Maira Kalman Tries Silent Meditation Retreat

Maira Kalman’s Journey Into Meditation and Silent Retreats

From New Yorker Artist to Mindful Practitioner

Maira Kalman, renowned for her illustrations in The New Yorker and other prestigious publications, recently ventured into the world of meditation. In Mindful magazine’s October 2013 issue, she shares her experience preparing for a 3-day silent retreat—a significant step in her mindfulness journey.

How Meditation Entered Kalman’s Life

Before illustrating Mindful’s back page, Kalman had never tried meditation. Her current practice is unconventional:

• She doesn’t sit formally but takes mindful moments throughout her day.
• She focuses on breath awareness to ground herself.
• The idea of a silent retreat sparked both excitement and nervousness.

Facing the Unknown: A 3-Day Silent Retreat

Kalman approaches her upcoming retreat with curiosity and honesty:

“The nice part is that I don’t know what will happen, which is exactly the point.”

Her candid reflections include:

• Embracing uncertainty: “It’ll be what it’ll be.”
• Mixed expectations: She might love it, hate it, or find it “idiotic.”
• Letting go of pre-worrying: Choosing to turn off anxiety.

Why Silent Retreats Deepen Mindfulness Practice

For beginners like Kalman, silent retreats offer:

1. Space for self-discovery without distractions.
2. Deepened awareness of thoughts and emotions.
3. A break from routine to reset mentally.

Explore More in Mindful’s October 2013 Issue

For further insights into mindfulness and meditation, check out the full table of contents for Mindful’s October 2013 issue.