Gidleigh, North Dartmoor September 7-13th 2012
with Daverick Leggett & Graeme McCracken
£595 (Numbers limited to fifteen participants)
“Notice how each particle moves
notice how everyone has arrived here from a journey
notice how each wants a different food
and how each streams towards the ocean” Rumi
This retreat is an invitation for you to take time out of your daily life and give attention to your own nourishment and healing. It is an opportunity for replenishing deep exhaustion, initiating the transformation of illness and receiving nourishment through good food, Qigong, meditation and connection with nature.
The retreat will be guided by Daverick Leggett, Graeme McCracken and Fran Turner. Daverick is an experienced Qigong teacher and the author of two books on nutrition, a subject which he teaches internationally. Graeme is an acupuncturist and tuina practitioner and Fran is an experienced Chinese herbalis. They all share a love of food and a passion for the wisdoms of Chinese medicine.
Our venue for this retreat is Gidleigh Village Hall near Chagford. The hall overlooks a huge panorama of fields and hills. It has a generous and well equipped kitchen, shower and toilets as well as the wooden floored hall which will be the hub of our activity for the week. To keep costs down and to strengthen our contact with the earth we will be camping in a field adjacent to the venue.
Numbers will be limited to fifteen allowing a maximum ratio of five participants to one facilitator.
Nutrition Early in the retreat you will meet with one of the team for a consultation. On the basis of this we will set you on a dietary path for the week according to your condition. We will be working with the principles of energetic nutrition rooted in Chinese medicine which recognises the variation in each person’s need. The retreat might involve some fasting if appropriate for you. You may also be given some Chinese herbs by our resident herbalist. At the end of the retreat we will offer individual dietary guidance for you to take onwards into your daily life.
Qigong Each day we will practise Qigong together, outside with glorious views over north Devon if the weather is good, indoors in our spacious hall if not. This collective practice will strengthen and mobilise our Qi and help deepen the healing. As the week progresses we will be recommending specific Qigong practices on a more individual basis for you to strengthen and develop your own Qigong path.
Meditation A daily stillpoint meditating together will help you absorb the benefits of the retreat, strengthening your Qi, centering and calming your mind. Creating a place of stillness at the heart of your retreat will help you to be present and help process whatever emerges for you. This will involve sitting but can be done as easily in a chair as on the ground.
Connection with nature The retreat will include time with nature either alone or with the group. We will be surrounded by some of the most spectacular moorland on Dartmoor with wild river, stone circles, tors and woodland. This contact with nature will be an integral part of the retreat, gathering nourishment from our contact with the earth and the beauty of our environment. As part of your journey through the week we may encourage you to spend some time alone on the moors to reflect, meditate and gather power.
And… You will be sharing this retreat with about a dozen people, your co-travellers along the way. We will be encouraging you to look out for each other and be open to the mutual support and human connection which can enrich your journey. There will be a daily circle to share whatever you wish to bring to the group.
Although this is a “healing retreat” do not expect it to be overly heavy and serious! We want it to feel like a profound holiday. In the evenings we might have a fire and we encourage you to bring music, stories and poetry. Despite the seriousness of our intention we hope to hold the experience with a light touch and having fun is definitely on the menu!!
To reserve your place please send a £150 deposit to: Daverick Leggett P.O. Box 3, Totnes TQ9 5WJ
