The Restory Retreat Centre

Windows Of Our Culture Wakkerstroom Classical Music Festival 2026 For the second consecutive year, local artists, as well as artists from the wider area, will exhibit at the annual Classical Music Festival. We act as curators and with the help of friends and family from Wakkerstroom, the restored old trading house, Brown's, will be transformed into a gallery and music space in less than a week. We are also very proud that Matilda's daughter, potter Eylene Clifford, is this year's festival artist. Tired after the hard work, we let music, shapes and color wash over us.   With much love. George & Matilda 

Wakkerstroom Classical Music Festival 2025 20 - 23 March 2025 “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;  he suspends the earth over nothing.  He wraps up the waters in his clouds,  yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.  He covers the face of the full moon,  spreading his clouds over it.  He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters  for a boundary between light and darkness.  The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.  By his power he churned up the sea;  by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.  By his breath the skies became fair;  his hand pierced the gliding serpent.  And these are but the outer fringe of his works;  how faint the whisper we hear of him!  Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” ‭‭Job ‭26‬:‭7‬-‭‭14‬ ‭NIV                              It is that time of year again! Autumn is...

  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...

Enneagram 5 In Lewende Lywe Die Gesprek  Elemente Uit Die Gesprek  Musiek  Liefdegroete. George & Matilda   

    Reality   The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music With our love. George en Matilda

  Behind The Scenes The conversations Elements from the conversation  All the beauty that's been lost before wants to find us again                                                                                      U2 (Ordinary Love) Music We try to leave something behind. No monuments or statues, but something that makes life a little bit more beautiful and warmer for people - those current and those that follow. To Leave Something Behind  (Sean Rowe) I cannot say that I know you well But you can't lie to me with all these books that you sell I'm not trying to follow you to the end of the world I'm just trying to leave something behind Words have come from men and mouse Oh, but I can't help thinking that I have heard the wrong crowd When all the water is go...

    Silence "Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am.  Be still and know.  Be still.  Be."                                                       Ps 46:10 The Conversation  Elements from the conversation Let Your God Love You Be silent. Be still. Alone. Empty Before your God. Say nothing. Ask nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God look upon you. That is all. God knows. God understands. God loves you With an enormous love, And only wants To look upon you With that love. Quiet. Still. Be. Let your God— Love you.                                         Edwina Gateley Music  A master of silence in his compositions and music is the Italian composer and p...

  Spiritual Direction  “ What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.  “Teacher,” the blind man answered, “I want to see again.” ‭‭                                                                                             Mark‬ ‭10:51‬ ‭(GNB) The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation "The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it."                                                   ...

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 

Wakkerstroom Old Bioscope: Photograph by Owen Castleman Cet animal est tres mechant; Quand on l'attaque il se defend. (This animal is very malicious; when attacked it defends itself.)                                                 - La Menagerie (Traditional French song) ~ o  ~ Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.                                              - Rainer Maria Rilke ~ o  ~ When we can see the image o...

"No one suspects the days to be gods."                                                             Ralph Waldo Emerson Maart is Klassieke Musiekfees-tyd op Wakkerstroom. (Vanjaar se datums: 17 – 20 Maart) Dit is die grootste geldelike inspuiting vir ons dorpie wie se hoofproduk vir die res van die jaar ironies genoeg stilte is. Ry jy nou in die hoofstraat af sien jy hoe daar oral gevee, geverf, gewas en gewerskaf word om al die besoekers te ontvang. Vir ons as plaaslike kunstenaars is dit ook ‘n groot geleentheid en van vroeg tot laat is ons aan die skep vir die veskillende uitstallings. Wanneer ek egter aan die Musiekfees dink, dan is dit die tipe dae wat ons gewoonlik oor hierdie tyd op die Hoëveld beleef wat aanhoudend by my opkom. Die reënval was vanjaar baie beter as verlede jaar, die veld is pragt...

The practical How Soul nurturing Healthy habits (Cultivating a spiritual practice) Just as our bodies need nourishment and rest at regular intervals, so it is with our souls as well. We’ve mentioned a number of things that serve to nourish our souls, but to a large degree it is carried by a regular practice. Often the distinction is made between an informal and formal practice. The way you live your life consciously with awareness and applying all your senses is your informal practice. It takes place in the general daily living and doing. But it is important to have a formal or more structured practice as well. Where 20 minutes to an hour is set aside every day where you become quiet and silence the constant chatter of your mind. Through experience and trial and error we’ve found the following to work for us: To get up early in the morning before the day with all its activities and commitments starts in full force Light stretches or gentle exercise help to wa...

Photograph by Orren Jack Turner This past weekend we thoroughly enjoyed the performances at the annual Wakkerstroom Music Festival. Such talent! While listening to the classical music coming forth from violin, piano, marimba, clarinet, bassoon, organ and the rest, the following came to mind. It originally appeared in the November 1955 edition of Reader's Digest . The Night I Met Einstein by Jerome Weidman When I was a very young man, just beginning to make my way, I was invited to dine at the home of a distinguished New York philanthropist. After dinner our hostess led us to an enormous drawing room. Other guests were pouring in, and my eyes beheld two unnerving sights: servants were arranging small gilt chairs in long, neat rows; and up front, leaning against the wall, were musical instruments. Apparently I was in for an evening of Chamber music. I use the phrase “in for” because music meant nothing to me. I am almost tone deaf. Only with great...