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 these retreats run from 6:30 on Friday evening to approximately 3:00 on Sunday afternoon and are fully catered.
The cost of each of our retreats in 2010 is £175 per person and a deposit of £60 per person will secure your place/s. We are not yet able to advertise the price for 2011 - it will be clarified as soon as possible. Booking information is sent out in advance of each retreat to all those on our mailing list. To join that list, or to book for a retreat, please see "Contact Us".
We also offer a proportionately reduced cost, non-residential option for those who live within 10 miles of the Retreat Centre. For further details of this option, 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 use the contact information given.
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.
2010
January 22nd - 24th ~~~ "CELEBRATING COMMUNITY"This has proved over the past few years to be a 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 what you would like to be included when you send in your booking!
April 16th - 18th ~~~ "THE WAY OF THE ROSE"The rose, as a symbol of love and human transcendence, has been revered for millennia by those whose hearts yearn for spiritual freedom.
We will explore the rose from both personal and traditional perspectives; draw inspiration from a variety of medieval mystics and poets and, through the Dances, honour and celebrate love - both human and divine.
June 18th - 20th ~~~ SUMMER SOLSTICE RETREAT - "DANCING IN THE LIGHT"A weekend event at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham where, though a programme of song, dance and walking meditation, we will celebrate and offer gratitude to the sun.
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 6th - 8th ~~~ "CROSSING THE CIRCLE"We are part of a universe which we share with all living things and on this retreat, we will look at how the original, nature-focused spirituality of our land has formed the basis of, been co-opted into, and is not separate from much of today's religious practice.
We will work towards strengthening our personal connection to the elements and the whole of the living world around us.
October 22nd - 24th ~~~ "A BEATITUDE BLESSING"The Bible gives the meaning of the 6th Beatitude as "Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God".
We will examine the expanded translations of Neil Douglas-Klotz from the Aramaic laguage spoken by Jesus, which reveal that Jesus encouraged his followers to be as full a divine reflection as possible and to fulfil their individual life's purpose.
We will also explore how this timeless message speaks to us today.
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 51712011
January 28th - 30th ~~~ "CELEBRATING COMMUNITY" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, GloucestershireThis has proved over the past few years to be a 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 what you would like to be included when you send in your booking!
March 25th - 27th ~~~ "MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF THY PEACE"Exploring in an embodied way these well-known words of Francis of Assisi at The Othona Community near Bridport in Dorset.
This retreat is hosted by Othona so for all further information, price and booking, please contact them directly.
email: or phone 01308 897130 April 29th - May 1st ~~~ "PROCLAIMING PEACE" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, Gloucestershire"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it fully in your hearts." St Francis of Assisi (1181/2 - 1226)
We will embrace the protracted unrest in the Middle East as a metaphor for our own personal conflicts. Weaving together dances inspired by the major spiritual traditions originating in this area i.e. the Goddess and the three Abrahamic religions, we can focus - both individually and collectively - on peace.
July 22nd - 24th ~~~ "NAMASTE"A weekend event at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham at which we will use this ancient Sanskrit blessing as the basis of the programme.
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 5th - 7th ~~~ "ONE HEART BEATING" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, GloucestershireWith society's continued exploitation of our sacred Earth and the loss of balance between the divine masculine and feminine, we are called ever more strongly to recognise our shared heart-beat and to honour and celebrate each other and all of creation.
The programme will offer opportunities to address the imbalance within ourselves, and re-affirm our connection with the Earth.
October 28th - 30th ~~~ "TAKE A BREATH" at The Marist Centre. Nympsfield, Gloucestershire.... and dive deeply into its mysteries
"Prayer is nothing but the inhaling and exhaling of the One breath of the Universe." Hildegard of Bingen (1098 - 1179)
Between the dances on this quiet and reflective weekend we willextend the silences and share some transformtive breathing practices which can energise or relax, purify and heal, open us to guidance and connect us to the Source.
November 11th - 13th ~~~ "STEPPING IN HIS SANDALS"Walking "The Beatitude Way" with the Aramaic Jesus - a retreat at The Ammerdown Centre at Radstock in Somerset.
This retreat is hosted by Ammerdown so for all further information, price and booking, please contact them directly.
email: or phone 01761 433709FUTURE 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.