Pilgrimage at The Franciscan Monastery, Stroud

Sometimes, we move so fast we forget to notice how beautiful the world is. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the pace of our lives, that we don't allow ourselves to stop and draw breath and just look around us. Sometimes, in our most difficult moments, we deny the beauty and wisdom that each of us has within. This weekend, in the serenity and quiet that pervade The Monastery at Stroud, is an opportunity to slow down, breathe, walk, talk, play, create.

art + journaling + reflection + serenity + time + nature = insight + greater clarity + discovery/rediscovery of who you are + peace

When: 5PM, Friday, 4th Sept. - 2PM, Sunday, 6th Sept. 

Where: The Monastery at Stroud is like stepping back in time to Medieval Europe, except with kangaroos and the caroling of magpies. Beauty, peace and an air of welcome. 

Cost: $275.00/$250.00 concession. Less $50 if paid in full by the end of July. Special financial consideration for those on a fixed income. Accommodation, art materials, all meals included. Please bring your own bed linen as this is not supplied by the Monastery. Please also bring a journal - preferably an A4 visual diary with blank pages. And no, you don't need to be an artist to do this, you just need to want to slow down and gain some peace and perspective in your life.

Content: The main focus of the weekend will be on Life as a Journey and the ancient practice of pilgrimage - taking time out of your life in order to find yourself, to centre yourself in who and where you are in your life now. Being able to look at your life in this way brings greater clarity and a much-enhanced sense of inner peace. We're able to withstand many of the pressures in life if we can see both beginnings and an end in sight, that life is indeed a journey and a process. Taking time out enables us to gain this perspective and to re-emerge into our lives stronger and renewed. 

Facilitator: Karen Adler is a Transpersonal Art Therapist, writer, researcher, artist and curator. She walked the Camino de Santiago in 2006 and since then, bases much of her life on the Life as a Journey archetype. She is a firm believer in the inherent healing qualities of the Arts. 

Contact: Karen Adler, 0420 593 121, [email protected] 
Website: www.thejourneyjournal.webs.com

From Pilgrimage at The Monastery, 2013: “Wow. Where do I begin Karen? The retreat came at a time where I was really struggling with an issue in my life. My weekend at the monastery with you felt life-changing. The thoughts and feelings I became aware of and processed during the art therapy activities and our conversations over meals have made a huge impact on me. The retreat helped me to slow down and not be afraid of the decision-making process. I have a renewed faith in my own abilities to not just hang in there when it gets tough, but to make decisions that are right for me, and really go after what I truly desire. I know that sometime on my journey I will look back at my weekend in Stroud and be so thankful I met you and gained such knowledge about myself.” Priya - art teacher.

'I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage ... Everyone's got their own definition. Mine, I suppose, is to know myself.' Eric Clapton