I will never be able to do justice with words to the 6 days and nights spent at Maitreya. I needed a retreat to relax, reset, unwind, and take the time to further discover myself - I expected some yoga, meditation, and self-development workshops. What I got was so, so much more. It was not just a typical retreat, it was a ‘community retreat’. I had the experience of living on an almond farm in the south of Spain with a group of wonderful, diverse people. At Maitreya, they have the dream and plans to heal the land damaged through years of farming and subsequent erosion: a full permaculture roadmap with a focus on water capture, renewable energy, soil rejuvenation, and waste management; building a true community of people who share and work towards a bold, yet achievable vision (living permanently or volunteering); and helping people heal and become their better selves through retreats. Maitreya is only one year into their project so it’s still very much a work in progress, including the infrastructure, but that made the experience more special for me. We cooked, cleaned, worked, ate, and lived together - talking, laughing, singing, sitting around the fire, sometimes simply enjoying the silence, and other times supporting each other when tears were shed. Before every meal, we shared what we were grateful for - a simple, but enriching ritual. We fluctuated in numbers over the week… as many as 12, only as few as 8, some volunteers coming, others going. Throughout the retreat we learned about Human Design - discovering our true selves; we shared rituals - with nature, with fire; we meditated, we practiced yoga, we were immersed in a beautiful sound bath, we shared our talents, and we danced. We bonded - all from different backgrounds and there for different reasons. I left Maitreya on Sunday feeling more complete than when I came there. Does that mean I've changed? Yes and no. Nothing drastic, my feet are still on the ground, but I have a greater awareness, love, and acceptance for the person that is me, which is liberating. I have a much better appreciation of what it means to be truly self-sustainable, to repair even just a small patch of our earth, and the immense work it takes to get there; and I've experienced, albeit briefly, what it means to live in a community. I share all of this in detail, and the photos, to ask for your support for this inspirational project for those who want to contribute financially or with your skills; to connect those of you looking for a community experience - temporarily volunteering on the farm, or those wanting to make a life change