Valamo Monastery in Finland is located in the beautiful surroundings of Heinävesi, beside the clear waters of Lake Juojärvi. It is a place I always wanted to visit, yet it somehow felt too far away. There was never enough time, money, or ways to make it happen.
But this year, unexpectedly, I found myself spending almost two weeks there, working as a volunteer, walking through the forest, and speaking with a Schema Monk.
The Work and the Stillness
It all began during my layoff week. I knew I didn’t want to spend it at home, working, or feeling lonely. My birthday was approaching, and I longed to do something meaningful. While browsing online, I came across the Valamo Monastery volunteer program.
I paused, prayed, and within a day sent my application. The reply from Father S. came quickly: “Yes. When could you start?”
When the student is ready, all heavenly doors open.
The six-hour train ride to Valamo was peaceful, exactly what I needed. When I arrived at Joensuu station, a monastery taxi waited with two monks inside. The one-hour drive passed mostly in silence. That’s when I realized that this journey would not be just a visit; it would be a lesson.
At the monastery, there was no formal welcome. I received a key, a small room, and a new rhythm of life. My role was to help in the kitchen. That evening, I fell asleep early and slept for sixteen hours straight. My body knew what my mind didn’t — it was time to rest, release, and reset.
Life at Valamo
Life at Valamo is peaceful yet full of activity. The first few days were tiring, filled with long hours of work and deep sleep. I missed many early liturgies.
The monks worked tirelessly, some guiding visitors and others painting icons, tending gardens, making wine, or maintaining the daily rhythm of the monastery.
On my first day in the kitchen, Monk J. welcomed me kindly and showed me around. We didn’t speak much. The dishwashers made enough noise to fill the space. It was simple, honest work.
My birthday came on Sunday. I worked as usual. I received messages from my son, family, and friends. I was grateful, but still, I felt lonely. That day, I began to understand that true joy doesn’t come from outside; rather, it begins from within.
The first week passed without much happening. I visited the monastery library, a place filled with rare books. I could have spent days there. The museum was just as captivating.
Food, Forest, and Blessings
The monastery is surrounded by a clear lake and a beautiful forest. I often walked the “Path of Silence and Gratitude,” picking a few late sweet blueberries. I hugged the trees, how could I not? They stood tall like guardians, filled with divine energy.
Around day nine, something shifted. A rabbit ran out of the woods toward me, then turned suddenly back into the trees. I smiled through tears — a sign, I thought, a reminder of inner transformation.
I felt emotional, pain, fear, memories, old energy, but I trusted it was from the Creator, a way of clearing space for something new. I was ready.
That evening, while on the way to attend the evening liturgy, I noticed a mysterious monk moving silently towards the church. When our eyes met, I saw a light so pure it brought tears to my eyes. The next day, after a forest walk, I saw him again. This time, he stopped and greeted me.
“I was walking in the forest,” I said.
He smiled. “So you are not afraid of wolves.”
We both smiled.
Later, I learned who he was — the Schema Monk, the oldest and wisest. In that moment, I knew I was meant to be there.
Nature and Medicine
Life at Valamo flowed with a solid rhythm — prayer, work, and meals prepared with love. The food was abundant, simple, and pure.
Monks and volunteers worked together to gather local gifts of nature. Mushrooms, berries, and herbs found their way from the forest into the monastery kitchen.
The kantarelli mushrooms, freshly picked, were turned into earthy stews and sauces. Wild berries were turned into sweet wines and desserts.
Monks ate separately, sharing their meals in silence after prayer. Yet they sometimes visited the cafeteria — some for coffee, some for an extra bite, others simply to smile at the guests.
Breakfast began with kaurapuuro (Finnish oat porridge), boiled eggs, fresh salad, soft buns straight from the oven, cheese, and fruit. Lunches often featured fish, meat, vegetables, and soups. Everything tasted honest and full of life.
Nature as Medicine
At Valamo, food was more than sustenance — it was a form of prayer. Each berry, herb, and mushroom carried not only nutrients but the living vibration of the forest.
Kantarelli, or chanterelle, is known not only for its rich flavor but also for its benefits. They are rich in vitamin D, which strengthens the immune system and helps the body recover from fatigue, making them perfect after long days of work.
