Natural World,
Natural Mind.
7-14 October 2023
MIndsprings Autumn
Holy Isle Retreat
Naturalise your mind on Holy Isle this Autumn...
For the last 10 years or more, I have been gathering groups of more experienced meditators to Holy Isle to explore compassion and loving kindness. While October 2023 is still a compassion retreats of sorts, this year I wanted to do something different.
Inspired by my year-long immersion in deep ecology and discovery of meditation out in the open air, I wanted this Mindsprings Autumn retreat to be a more radical retreat - in the sense of getting to the root of things.
The wonderful biologist and indigenous writer, Robin Wall-Kimmerer asked a group of her undergraduate students if they loved the Earth. Naturally, almost all spoke about their passion for plants, rivers, mountains and ecology. But when she ask if they felt like the Earth loved them back, they all fell silent.
Why is it that we don’t feel the love of the planet all around us? Why do we often feel lonely and isolated in a landscape that is full of trees, grasses, insects, animals, birds and weather? Is it habit of mind? Does meditating inside silent halls make that habit more intense?
Spending time outside in the glorious gardens, beaches and wild spaces of Holy Isle gives us the perfect space to explore different ways to receive this love. And I have discovered that a freer, more extended form of “meditation” helps that happen.
“Sitting out” practice is a free-form meditation where you pick a spot in the natural world and stay there for an hour or two (or three!) without trying to control your mind but allowing it to be “wilded” by the natural world.
Within the friendly, warm and curious Mindsprings group we can then sift through our findings and explore deeper and deeper ways of connecting to the natural mind and the natural world. But particularly allowing it to soften our nervous systems and sensitise us to the richness of the surround world.
This retreat is open to everyone who has a passion for the natural world but also some experience of sitting with their minds. It’s probably not suitable for complete beginners. Do contact me if you are not sure if it’s for you.
What is 'sitting out' practice?
Sitting out is a form of very simple but very profound mind-magic.
You stay put in a 2m x 2m spot in the natural world for long periods, simply watching the mind and watching the world.
There is no particular meditation instruction - everyone finds their own insight as the practice unfolds
Traditionally done for 24 hours, this course is going to work with much more manageable chunks of 2-3 hours building up to longer sits if you feel inspired.
The practice is best done in the natural world with just a bottle of water for sustenance, so it requires wet-weather gear.
This retreat will be held as a group though the 'sitting out' sessions are done on your own. We will meet at the start and end of the day to compare notes and practice together.
This is a chance for more experienced practitioners to get back to the 'wild roots' of outdoor-living yogis. But with a warm meal and hot shower at the end of the day!
Please do consider coming but also recognise that it does involve long stretches of time practising outside!
About Dundreggan
The Dundreggan Rewilding Centre is one of restoration and regeneration. It's the gateway to a flagship rewilding estate and tree nursery, where Trees for Life grow tens of thousands of trees each year, including rare and hard-to-grow species.
Located just eight miles from Loch Ness, the estate has been rewilded by Trees for Life since 2008, recovering from centuries of damage caused by sheep, goats and deer grazing. By allowing the forest to regenerate naturally, they have expanded important fragments of Scotland’s Caledonian forest, providing a habitat for over 4,000 species of plants and animals, including golden eagles and black grouse.
When you come to Dundreggan you can now explore ancient pinewood and unique juniper forest, discover centuries of Gaelic history, and connect with a landscape undergoing transformation through rewilding. Our Rewilding Centre provides a space for a larger, more diverse audience to enjoy the wonders of nature and the heritage of the Scottish Highlands.
Take a look at their video below:
What to expect from a Mindsprings Retreat
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Our first evening together on Saturday is a chance to arrive, enjoy some food and get to know one another. Most people are tired from travel and we'll have an early night after some relaxation.
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The daily schedule for the Sunday-Friday is fairly similar
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We start with some gentle stretching and a silent sit before breakfast. This is a great way to start the day.
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Before our delicious breakfast, Alistair will lead us in some t'ai chi on the beachfront which is optional. But does involve hugs - which everyone seems to love.
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Throughout the week the schedule will vary as we build up our 'sitting out' sessions.
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After supper, there is a further chance to practice together and integrate what we have learned during the day.
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Generally, it's light's out and silence after 9.30pm - so early nights, though you could go for a moonlight walk!
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We often explore silence on the Island and one full day of silence somewhere in the middle. It's a very friendly silence and, again, many people love this element of the retreat.
About the teacher
Alistair is a broadcaster, psychotherapist and meditation teacher.
He's worked for the BBC for more than 20 years and works as a UKCP-accredited therapist in East Sussex. Since 2004, he's run Mindsprings, his therapeutic meditation organisation which teaches body-based and Buddhist solutions to many of our everyday problems.
Mindsprings offers popular meditation-based courses on many subjects:
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helping people with anxiety, dissociation, stress.
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working with mental health in the LGBTQ community.
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exploring the growing field of embodiment and somatic practices.
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teaching Buddhist practices for mental health and well-being
Alistair teaches in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands.
Food, Accommodation and Pricing
The cost of the retreat is £580 which includes breakfast, lunch and supper for six days and the teaching. Accommodation has to be booked separately.
Dundreggan is a brand new centre with 20 en-suite rooms and some dorm accommodation. There are four accessible rooms. And there are Standard sized and more spacious Plus sized options. You will need to book your accommodation directly with the centre where you can specify your needs.
To ensure a good number of places, we have booked the following options, the prices are all VAT inclusive and per night. We'll be in Dundreggan for seven nights:
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Dorms: 6 singles and 6 bunks (£30pp = £210 for the week)
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Ensuite Single Standard x 3 (£75pp = £525)
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Ensuite Single Plus x 5 (£95pp = £665 per person)
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Ensuite Double Standard x5 (£85 for two = £595 or £298 per person)
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Ensuite Double Plus x5 (£105 for two = £735 or £368 per person)
PLEASE NOTE: Dundreggan are closed until th 8th January so you may not be able to book you accommodation until then. Please call on +441320340380 or email them to organise the room you want. Make sure you let them know you are part of the Mindsprings May retreat as we have negotiated special rates. Don't use the booking. com link on their website.
Don't let money stop you coming on retreat...
Mindsprings would like people to practice even if they are struggling financially, for whatever reason. We offer a limited number of partial bursaries for these retreats.
Getting to Dundreggan
Dundreggan is near Inverness. So if you're travelling from far afield that's going to be your key destination. The centre website has some detailed information about getting here.
There is an airport and a mainline train station at Inverness and we are in discussion about running a mini-bus on the arrival and departure days for those who need transport. Stay in touch for details of that.
If you're coming under your own steam, the centre is around an hour’s drive from Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh and Fort William. It is situated on the A887 Skye road, six miles west of Invermoriston.
By car: From Inverness, take A82 south for 30 miles to Invermoriston, then turn right onto the A887. From the west, follow the A87. From the south, follow the A82, then turn left at Invermoriston onto the A887.
By bus: The Scottish Citylink 917 bus passes the Rewilding Centre. Please note, this is a request stop on the opposite side of the road to the Rewilding Centre.
Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Dundreggan Estate, Glenmoriston, Inverness IV63 7YJ
01320 340380
