Everything was perfect.

The evening sun shone upon us, birds sung, flowers blossomed, and there was just so much space, with permission to simply be. After a guided tour of the beautiful and slightly wild Quiet Garden, a gentle breathing exercise to still our minds, and a meditation guided by Puck and other fairies and lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, guests were given permission to do whatever they wanted.

One first time guest chose not to dive into the arts materials, or to pick up some mindfulness knitting, or read a book, but gathered a hand crocheted blanket in her arms and headed out to the paddock to lie in the sun and dream.

As later we gathered to share in a picnic supper, our guest declared,

I get it! I totally get why people come on retreat!

Coming on retreat was a completely alien idea, but she was willing to give it a try, and is now a convert telling everyone else to do so.

So what was it that our first timer ‘got’?

I think it was the permission to stop. Life is just so busy that it is hard to spend time nursing ourselves, and when we do it tends to be something more physical like finally booking that dentist visit! How little do we value our spiritual and mental well-being! As we shared a little of our experiences of the evening it was clear that the Holy Spirit had been at work, gently guiding each of us in different ways, helping us to see within us what we had been too busy to notice.

Permission is an interesting word. As adults we are free to make our own decisions and choices, yet we find it so hard to make the decision to stop. We might know, technically, that it is important to spend time resting (Ten Commandments #4) but there is always something else that we feel we ought to do, that our sense of responsibility weighs upon us. We might know that it is OK to rest, but we leave it until we are too tired to plan anything that will be truly restorative, and instead flump in front of the telly. Today, as you are reading this, I give you permission not just to stop, but to plan your rest and not feel guilty about it. A certain brand of cosmetics would tell you that you are worth it, whilst God simply says, ‘Come and rest with me.’

This may feel like a bit of a sales pitch from someone who leads Petite Retreats for a living! Perhaps you are right! However, the main reason that I do this is because I know from personal experience how important it is to build in regular times of rest in our lives before we are floored by exhaustion or poor health. I know how difficult it is to put my own needs ahead of my family’s, how difficult it is not to ‘just’ finish that task. I know as a follower of Christ I should be spending more time simply being in his presence, but until someone gives me not just the time and the space to do so, but also permission, it doesn’t happen.

Our guest writes:

I haven’t been on a spiritual retreat before so didn’t know what to expect. I loved it. Driving in the direction of Salisbury seemed very fitting for the Midsummer Night’s Dreams and Visions Petite Retreat on the longest day of the year and I was not to be disappointed. The setting of Lopcombe Quiet Garden is a piece of paradise. How often do you get to sit in solitude and ruminate in a beautiful garden? Nowhere near enough, in my experience. Vanessa leads the group in meditation and prayer and immediately puts you at ease with her gentle, warm and welcoming nature. We started the evening with a tour of all the different ‘rooms’ in the garden which is a treat in itself. We then gathered and meditated and listened to Vanessa’s first reflection and then to my delight we were given time to ourselves. I wandered into the field where I sat under the summer skies and felt at peace. Vanessa had given us notebooks after the first meditation and I realised why as I let my mind run wild and started to scribble down all the thoughts that were flooding my mind. Good thoughts, creative thoughts, ideas; I was ablaze with possibility. We ate a delicious picnic supper together before our second reflection then I was off back to my field to sit under the blue sky once more and drink in the magic of the evening while some rather impressive hens and wild bunnies strutted, pecked and hopped around me. During one of the reflections Vanessa talked of permission to just be still and dream. I am the biggest advocate of giving oneself time out of the hectic pace of life and the biggest hypocrite at not taking my own advice. It was a blissful oasis of calm and I will never forget it. Everyone should do it. I came away feeling positive, clear-headed and energised. Even the drive home was enjoyable. Oh and she sent us off with a little charm, a ’night time’ herbal teabag and a homemade to-die-for Midsummer Fairy Cake with sparkling icing. Find me someone who can fault that! I don’t even think it matters who or what you consider God to be. If you believe there is a vast and greater intelligence at work and you want to go and spend time being right there in the middle of that beautiful energy then seriously…you should go. You will thank yourself.

Sally C, first time retreatant

So today I want to encourage you, as you read this, to receive permission to spend some time on yourself, and in your relationship with God.

Thank you for a lovely, blissful evening with our maker.

Friday 8th July we are holding a FREE taster day. Other retreat houses offer similar. To book your place (do it now and clear a space in your diary) click here; to search for other taster days contact the Association for Promoting Retreats.

Our Autumn programme of online and in-person Petite Retreats is being launched soon. Watch this space.