La Borde Blanque, France, 22 to 29 October 2016
Are you at a turning point in your life where you need to stand back and take stock of who you are, where you have come from and where you are going? If so, this retreat will help you align or realign with your inner truth and purpose. We will explore together the shaping influences that have brought you to the present, including critical and precious moments. This will enable us to envision who and what you might become in terms of your own values and priorities. You will leave the seminar with renewed inspiration and courage to live your life and truth to the full: to be who you truly are.
The programme outlined below will include talks, movement, outings and walks and of course rest and relaxation. We will climb up to the Cathar fortress of Montsegur, which is only half an hour away. We will also visit the picturesque Mirepoix market. The comfortable accommodation in the house is in twin and double rooms with their own bathrooms. The delicious vegetarian food is lovingly prepared by my beautiful Marianne, and I will make sure there is some good wine on hand for those who like a glass (charged at cost). The cost of €630 includes full board with vegetarian food for seven nights. Registration is an additional £150 per person, payable on booking.
Travel: from England there are flights from London Stansted to Carcassonne (60 mins away – recommended) and from London Gatwick to Toulouse (90 mins away). We will co-ordinate on car hire once bookings are finalised as it is easier to have your own transport available during the week. One car per 3 or 4 people will suffice. Borde Blanque is near the shore of Lac Montbel and between Chalabre and St Colombe sur l’Hers. Website: www.bordeblanque.com
Questions for reflection: (you can start these now! NB please bring a journal to use during the week)
Am I living my truest life?
Have I really lived?
Have I really loved?
Have I really mattered?
Who and what have shaped who I have become? (relationships, friendships, work, experiences, places and travel, music, art, books, hobbies, sports)
Who am I really?
What and who might I still become in my life?
What are the critical turning points in my life?
What are the most precious moments of my life?
Who and what am I grateful for? Is there anything in my life that, on reflection, I cannot be grateful for?
What can I not accept in myself, and why?
What are my ten top values?
What do I stand for?
What are my priorities for the next five years?
What can I share of myself?
What do I hope for?
What if I only have 6 months to live? How would I spend this time?
How would I like to be remembered?
David Lorimer, MA, PGCE, FRSA is a writer, lecturer and editor who is Chief Consultant to Character Education Scotland, Programme Director of the Scientific and Medical Network and President of Wrekin Trust. Originally a merchant banker then a teacher of philosophy and modern languages at Winchester College, he is the author and editor of over a dozen books, most recently The Protein Crunch (with Jason Drew) and A New Renaissance (edited with Oliver Robinson). He has edited three books about Beinsa Douno: Prophet for our Times (1991, to be re-issued in 2015), The Circle of Sacred Dance, and Gems of Love, which is a translation of his prayers and formulas into English. He learned Bulgarian in order to be able to do this.
He is a founding member of the International Futures Forum and was editor of its digest, Omnipedia – Thinking for Tomorrow. He was also a Trustee of the St Andrews Prize for the Environment and a Churchill Fellow. His book on the ideas and work of the Prince of Wales – Radical Prince – has been translated into Dutch, Spanish and French. He is the originator of the Inspire-Aspire Values Poster Programmes, which this year involved over 30,000 young people from around the Commonwealth. See www.inspire-aspire.org.uk. He lives locally and enjoys walks near Lac Montbel and in the surrounding hills with his beautiful and loving partner Marianne and their dog Joey.
Personal website: www.davidlorimer.co.uk
For all ticket enquiries: [email protected]
PROGRAMME
Saturday 22 October
1730 Introductions
1830 Meditation
1900 Dinner
2030 Overview of week
Sunday 23 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
0945 The life review and its significance for how we live
1100 Coffee
1130 The end of life: avoiding common regrets of the dying
1245 Lunch
Afternoon free for reading and walks
1700 Pointers from morning sessions
1830 Meditation
1900 Dinner
2030 The Music of Beinsa Douno
Monday 24 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
0930 Outing to Mirepoix market
1230 Lunch and afternoon free for walks
1630 Stages and cycles of life
1830 Meditation (optional)
1900 Dinner
2030 Poetry reading (please bring poetry to share)
Tuesday 25 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
0945 Life balance – being, doing, having
1100 Coffee
1130 Who am I? Identities, roles, expectations
1245 Lunch and afternoon free for walks
1700 Reflection on morning themes
1830 Meditation
1900 Dinner
2030 Film: Barbara Marx Hubbard on Human Evolution?
Wednesday 26 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
0945 Who have I become? (relationships, friendships, work, experiences, places and travel, music, art, books, hobbies, sports)
1100 Coffee
1130 Who have I become? (continued)
1245 Lunch and afternoon free for reading and walks – possible walk in Green Labyrinth
1800 Reflections on the labyrinth of life
1830 Meditation
1900 Dinner
2030
Thursday 27 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
0945 Creating your life from the inside out
1100 Coffee
1130 Who and what might I still become?
1245 Lunch
1415 Outing to Montsegur (30 mins away)
1800 Reflections (also on Montsegur)
1830 Meditation (optional)
1900 Dinner
2030
Friday 28 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
0945 Aligning authentically with your life blueprint
1100 Coffee
1130 Living with inspiration and integrity
1245 Lunch and afternoon free for reading and walks
1700 Reflections and new directions
1830 Meditation (optional)
1900 Dinner
2030 Party
Saturday 29 October
0830 Meditation and Six Exercises
0900 Breakfast
1000 Depart for Carcassonne – see city and early lunch
