A Conversation on Retreats, Thin Places, and Remembering
Ever wonder what happens when you finally just turn off the noise of everyday life for a minute? Does that feel a little scary? Is going on a retreat just an escape from reality, or is it actually a massive homecoming?
In our latest video, Roanna Quirke, sits down for a relaxed chat with Mary Monfries and Chris Blakeley to talk all about retreats. Mary and Chris are veteran retreat guides and spiritual directors who spend a lot of time hanging out with people standing at life's big crossroads, the ones asking those "what next?" kind of questions.
It’s a wide-ranging conversation where they cover a ton of ground, including what it really means to retreat, the mystery behind "thin places," and a question that might change how you view quiet time: Is retreating actually just a way of remembering who we already are?
Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and join the conversation!
Reflections:
What are your thin spaces? Where do you go to retreat?
What do you remember about yourself and God on retreat?
Do you feel drawn to retreat or lead one?
We’d love to hear more in the comments.
Find out more about the retreats Chris and Mary lead through The Good Way or perhaps join their next pilgrimage to Assis or Crossroads Retreat, both in September.
Read more on our series on retreats with Grace Owen’s reflection on Jesus’s invitation to come away and stay tuned for up coming blogs on how to lead retreats online and in your own home in July and August.
Mary Monfries
After graduating in music in 1989, Mary trained as a chartered accountant with PwC, where I stayed for 33 years in various client-facing, business leadership and governance roles and ultimately formally trained as a coach to other partners. She is a mum of two wonderful adult sons and am blessed with an amazing extended family that keeps growing. As a former student and then tutor on the Encounter course, she now combines one-to-one coaching, spiritual direction and listening roles with work as a retreat guide (for people of all faiths or none) and other group facilitation which requires the holding of a space where people can feel safe and flourish. Music remains a great source of joy for her and one which she increasingly bring into her retreat work.
You can connect with Chris on Linked in or the LCSD directory.
Chris Blakeley
Chris is a Benedictine Oblate, and his own practice is deeply rooted in contemplative and Ignatian spirituality, though he works across all faith traditions. Chris is a coach, spiritual director, and teaches spiritual formation at Waverley Abbey. He is also the founder of Crossroads Retreats, a charity designed specifically to support people who are sensing a major transition or change in life but aren't quite clear on the path forward. His focus is on presencing, listening, drawing closer to God and sustaining this in daily life.
You can connect with Chris on Linked in, his website or the LCSD directory.
Roanna Quirke
Roanna is part of the LCSD team leading on our communivtiuons and operatiosns. She is a trained as a Spiritual Director ten years ago and loves this work and training others to do the same. Roanna is known for being ready with a karaoke song, being the first one in the sea and making people welcome around a table.
You can connect with Roanna on her website or the LCSD directory.