Our 2025/26 Retreat programme is now available to book
The programme is designed for those who are attending a retreat with the School for the first time, as well those who have enjoyed these events before.
All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure people’s health and wellbeing.
The cost for the midweek events will be £225 and for the Sanskrit weekend event £150. Charges are payable in advance and a place is only confirmed after payment.
Please see Terms & Conditions for Residential Retreats
What to expect
The days will begin each morning at 6.30am with meditation/quiet time. There will be study and group discussions.
Meals provided at the retreats will be vegetarian. Participants will be asked to look after some catering and cleaning, although this will be kept to a minimum.
We offer single and twin bed room accommodation. Most of the twin rooms are en suite, but not the single rooms. We will provide the single rooms on request, on a first-come first-served basis.
Please bring a duvet cover, sheet, pillowcase and bath towel. If this is not possible, there will be a charge of £17 for these items. In the evening smart/casual wear is usual to give a sense of occasion.
People will be accepted onto retreats on a first come first served basis, so early booking is recommended. If unforeseen circumstances prevent your attendance, the fee is non-refundable within 2 weeks of the retreat, but may be transferred to another retreat (once). For cancellations more than two weeks before the retreat, an administration fee of £20 will be taken off the full refund.
Please see Terms & Conditions for Residential Retreats
If you have any questions please contact the office by email or phone 020 7034 4000.
Marsilio Ficino
Contemplation is a beautiful word, not only in its sound but also in its construction.
At its root lies the Latin word ‘templum’ – literally a temple. The prefix ‘con’- suggests bringing a temple together and the meaning of the verb ‘contemplari’ is ‘to mark out a quarter or enclosure for a temple’. This had to be done with precision and care so it comes to mean ‘to look at attentively, survey, regard, contemplate’.
For us, it suggests prolonged thought on something, revealing more than appears at surface level, so it will be particularly interesting to hear what Marsilio Ficino, the Renaissance philosopher, has to say about it.
We study in the mornings, leaving the afternoons to enjoy the the house and beautiful grounds of Waterperry, before evenings of presentations and entertainment.
Retreat Leader, Nicholas de Mattos, has taught Latin and Greek for 41 years and has found reading, translating and presenting Ficino to be a continual inspiration in his own wider esoteric search.
‘Thanks to all for making an unforgettable retreat possible’ said a guest last year.
‘Shame to leave – could have done more of the same – excellent topic’ said another.
Sanskrit
‘May that Being protect us both…’
This is a key mantra from the Sanskrit tradition. It is traditionally spoken by student and teacher together. It is full of spiritual significance and gives simple practical advice on how to progress on the path to realisation.
This weekend with retreat leaders Warwick and Elena Jessup is offered as an introduction to Sanskrit with study of this sacred mantra.
Expect chanting and calligraphy, profound study and contemplation, mythology, good food and great company. Those having no prior experience of Sanskrit are very welcome, as well as those with some experience.
"I loved the chanting, I feel it has taken me to new depths of understanding."
"It was arranged so that complete beginners as well as those with previous experience of Sanskrit could access the study. With grammatical analysis and regular chanting, the profound meanings of the mantra began to unfold for us."
Sacred Geometry
Across many ages and cultures people have instinctively sought to ornament art, architecture and the ordinary with the patterns found in Nature. Sacred Geometry is one way in which we can connect with the harmony and beauty of these natural forms.
Will the study of natural ratios and proportions bring us a deeper understanding of the cosmos? Will it bring us a new understanding of the whole? Will creating nature’s patterns anew with a compass and straight edge bring us face to face with beauty and order leaving us inspired, refreshed and restored?
You are very welcome to join with us as we explore this subject.
Much inspiration has come from Keith Critchlow who said: “The higher purpose of geometry is to participate body, soul and spirit in the objective universal laws that govern and cohere our universe. This activity can lead us directly to the centre of our own understanding which unifies us with the whole.”
"Serenity, calm, concentration, colour"
"A gentle but thorough introduction to Sacred Geometry. Inspirational, informative and delightful. The step by step introduction followed by the opportunity to embrace our own creativity was such an enjoyable journey."
Economics: Justice and the Real World
Spiritual Values for Replenishing the Earth
In her book, Replenishing the Earth, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai observes: “The ecological crisis is both a physical crisis and a spiritual one. Addressing it requires a new level of consciousness, where we understand that we belong to the larger family of life on Earth.”
The same is true of economics because no-one can live without access to land or in isolation from other people. Developing an Earth-to-Earth mentality is central to the practice of Economics-with-Justice and depends on understanding the economic and ecological status of land in the great family of life.
A new consciousness would involve both personal and systemic adjustments in understanding and behaviour. The purpose of this retreat is to explore the spiritual and practical implications for both personal practice and public policy.
Come and join us. Your experience of life is as relevant as anyone’s.
Bhagavad Gītā
“If one has to find out the essence of all that has been described in eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gītā, the message is ‘surrender yourself’. Once the surrender has taken place, nothing is going to be dislodged and yet the flow of energy will not take place from the individual ego … then all wonderful acts of creative power in the Absolute … could be made available and manifested.” Śrī Śaṅkarācarya
On this retreat we will study and reflect on the concept of surrender as it appears in various places in the text. There will be time for group discussion and individual study and practice.
The retreat leader, Stephen Silver, has a deep love for the Gītā and runs retreats and study groups for many years, in person and online.
What past attendees say about the retreat:
“That was such a superb Retreat. Thank you very much indeed. Fabulous materials, and great meetings.”
“Thank you for absorbing days of Gītā study. It was delightful.”
The Treasures of Waterperry
A new retreat for this year, taking in the riches that Waterperry has to offer
Come and stay at Waterperry House and rest in its peace and tranquility. Enjoy the beautiful gardens; learn about Yew Henge; reflect upon the frescos; hear about the history.
The programme will consist of tours and informal discussions. There will be opportunity for reflection and to ask questions on any of its many diverse treasures.
Plato
The Symposium (The Drinking Party) is one of Plato's most colourful, humourous, and profound dialogues.
After dinner a rich tapestry of speakers takes turn praising Eros, the God of Love, and at the same time they display their own character and their understanding of love. Socrates, when his turn comes, says he is going "to speak the truth" and tell them what a wise women had taught him about love when he was young.
For this speech alone it is worth attending the party and we hope you will be persuaded to come.