1 – 6 July 2027. 

Tap into a deep spring of love, joy, peace and compassion at the centre of our being. Jesus called it “living water”, with which we will never thirst. This meditation retreat is suitable both for those beginning and those ‘beginners’ already on the way.

Cultivate a transforming, healing awareness of the Divine presence, and learn how to meditate:

– on Scripture and other sacred texts;
– by using a prayer word or mantra;
– through mindfulness of the breath and body;
– on icons and other art works;
– by using visualization;
– in nature.

Focussing on the practice of meditation, the retreat will be largely experiential. The retreat will introduce and draw on the ancient wisdom of contemplative prayer, including Lectio Divina, Visio Divina and mantra meditation. No previous experience is necessary.

As learning to be silent is a vital part of cultivating awareness of the Divine presence, both within and around us, the retreat will be largely conducted in silence, although there will be opportunities each day for conversation, both with a spiritual director,
and at night, over dinner. Breakfast and lunch will be held in silence.

There will be opportunities each day for contemplation in nature, including through walking meditations, at times on the labyrinth built at Campfire some years ago, and through other practices such as Dadirri, the practice of inner, deep listening and
quiet, still awareness shared with us by our indigenous elders.

Campfire in the Heart is a sacred place of retreat set on Arrernte land along the East MacDonnell Ranges, seven kilometres from the centre of Alice Springs, Mparntwe. The retreat draws on the silence of Country, immersed in the wide skies and desert lands of central Australia. Over the days in this ancient evocative landscape, we will explore contemplatively all this and more, encouraging each other in our ‘noticing’ in the way of dadirri and other contemplative practices, sharing around the campfire each evening what has ‘come’ to us, been revealed.

Our hope is increasingly to attune ourselves and our times of silent prayer to the rhythm of the place where we are, to all and everything.

Retreat Guide

Roland Ashby is the editor of Living Water, which aims to promote and nurture contemplative wisdom and practice in the Christian tradition. He is a Benedictine oblate, spiritual director and retreat leader, and has been practising meditation in the Christian tradition for 26 years.

Cost: Packages from $450 – $1,095

From late Thursday afternoon 1st July until Tuesday lunchtime 6th July.

There will be 3 levels of accommodation offered, numbers are limited in each level, all-inclusive prices for the 5 nights are

* Private room $1,095 per person

* Shared room $775 per person

* Swag camping $635 per person

* It’s possible to come daily (non-residential) $450 for all sessions and meals

Free accommodation (in a caravan) is reserved for one volunteer, in exchange for their assistance throughout the event, ideally arriving a few days before the retreat and staying on afterward to assist with clean-up and preparing for the next guests. Minimum 2-week volunteering stay. More information about volunteering here.

NO. OF PARTICIPANTS Around 15

ENQUIRIES Roland Ashby editor@thelivingwater.com.au or Judi Taylor wccm@campfireintheheart.com.au

To enquire about possible scholarship assistance taylor.judi@outlook.com