Easy Retreats for High Flyers

In February's issue of easyJet inflight magazine who can read a few favourite facts about me, Dorothy Larios and how I am passionate about my job!

Under "Holistic Retreats" is an interesting piece for high flyers to read whilst enjoying their view of European skies.

Interviews have always intrigued me as how and when they are carried out.I had literally just stepped off an easyJet plane after an unexpected trip to Greece and the phone rang. Gilly Smith introduced herself as a freelancer and off we went into an innocent conversation about who I am, what I offer and what my philosophy on retreating is all about.

At the very end of the conversation was "we have a 4 hour deadline and it is for easyJet!"
Thank you Gilly and thank you Piers for this opportunity to offer an alternative to jet-setting, for a few days of holistic retreating.

Watch this space as more venues are being added!


Dorothy

New Year with New Challenges

With January gone I now have time to resume blogging. How amazing life can be with unpredictable challenges arriving without any prior notice. 2009 came quietly for me and although there was predicted doom and gloom surrounding me, I had counted my good fortune and reflected on how I should be careful but be positive and trusting that the universe would supply me with all that I required.

How wonderful to see the first snowdrop in January and then the February snow that lay it's carpet over everything. The season is winter after all and why do we presume that global warming has forbidden nature's gift of a nurturing blanket of snow to arrive.Is there a reason to blame the authorities for being unable to keep the roads and motorways clear. We must accept that there is a much larger force able to send us challenges that are in the scheme of things, minor and slightly troublesome.What a wonderful day for having family fun; children and sleighs, snowballs and snowboarding and the birds attracted to my garden to find food supplied with love.The UK may have been forced to stop for a day but how small an inconvenience.

Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of Winter, in the northern hemisphere.

Many of the customs associated with the Winter Solstice derive from stories of a mighty battle between the dark and the light, which is won, naturally, by the light.Celebrated in many religions and by many cultures we often forget the real meaning of this winter celebration.

Earlier traditions focused on the battle between the dark and the light, but we know both are valuable. Honor the dark before calling in the light. This is the season when animals hibernate and nature sleeps and we can turn inward too. Perhaps some of the depression people feel during the holidays comes from not providing a space for feeling the sadness associated with this season. Set aside time (hard to do amidst the frenzy of the holidays) for sitting in the dark and quiet. I like to spend a little time of the Winter Solstice in silence and reflection.

It is a time of year when some despair, seem lost, confused, frustrated and money seems to go before we receive it; with all the Christmas shopping. We feel like we have reached the turning point and our strength recedes and/or declines. Such is the cycle of birth and death, elation and melancholy, strength and weakness, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty, the harmony of change.

It is the time of year to have good friends around, and to be a good friend. Celebrate with the light of candles, yule logs on the fire and share your food and warmth. It is the time of year to be hospitable to strangers and travellers. It is the time of year for telling stories around the fire, the time for sipping hot drinks to warm the soul; the time to raise spirits...and a glass or too. A celebration of the promise of the Sun's return in all it's power.

You should enjoy yourself as much as possible on the Winter Solstice because this will bring back light (and lightness) into the world. Different traditions mention feasting, gambling, playing pranks, giving gifts, visiting, drinking, dressing up, putting on plays and staying up all night. During the dark of winter, invoke all the forces of pleasure and love which make life worth living.

This is a natural time for letting go and saying farewell. Release your resentments and regrets into the darkness, knowing they will be transformed. Write about them in your journal or write them on slips of paper which you can burn in your Yule fire.
Celebrate in the warmth and love of your friends and family and lighten the way into 2009.

Greetings from Dorothy

When Something Shifts----- there is no going back.

There has been a huge global wake-up call and nowhere more so than for those who thought that they had "made it." Striving through school, college or university, worked hard to hold the ideal job buy the designer house,with wife and children. The bills have always been paid and the holidays regularly, exotic and the children have every electronic gadget that they desired.

