Retreats

I remember the retreats I used to go on when I was at school. We weren't obliged to go, but most of us did join in and always felt so much better for the experience.
I envy you your Buddhist retreat house Annie, I know you will have come home feeling much calmer and at peace with the world.

I would love to go on a retreat an have some time to myself.

The closest I've come is a week in a private hospital when I had a hysterectomy.

etheltbags try www.thegoodretreatguide.com. I agree with annie but if you don't know anyone who's been recently it's more difficult. The Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham runs retreats as well as the pilgrimages www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk.

ethel would a meditative form of yoga help? I used to go to a yoga class where we lived previously and it was very gentle and the last 15 minutes or so were spent in silent meditation.
It was very uplifting, but we moved house then. The yoga class I joined afterwards was excellent and we had 10 - 15 minutes lying on our mats relaxing afterwards, but it was not as contemplative as sitting in a circle gazing at a candle flame (sounds bizarre, but it did make us feel relaxed, renewed and ready to face the world again).

Indiana, i am very fortunate they allow me to join them for a day visit.

Merlotgran, I so benefit from time in a retreat but not enough to have a hysterectomy , sorry but you did give me a giggle

Rosequartz, I think a meditave form of yoga is an excellent suggestion.

We used to go to a Buddhist retreat in Yorkshire, Kilnwick Percy Hall, I think it was, near Pocklington. Just for the day, for talks, but thinking about it, it would be nice to go and stay. You do not need to join in, but it would be a shame not to.
Some of our guests at the guest house in York were buddhists, often on their way there or back.

As Roseq suggests, yoga is wonderful. I did yoga many years ago and enjoyed it, however you cannot get a beginner yoga class in the north east. There are either classes that you must join and just 'catch up' with the rest of the class or private and expensive 'one to one' classes.

The one I went to was all beginners and we progressed from breathing through to some of the more difficult poses. A couple of years ago I tried the local gym who ran classes but everyone could literally tie themselves in knots and I spent most of the time sitting out as I just couldn't do it.
I am not particularly agile and would need a beginners class if anyone in the Newcastle area knows of one please let me know.

There is a very good retreat near here(Melton Mowbray) called Launde Abbey - its very well attended C of E but you don't have to be. I have never been to a retreat but my friend goes regularly and finds it refreshing and uplifting.

I always come away from a Sunday morning service feeling very determined to be holy saintly a good girl. It wears off by 4 o'clock.

But I expect retreats are different.

Yes retreats are different, just you and your thoughts

I was trying to make the point that the reaction was over the top compared to Kenya in April and Beirut the day before Paris. Where were the flags for those events? As at 31/8 the UN estimate that 2,500 refugees died trying to reach Europe so far this year. There is no end to the tragedies and they all matter, we are all one family on this earth, my point was that the media is over emphasising one event at the extent of others, and when the facts are missing they waste columns of paper on speculation. Whilst I want to hear how it happened, until the details emerge I would rather read about the many other things - good and bad - going on in the world which at any other time would be in the headlines.

I met a rather splendid lady on the train to Oban in the summer. She was heading for an annual retreat on Iona. I keep promising myself I would follow in her footsteps. She had been going for over 20 years and she was in her 80s

I'd love to go on a retreat. It would have to be for more than just a day though! At least a week or two - a month would be ideal...(commitments allowing, of course.)

Wouldn't it be boring?

Might be, but that might be part of it. If someone's very stressed in their day-to-day life a bit of boredom could be welcome...

There's a Buddist centre in Dumfries and Galloway, hold courses and retreats. Not been but will do one day! Google Samye Ling.

I spent a week on Iona making music - it was splendid and I remember it with great joy - but the journey was a bit of a drag of course.

Wouldn't a few days in a nice cottage be as good? Somewhere in Wales. With sheep. And hills. You know - countryside?

Why is it necessary to have the doom and gloom reverential atmosphere?

You could take a recorder.

Tee hee!

Best not areas in Wales where there is sheep farming , be like taking coal to Newcastle

Ooooops, forgot to add a smiley

They're not compulsory.

I know, but I do apologise if I make an error

Yes, I suppose it would Anniebach. Have a few days in a nice big town? Xmas lights are very cheering.