Mindfulness and Kayaking retreat

Mindful living

26 to 29th September 2016

Immerse yourself in meditation and nature on beautiful Heir Island. We will be practising mindfulness and heartfulness both as formal meditation practices and while kayaking around the Island.
Paola Vais will be teaching and guiding mindfulness meditation, and Kevin Mc Cormack, of Heir Island Sailing School, will teach and guide us on the water.
Accommodation will be in the B&B attached to the Sailing School, and the stunning studio of Mobius center, where we’ll practice meditation is only less than 5 minutes walk from it.
We will spend part of the time in silence, and there will be time to simply relax and enjoy the unspoilt beauty of Heir Island.

Accommodation in double or triple rooms, only very few singles available, on a first come first served basis.

Cost is all inclusive: € 390/420/460

There is the possibility of one concessionary place for someone willing…

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New housemate

Early summer garden

Needless to say… I love Aquilegias

A poem: The sun, by Mary Oliver

Mindful living

..and into the clouds and the hills…

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone–
and how it slides again

out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance–
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love–
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

as you stand there,
empty-handed–
or have you too
turned from this world–

or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?

…how it slides again…

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Trees and magic

….

Nine woods in the Cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes
To represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might,
In the fire it brings the God’s insight.
Rowan is a tree of power,
Causing life and magic to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand
Ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify
And to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel – the tree of wisdom and learning
Adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree
That brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine
Giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen
To represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady’s tree
Burn it not or cursed you’ll be….

….

 

The beauty of things, by Robinson Jeffers

Mindful living

Often I  come across previously unknown (by me)  poets – – like in the case of Robinson Jeffers, discovered while listening to an interview to Joanna Macy.

To feel and speak the astonishing beauty of things—earth, stone and water,
Beast, man and woman, sun, moon and stars—
The blood-shot beauty of human nature, its thoughts, frenzies and passions,
And unhuman nature its towering reality—
For man’s half dream; man, you might say, is nature dreaming, but rock
And water and sky are constant—to feel
Greatly, and understand greatly, and express greatly, the natural
Beauty, is the sole business of poetry.
The rest’s diversion: those holy or noble sentiments, the intricate ideas,
The love, lust, longing: reasons, but not the reason.

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Hello there!

“Admit something” by Hafiz

A Poem a day

Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them,
“Love Me.”

Of course you do not do this out loud;
Otherwise, someone would call the cops.

Still though, think about this,
This great pull in us
To connect.

Why not become the one
Who lives with a full moon in each eye
That is always saying,

With that sweet moon
Language,

What every other eye in this world
is dying to
Hear.

Note: If you have the original poem above in Persian (Farsi), please leave a note. Also, if you know who the English translator is of the above poem, please leave a note. Thanks.

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Spring! and the next course

Mindful living

The next course will start in the 24th of March and will take place in the morning, lasting  5 weeks – from 10.30 to 12 am.  Venue to be confirmed

Cost for the 5 classes and course material is € 70

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Introduction to mindfulness

If you are curious to know what mindfulness is, or already have a meditation practice but need that little help to get back on the cushion, two 4 week-long courses are starting soon in Skibbereen.

Stilness….

The course offers an introduction to mindfulness meditation practices, the opportunity to start to experience the benefits and integrate mindfulness into daily life.

4 classes of 1.5 hours, during which there will be guided meditation practices, short talks and a time for questions and sharing.

Tuesday mornings from 10.30 to 12  or  Thursday night from 7 to 8.30

The course will take place in Lissard and will start on the 11 (morning) and 13th of November

€ 60, including course handouts and a cd with guided practices

If you are interested in attending  leave a comment here or get in touch at

mindfulness (dot) westcork   AT  me (dot) com