Places of refuge or seclusion, often for rest, prayer, or reflection. Can also refer to the act of withdrawing or moving back.
From Old French 'retrete', past participle of 'retraire' meaning 'to draw back', ultimately from Latin 'retrahere'. The spiritual sense of a place for contemplation developed in medieval monastic contexts.
Military retreats were historically strategic withdrawals, not defeats - the famous 'retreat' of the Ten Thousand Greek soldiers led by Xenophon became one of history's greatest military adventures. Today's spiritual retreats echo ancient monastic practices of temporary withdrawal from worldly concerns for inner reflection.
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