TRAUMA AND SPIRITUALITY RETREAT
With Joanna Watters and John Wilks - 12 - 15 September 2024, Nr Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK
Photo by Marcus Paulo Prado
ABOUT THE RETREAT:
In this 3 day retreat, participants will be supported on a journey to explore the motivations, expectations and assumptions around spiritual practice, whatever form that practice takes.
In this retreat we will consider how our lives and connections, including our interest in spirituality, might be influenced by our personal histories - which can colour how we see ourselves, the world and our place in it. For example, early trauma (such as prenatal or perinatal trauma), might be experienced in current time more as a ‘felt sense’ rather than any specific memory of an event. This might result in thoughts and feelings that we don’t belong here, that somehow we are ‘bad’ or that the world is a hostile place. These kind of identifications and conclusions influence our approach to spirituality often in a very unconscious way, in the sense that we may be wanting to find a safe space in ourselves, a connection with something ‘other’ or a place where we can rest and escape from the world.
Being clear about what our needs, expectations and assumptions are in relation to spirituality can be a liberating experience and enable a deeper connection to spirit, ourselves and others.
In this retreat we will also explore and connect with how our nervous systems respond to triggers in everyday life. This can help us understand how our nervous systems can often respond to old survival instincts which might not be that helpful in present time. An understanding of our autonomic nervous system can also help to take the self-blame out of how we respond (for example the feeling that we should be able to cope with a situation, or feelings of shame about an irrational response). It also allows us to experience more compassion towards others when they display these kinds of behaviours. When we realise that our nervous systems are highly tuned to ensure our survival in any situation we can create a bit of distance between our reactions and our true self, enabling them to have less of a ‘hold’ on us and so allowing us to witness them rather than identifying with them.
This retreat will provide a confidential, safe and supportive environment to enable us to explore these vulnerable and often unexplored areas of our psyche. The retreat will consist of a mixture of somatic and reflective practice and will be respectful of individual beliefs and personal history.
To book go here: https://www.therapy-training.com/shop/spirituality-and-trauma-retreat
Dates: 12 - 15 September 2024
Cost: £240 excluding food and accommodation which can be booked separately. Caddaford Barns Farmhouse is £50 per night B & B or here: https://www.helpfulholidays.co.uk/search.html?query=Caddaford+barns
To book your place and register a deposit of £50 go here: https://www.therapy-training.com/shop/spirituality-and-trauma-retreat
For further details email: john@ehealthlearning.tv