Report of School Retreat at Cold Ash Centre in Berkshire UK
22-29 November 2004

To see more photos from this retreat, please click here.

There were eleven of us that met to delve into the silence – nine participants and two retreat leaders. The Presence of the twelfth participant that held us all together was indicated by the beautiful icon of Christ the Teacher.

The participants came from all over England and Scotland to dedicate a week to explore the mystery of themselves and the Divine Silence.

The venue was wonderful – peaceful, prayerful, comfortable and spacious with lovely grounds.

We meditated seven times a day with four sessions of contemplative walking. Before many of the meditation sessions we aligned and balanced our bodies with gentle Chi Kung exercises whilst sitting – ‘The Sitting Jesus Chi Kung’.

The days started with two meditation sessions held together by contemplative walking in the middle. After breakfast there was a teaching session with stories to highlight one or two of the ‘Ox herding pictures’, which were the guidance during the day. Then each participant had a period of reflection with the guides before returning to their private silence.

Everyone respected the Silence, which deepened palpably. The sense of community was very strong. To ease all gently out of the silence, to face the return to words and the world gradually we walked together on an ‘Emmaeus Walk’ for half an hour the afternoon before the last day, sharing what had come up during the guiding. The Retreat finished with a moving closing ceremony where each prayed for one group in the outside world and showed in prose, poetry and dance what the Retreat had meant to them.

A few comments:

“The six days at Cold Ash were a real gift, prepared and offered with such care by Kim and Liz, that really helped me to recharge and go back to everyday life with a little seed of something that hopefully will continue to grow.”

“Gradually I was able to let go and sink into the silence, find a rhythm in the walk that allowed me to dip down into that deeper place, where everything is not always calm.”

There was time to attend to oneself, to one’s food, to walk and crunch acorns underfoot, to exercise the body, to be more aware of small things, time to look at old pains and new fears.”

“It is extraordinary how you can get to know others in the silence, how we slowly converged, brought together by our twelfth member, Christ, who was moving throughout the week and was represented for us by the icon at the centre of our meditation semi circle.”

“As an Enneagram number one with a drive for perfection this retreat came close to perfection for me. I left with a feeling of deep joy and peace.”

“The effects of the retreat are still with me, as I continue to process the experience and learning of the week.”

“To be with oneself in the holding of others away from everyday life was a wonderful gift and grace.”

“I thought the guidance offered was really wonderful – something to hold everything that was arising.”

“The sense of community and compassion for each other that came of our meditating together day after day and sensing each others’ struggles and immense mutual support was so powerful.”

“I feel more grounded in the practice, more confident in myself of the way.”

“Thanks to everyone for what we shared, and thanks to Liz and Kim for the thoughtful programme, the night prayer, the teaching through stories and pictures, the gentle guiding and all the care.”