This mixed retreat of silent moments for contemplation & dialogue will be an opportunity to feel into the changes we have gone through & the ones we are experiencing, to share the challenges & to celebrate our transitions in life (these could be any aspect of life, from losing a loved one through separation or death to our coming out, our transitions).

This is a retreat to acknowledge the power of change in our lives, helped by a ritualistic journey on water, allowing the flow of emotions to be, and the supple nature of water to ease our hearts & bones. To express these changes, each evening, for those who wish, a few people will share their stories within a safe circle of silent listening presence (we will not comment on the sharing, though retreatants could ask the sharers if they wish for feedback or advice outside of the circle later on). We will begin the circle with a guided meditation & end with some chants to loosen our emotions & chests.

The first afternoon we will gather at a camp by the river, with time to swim & connect, meditate & begin the sharing circles, and cook food together. The actual canoe journey will take three days. We will camp each night at the canoe company's campsites. On Day 4, at the end of the canoeing, we will return to base camp for a last night of camping, sharing circle, & meditation. On Day 5, we end with a guided meditation, dana talk (talk on the practice of donations as in the Buddhist tradition), offer dana, pack up camp, and end with a closing circle.

What to bring:

• lightweight sleeping bag

• an inflatable mattress

• swimming costume

• headtorch/flashlight

• a small tent

• a backpack, not too big, to carry a change of clothes

• a warm jumper & socks in case of cold weather

• a raincoat.

All retreatants will be part of a cooking or washing up team each day.

This event is alcohol & drug-free, but we will be using large campsites with a snack bar, so please consider deeply whether you can respect the no alcohol & drugs policy before booking. This is also the moment for a digital detox!

Place : Starting from Colombieres sur Orb, nearest towns are Beziers and Montpelier

Dates: 10 to 15 July

Cost: €300 to be paid in advance.

This payment covers food, water, insurance, office costs, and gas for cooking, but not any of our other costs or the living costs of the resident teacher. This basic cost is the very cheapest we can do to make this retreat happen; please feel free to give €400 if you have a higher income.

Dana: We are not funded by any institutions or government bodies. Ekuthuleni relies on people's generosity to remain open. Called Dana in the Buddhist tradition from 2600 years ago, these donations are based on each person's income and fluidity with money. Please bring cash with you for this, or you can offer Dana online at Ekuthuleni.

Click on the link to practical information for details about what to bring, or go to the booking form. After booking, you will receive confirmation & some practical info, such as station pick-up times & drop-off times.