Until the world became greedier and seedier as bankers and the fat cats at the top became beyond accountability.The sad fact is that even those of us who have had less affluent lives have still become so complacent that we thought we were safe and secure.
People are losing their jobs and highly paid careers are crumbling along with the economy. Changes and shifts ripple and ripple and continue to leave a wake behind. The ripple effect has never been so dynamic not since we witnessed the visual effects of the tsunami one Boxing Day, not so long ago.
Let's us now work together to raise the awareness of mankind. May this global shift allow us to work together to create the new consciousness so desperately required for humans to become truly self -responsible and to stop blaming each other for the mistakes that we have either allowed to happen or contributed towards.

Let's remember this winter that as the snowflake falls from the icy sky it will never be the same. Nothing remains the same. The snowflake melts and slips away to make icy water which feeds the little bulb of a snowdrop which pushes through the frozen soil to bring life and beauty to the winter world.

Pray that the vast changes that our planet is witnessing will allow a freshness and beauty to evolve in the human race. If everyone chooses to be responsible for re-creating families, relationships and communities based on the very best of human values then 2009 may be a year worthy of celebration.

I offer you my seasonal wishes and ask you to reflect on your own contribution to the new global consciousness.
Dorothy

The Seasons Of Change

For many weeks I have had a theme in my head called the Seasons of Change.I have been designing a new retreat concept around using the seasons more in my work to encourage people to get back in touch with nature as a means to being more reflective about their own rhythms and moods.

However there seems to be a much wider change occurring and many are now recognising that the latest economic downturn and the "bubble bursting" is indeed the global shift that so many of us have been hoping for.
Rather than feeling disillusioned and fearful, many of those that I am in touch with are actually feeling hopeful.

Are we being overly optimistic? Will President Obama be the person to take our planet into a new, less corrupt season of change.

The image that I have used in this blog is from a wonderful website that I would like you to visit at http://www.seasonofchange.org

Perhaps this will show you what many of us are sensing in the winds!
I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Dorothy

Retreat Venues - secret discrimination.

I have been viewing venues for running our retreats in for over 18 months. It is a very interesting process as so much is available on the internet.There are a vast range of types of buildings advertising as suitable for retreats; cottages, centres, guest houses, country houses.
It is amazingly difficult to find a venue that ticks all the boxes. We are particular in that we do not expect our clients to suffer spartan conditions. Why do so many venues that advertise retreats expect everyone to eat vegetarian. There seems to be discrimination against those who have normal diets, require single room occupancy and prefer yoga during the day and not at sunrise!
Why is there a pre-supposition that those requiring time away from daily life are happy to share a room with a complete stranger? Why are we expected to join in communal activities like cooking food for a group? Is there some unwritten law that requires retreatants to suffer the queue for the loo or shower whilst seeking a little respite?

Step up retreat venues, to the challenge that very often the most stressed out, weary people are those who are used to a standard of comfort. Executives require single ensuite accommodation with comfort and privacy. The image above is what we require for our clients! It is a wonderful space to relax in, make your own drinks and cuddle up to read or write.

2008 Modern Retreat Clients deserve nothing less!

Awesome Autumn

I so love the quietness of autumn as the leaves fall, the squirrels scurry and each day there are more vibrant colours to view. However there are still all the signs of summer if you really listen. The birds are still singing and flowers blooming and children still play out of doors even as the dusk arrives earlier.
It is that special time of year when we are preparing to slow down, collect our energy and cuddle up in the warmth of our winter homes. Mother Nature always leads the way. Have you noticed how she reflects in our moods?

In my world there must always be that chance to rest, slow down and have time to ponder. I love collecting nuts, acorns, pine cones and other reminders that life exists inside all that seems to be still or dead. The nuts are but little seeds, dying leaves but a source of life and compost in the garden a changing energy pile full of life. Autumn's preparations for resting is so comforting. Does it resonate with you?