Room to Heal retreat in Devon
News 1 November 2011
Room to Heal autumn retreat
In October eleven members of Room to Heal braved Mark’s driving to head to the wilds of Devon for a beautiful five day autumn retreat. Our friends at Hazelwood House hosted us in their cottages, nestled in a forested valley, far from the mayhem of London.
It was our first mixed retreat which we new would be a challenge. On the first evening we held a group meeting where people shared their hopes for the coming days:
‘I want to be with people, most of the time I am by myself,’ said one woman. ‘It is my first time in the countryside. It is new for me. I’m living by myself in London,’ said a man.
The next morning we set off to explore our beautiful surroundings, walking through orchards down to the river where we found a swing.
One woman, despite being terrified, decided to leap. She could not hold on and dropped into the water. Everyone was relieved to see her laughing as she was helped out by the men. Despite being soaking wet she was elated. The retreat took off from the moment she did. Her courage moving us all.
Over the following days and nights we enjoyed chi kung in the mornings overlooking the valley, stories by the fire (even through the rain and wind), apple picking, pruning a willow labyrinth, falling into rivers, playing football in a storm, setting off fire lanterns with our wishes into the night sky, and quite a lot of dancing.
The retreat was a great success. Over the course of our time together we learnt to trust each other far more, we found peace and beauty in nature, we learnt to push ourselves beyond what we thought possible and reap the rewards, finding new friendships and new meaning in life.
On the last night, we gathered again to talk about what the retreat had meant to us and what we would take from it. Here are some of the members’ words.
‘Today I feel different. I feel alive. Before I was in four walls. I want to play and shout like a ten year old child. I feel happy.’
‘I feel the preciousness of being together. I can trust everyone more closely.’
‘It reminded me it is possible to be happy and safe with the opposite sex.’
‘Coming to Room to Heal, it has changed my life. My life was meaningless over the last five years. Now I have found hope. Now in my window there is sunlight.’