4th-6th May 2001

"Unmasking the Sound"

This event was to have been a weekend music retreat at Rhoscolyn on Holy Island in Anglesey.  However, Foot & Mouth restrictions made that venue impossible, so it is was held at:
 Ashton Lodge,
Gaunt's House,
Nr Wimborne,
Dorset

Here are some samples of feedback from a few of the participants:

"I thought the May retreat went really well.  Thanks to those who put so much effort into making it happen so smoothly.  Dare I ask when we can have another one?.......

I particularly enjoyed the music we made together, because of the instruments, it had a whole new dimension for me as I'm only used to improvising with voices.  I'd love to do more.

I also really appreciated the energy work we did.  Exploring chakras with Sarah, I really resonated with that.  (Would love to have the affirmations that go with each chakra - if you can spare time to send them Sarah). The session we did with voice and foot massage was especially powerful for me and I feel I want to explore that more.  Certainly I feel that big changes are coming in my life (I'm leaving my job at the end of this month) and, although it scares me quite a bit, I get the feeling that voice and healing is going to play a big part.....

When we have another weekend, I would like to self-cater again as I felt that the interaction between us during food preparation is very valuable and allows us to get to know each other more".
Lysana Robinson

"Thank you so much for all the giving and music at the weekend. I particularly
want to acknowledge Sarah's contribution and generosity in giving of her
healing and therapeutic skills.  I, for one, felt very happy that you were at
Guants Sarah!  But also thanks to you all for being there. I felt that some
of the music we made was of a very beautiful quality and some of the
processes were extremely powerful".
Susan Nares

"I thank you all and every one for your rich, and deeply meaningful contributions to the weekend.  We have been on a journey together, with what that may imply concerning touching archetypal realms within us, and with all the attendant fears, doubts, uncertainties, and joys.

I suggest that we, in our individual ways, to differing degrees of intensity, have been collectively through the burnt up darkness and despair of the Nigredo, prelude to the purifying processes of the Albedo, before the awakening of hope as light begins to dawn in the Citrinitas, and the splendour and joy of a new wholeness in the Rubedo.  But because we are individuals, our processes necessarily vary in their depth and timescale.

I believe that much of the deep satisfaction of such collective times with others occurs because our inner processes have attuned with each others.  Never completely, or we would lose the precious thread of individuality, but the extent to which this does happen gives us respite from the angst of being essentially alone.

Maybe, then, if this entrainment eludes us on the particular occasion, we must suffer added despair in the perception that we are missing that deep sense of connection, of communality.  Our own process must again work its way out, alone . . .

Such is the power of sound and music, to work us in this way."
Clement Jewitt

"We've been silent members of the list since our return after the wonderful Dorset weekend, just because of busy lives, but let us take this opportunity to surface and say how much we enjoyed our music and the psyche introductory.  It was great.  The group hums and the group improvisations really were the highlights for us".
Jo & John Hindley