But beyond nutrition, these foods carried the forest energy that no store-bought meal can replicate. The perfect balance of soil, water, air, and spirit.
The same was true for the wild blueberries, lingonberries, and cloudberries. Grown under the northern light, they were full of antioxidants and purity. Eating them felt like receiving a blessing.
Healing doesn’t always come through complex rituals or medicine. Sometimes it comes as simple as breathing in the forest air, eating what grows close to the earth, and being fully present with what is.
At Valamo, I learned that presence itself is medicine. The monks lived this truth naturally. Every task was done with mindfulness, and every meal was a prayer.
Meeting the Schema Monk
One afternoon, I saw the Schema Monk sitting alone with a cup of coffee. Gathering my courage, I approached him and asked to join. He smiled and nodded.
I spoke first — and tears came easily. He mostly listened, asking a few questions that felt simple at first, but stayed with me long after the conversation ended. They weren’t meant to be answered right away. The questions he asked opened hidden doors inside me.
A few days later, while cleaning, I found a small white book. When I opened it, one paragraph was highlighted in orange. The message on that page spoke directly to my heart — as if it were written just for me, and answered the very question I had been wondering about.
I smiled, feeling warmth in my chest, and thanked the Creator and my angels for their guidance. I realised the conversation with the Schema Monk wasn’t over. It continued through signs, through silence, through conversations in ordinary moments.
Trusting the Creator
As days passed, I felt lighter. The noise of my thoughts began to fade.
While walking one evening, the rabbit appeared again — the same way it had many times during my Kundalini awakening and shadow work. For me, the rabbit symbolizes rebirth, intuition, and divine timing — the courage to leap into the unknown.
Valamo taught me to trust the Creator completely. To know that we are seen, heard, and loved — even in silence. Divine guidance doesn’t shout; it whispers through signs, through people, through the stillness we often overlook. When we open ourselves with faith, the Universe responds.
I left Valamo, carrying home the taste of berries, the scent of pine, and the knowledge that love, real, divine love, never leaves. I started to appreciate the small things we tend to take for granted: food, shelter, a friendly, innocent smile, and clean water.
My Takeaways
The work was often physically demanding. Yet the more I reminded myself why I was there, to serve the Creator, the lighter it became. My body felt less tired, and my heart more open.
I began to reflect: we often work for money, but it rarely brings happiness. When we work for meaning — for something that nourishes the soul — we discover such a joy that no material reward can replace.
Wouldn’t it be beautiful if we lived our daily lives as if we were in a monastery — with gratitude, simplicity, and mindfulness? To be fully present, to appreciate nature and all of God’s gifts, and to give thanks with every breath. Because when we live with awareness and gratitude, without judgment and resentment, we begin to feel what has always been true: that the Creator is with us, guiding every step.
I am truly thankful for the time I spent with the Valamo community. Everyone’s kindness, patience, and warm smiles made me feel at home. I will keep each of you in my thoughts and prayers with deep gratitude.
🌿Bring the Calm of Valamo Into Your Home
When I returned home, I wanted to keep a piece of Valamo’s calm with me.
It’s easy to lose that sense of peace once the world’s noise returns. But I found that introducing small daily rituals like lighting a candle, sipping herbal tea, burning a blend of frankincense and myrrh, pausing for a breath of gratitude — helps me stay connected to that inner stillness. These are a few things that remind me daily to slow down, listen within:
- Organic Dried Chanterelle Mushrooms (Kantarelli) – Rich in vitamin D and forest aroma, a taste of Finland’s healing woods. >> See details
- Wild Blueberry Powder – Perfect for morning porridge or smoothies, filled with antioxidants. >> See price
- Beeswax Candles with a gentle scent — perfect for meditation and evening prayer. >> View selection
- Frankincense & Myrrh Incense Blend – The scent of silence, grounding and cleansing the air. >> See price on Amazon
- Herbal Tea Blend for Calm and Presence >> See options
- Orthodox Prayer Rope – A reminder to breathe deeply and stay present. >> See details on Amazon
- Books & Inner Nourishment
- “Shinrin-Yoku: The Art and Science of Forest Bathing” by Dr. Qing Li – Discover how forests heal the mind and spirit. See details on Amazon
- “The Untethered Soul” by Michael A. Singer – A beautiful guide to letting go and living from the heart. See price on Amazon
