Details:
Date: Friday 24th until Monday 27th May
Retreat Leader: Paul Wielgus
Requirements: Everyone is Welcome
Cost: Generosity Model – Donation only (via the donation form at the bottom of the page; no suggested amount).
Format: Onsite Only
Start and Finish times: A schedule will be released closer to the time.
Accommodation: Land of Joy wishes for everyone who visits the centre to feel welcome, accepted, safe and secure. Our accommodation options are very limited, with mostly single-sex shared accommodation and only one single room (which is sometimes needed by volunteers). This means single accommodation can only be offered to those who need it the most, but still won’t always be available. Camping can be an option at certain times of year if you have your own tent but space is very limited. Please read the relevant sections of the booking form carefully.
About the Retreat
The essence of this Spring Bank holiday nature experience is Connection
To your self – To others – To your essential nature – To Your Ecological Self.
A Key focus of the retreat will be the discovery of our capacity to find and cultivate joy through all of these connections.
“As you let life live through you , you become more of who you really are “ Roger Keyes ( poet) From “ Greening of the Self” Joanna Macy
A large part of the experience will be conducted outdoors , exploring the awesome beauty of the surroundings to Land of Joy and deepening our connection with and love for nature
The outdoor work will be complemented by the “Joyworks” learning experience, a unique mix of simple ideas and practices that help us cultivate positive , calm and joyful mindsets to enable our capacities for connection at many levels.
Here are outline details
The course is a blend of presentation, discussion and practice (indoors and out) and will be both informative and informal.
We will learn simple practices that cultivate the capacity for a more peaceful mind, as well as helping liberate the innate potential for joy that resides in our hearts.
With this heart-mind connection we will increase our resilience and energy to help develop skilful and appropriate responses to the increasing challenges we face in this turbulent world.
•Through the cultivation of a strong responsive attitude, we can embrace the skills and practices of ‘Active Hope’, which will equip us with the power to act with wise intention, wise attention and compassionate agency (power to respond skilfully)
•A tried and tested methodology based on Joanna Macy’s “Work That Reconnects.”
About the Teacher
Paul combines his Buddhist and secular mindfulness and compassion teaching with Eco-Dharma practices such as Joanna Macy’s ‘Work That Reconnects’.
He is a Buddhist practitioner and teacher of nearly 30 years, has a Masters in Action Inquiry and Sustainability from Bath University, MBSR teacher trained, Work that Reconnects trained (12 months Active Hope training with Chris Johnstone, co author of Active Hope, with Joanna), and studied Secular Dharma for two years at Bodhi College with Stephen Bachelor.
How working career involved mindfulness and sustainability based coaching and leadership development, on an international scale , working for organisations based in Europe, USA and Africa.
With many years experience in a wide range of situations he has become well known for his kind , gentle facilitation skills and renowned for his light touch and great sense of humour.
He lives in Somerset with his partner Ros a familiar face at Land of Joy and their unruly Persian cat, Oliver Twist