Black Mountain Meditation Retreat
Olchon Valley, near Hay-on-Wye, UK
July 31st - 5th August, 2024
Remembering our Buddha Nature
Join us in a magical Welsh valley this summer, for five days of
meditation, mindfulness and nature-connection.
Who are we beyond our busyness, our achievements and our mistakes? Beyond our old thought-patterns and stories, our impulse to change, fix or distract ourselves from what’s happening in the present moment? If we could allow ourselves to simply be, what might we uncover?
This exploration will be at the heart of our retreat this year. Through sitting with ourselves in meditation, we can start to glimpse our innate wakefulness. We can find the courage to connect with what we feel, allowing our hearts to open up and soften. Living for a short time amongst mountains, wildflower meadows and ancient trees, we can allow the natural world to gently permeate our experience, and help us to remember our wholeness.
Age: The retreat is open to all ages (18 and above). We hope to develop a separate family camp in the future, so that we can accommodate children and families too.
Practice: We warmly welcome people at all stages of discovering meditation – brand new beginners who are just starting out, as well as long-term practitioners seeking some company on the cushion.
“Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, your perceptions need you. Your suffering needs you to acknowledge it. Go home and be there for all these things.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
What to expect
Over the course of the retreat we will be guided in Buddhist meditation practice, engage with dharma talks and workshops, share wonderful food, enjoy campfires and spend lots of time in nature. There will be periods of silence, as well as time to share and socialise.
To get the most out of the retreat, participants should be looking forward to 3 - 4 hours of meditation a day. Sessions will always be broken up with walking and body-work, and we will not be sat down continuously for more than 30 minutes. Meditation cushions and chairs will be provided, and we will be able to help you find a sitting position that works for your body. We are more than happy for participants to bring their own cushions if they have them, though this isn’t essential.
Team
This year we’re excited to announce that the retreat will be guided by Pati Bielak-Smith, Jesse Watkins, and Llew Watkins, as well as our wider staff constallation. Cailin Burney-O’Dowd and Margreeth Van Diepen are coordinating. We’re also very delighted to have Mathew Cunningham in the role of wellbeing and Margaret and Rob returning as our wonderful cooking team.
Location
It is said that the five ridges of the Black Mountains are like the five fingers of a giant whose hand has been pressed onto the earth. At the eastern edge, between the thumb and forefinger is the Olchon Valley; secluded and magical, there is only one road in and one road out. It is a place where sky and earth meet very powerfully, this makes it a perfect place for meditation as it is somewhere where the open space of our mind mixes easily with the ground of our body.
Site and accomodation
Olchon Valley Campsite is a small, family run business who have kindly let us rent the whole site for the duration of this retreat. There will be large communal tents for meditation, eating and socialising, and we will be using the open fields and woodland whenever the weather allows. There are hot showers and composting toilets, which are cleaned daily. We ask participants to bring their own tents for sleeping, and if this is not possible or comfortable there are a limited number of spots in dormitory style yurts (which sleep 3-4 people each). Please let us know your preference with the drop-down menu when booking.
An important aspect of this retreat is being outdoors, which can help us to connect with our senses and heighten our awareness. Participants must be ready to embrace the elements in this beautiful and wild location! Glorious sunshine and heavenly downpours - it can all happen in Wales at this time of the year.
The retreat will be held on rough, countryside terrain, and we are aware that this may pose issues for those in wheelchairs or who have reduced mobility. Please reach out to us if you are in this situation, and we can provide more information and photos in order to assess together whether you would be able to access the site.
“We haven’t really lost anything; we just have to tune in. The majesty of the world is always there.” - Chogyam Trungpa
Costs
£320 | Normal Price
This includes five nights camping and all your delicious, vegan meals throughout the retreat. Plus five days of dharma talks, activities, detailed meditation instruction, and campfires in the evening, all set amongst this beautiful landscape.
£220 | Low Income
This is for people who are currently unemployed, in full time education, or earning a low income. There are eight concession spaces, available on a first-come-first-served basis. If lack of money is an issue, please email us as we may be able to connect you with donated funds or a local funding body which you can apply to.
£420 | Pay It Forward
Paying a little extra helps enable other people to attend who might not otherwise be able to. Your donation will be given to help those on a low income join the retreat. And we cannot state enough how much this generosity is appreciated!
We’ve kept these prices as low as possible. Everyone at Black Mountain Meditation is working in a voluntary capacity. These costs cover the practical costs of running the retreat.
“The true essence of our being is to delight in others.” - Lama Shenpen Hookham
