PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE … Book your place now!

We warmly welcome all young people (age 18-35), with an interest in creativity and artistic expression, to our second 'Wake Up' retreat of this year. We invite you to 'come as you are' - there is no need to be a specialist in a particular art form.

Whether your interests lie in music, visual art, movement or simple day-to-day forms of expression such as cooking or gardening - this retreat is for you.

We all have within us the capacity for authentic, joyous and fulfilling creative expression. While it is our birthright to deeply embody our creative nature, many of us experience varying degrees of internal 'blockage' to this natural flow of life energy. In this retreat, we will provide a safe, supportive and nourishing environment to explore our creativity together, investigate its source, and discover how to liberate the pure light of self-expression in our day-to-day lives.

This retreat will include:

• Daily mindfulness/meditation practice

• 'Open creative sessions' - held in an open space to include music, visual art, movement and allow all these forms of expression to unfold together and influence each other. Each session will have a particular focus within the context of the retreat.

• Singing/dancing in the Sanctuary - a sacred building situated on nearby land with stunning scenic views

• 'Heart sharing' circles

• 'Deep relaxation' - similar to yoga Nidra

• Tai Chi/Qi Gong

• Bush walking/connecting with nature

• 'Service meditation' - living and working together in community

At Dharma Gaia we are committed to living within the Five Basic Principles (see below) and to live with care, respect and kindness.  We practice to 'stop' and to 'come back home to ourselves' with the help of daily practices such as sitting meditation, mindful eating and working meditation. For the young residents at Dharma Gaia, music and visual art in particular are of great importance and personal significance,  and we have been exploring the deep connections between these art forms and spiritual practice. With great excitement, we welcome you to join us in this exploration on a 4 day immersive experience of creativity and mindfulness in a supportive community.

Come with an open-mind, and a willingness to discover and celebrate your unique and innately creative self!

The Wake Up Retreats at Dharma Gaia are facilitated by three of the core Guardians in this age group - Jack, Seonaid and Alex and other young people who live in the Mindfulness Community. We are passionate creatives and musicians, and we are just as passionate about our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing and freedom. We use the art of mindful living and zen practice within the dynamic practice of community living which we are committed to extending and sharing with other like-minded people.

At Dharma Gaia we commit to live within the Five Basic Principles (see below) and to live with care, respect and kindness. We practice to stop and to come back home to ourselves with the help of daily practices such as sitting meditation, mindful eating and working meditation. Music and deep sharings together are also a part of daily life at Dharma Gaia, and we have been exploring the connections between music art and spiritual practice.

Retreat Guidelines - While at Dharma Gaia 

All guests agree to  live within these  five commitments

1. To respect life and to respond to living beings with kindness and consideration.

2. To respect property, practice generosity and refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. To respond to oneself and others physically and emotionally in a way that reflects dignity for the physical emotional and sexual boundaries of each other.

4. To use mindful speech and not engage in gossip or slander. To be mindful before speaking especially when there are strong emotions in us.  We commit to supporting the general ambiance of peace and inner reflection while here.

5. To practice mindful consumption. Dharma Gaia is a drug, alcohol and smoke-free environment.  We are also vegetarian and ask visitors not to bring non-vegetarian food to the centre.

Here is a link to our Music Tribute to Thich Nhat Hanh's powerful book 'LOVE LETTER TO THE EARTH`.

Love Letter to the Earth - YouTube

About us:

Jack

I have been playing music my whole life, professionally and for fun. I enjoy living in a place where authentic spiritual practice and music can coexist, and am inspired to create original music collaboratively and as a solo artist. I also enjoy Tai Chi and outdoor pursuits.

Seonaid

With an early background in classical music training (violin and voice), in recent years I’ve turned my hand to songwriting and folk collaborations. Taking inspiration from my love of running in the forest and working in the garden, I love to explore different forms of creative practice and their intersections, such as poetry, painting and music. I find great meaning in living in a creative and conscious community finding kinship in music and spiritual practice.

Alex

I grew up listening to a lot of blues and rock and have been a multi-instrumentalist enjoying playing diverse kinds of music, from folk to metal. I really appreciate jamming and I am putting more focus on recording and mixing music also. I also love to experience community living and the practices of Qi Gong/Tai Chi and mycology.

Retreat Cost:

$400 - $300 sliding scale work or student (please pay according to your financial capacity) +  DANA offering for the young lay tutors or for the centre -( see below)

SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Due to the generosity of other friends of Dharma Gaia, there is a scholarship fund to offer some support to those who may not be able to afford the full payment of this retreat. If the lower cost of $300 is still beyond your means please write an email to the’ scholarship fund team at the email address below to outline your situation and request.

TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING please make payment into 03-0458-0013241-000

Please confirm your payment with an email to peace@dharmagaia.org and indicate in the email if this is your first retreat with us.

Dana for the young Lay Tutors or for Dharma Gaia Centre in support of the continuation of these teachings can be offered into this DANA ACCOUNT - 03 0458 0238459 000 (or offer into the Dana bowl at the time of the retreat)  Dana - donation payments are tax-deductible so must be referenced as Dana or Donation. You can find more information here.

When making a Dana payment via internet banking, please include ‘Teacher’s Dana’ in the reference field.

How to register:

Places on this retreat are limited and often fill quickly. We welcome your early registration by emailing us your details to peace@dharmagaia.org - subject line WAKE UP RETREAT.  Confirmation of a place on the retreat will be subject to acceptance, followed by full payment of retreat fee.

How to arrive:

We suggest you arrive between 3-5 pm. If this is your first time at the Centre, please arrive early enough to be settled in your accommodation and ready for your orientation session at 4pm. On arrival please make your way to the foyer where you will be greeted by one of our residents.

GENERAL CANCELLATION POLICY

When we prepare for a retreat each one of you counts and is counted in the number of beds that are made and the amount of food that is cooked. As we are often booked out quite quickly, a cancellation can prevent someone else from joining us.

In the event of a cancellation up to 10 days prior to the starting date of the retreat, we can offer a 75% refund or the funds can be carried over to your next retreat.  

However, a cancellation within 10 days of the retreat starting date is non-refundable.

We write this in light of goodwill and in the understanding that life being life, things may change at the very last minute. Please, contact us to share/explain your circumstances.

If cancelation is required due to COVID 19 restrictions, your retreat booking will be fully refunded.