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Yoga, Meditation and Writing – an exploration of the nature of body and language

This retreat will be an opportunity to explore, through writing, the threshold or alchemy between the body and language in the natural beauty of Bonnevaux.

Date

19 - 22 Oct, 2022

'Grace is not dependent on our ability to receive it or offer it, otherwise it would not be grace'

 

The poetic or mystic understanding of grace is that it is synonymous to gravity. We might say this ‘ground’ enters our human experience in two ways; through the body and through language, or the word which is the logos. Both are expressed by breath moving through the physical – and here we find the silence of contemplation, found in the depths of all spiritual traditions. 

This retreat will be an opportunity to explore this threshold or alchemy between the body and language. Our practice will be Yoga and movement and reflective poetic reading and dialogue. This will lead us into our own writing practice, where we will explore certain themes. Our backdrop is the astounding beauty of the grounds, springs woodland and abbaye of Bonnevaux, and joining the resident community there for daily meditation.
 
These are some themes to warmly invite you into this. exploration: movement, stillness and reflective dialogue are ways to re orientate our senses to a more physical understanding of our experience. Through the stimulus of ground, touch, breath, posture and language we can discover pathways that reach deeper than emotion, the psychologising of our embodiment, into something more spacious and compassionate.
 
How might this help us to uncover a more gentle, open and clear sense of what holds, binds and unites us, and set us free to see things from a new perspective? In this retreat we will learn through group practice how this applies especially to where we find discomfort, pain, learnt patterns of disconnection. How does movement and meditation apply directly to developing a greater relational intelligence?

All our events taking place at Bonnevaux offer an opportunity to discover the rich cultural and historical French and European heritage of the 12th-century Abbaye de Bonnevaux, as well as to explore the varied and natural beauty of the land which we cultivate as a model of ecological responsibility.

 

ARRIVAL : Wednesday 19 October, check-in : 14:00 – 17:00

DEPARTURE : Saturday 22 October, after lunch from 14:00

MEAL OPTIONS : At Bonnevaux  we aim to offer a healthy cuisine for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.  IMPORTANT!  Leaving the option blank (in the registration form below) means you have chosen the non-vegetarian option. Please understand that we cannot change your meal plan once you are at Bonnevaux. Please be aware that  food may contain some common allergens (e.g. nuts). In case of food allergy or intolerance, please contact us with a medical certificate.

CONTRIBUTION : 

300€ for the retreat and full room and board (single room)

240€ for the retreat and full room and board (shared twin room)

Attention:

We need a minimum quota to run this retreat so once you have booked your place please wait until we notify you on Monday 3 October to book your travel. Should the retreat be postponed or cancelled. you will be fully refunded. Thank you for your cooperation.

Cancellations

— Please ensure you have travel insurance in place as we cannot refund cancelled travel for any reason.

— If you cancel your Bonnevaux booking up to 30 days before the event starts, you will be refunded the full cost of the event.  Cancellations occurring within 30 days of the event start will be offered a voucher for a future event. Bonnevaux reserves the right to cancel events at any point – cancellations occurring within 30 days prior to the event start date will be subject to the voucher refund policy only.

 

MEMBERSHIP FEE ** – 10€

Membership fee is paid once per year, valid from Jan – Dec.

** by French law you must be a ‘member‘ of the charity (association ABP) Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre Pour la Paix in order to participate at an on-the-ground event at Bonnevaux – 86370 Marçay, France. 

Membership is non-binding. It simply means that you are invited to attend the annual general meeting if you wish and that you may receive information about our events during the year.

The Abbey of Bonnevaux is the spiritual home of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) which includes a Conference and Retreat Centre dedicated to peace. The on-the-ground activities of the Abbey are organized under the responsibility of l’Association Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre pour le Paix (ABP).  The Association, which is governed by the French law of 1st July 1901, is registered in Poitiers under the reference RNA: W863007299. 
Address : Bonnevaux, 86370 Marçay, France.
Phone number : 06 33 43 71 71 / 06 61 96 57 74.
José Pype (President of the Association); Giovanni Felicioni (Associate Director and Programme Manager)
Site hosting: Flywheel

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