Compassionate Enquiry Retreat
Wed (eve) 20th June - Sun 24th June 2018
A four-day 'Living NVC' retreat in beautiful Welsh riverside location.
A small retreat for people wanting a safe 'held' space to slow down, self-connect and find their own inner compass again.
Group connectionEach day we will include time together as a group to experience the power of connecting with each other - this will be time for deeper sharing and an opportunity for you to explore a challenge in your life in a compassionately-held space - usually people find this very healing.
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Deep self-connectionThe retreat will include time to slow down and connect with yourself. We will include time walking or being in nature, silent meditation and offer different options to support integration of any fresh insights you connect with during your stay - including rest if that is what you most need.
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Nourishing foodWe want you to feel nourished from the inside out so we specialise in offering simple yet delicious organic vegetarian/vegan food - some of which is grown on our own land.
We do our best to cater for special dietary needs. |
Head to the FAQs page for answers to your questions about cost, food etc
Or read below for information about the facilitator and the venue.
"My time spent on the Come to Life retreat touched me deeply:
the sense of safety; the tenderness, care, warmth and skill
with which Penny and Vicky held the group. Read more.... " Helen OGrady
the sense of safety; the tenderness, care, warmth and skill
with which Penny and Vicky held the group. Read more.... " Helen OGrady
more about the retreat
Location and venue
Alltcafan House - where you will spend your time - is part of the Alltcafan historic woollen mill estate and is surrounded by beautiful and tranquil nature. It is situated right next to the River Teifi. We regularly see dippers, herons, kites and geese and occasionally catch sight of a kingfisher or otter. There is little light pollution here so on a clear night you get a great view of the starry sky.
There are opportunities straight from the house for beautiful walks along the Teifi. Stunning coastal walks are a 25 minute drive away. One of Wales's famous poets (T Llew Jones) wrote a poem called Cwm Alltcafan about the beauty of this place.
There are opportunities straight from the house for beautiful walks along the Teifi. Stunning coastal walks are a 25 minute drive away. One of Wales's famous poets (T Llew Jones) wrote a poem called Cwm Alltcafan about the beauty of this place.
Group Facilitator - Penny Spawforth
Hi, I am Penny.
Since my early twenties, I have been on a journey of self-enquiry about what my unique service was to the world - at times doubting that I had much to offer!
Earlier Years
This led me to follow in my father's footsteps and train as, and then teach, Alexander Technique. I worked (and still do) one-to-one with people offering the insights I learned about human movement and reactivity and how these affect our healthy functioning. Whilst this fulfilled me in some ways, I was missing something that I couldn't easily identify. In 2006 I discovered Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication (NVC) work.
The Missing Piece
A light bulb went on for me - I had found my missing 'piece': the concept of "universal human needs". Over the following years I went on to become a certified NVC* trainer and soon discovered that the conventional sense of 'trainer' didn't quite fit me. What brings me alive is the organic compassionate presence to people when we show up authentically together. I discovered that I had a natural ability to put aside judgments and advice - and that I love holding a compassionate enquiry space for people to discover for themselves what next steps they need to take. Since then I have been running Living NVC events - both camps and retreats - for over 10 years.
New Paradigm
What I love most is helping people to see NVC - not as a formula for speaking a specific way - but as a route out of the right/wrong paradigm prevalent today.
My small contribution towards the massive planetary environmental problems we face in our time is to nurture this new paradigm, person by person - helping people orientate themselves towards a new way of seeing the world that includes themselves as part of a bigger 'we'.
I continue to hold humility in recognising I still have so much to learn and each person and living being I meet teaches me something new
*Certified with the international Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC)
Since my early twenties, I have been on a journey of self-enquiry about what my unique service was to the world - at times doubting that I had much to offer!
Earlier Years
This led me to follow in my father's footsteps and train as, and then teach, Alexander Technique. I worked (and still do) one-to-one with people offering the insights I learned about human movement and reactivity and how these affect our healthy functioning. Whilst this fulfilled me in some ways, I was missing something that I couldn't easily identify. In 2006 I discovered Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication (NVC) work.
The Missing Piece
A light bulb went on for me - I had found my missing 'piece': the concept of "universal human needs". Over the following years I went on to become a certified NVC* trainer and soon discovered that the conventional sense of 'trainer' didn't quite fit me. What brings me alive is the organic compassionate presence to people when we show up authentically together. I discovered that I had a natural ability to put aside judgments and advice - and that I love holding a compassionate enquiry space for people to discover for themselves what next steps they need to take. Since then I have been running Living NVC events - both camps and retreats - for over 10 years.
New Paradigm
What I love most is helping people to see NVC - not as a formula for speaking a specific way - but as a route out of the right/wrong paradigm prevalent today.
My small contribution towards the massive planetary environmental problems we face in our time is to nurture this new paradigm, person by person - helping people orientate themselves towards a new way of seeing the world that includes themselves as part of a bigger 'we'.
I continue to hold humility in recognising I still have so much to learn and each person and living being I meet teaches me something new
*Certified with the international Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) - Includes information on costs
And a word from one of the participants...
"This morning as I came down for re-entry into family life, I became aware of being aware
of a much greater degree of emotional nuance to how I was feeling, and the needs that that was pointing to.
I felt that was a tremendous breakthrough for me and in the words of my son definitely points to me 'getting it'!"
Alex Marshall
of a much greater degree of emotional nuance to how I was feeling, and the needs that that was pointing to.
I felt that was a tremendous breakthrough for me and in the words of my son definitely points to me 'getting it'!"
Alex Marshall