Ursula Le Guin
“There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.”
~ Ursula Le Guin
Connection is good medicine for the challenges of our times. Coming together in retreat, we share delicious meals and joyful divine yoga. Coming into our hearts, we connect with the Source of all creativity.
Whether you (wish to) write poetry or prose, biography or love letters, calls to action or invitations to prayer, writing from the heart will bring life to your words.
Over the last two years and more, through our online writing groups we have developed a method for diving together into heart meditation, resting in that state of heart awareness, and writing directly from the heart. We have witnessed the most beautiful, authentic and transformative words flowing across the page.
~ Our Retreat Home ~
The Lacket is an historic six bedroom cottage with thatched roof built in the early 1700s owned by a wonderfully creative family including contemporary writers and artists. Their grandfather regularly hosted visitors from the Bloomsbury group including Leonara Carrington and Virginia Woolf. It is to her we owe the name of our retreat and our Tuesday evening online writing group - Wave in the Heart.
“A sight, an emotion, creates this wave in the [heart]mind, long before it makes words to fit it; and in writing (such is my present belief) one has to recapture this, and set this working (which has nothing apparently to do with words) and then, as it breaks and tumbles in the [heart]mind, it makes words to fit it.” — Virginia Woolf
Sacred Stone Circle at Avebury
With the ancient sacred sites of West Kennet Long Barrow and Avebury Stone Circle a short drive away, we will enjoy an inspiring outing to connect with the wisdom our ancestors held, which the Earth and our hearts still hold.
You can find the location of The Lacket here. The nearest train stations to Marlborough are Pewsey & Bedwyn. Lifts can be arranged from the station. Car sharing can also be discussed.
~ Retreat Hosts ~
Vishwam Gurudas Heckert is a writer, yoga minister and experienced yoga teacher living in Shetland. For the past five years he has been training heart meditation facilitators with the Heart Of Living Yoga Foundation and is part of their Yoga Teacher Training team. Vishwam’s essays and poetry have appeared in a variety of popular, scholarly and literary publications including Permaculture Magazine, Reforesting Scotland, Sarasvati, Soul Lit, Earth Pathways, and Queering Anarchism. He has also co-edited several scholarly collections on themes including anarchism, sexuality and ecopsychology. Vishwam completed his PhD in Sociology at the University of Edinburgh in 2005 and within a few years realised that academic life was not for him. He is the founder of Flowing with Life where he offers weekly live online yoga classes, heart meditation & writing groups, and a men’s circle as well as special events like this one. He’s known for his sense of humour, heartfelt listening and dedication to nurturing community.
~ What Wave in the Heart alumni say ~
“What an absolute gem of a find Vishwam’s writing groups are. I was drawn to attend Vishwam’s writing group, because I liked the sound of the mix of heart meditation and creative writing. I was intrigued, but I wasn’t prepared for the difference in my writing, when written from the heart centre. Somehow, I hadn’t made that connection before, with my writing. But what a distinct and palpable difference it is! I was seeking something. I didn’t know it was my own heart.”
~Lavinia, psychospiritual psychotherapist and nature therapist
“In this world it is so hard to take the time to pause and just be, to allow one's authentic self to communicate with others and most importantly with ourselves. In this course Vishwam provided the space to do just that. To stop for a moment and just be, to experience the calm and the quiet and then let the words flow out onto our pens or our computers. This course has been an experience of growing and sharing, and in the words of self and others to find connections and metomorphosis. I cannot wait for the next one.”
~ Harmony, spiritual practitioner and activist
“From the first week I felt more connected and enjoyed the flow state and ease of writing which comes from an open heart. Grateful for the space to meditate, create and share with kind people in a totally non-judgemental environment. Very healing for any old wounds around education / writing / performing etc.”
~ Nell, celebrant
~ Contribution ~
“I give, you give, we all receive” — Padma Devi Sumananda
Single Bed Shared Room - £285
Double Bed Shared Room - £310 (£560/couple sharing)
Single Bed Private Room - £325
Double Bed Private Room - £345 (£600/couple sharing)
Food: In order to keep costs down and to enjoy the sharing, we also ask you to contribute either a pasta dish or a curry dish for our shared dinners. All other meals will be prepared together by volunteer groups. If you have particular dietary requirements, please do bring food that will suit you.
~ Booking ~
To book your place, please email Haripriya on namaste@flowingwithlife.org or fill in the form below.
A deposit of £100 secures your place. Instalment plans are available. If finances are an issue, please speak with us. We may be able to help. Places are extremely limited on this unique retreat and early booking is advised.
Booking Form
(or email vishwam@flowingwithlife.org)