SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY:
Dorset projects
EVENTS:
Workshops
Desert Journeys
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THE GIFT IN THE DESERTA Retreat in the Tunisian Sahara
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In this retreat we will draw on stillness and movement, silence and voice, solo and group time, Sufi practices and the guidance of nature, and the vision quest tradition.
Mariam Baker was described by her Sufi mentor as a spiritual midwife and energy weaver. She is a deeply experienced adept and teacher of many aspects of the Sufi path, dance, song, healing and poetry. She is the author of Women as Divine, and The Feminine Face of Islam. Her own zest for the gift of life is an inspiration to many.
Alan Heeks has a deep passion for the desert’s spiritual traditions, Sufi, Christian and Islamic, and for the Sahara and its people. This will be the seventh journey he has organised with these Bedouin guides. He has co-led many vision quests and other groups, seeking alignment with nature and higher purpose. He is also leading an eco-village project in Dorset and is the author of The Natural Advantage, a guide to organic growth for people and organisations.
For enquiries and bookings, contact Alan Heeks at or telephone 01747 835835
Further details below
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THE DESERTThe Sahara is vast, beautiful, tough and inspiring. It offers you a profound experience of wilderness, the space and silence to explore questions and renew yourself. The area in south-west Tunisia where we will be travelling is largely picture-book rolling sand dunes as well as gravel plains, scrub, and occasional date groves. Tunisia is a liberal Arab country that is politically stable, safe, and very welcoming to visitors. THE BEDOUINThe Bedouin who will guide us regularly assist retreat groups from Europe. They live partly nomadically, partly in a village near Douz. They own the camels that will transport our food and luggage, they will cook for us and help us adapt to the desert. Several speak French, so this is a rare chance to communicate directly with people still living in a land-based native tradition. The Bedouin are profound teachers. Although their life is materially tough and basic, they are joyful people whose traditional culture is still strong. Their days really are a flowing dance uniting work, spirit, community and fun. Their songs move from praise of Allah through romantic ballads to children’s play songs. Besides travelling in the desert with the Bedouin men we will also visit their village to meet the Bedouin families. DESERT JOURNEYSThis will be the seventh desert journey that Alan has organised and co-led, so the arrangements are well proven. Our payments go direct to the Bedouin, and help support them since their traditional income sources have been eroded. 2007 INDICATIVE ITINERARY19 Oct: Fly from London via Tunis to Tozeur, a historic desert town
with a vast oasis of 2,000,000 palm trees. COST and BOOKINGThe cost including flights from London , guides, transport in Tunisia, accommodation, and most food (vegan/vegetarian), is £980. There are two concessionary places: if you are on a low income or under 18, you can apply for this. You will need your own travel and medical insurance, good sleeping bag and bivvy bag, and about £70 to buy burnous, chech and meals en route. The cost, without flights, is £330 less than the figures above. It is possible to reach Tunisia by train and boat in 48 hours, see www.seat61.com. To apply to join the retreat, please contact Alan Heeks at email or telephone 01747 835835 |