Courses & Learning
What is special about Woodbrooke Quaker retreats?
Some of the retreats offered by Woodbrooke draw from specific spiritual traditions, such as Benedictine, Ignatian, Buddhist, Islamic or Pagan. Others offer quiet time set aside with little or no overtly spiritual or religious input, perhaps with a creative or seasonal theme.
Many of our retreats, however, have a specific ‘Quaker’ quality which underpins all that we offer. Exploration and experience are central to the Quaker way, so we aim to ground our spiritual journeying in the real stuff of our lives. Our tradition teaches that the truth will break us open and will show us our darkness, in order to experience new light, so we affirm that edgy or uncomfortable places are ok and that we can hope for a strong transformational element in our spiritual journeying.
On retreat, we practise stopping and coming to a deeper stillness: this may often be in the midst of everyday life, for example in Woodbrooke’s busy dining room or our own home, as well as in worship and prayer times. We use silence as a grounding and a process for our exploration.
Spiritual journalling is important in the Quaker tradition, while art based response activities are a significant aspect of contemporary Quaker spirituality, so both of these may be part of retreats offered by Woodbrooke. Similarly, many people experience the divine in the natural world, so use of outdoor spaces and our gardens is often a feature of our retreats.
While the focus for each individual retreat participant will naturally be your own experience of the Spirit and of your deepest self, being part of the retreat group is also an important and dynamic element of a Quaker retreat, with both worship sharing and listening as common experiences. Working in a circle is fundamental to our way, as it embodies our testimony to equality. By the same token, the retreat leader is not held up as being an expert or authority but rather as bringing their own experience and authenticity, the depth and quality of their spiritual journey, and a willingness to work with people grounded in that.
In Quaker retreats, you can expect a variety of formats and approaches, as diversity is fundamental to our approach. We aim to model a variety of theological frameworks or ways of naming the sacred – not just one. Quaker retreat leaders hope to ‘own’ our own truth and sacred language, while seeking out and flagging up ways of interpreting and respecting different approaches.
Finally, you might notice something about the pace, the spaciousness, the kind of conversation that might happen on a Quaker retreat, involving a letting go of everyday conversation and a tuning in to the leadings of the Spirit. It can be to do with seriousness, depth, intention. It’s a lot to do with the approach of the retreat leader, including their preparedness to support people through any difficulties that inevitably arise as the Spirit ‘breaks us open’ to enable new growth.
