Do you ever wish you were somewhere else? Somewhere peaceful? Undisturbed. Untouched. Away from it all.
I know such a place. For many years I have been leading the Qigong & Meditation Retreat Week there. It is Holy Isle, which is off the coast of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, West Scotland.
I first discovered this beautiful, wild sanctuary in 1999 when I spent a year in retreat there. At that point in my life the constant pressures of a self-employed life had finally worn me down. I reckoned that if I were to help myself, let alone others, in my future life I ought to get to know more about myself – all those dark, wounded crevices of the heart that get ignored when constantly rushing hither and thither, from town to town, country to country, juggling several jobs at once.
My year on Holy Isle gave me time to reflect, meditate and learn. Plus I got to know the island intimately. I mingled with the herds of wild Eriskay ponies, Soay sheep and Saanen goats, swam with seals and otters and climbed Mullach Mor, its peak. Holy Isle is now my home from home.
And I would love to welcome you there too. Each August I lead a week which offers time to meditate and practise the flowing gentle postures of Qigong. There is space too for exploring, relaxing, reflecting and replenishing.
Holy Isle has a long spiritual history, stretching back to the 6th century. It has a healing spring, the hermit-cave of a 6th Century monk, St Molaise, and evidence of a 13th Century Christian Monastery. It is dedicated to deepening inter-faith understanding and world peace and run by volunteers. Their beneficence adds to the quality of the place. And most of the delicious vegetarian food served on the courses is grown in the organic gardens surrounding the centre.
Will you be joining me on Holy Isle this summer? This year’s course starts on Wednesday 14th August and runs to Wednesday 21st. Contact me for details of how you can be there: sueweston.com/holy-isle/, mindfulness@sueweston.com and on 07962 798779