Modern monastery

Here's a small glimpse of our two-days stay at SolensHjerte in Odense, the largest plant school in the Nordic region converted to a modern monastery. The food was delicious and the people were warm-hearted. Its family consists of just about 50 members from the age of 16. The place is spiritual and gives you space for personal growth. Many of the members has a regular job and many of them are divided and included in different tasks at the place. Each one of them is choosing that area which makes their heart sing. Areas such as interior design, cooking, cleaning and gardening..

Their philosophy is that what's most iportant in life is knowing youself from the inside. Therefore they're all working a lot with themselves.

Some rules are general such as, taking off your shoes before entering the building, breakfast is served at 9.00, lunch at 13.00 and dinner at 18.00. Every day at 17.30 they hold a meditation and we were lucky to join one of them. Immediately after dinner we gathered with the group for cleaning up the dishes. As my hands were working and my thoughts after a while started wandering, someone suddenly shouted "knuse paus!!"

I turned around and someone smiled and reached out. Surprised and nevertheless glad I threw myself into a warm, long hug..!

"Knuse paus" means "hug-break" and is also one of their daily acts. Wonderful, isn't it! What if this was introduced to all schools and all workplaces! Well.. at least the possibility and the acceptance of it.

Peace, Love and Knuse paus! :D

Elin