Residential Retreats

At any of our retreats, you can expect a weaving together of the Dances of Universal Peace with at least some of the following:

Ritual; Breath, Sound and Body work;
Meditation Practices; Singing; Guided Visualisation;
Healing Practices and Storytelling.

Each of our Residential Retreats is structured and themed individually so that it has its own special character.

We currently organise and facilitate 4 retreats each year at The Marist Centre, Nympsfield; all of which run from 6:00 on Friday evening to approximately 2:30 on Sunday afternoon and are fully catered.

The cost is £190 per person and a deposit of £60 per person will secure your place/s. (We also offer a proportionately reduced-cost, non-residential option for those who live within 10 miles of the Retreat Centre and prefer to join us on this basis.)

Booking information is sent out in advance of each retreat to all those on our mailing list. To make an enquiry, join that list, or to book for a retreat, please see "Contact Us".

Retreats listed below, which we are leading but which are not organised by us, may be longer or shorter and the venue, price and booking procedure will be different. For all details of these, please contact the venue directly, using the contact information shown.

For our retreats at The Marist Centre, we have sole use of what has proved, over the past few years, to be a much loved residential centre near Stroud, in Gloucestershire. For further information about the Centre, and a typical timetable for the retreat, please click here.

There is a maximum number of places available on each retreat and early booking is advised.

We extend a warm welcome to all.

The following is a brief description of the themes.

2012

January 27th - 29th ~~~ "CELEBRATING COMMUNITY" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, Gloucestershire

For several years now, we have offered this popular annual weekend, at which we come together to share, relax and socialise; and to dance your favourite dances.

The programme is created entirely from the requests you make so please let us know which dances you would like to be included when you send your booking

April 20th - 22nd ~~~ "COME INTO THE GARDEN" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, Gloucestershire

Many beautifully cultivated gardens were created during medieval times. In their spiritual poetry and writings, the mystics of this period used the garden as a metaphor for the heart - the place to which one would go to meet the Beloved.

In the vocabulary of the Sufis, we will meet in 'the garden' and aim for "intoxication" and "ecstasy" as we celebrate divine love through 'dervish dancing', zikr practices and Sufi poetry.

May 4th - 7th ~~~ "BELTANE"

A long weekend event at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham where we'll enjoy a fun a programme of song, dance, creative activities, story and ceremony.

This retreat is hosted by Woodbrooke so for all further information, price and booking, please contact them directly.

email: or phone 0121 472 5171

August 3rd - 5th ~~~ "SHE CHANGES" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, Gloucestershire

Drawing inspiration from the chant dedicated to the ancient Greek Goddess Kore (Persephone) we will embody the female archetype through our devotional songs and dances. By exploration of some associated timeless mythology, we will examine how the divine feminine manifests in ourselves and is experienced in our world today.

This retreat does not have a feminist agenda. Men are especially welcome!

October 26th - 28th ~~~ "GO PLACIDLY" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, Gloucestershire

".... and remember what peace there may be in silence"

We will share a programme of gentle dances, seated & walking meditation practices and some periods of silence in order to help us to create the inner stillness which is appropriate for this time of the year.

This is a perfect time to "... enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.".

Both quotes above are taken from DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann.

December 30th - January 2nd ~~~ NEW YEAR RETREAT - "GIVE PEACE A DANCE"

A 4-day event at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham where, though a programme of song, dance and meditation, we will welcome the New Year in a peaceful, purposeful and intentional way.

This retreat is hosted by Woodbrooke so for all further information, price and booking, please contact them directly.

email: or phone 0121 472 5171

FUTURE DATES

For the retreats planned for future years, the titles and details of the themes will be posted nearer to the time of the events and a leaflet/booking form with full information about each year's retreats will be available in due course should you want one. If you have any questions about what you see below, please contact us.