BRISTOL – A Retreat Day – Dropping into Autumn

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Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/11/2023
11:00 am - 4:30 pm

Location
St Mary's, Yatton (Chapter House adjoining church)

Leader details:


“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Camus

 

At the time of year sometimes known in Celtic calendars as Samhain, an all-day experiential session to remember connection and interconnection as those in the northern hemisphere enter the time of longest nights. This might include time to remember those who have come before us in the caravan of creation, the recent ones and the ones not findable on ancestry.com, the human ones and the other-than-human ones, the ancient ones in deep time including those who may have lived through – and survived – times of crisis, change and turbulence. What would it be like to remember our bodies, our Earth as anchor places and places of belonging as we navigate life? The session is offered as an antidote to ways we may be conditioned to think of ourselves as alone, as a pathway to explore what happens when we come together and gather with others with our uniqueness and complexity? How do we find ways to meet that feel authentic and real and nourishing that facilitate a sense of belonging to something bigger?

 

Accessible by public transport (bus or train from Bristol) Lift sharing possible from Bristol, Stroud or elsewhere! (Indicate this when you register)

Please book here: https://yatton2023.eventbrite.co.uk

We’ll have a whole day together and we’ll have a chance to weave threads of life together through singing, dance, reflective body practice, some dedicated time for deep relaxation while listening to some live improvised music, an invitation to some outdoor time, some time to share a meal together, and more…. Everything is optional and you are invited to join the circle with an attitude of self care and discernment to what would be most helpful or nourishing to you. The intention is for this to be a deeply reflective journey which is nourishing and maybe unique for each of us. There will be a small team of musicians to support us on our journey.

For some, this may be a time of reflection, to hold space for what’s deep inside and what may be whispering or shouting to us when we create time to listen. What are the resources and hidden treasures that will keep us warm through the time of long nights?

For some, this may be a time to remember the bigger picture of life, what connects us to the human and the non-human world of what we are part. What are we remembering and harvesting or holding gratitude for in this moment?

For some, this may be a time to set intentions, to review and open to inspiration or vision for the path ahead. What are our deep dreams and yearnings and what will support us on our journeys?

How do we create space for this? The offering will be a space to honour the many ways we may uniquely experience this season and a window to be present with what is alive in us in a collective way.

If this resonates or piques your curiosity, you are invited to join us for this experience together. We’ll gather from 10.45am to start at 11 and will close at 4.30pm. We will have an opportunity for some shared lunch – please bring something vegetarian to share.

Bring warm clothes ideally layered and maybe a blanket: although the venue is well heated, it might help you to feel cosy if you lie down or just want to sit and relax

As we plan the day, it’s really helpful to know early who’s coming, so we are asking attendees to register in advance so that we know we are in the window between our maximum and minimum numbers. We will limit numbers – if you would like to come, please book early!

The hall has step-free access for wheelchairs. If you have any access needs please let us know. All ages are welcome! (If you are thinking of bringing children, feel free to get in touch to talk about how we can best make everything fit together.)

A word about pricing – we’re offering a wide sliding scale rather than a single price for sessions, to reflect differences in means in our divided society and intending to make the event both accessible and sustainable. This is an experiment that may not be so familiar to us, and not something that is offered in Tesco or on Amazon. There’s an invitation to feel into the heart, and to find what sits right, with an awareness that by contributing more you are enabling this offering to continue and also enabling more lower cost places to be offered. If you’d rather have a fixed cost and not to have to think about this, £45 – 50 is likely to be a sustainable amount per person. If you feel a call to come and would struggle to afford the lowest amount on the scale please don’t be shy to get in touch – it feels a priority for everyone who wants to be here to have access: you can email me on mheysemoore@gmail.com Feel free to get in touch as well with any questions.

Please book here: https://yatton2023.eventbrite.co.uk

Any questions? mheysemoore@gmail.com

0117 214 0418