As the world we live in feels like it is turning increasingly upside down, and our lives become more and more challenging, with increasing demands on our time and energy, the soul craves escape and relief from all the craziness. It is therefore not a surprise that there is a rising interest in retreats and what retreats have to offer. In order to live mindfully and still find joy and energy in our frantic world, it is important to take some time out now and again to nurture body, mind and soul.
There are numerous retreats on offer nowadays, from the traditional spiritual retreats such as those offered by Christian or Buddhist retreat centres, to luxury and upmarket self-pampering retreats. One can choose to take a few days by yourself to spend some time in quiet reflection, rest and meditating, or choose to have the assistance of spiritual companion on your own retreat or choose to attend a themed retreat run by various retreat centres, mostly running over weekends.
I offer retreats mainly at the beautiful Temenos Retreat Centre in McGregor. Temenos offers comfortable and luxury accommodation as well as excellent food, and the vast gardens offer beautiful spaces for reflection and rest. There are also beautiful spaces like The Well, a little chapel, and a stained-glass structure called Temore which all offer space for quiet meditation.
If your need is not only rest and rejuvenation, but also guidance on a very important issue or decision in your life, then the following retreat might just be right for you:
Wisdom from the Unconscious: A Journey with Meditation, Music and Mandalas
I will offer this retreat during the weekend of 28-30 July 2023 at Temenos in McGregor in my capacity as MARI® Practitioner along with Anelle Naudé-Lester, Psychologist and Bonny Method Guided Imagery and Music Practitioner. On this retreat we will use the powerful methods of Guided Imagery in Music (GIM) and the Mandala Assessment Research Instrument (MARI®) to facilitate connection and integration. This process of working with GIM and MARI® engages inner wisdom, intuition and insight that transcends language in a very powerful way.
This retreat will be structured as follows:
Early morning movement practices
Morning and early evening meditations
Adapted group GIM sessions
Adapted group MARI® sessions
Various adapted GIM sessions
Evening Sound Journeys.
About Guided Imagery in Music (GIM):
Anelle writes: “The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) is a music-centred, consciousness-expanding therapy developed by Helen Bonny. Ever since I was first introduced to this method, I have been passionate about the power of music and as a co-therapist, not only for my clients, but for my own therapeutic growth as well. Classical music sequences stimulate journeys of the imagination, facilitate clients’ integration of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of well-being. Imagery can be seen as a mirror of the inner reality, surfacing through metaphors and symbolic material. Through this creative process access to the unconscious is provided and leads to an opportunity for emotional release, experience, intuitive and archetypal journeys as well as transpersonal experiences. I find this way of working especially helpful when we feel the constraints of language, not being able to adequately express what we feel. In many ways this method has transformed my practice and my clients’ therapeutic progress, sparking creativity, vision, and insight. Various adaptations – referred to as Adapted Imagery and Music (GIM) – with regards to group work and applying this tool in different contexts have been developed and are used with great success. The Association of Music and Imagery (AMI) as well as The Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery are excellent resources to explore if more information is needed.”
About the Mandala Assessment Research Instrument (MARI®):
Finding itself in the domain of Art Therapy, MARI® was developed by American art therapist Joan Kellogg in the 1970’s. It is based on the work of Carl Jung, who pointed out that consciousness is comprised of four aspects: thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuiting. The MARI® process accesses all of these aspects. Also referred to as The Great Round, MARI® resembles the Cycle of Life’s Journey, from birth (entry) to death (disintegration) and transformation, which starts the whole cycle all over again. The MARI® board reflects 13 life stages which each has unique qualities, challenges, and requirements for growth. It also reflects four quadrants: Forming, Becoming, Manifesting and Dissolving / Re-birthing.
The process of the MARI® reading is intuitive, which involves the client choosing symbols that they are attracted to, which are printed on see-through plastic cards, and these symbol cards are then matched with colour cards. The card choices are then placed on the appropriate stages on the MARI® board that the symbols represent and discussed. On this retreat we will be working with a version of MARI® adapted for group work.
What participants say about this retreat:
“Powerful! Please always combine these modalities. Very much needed.”
“Dit was die innerlike reis waarna ek op soek was. Die omgewing, die GIM en MARI asook die stilte het baie effektief die proses gefasiliteer. Dit het ‘n blywende indruk op my gelaat wat my daaglikse lewenstyl drasties verander. My hoop is om meer bewustelik te lewe.”
“It was a sacred and safe space to explore what needed to be revealed and integrated. Very, very special and life-giving.”
“Amazing work and energy. Both of you are incredibly gifted, equipped and experienced therapists/facilitators who managed the energy with mindful wisdom and empathy.”
“It has been a time of deep nourishment and reflection. A time to reconnect with myself and my unconscious wisdom.”
Booking details:
The retreat fee is R 4 700.00 for shared accommodation and R 5 200.00 for single accommodation. An immediate deposit of R1 000.00 secures your booking. The balance is payable on 21st July. Discount will be offered to those that repeat the retreat. For bookings, contact Johann at johann@johannvangreunen.co.za or 083 764 5978. Please Note: A portion of the retreat fee can be claimed back from Medical Aids. The necessary forms will be provided upon booking.
The retreat fee includes brunch and dinner daily, retreat activities and materials used. Checking in-time will be from 14:00 on Friday 28th July and we will gather 17:00 for the start of the retreat. The retreat will end at around 14:00 after a closing ritual on Sunday 30th July. The fee includes free accommodation for Sunday evening for those that can stay over.