, October 31
You can also explore details at: https://soulwhispers.my.canva.site
For questions or more information, you can reach me at 970.819.1019 (text or call), or email me at debbie@debbiecassidy.com.