The November Herm Retreat!

I’m biased of course, if I didn’t love running retreats and spending weekends in lovely spots, then I wouldn’t run them. But, I have to say that that was another wonderful retreat we just held on the beautiful island of Herm!

I wasn’t sure how it would work out, as we are running it much later than usual, due to changes on Herm and them opening the white House Hotel much later than normal, into October. Typically the weekend coincided with the first Christmas shopping trip to Herm too, so I was imagining the Island packed with other people, which is not perhaps ideal when we have been running these retreats out of season for 10 years now, to make the most of the out-of-season-lack-of-other-people-on-Herm experience.

There was also concern about the weather, the closer we get to the darkness of winter, the higher the winds, in theory anyway, albeit there’s no guarantee for October either. So it was a relief to see that while higher winds were forecast, the boat was still able to travel in this.

It was a touch on the rough side though, and I can’t say I’m a fan of boat journeys when its quite so rough, but this seems to be a theme for the retreats to Herm and Sark, so I’m getting used to it now! It’s almost like that obstacle on the spiritual path. If you can pass the boat journey all will be well!

On Herm all was well, warm and cosy and ideal for retreating ahead of the new moon, as we were settling almost into the dark moon (which naturally asks us to turn inwards and see what might be lurking in the darkness). I hadn’t booked the retreat with an awareness of the moon cycle, but I have no doubt that it was well timed, and it definitely does affect the energy of a retreat.

i’ve had a few full moon retreats these last few years, it’s not forget that famous retreat on Herm three years ago when my water’s broke seven weeks early. There was a full moon on both the Glastonbury retreats this year too, and the first one, back in May. was particularly potent and there was many a tear and challenge for each of us in our own ways.

So for me anyway, this pre-new moon, on the cusp of the dark moon timing was interesting, beautiful and ideal really. It’s been a challenging year for so many of us, and it was a relief to be able to experience a gentleness for a change. I really felt this collectively.

It’s the first time on Herm at least that everyone has attended the first three classes, so there was a real sense of group energy. Understandably a few stayed in bed on the Sunday morning with our early 7.30am pranayama and meditation session, before asana and relaxation. About 14 of us met for the swim on the Saturday afternoon, but a number of others had swum on their own, so there was that energy too, of being connected to the sea, to nature and to the elements. A record number attended the chanting session with me too.

For me this was the most special part of the weekend. I love collective chanting of devotional mantra (Bhakti yoga), and have always found it deeply nourishing, enlightening and heart opening, my soul loves it! Tp have the opportunity to sing with other ladies who are open to it was a joy. I also love Vedic chanting, and am still studying this, so am not really in position to teach it as such, but we did explore AUM, and this was beautiful. We shared crystals and Reiki too, and it touched me that we unintentionally ended up sitting in a heart shape as a group! I should have taken a photo!

The sun shone when it wasn’t expected to, and I credit all the sun salutations! I made the most of it with Vicki and the family to go and see the Herm cows and get some fresh air. The shop was open so we got to peek in there too. It wasn’t as busy as we had expected and I still felt that I was getting away from it all!

Because of the shopping trips and the Mermaid being busy, we took our breakfasts and Saturday lunch in the Ship. This did work well, and I’m grateful to the hotel staff who are probably meant to be on holiday, who came in to serve and make it all happen for us. The evening meals were taken in the Mermaid as normal and I am grateful to the staff here too and especially the chef who had to juggle a number of food insensitivities and still managed to produce tasty vegan, gluten-free, soya-free and nightshade-free food - thank you!

I managed an early morning dip (I stress the word dip) on the Sunday early morning in the darkness, down at the beach in front of the hotel, slightly concerned that I might meet the Herm seal, and just thought how wonderful to have this opportunity. To be able to stay in the White House hotel and enjoy those views of the East coast of Guernsey, and spend my weekend with such lovely souls.

I’m grateful to Sarah Thackeray, Sam Le Compte and Jo de Diepold Braham for offering magical treatments and Athene Sholl for her jewellery making. I’m also grateful to Vicki Eppelein for helping me during the classes, and my Mum for making sure there were yummy snacks available and that all was well. Ewan and my Dad did a marvellous job of looking after the boys too, they love all this retreating, especially with Baba in tow!

A huge thank you to all the beautiful students who joined me this weekend, for their openness and going with the flow attitude - I found the weekend nourishing and transformative (some interesting dreams and processing) and I hope they might have returned touched by the magic of retreating on Herm too.

While I thought this might be my last Herm retreat on a count of the fact I don’t want to hold another one in November (I miss the October morning and evening skies), it seems that I might be able to get a date in October 2020…so I’m just waiting on that!

Lots of love and gratitude.