A Glorious Time: Mindfulness, the Rural Beauty of the South of France, Rest, Renewal, and Reflection…
Based on the work of Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal, this retreat explores issues of transition, vocation, life passion, purpose, meaning, direction, aging, relationships, and underlying life patterns, to live in alignment with one’s deepest values and the courage to act with integrity and authenticity. In a safe, quiet, nurturing, and confidential environment, this retreat promotes reflection, clarity and insight. Guided by core principles and practices, which include the belief that everyone has an inner teacher, an inner source of truth, we will engage in contemplative practices to support personal and societal transformation.
We explore poetry, prose, music, gentle guided movement, video, journaling, stories from various wisdom traditions, periods of silence, mindfulness meditation practices, and the stunning beauty of rural Provence-Languedoc. The retreat includes periods of silence, quiet self-reflection, and large and small group discussions, as well as much laughter and lightness. Clearness Committees, a Quaker process of discernment is the capstone of this retreat.
About our location La Maison Quaker and the village of Congénies …
The scent of lavender fills the air along the garden path as you enjoy breakfast of homemade plum jam on bread fresh and still warm from the bakery a few steps away. Linger over coffee or peek into the adjacent old Quaker graveyard, shaded by cypress trees.
This is our setting, Maison Quaker: simple, peaceful, beautiful is open to Quakers and non-Quakers alike. Located in the tiny village of Congénies, La Maison is in the Languedoc region of southern France, 14 miles southwest of Nimes and 23 miles northeast of Montpellier. Set among pastoral rolling hills, endless rows of grapevines and olive trees, fields bright with sunflowers, ancient stone villages tucked into the folds of gentle hills, and the Mediterranean Sea sensed a few hills away. Congénies is an old village with a bakery, a quality grocery shop, and a population of about 1500. There are several excellent restaurants nearby. Within a few miles are two market towns: Calvisson and Sommieres, and we will visit both. Sommieres is particularly charming medieval town on an emerald green river. Day outings are planned to the Camargue region of Provence and the walled city of Aiges-Mortes. Close by are beaches, bird watching and the Voie Verte, a greenway built on an old railway line that attracts cyclists and walkers.
Group size is limited to 15. Register: www.leadsmartcoaching.com