Soul in the Desert     

November 11-23, 2008

With Gita Sophia Onnen and Alan Heeks

"But the silence of the desert remains most potent
to bring to light again the sacred treasures...
above all, those hidden treasures of the heart."
(Samuel Lewis) 

We invite and welcome you to join us on this outer and inner journey into the Tunisian Sahara

The word for 'Soul' in the
native traditions of the
Middle East is Ruh,
which also means breath,
spirit, air and wind.

In the endless width of the desert our soul can expand, our breath can become refined, surrender to and unite with the One more easily and profoundly - and find peace.

Our tools will be concentrating on breath, wazifas, prayers, dances, and Sufi mysticism - the remembrance of the wonder of love, which we are. Also soul work, where we connect to the divine guidance (High Self) and faithfully invite all our inner selves to the table of hochma - Sophia - Divine Wisdom, for a meal together, communication and communion, for an integrated 'I AM' (Inana).

Much of the power of this retreat will come from the experience of the desert, and of being with Bedouin guides who still embody the nomadic wisdom and traditions, for example in their songs. So the programme will leave plenty of time free for this.

Gita Sophia has followed a Sufi spiritual path for over 20 years, and is a spiritual teacher (Murshida) in the Sufi Ruhaniat Order. She teaches soul work, Dances of Universal Peace and Aramaic and other Middle Eastern sources. Gita has lived a couple of years in countries like Afghanistan, Sudan and the Caribbean and has travelled widely in the Middle and Far East.

She has been touched by the native people, and the simplicity of their life that is deeply spiritual and connected with the earth. She is engaged in healing work with the Dervish Healing Order and since 1996 has been active in Bosnia working with traumatised women and communities. She is humorous, joyful and playful.

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 eighth 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, see www.thevillageforest.com, and is the author of The Natural Advantage, a guide to organic growth for people and organisations.

Cost: The cost including flights from London, guides, transport in Tunisia, accommodation and most food (vegan/vegetarian) will be UK £980, or £720 excluding the London-Tunis flights. There are two concessionary places available. You can get more practical information at www.living-organically.com. If you want to apply to join the retreat, please contact Linda Joyce at email or telephone 01297-33075 (+44-1297-33075).

This retreat is open both to Sufi initiates and to others who can share in this process.

Everyone in the group will be asked to participate in the retreat.

THE DESERT

The 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 with a secular government that is politically stable, safe, and very welcoming to visitors.

THE BEDOUIN

The 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. Their life is materially tough and basic, yet they are joyful people whose traditional culture is strong. Their days are a flowing dance uniting work, spirit, community and fun.

Their songs, that they sing and drum to around the fire in the evening on our journeys, 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 their families.

This will be the eighth 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 by modernity.

NEXT: Letter from the Desert

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