This is a 5 day meditation retreat during which we take a vow of silence. 
 
Highlights
 
Area of outstanding natural beauty
Beautiful Victorian house on the coast
Views of the Lake District mountains
Beautiful woodland walks
Sea swims
Careful structured tuition and guidance in silent practice and meditation
Delicious organic vegetarian food
Private walled garden
Leave feeling light, peaceful, clear and renewed. 
The benefits will never leave you. 
 
Why Silence?
 
Our sense of self - Often we get a sense of ourselves, our physical representation of consciousness, through bouncing off other people. With the constant feedback to what you are putting out into the world, you are suddenly addressing no one but yourself. 
 
This is where the labels and options that define us, our gender, how old we are, even what car we drive, fall away and we are left with a lake of still water - through which we can see reality very clearly. In looking into this Lake you will discover where is is you need to grow and exactly what is holding you back. 
 
Our sense of others - On a conscious level, we tend to blame people around us for the things that we cant control and which upset us. While we are doing this, it serves to temporarily elevate us from life’s pain and numb our own. However, we are often unaware that our reactions to other people are caused by build up of wounding in our unconscious. This wounding (perhaps from childhood) triggers our reactions and we frantically try to control the world, sorting situations into “good” or “bad”, “can deal with” or “cannot deal with” and this causes us to suffer, because, of course, we cannot control what everyone around us does or says. We can however, control our reactions if we can see, like still water, where the reactions are actually coming from and let them go. 
 
While you are in silence you are internally processing your unconscious wounds. We sit in deep and structured meditation to help move this process along. Your feelings of anger, grief or irritation cannot be projected onto the people around you and so you feel them, and you heal them. This leaves a mind like still water. You can see who you are and align yourself completely with what it is you want. You have direct access to the peace, joy, love, compassion and creativity in your super conscious, without your wounds being in the way. You are lighter than air and experiencing complete joy and equanimity. 
 
The House
 
Sunnycote, 39 Silverdale Road, Arnside. LA23 2EL
 
You will be staying in a beautiful large Victorian house near the sea in Arnside. Arnside and Silverdale is an area classified as Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of the Lake District National Park. You are a very short walking distance from a bay with views of the Lake District mountains and extensive forest and hills. 
 
The House sleeps 16 in total. But for the silent retreat, we restrict the bookings to 10 people. This puts less pressure on the kitchen and bathrooms to allow for peace and space and also gives 4 people the option of having a private room. 
 
The house is beautifully decorated in a quirky bohemian style with lots of places to sit and rest, including a completely private walled garden. There are plenty of books to read and of course, we encourage, walking, swimming and journalling in your spare time. 
 
Travel
 
There is a train station walking distance from the house. Its a short train journey from the station of Lancaster. 
 
Arnside is also very close to the M6. You leave the M6 at Carnforth and drive for another 15 minutes through country lanes. 
 
The nearest Airport is Manchester and there are regular trains from Manchester to Lancaster, then change to Arnside
 
Itinerary. 
 
You are welcome to arrive and settle in in the Sunday evening. There will be a big pan of hot food waiting for you. You can check in anytime from 4pm to 6pm. There will be brief welcome circle. 
 
Monday
 
Time for a morning walk or swim
9 am - Breakfast
10 am - Moving into silence - we gather to learn how to manage  and get the most we can from the next few days of silence. There will be instructions on housekeeping, routine, eating and dealing with the practical things. 
12 noon - lunch
1pm - Check in, sharing and meditation. 
3pm - free time
5pm - dinner
6pm - Time to meditate, journal or read.  
 
Tuesday
 
Time for a morning walk or swim
9 am - Breakfast
10 am - Guided meditation 
12 noon - lunch
1pm - Guided meditation 
3pm - free time
5pm - dinner
6pm - Time to meditate, journal or read.  
 
Wednesday
 
Time for a morning walk or swim
9 am - Breakfast
10 am - Guided meditation 
12 noon - lunch
1pm - Guided meditation 
3pm - Surgeries with Katherine (check in)
5pm - dinner
6pm - Time to meditate, journal or read.  
 
 
Thursday
 
Time for a morning walk or swim
9 am - Breakfast
10 am - Guided meditation 
12 noon - lunch
1pm - Guided meditation 
3pm - free time
5pm - dinner
6pm - Coming out of silence 
Friday
 
Time for a morning walk or swim
9am - breakfast
10 am - Closing Circle
12 noon - leave.