The Restory Retreat Centre

More About George If I want to tell more about myself, the very best might be to just start by saying "I love..." and then list things that I love. So: I love...... ....Tafelkop. The big world of which I am a part, silence and to walk. The Conversation ...time spent with my M. Where we talk for long stretches, and laugh, or are just quiet together for long periods of time. Elements From The Conversation ....our granddaughter, Ariana. Who loves books very much and keeps asking: "Oupa, tell me a silly story!" ....books. And dogs. And cats. And tea. ....a good conversation. Sculpting and woodwork. To write. ....poems. More so by the day. Basically impossible to pick a single one, but on my birthday, this one from Billy Collins. It talks about things one thinks about at 60. Design I pour a coating of salt on the table and make a circle in it with my finger. This is the cycle of life I say to no one. This is the wheel of fortune, the Arctic Circle. This is the ring of Ke...

  Contemplatively Busy The Conversation Elements From The Conversation On our visit to Gauteng the past week, we've received such a number of enquiries regarding The Restory moving and requests to be kept up to date on the matter, that we've decided to have it as an item on the blog for the foreseeable future. We'll be posting pictures and updates on Facebook and Instagram as well, but it is handy to have it as a blog post where it is easy to find in years to come. We want to have everything moved to Tafelkop by end of May. To say that we'll be settled by then is unrealistic against the background of our strength, time and funds and the degree that it will be available. The main focus this week is moving the content of Sebastien's rondavel to his new house. The Mazda loaded for the move of Sebastien's furniture over the weekend.  Sebastien's empty rondavel.  Matilda is almost done sorting out the pantry, with the empty shelves attesting to that. These old sh...

    How To Start   The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation  “There is a secret place.  A radiant sanctuary. As real as your own kitchen.  More real than that. Constructed of the purest elements.  Overflowing with the ten thousand beautiful things. Worlds within worlds.  Forests, rivers. Velvet coverlets thrown over featherbeds, fountains bubbling beneath a canopy of stars. Bountiful forests, universal libraries. A wine cellar offering an intoxication so sweet you will never be sober again. A clarity so complete you will never again forget. This magnificent refuge is inside you. Enter. Shatter the darkness that shrouds the doorway… Believe the incredible truth that the Beloved has chosen for his dwelling place the core of your own being because that is the single most beautiful place in all of creation.”                            ...

The Restory - A Photo Journey In this conversation we tell about our contemplative journey in broad strokes. We would love to hear about your story as well, and if we can inspire and console each other in the process, we'll be glad.  The words of Brianna Wiest beautifully express our wish for you.  Our story And what is a journey without music? Turn up the volume on the open road! (Click on the link at the bottom of the image to listen to the song) Follow The Sun Warm greetings George and Matilda 

Leviathan * Terwyl ek die stuk oor Patat (Sien Watchitometer ) geskryf het waarin ek noem dat hy jou soms hap, het ‘n gedeelte uit Job aanhoudend by my opgekom: “Kan jy 'n krokodil met 'n hoek vang of hom 'n tou in die bek sit? Kan jy 'n lyn deur sy neus steek of sy kakebene met 'n hoek vastrek? Sal hy jou soebat om genade of by jou mooipraat? Sal hy 'n ooreenkoms met jou aangaan om vir altyd jou slaaf te wees?” (Job 40:20-23) . Dalk is dit omdat ek meen hy is net so onafhanklik ontembaar soos die krokodil as hy eers daardie ore plattrek. Die hele dinkery het my egter weer op ander spore gesit. In byna al die Engelse vertalings en in die oorspronklike Hebreeuse teks self word nie van krokodil nie, maar van die Leviatan – die Hebreeuse naam vir ‘n groot seemonster - gepraat. Dit gaan nie hier vir my om wat die beste vertaling van die gedeelte in Job is nie. Die onderliggende tema is gewoon iets baie groter as die mens wat vrees inboesem en waarteen o...

Photograph by George Angus For a while now I’ve been walking around with a printout of a poem by Wendell Berry in my journal. I had it in a file on my computer, totally forgot about it and while I was searching for something else I discovered it again. On face value it is a beautiful poem, but it was as if it somehow struck an even deeper chord in me. I found it difficult to describe why exactly that was the case. So I made the printout and read it every now and again, meditated on it and wrote in its margins. I wanted to get out of the way so that it could work its magic on me in every way it pleased. Words 1.    What is one to make of a life given    to putting things into words,    saying them, writing them down?    Is there a world beyond words?    There is. But don't start, don't    go on about the tree unqualified,    standing in light that shines    to time's end beyond its summon...

Photograph by Elliott Erwitt, New York City 1953 We cannot attain the presence of God because we're already totally in the presence of God. What's absent is awareness.                                                                                          David G. Benner In a previous post ( Klein Kaper ) Matilda wrote about the new arrival in the household, the kitten named Patat (Patat being Afrikaans for sweet potato and commonly used as a term of endearment especially where children are concerned). Lately he is often called Tappet as well (Tappet is an English word used in Afrikaans to describe a person somewhat rough around the edges. For some reason “tappet” just does not have a similar meaning in English). Since Matilda introduced him he has g...

Photograph by Hanna Jacobs In our consumer society it might be a challenge writing an ad for contemplation*. I imagine it going something like this: Do not go the contemplative route if you want absolute control over your life and do not like surprises. We are not in a position to answer questions like “What is this going to ask from me?”; “Where will I eventually end up by practicing this?” This is definitely not for you if you are looking for a tame, predictable God and you do not like your boat to be rocked. Maybe you are a person loving life’s comforts in general and comfort zones in particular. In that regard you find a religion where your basic cultural values, ideals and yard sticks are maintained with a gospel layer laid on top of it ideal. If that is the case, steer clear from this. It is also not for you if you want to continue with business as usual. The contemplative life will change you. You are going to become you. Maybe that is exactly the one thing that yo...

In an age where anxiety is rampant, despite all our developments and achievements, Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream almost acts as a society’s emblem. No wonder it sold for $120m at a Sotheby’s auction in New York last year.  Now I’m wondering: How did we get to the point where such a painting reflects our underlying mood? As I said, despite all our developments and achievements. What is lacking when we seem to have it all? And although I absolutely adore the painting, I find the price a bit too steep. How is it possible that somebody has so much money (In excess I might add. His/her other living expenses are apparently covered and he/she has a little something lying around to invest somewhere), while millions on the planet do not know where the next meal will come from? If ever. What is wrong with this picture? Pardon the pun! Edvard Munch was himself a troubled man. Suffering from insomnia, he would often book himself an overnight couchette to Oslo, as he f...