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Newsletter January 2010
Watering the Garden Summer at Temenos, at least for me, is about watering the garden! And in McGregor that can prove to be quite a challenge especially when our lei water is cut down from once a week to once a fortnight. I will lift up mine eyes to the hills and watch for rain clouds! Anyone who loves gardening in our beautiful village has to become very water wise so much so that if take a walk in the cool of the evening you will see villagers out in the moonlight bringing refreshment to the plants and trees in their care. I am always reminded at this time of year of St. Teresa of Avila who uses the analogy of watering the gardening to describe the ‘four degrees of prayer’ to which the Beloved raises the soul. ‘Gardens may be watered in four ways; by water drawn out of a well, which is very laborious, or with water raised by a waterwheel and buckets drawn by a windlass. It is less troublesome than the first, and gives more water. Or the garden can be watered by a stream or brook, which is a much better way – for the soil is more thoroughly saturated, and it is not necessary to water it so often. Thus the labour of the gardener is much less; Or by gentle showers of rain, when our Beloved waters it, without labour on our part – and this way is incomparably better than all the others of which I have spoken’ This form of prayer, standing in the rain with open arms and awareness, reminds me of the Garden of the Beloved of which Rumi sings so beautifully. Here, ‘all that the Beloved does is beloved’. I recall the lines of a sacred song that also has a hint of Temenos ‘Beauty is a dove sitting on a sunlit bough, Beauty is a prayer without the need of words. Words have meaning too, falling off an empty tongue – Let it be according to your word’
May your Summer be fruitful and bountiful. May your garden flourish. And may you get to stand in the rain. With love Billy
SUMMER SPECIALS This Summer we are offering SUMMER SPECIALS for those of you who enjoy the idea of lying at the pool, taking long siestas and enjoying body therapies under the cool breeze of the Beefwoods in our new outdoor therapy areas. January 25 – 28th and March 1st -5th Enjoy a cottage for only R300 a night – whether you are on your own, or with your beloved.
VALENTINE SPECIAL ‘Love is in the air’ On Saturday night 13th and Sunday 14th of February our chef will be preparing a special Valentine’s Dinner. Come and sit out on a candlelit patio or under the trees on our lawn and enjoy romantically inspired music and food. Our Valentine’s Day Accommodation Special – R1680 for 2 sharing - is for Friday 12th Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th February. Should you find your time here to be so romantic that you choose to extend your stay, accommodation from the 15th – 19th of February is only R300 per cottage per night.
JUICY LIVING A creative Retreat from 21st – 25th March Here at Temenos we are so fortunate to meet many writers, poets and artists who come to stay in our gardens. We have thus decided to introduce a special retreat so that those of you wising to explore and express your creativity can come and enjoy the silence and solitude sometimes necessary to the creative process. Like our Silent Retreats, the centre will be closed off to the public so that without disturbances you can set up your easel at the duckpond, or write a haiku at the feet of the Buddha, or perhaps have a go at a short story, or maybe complete the project you begun some time ago. Our package – R1200 - includes accommodation and 3 dinners should you enjoy a break in the evening to connect with other passionate retreatants.
WELLNESS WEEKS MARCH & MAY MADNESS This year at Temenos we are looking to give something back to our regular guests and what better gift than to give you what you have enjoyed in the past, but ………. at a reduced rate! The next two wellness weeks 8th – 15th March & 17th – 21st May We are offering 4 nights accommodation with 3 meals per day, 3 morning walks, 3 afternoon yoga sessions, meditation twice daily and 3 body therapies for R 2610.00 if you wish to have your own cottage or R2550.00 per person if you wish to share a cottage with a friend. We are also offering a self catering option for these two weeks; R1960.00 for your own cottage or 1900.00 per person sharing. If you have not yet experienced a Wellness week, this is your chance ! Contact Margaret at this e-mail
THE TEMENOS MEDITATION RETREATS 27 & 28 February 28 & 29 May 30 & 31 July
This retreat offers a hands-on practical experience of different forms of meditation. It helps you develop your own personal practice within your own spiritual or faith context and is not prescriptive or dogmatic in any way.
The retreat fee is R450 plus your choices of everything else that Temenos offers in terms of accommodation, meals and therapies. Bookings and enquiries: click here More detail is posted on our web: www.temenos.org.za
TIBETAN HEALING AND ONENESS BLESSING RETREAT 12 to 14 March You are invited to experience a weekend of transformation and healing. The weekend includes the Oneness Blessing, individual sessions of Tibetan Healing and group sessions of yoga and meditation. Sue Mullins facilitates this retreat. Sue is a psychologist and alternative healer. Over the past seven years she has traveled frequently to India where she has mastered the art of Tibetan Healing and has been initiated into giving the Oneness Blessing. Cost: R2800 including accommodation, meals, yoga, healing and meditation. Book directly with Sue Mullins cell 083 629 7473 email: click here. Read more on our website: www.temenos.org.za
FROM BURNOUT TO FREEDOM 18 & 19 March
My spiritual teacher used to be a pilot and pilot instructor. He reminds us that when an aeroplane is in trouble and the oxygen masks come down, we are told to put our own oxygen masks on first, before tending to others. “From Burnout to Freedom” , is a retreat that points to your own oxygen mask in order that you may be more present to others in your personal life and at work. The retreat costs R1840 including 2 nights accommodation and 3 meals a day. More information on attractions.html. Booking at this email address
TEMENOS RETREAT & WELLNESS CENTRE PO Box 183 – McGregor – 6708 Telephone: +27 (0)23 625 1871 Fax: +27 (0)23 625 1193 Email: Here Website: www.temenos.org.za
TO HELP US DISTRIBUTE OUR PROGRAMME MORE WIDELY PLEASE FORWARD TO INTERESTED FRIENDS
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