RSS Subscribe Spring Simplicity Retreat 2010 at Juniper Hill
June 12th, 2010 by George Free
Article by Peggy Stockdale and photos by Chris Luginbuhl
Our weekend of practice at Juniper Hill Retreat Centre began the moment four of us set out on the traffic-crawling trek out of Toronto, a sense of relaxed friendliness that would carry through the entire retreat. If we could stay patient in pre-long weekend traffic , then anything was possible.
As we finally drove freely east, then north through winding country hills, I was happy just to see open fields, cows, a tractor on the road – to get out of the city and be reminded of fresh air and space.
If you’re not familiar with Juniper Hill, Louis Allen and Madeline Conacher have created a nurturing atmosphere of comfort and warmth. Their wooden-beamed house sits on top of the hill, with a spectacular view of fields and forest. We nine participants, plus Laurel Lewey who staffed the weekend, felt immediately at home.
Most of our time was spent up in the lovely shrine room Louis built over the garage, with windows on either side bringing fresh air and nature into our meditation. Sessions were broken by walks around the yard and shamatha yoga barefoot on the grass, as well as instruction from Louis and Madeline. We were all at different stages in our practice, from beginners to some who had meditated for years. That diversity somehow offered support and encouragement to all, even in the silence of sitting.
Not to say that it was silent. City traffic was replaced by constant birdcalls, crickets, frogs croaking away in the pond, and coyotes that woke a few of us in the night. It was a reminder of how accustomed we often become of city sounds, and how distant nature is in our daily lives.
The rest of our time was spent mostly in the kitchen or on the patio. In the mornings we sat silently with coffee and some reading, or simply stretched out on the grass. The afternoons and evenings brought conversation and laughter. We were extremely well fed, spoilt really, with chilli, trout, some amazing quiche, grilled cheese and Louis’ crepes. Rhubarb from their garden. Real cream. Needless to say, there were very few leftovers.
The weather, which had been threatening rain, was extremely cooperative. Louis took us on a walk around the property, which holds several fields, the aforementioned pond of frogs, a patch of woods where a cabin is hidden away from sight, for solitary retreats. Saturday evening, we settled into the shrine room to watch a talk by Pema Chodron, which was an entertaining and insightful extension of our practice.
Two days is a very short time, but I think we would all agree that our practice and understanding was deepened in the process. While I would have loved to stay in that wonderful space for as long as possible, I know we carried the benefits of our experience back with us to our daily lives.
On behalf of the participants of the Spring Simplicity Retreat 2010, I gratefully thank Madeline and Louis for offering their home, their hearts, and their guidance; to Laurel Lewey for helping keep us fed and happy, and to the weather for being such a good sport. Juniper Hill will have a special place in our hearts from now on, and I’m sure we’ll be back as soon as time permits.
