Our Vision

Campfire in the Heart is a sacred place of retreat grounded in the contemplative Christian tradition and the world’s wisdom teachings. In the spirit of love the Campfire community welcomes all who come.

It desires to be:

A space that nurtures

  • Presence to Land and Spirit,
  • Attention to the creative tensions unfolding into the new
  • Openness to healing and reconciliation
  • Transformation in depth and breadth

Grounded in Contemplative Practice through

  • Silence and simplicity
  • Prayer and meditation
  • A desert spirituality of deep listening
  • Affiliation with The World Community for Christian Meditation

A curious, inquiring community

  • Intentional and service oriented
  • Inclusive, Christian ecumenical
  • Hospitality to all who come.

 

Labyrinth with rainbow

Introducing Judi and Paul Taylor, who have taken over from Sue and David at Campfire in the Heart.

 

In their own words:

We did not see this coming, but once the invitation to become part of the future of Campfire in the Heart arrived, it didn’t take long to feel a strong sense of divine opportunity. In a sense it felt like our whole life, especially since we’d become involved in Christian meditation, had brought us to this place of readiness to say “yes, we are in” no matter how much our quiet, peaceful, post-retirement life was about to be disturbed.

We had been to Campfire in the Heart when Sue and David Woods ran it so beautifully and we had been on the receiving end of their generosity. But we knew that there was a real risk of their great work coming to an end, if they were leaving. We also knew there was no way we could replace them because we were different, and besides, it wasn’t possible for us to relocate from our home near Sydney. But what we had experienced at Campfire was a place of great beauty, where people could forge a relationship with this incredible and unique landscape. Also a place where people could get to know each other in a deeper and more satisfying way. Part of this would be the opportunity to get to know our Indigenous brothers and sisters anew – opening our eyes to the possibilities of being part of this ‘Great Southern Land’ of the Holy Spirit.

A bit of the back story…

Twenty years ago, as we turned fifty, we felt called to journey to the physical centre of the country, having spent much of the previous twenty years exploring our own inner landscapes through meditation.

Encountering the way of meditation had been so life-giving for both of us. Initially coming from different spiritual traditions, we eventually both found a home in the Christian meditation community (www.wccm.org). As we explored this way of prayer, we sensed its resonance with Indigenous wisdom and the spirituality of the land. There seemed to be a promise of walking together with our First Peoples; a coming together integral to our shared journey as children of God.

Since 2002 we have been blessed to be invited on pilgrimage a number of times to the interior, often in desert regions. One of those times was an ‘Edge of the Sacred’ conference out of Alice Springs that was led by Miriam-Rose Ungumner, in which her teachings on ‘dadirri‘ were explored. She then invited us to come on country with her, to explore more deeply the way of dadirri. Two years in a row we were able to take a group of fellow meditators to Miriam’s home of Nauiyu (Daly River, NT) and immerse ourselves in this way of Indigenous contemplation. Our sense of calling was growing with a wondering

what . . .

how . . .

where . . .

and the pandemic gave a spaciousness to stay home and ponder.

We heard Sue and David needed to move on from Campfire in the Heart in Alice Springs, where they had lovingly nurtured local relationships and offered travellers an opportunity to experience that sacred place. We wondered could this be the time and place? Encouraged by fellow meditators, we took our next steps wonderingly.

On 10th January 2022, we finalised the purchase of the property and set up a Not-For-Profit company, hoping Campfire might continue to welcome so many of its previous guests, and perhaps offer to all meditators a place on country of silence and deep nourishment.

We knew it wouldn’t be the same as when Sue and David were living at Campfire and we sensed, although the essence of Campfire would be unchanged, that many new challenges and opportunities would arise. The first year has been both wonderful and challenging, and we are so blessed to have a board of companions from diverse backgrounds and generous local managers to support us through this profound adventure.