The Restory Retreat Centre

  The Unexamined Life (?) The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation  Music "Bird Song" is about a world that has been so thoroughly "examined," paved over, and stripped of its mystery that we are left with a paralyzing silence. It's a cry for re-enchantment. The "examination" here is the hyper-rational, concrete-pouring progress that has led to a spiritual and ecological crisis.    · "sing me a song and put me back to sleep / from the trees, breathe life back into me" This is a desire to return to a dreamlike, unanalytical state. She isn't asking for a lesson, but for a lullaby—a song that ends thought, not provokes it. It's a wish to be re-connected to the natural, unconscious world ("the trees") to be healed.  May horizons that stretch wide open for you. With all our love. George & Matilda

  Die Onondersoekte Lewe (?) Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek "Bird Song" gaan oor 'n wêreld wat so deeglik "ondersoek", geplavei en van sy misterie gestroop is dat ons met 'n verlammende stilte gelaat word. Hierdie "Voëllied" is 'n pleidooi om weer bekoor te word. Die "ondersoek" hier is die hiper-rasionele, beton-gietende vooruitgang wat tot 'n geestelike en ekologiese krisis gelei het.  "sing me a song and put me back to sleep / from the trees, breathe life back into me" Dit is 'n begeerte om terug te keer na 'n droomagtige, onanalitiese toestand. Sy vra nie vir 'n les nie, maar vir 'n slaapliedjie—'n liedjie wat denke beëindig, nie uitlok nie. Dit is 'n wens om weer verbind te word met die natuurlike, onbewuste wêreld ("die bome") om genees te word. Mag horisonne vir jou oopgaan wat wyd strek. Met al ons liefde. George & Matilda

  Confusion On The Journey  “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.“ ‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭Message                        The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Video You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be authentically you.  All our love.  George & Matilda

Verwarring Op Die Reis ”As iemand na My toe kom, kan hy nie my dissipel wees nie tensy hy afstand doen van sy eie vader en moeder en vrou en kinders en broers en susters, ja, selfs van sy eie lewe. Iemand wat nie sy eie kruis dra en agter My aan kom nie, kan nie my dissipel wees nie.“ ‭‭LUKAS‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬-‭27‬               Die Gesprek Elemente Uir Die Gesprek Video Jy hoef nie perfek te wees nie. Wees net regtig jy. Al ons liefde George & Matilda

  Start this meditative session by sitting comfortably and just be silent for a while. Whenever you're ready proceed to read and listen. Stop often, let it sink in. On a retreat, where the focus is on a specific poet, mystic, author or artist, we try, if possible, to include an interview with that person. It is good to hear her/his voice. Here then, an interview with Mary. Mary was attentive to nature with poems flowing out of that. Ludovico Einaudi channels those experiences into music.  Mary often talks about her fondness for "dead poets" and their influence on her life and work - Blake, Rumi, Whitman, Emerson, to name a few.  We too need the dead poets and their words: Excerpt from Dead Poets Society O Me! O Life! By Walt Whitman Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly cr...

    To Let Go The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation  Music Often, when we loosen our grip and let go, we fall into something much bigger than our own making. You lose your grip, and then you slip Into the masterpiece                                                                         From:   "A Thousand Kisses Deep" "Everybody eventually comes to the conclusion that things are not unfolding exactly the way they wanted, and that the whole enterprise has a basis that you can’t penetrate. Nevertheless, you live your life as if it’s real. But with the understanding: it’s only a thousand kisses deep, that is, with that deep intuitive understanding that this is unfolding according to a pattern that you simply cannot discern.”            ...

  Om  Te Laat Gaan Die Gesprek  Elemente Uit Die Gesprek  Musiek  Dikwels, wanneer ons ons greep laat los, dan val ons in iets wat veel grootser is as wat ons kon uitdink of beplan. You lose your grip, and then you slip Into the masterpiece                                                                         Uit:   "A Thousand Kisses Deep" "Everybody eventually comes to the conclusion that things are not unfolding exactly the way they wanted, and that the whole enterprise has a basis that you can’t penetrate. Nevertheless, you live your life as if it’s real. But with the understanding: it’s only a thousand kisses deep, that is, with that deep intuitive understanding that this is unfolding according to a pattern that you simply cannot discern.” ...

Walt Whitman - colouring by Dana Keller After the seas are all cross’d, (as they seem already cross’d,) After the great captains and engineers have accomplish’d their work, After the noble inventors, after the scientists, the chemist, the geologist, ethnologist, Finally shall come the poet worthy of that name, The true son of God shall come singing his songs.                                                                Walt Whitman: Leaves of Grass