Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/03/2018 - 11/03/2018
6:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Crewe: Wistaston Hall
Leader details:
The Original Heart Dances and Beyond
Annual Spring Weekend Residential Retreat
with Saadi Neil Douglas Klotz and Philip O’Donohoe.
at Crewe: Wistaston Hall
In our hearts, we find both surface and depths, breadth and concentration, holding on and letting go. Working with breath, body awareness, sound and feeling to make changes in life has become one of the mainstays of modern psychosomatic therapy. Samuel Lewis was there five decades earlier.
In this 50th year anniversary of the Dances of Universal Peace, we return anew to Murshid’s original dances many of which are rarely shared these days, as well as the heart deepening practices that he says made the Dances possible which he received from Ruth St. Denis. Murshid’s original dances are a treasure of energy work, for heart and body. On this level, they have not been equalled. This way of working with energy has also influenced newer Dances.
Neil and Philip will also share some of their own and other dances from the repertoire based on Murshid’s methods of transmission and blessing. Based on Murshid’s letters and papers they will also share aspects of how the dances emerged back in 1968 as well as explore Murshid’s legacy and his vision; how this has been fulfilled and how it has yet to be developed.
Likewise, the creative body and heart meditations that Murshid SAM received from Ruth St Denis remain the secret behind the way that, as he says, the Dances came “rushing” to him, even in his dreams. These meditations need not be limited to dance creation, however, but can be used for our own creative processes of imagining lives of joy and fulfilment.
This is a weekend for all involved in or interested in furthering their understanding and enhancing their experience of the Dances of Universal Peace and other related and complimentary practices. It is a rare opportunity to explore the roots and the deeper aspects of this form of spiritual dancing with two people who have dedicated their lives to these practices.
Neil Douglas-Klotz (Saadi Shakur Chishti) is the author of Prayers of the Cosmos,The Sufi Book of Life, The Tent of Abraham, Blessings of the Cosmos, Desert Wisdom and other books. He lives in Glenrothes, Scotland and directs the Edinburgh Institute for Advanced Learning. He co-founded the Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace. (see his website http://www.abwoon.org).
Philip Tansen O’Donohoe is a singer and musician who has made a lifelong study of the use of dance, sound, breath and heart in healing and spiritual development. He has trained in various forms of meditation over the last 30 years and is a senior mentor of the Dances of Universal Peace. He shares his insights into these practices around the world.
The venue: The Oblate Retreat and Spirituality Centre is located between Crewe and Nantwich. It is one and a half miles from the main-line Crewe railways station, with easy access to motorways and to Manchester airport. The comfortable rooms are mainly twin and singles – many are en suite.
Diet at this centre is omnivorous. Vegetarian food option is available. Please indicate at the time of booking. The weekend begins with supper at 6.30pm on the Friday and ends on the Sunday after lunch at around 2pm.
Inclusive Prices for the weekend: twin £250; single £270; twin with en suite facilities £270; single with en suite facilities £280.
A £60 non-refundable deposit will secure your place.
Pay online to Account Name: Lancaster Sufi Circle. Sort Code: 40-27-02. Account Number: 81378449.
Send cheques payable to Lancaster Sufi Circle to Philip O’Donohoe, East Barn, Churchfoot Lane, Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset. DT10 2DS.
For bookings and further details: Philip