The Restory Retreat Centre

“No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer it has chosen.”                                                                                        - Minor White Every retreat is a journey in itself, a process of discovery and growth.  I have always been fascinated by the wealth of knowledge that abounds and the intellect’s ability to tap into that and apply it in any number of ways. To a large degree my mind has always been my tool of choice in relating and understanding my world. In a society and culture that prides itself in being rational, it was to my advantage. However, through grace and my exposure to contemplation I have discovered how limited and limiting my approach has been all...

  "The best camera is the one that's with you."                                                                       – Chase Jarvis  You can look at these pictures and say that they are beautiful. They are. But they are much more than the result of skilful photography or state of the art equipment. They are first and foremost reflections of spiritual journeys and doorways into deeper insight for the retreatants on the Contemplative Photography retreat here at Barrowfield over the past weekend. Matilda gave words to the other discovery we all made anew, “Everything is worth a photograph.” George

Photograph by Hanna Jacobs. Sculpture by Matilda Clifford.  As 2014 draws to a close, we look forward to welcoming in the new year with the renovations of bathroom facilities completed and the old stone house ready to receive guests for the range of retreats we have planned. We feel excited about what had slowly but surely been unfolding in the course of the year. Our many visitors had shown us the way in preparing ourselves and The Restory for what we came here to do: to create a place of quiet and rest for weary souls. To catch a glimpse of retreats for 2015, please follow the link:  About our Retreats  that you will also find at the top of the Blog home page. Matilda

 In South Africa (maybe elsewhere too, but I can only speak for my own country) we have the tendency to overwork things. Especially artwise. What is in vogue on the interior decoration scene at the moment (on linen, curtaining,scatter cushions and even t-shirts and facebook), are scenes of rural or farm life, complete with windmill, tractor and with patriotic sayings printed all over the place: “Afrikaners is plesierig” (Afrikaans speaking people are happy go lucky) and “Die Kaap is Hollands”(a very old saying meaning that everything is quite alright).      A decade or two ago there was a season of guinea fowl. They were depicted on everything from artists’ canvas to dinnerware. I remember a dinner set I had hand painted for a client with a typical bespeckled border and some guinea fowl grazing with you in the middle of the dinner plate.      Another theme that was very much in vogue and still makes me feel nauseous, was paintings by all and ...

George worries about the strangest things. He asked me this morning: Do you think the dogs have settled in allright after the move here to Barrowfield? This is what came to my mind. "Oh, I think so," I said. Matilda

On a stroll down to the river I was amazed at the change since our last walk. Autumn is blazing all around us. Matilda

Two months down the line, it is quite natural that a city slicker like myself will be drawing some comparison between life here on the farm and the life I grew accustomed to back in Pretoria, South Africa's capital city. And, please correct me if I'm mistaken, but so far it seems we're not missing out on much. Garden services "Phone booth"- The view from the only spot where we have mobile phone reception. Running water Free range beef   Dept of Water Affairs Security fences and gates Highway Tarred road for four legged pedestrians Big screen Matilda Note: Photographs by George, Marinetha Naude, Ralie du Preez and myself

Collage of photos of a weekend near  Groenvlei, Wakkerstroom As you set out for Ithaka* hope the voyage is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery. Laistrygonians and Cyclops, angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them: you’ll never find things like that on your way as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body. Laistrygonians and Cyclops, wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you. Hope the voyage is a long one. May there be many a summer morning when, with what pleasure, what joy, you come into harbors seen for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind— as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars. Keep It...

Photo collage by Matilda Autumn days on the Highveld of South Africa start out chilly, with frosts bleaching the grasslands, before rapidly picking up in temperature to become balmy and tranquil.     The last few days have been the epitome of what Autumn stands for, for me. Warm colours, crisp textures and a softness of light that allows for the taking of beautiful pictures.     Matthew Fox, in Original blessing , reckons that "this may be the fullest vocation of the artist, to become transparent."  The art form of photography, allows me this freedom. To simply put out what is put before me. To do it as true to life as my skill and equipment allow, without getting too involved in the semantics of what my art is supposed to be about, gives me a welcome breather.     So without further ado, please welcome: The Autumn of 2013. Matilda  

There's something magical about the Farmer's Market held on the grounds of the Pioneer's Museum every Saturday from 05:30 to 09:30, come rain or shine. And I suspect it's exactly these ungodly hours that gives it its charm! To get parking within a decent walking distance to the gates, you need to get there really early, which, during these shortening autumn days, means arriving along with scores of others and strolling through the myriad of stalls in near darkness for close on an hour before the sun leisurely shows up. Many stalls sport their own ingenious methods of lighting in the twilight zone, ranging from all manner of lamps to small generators powering electric light, but as the day dawns, the incredible abundance of all things natural and hand made and gorgeously wholesome spill into view and my senses do somersaults in my still rather sleepy body. A little boy scoops handfuls of rose petals from a bucket his father is carrying and throws it up into the ai...