The Wangapeka New Zealand Meditation Retreat and Events Programme
Please click on the above programme sub-menus for more information
2014
Wangapeka Winter Programme July – November 2014
This year we are running our very own home grown programme facilitated by local Wangapeka Centre members. We want to raise money for the centre, provide an opportunity for people to come together, learn from each other and have fun.
Unless stated otherwise, all weekend courses will cost $114 (members) $126 (non members). This includes accommodation, meals and a $10 administration / course supplies fee. Facilitators are not charging for their time but there may be a dana / koha bowl should you wish to contribute. Children under 14 are free. Workshops will start with 6pm supper on Friday evening and end early afternoon on Sunday.
Please contact the Wangapeka retreat centre wangapekacentre@gmail.com or visit www.wangapeka.org for a registration form. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis once the workshop fee has been received.
Workshops will run so long as there are more than 5 participants (in addition to the facilitators).
July
11/12/13
Dharma Drama
‘How can we get inside someone else’s skin?’ Using drama games, processes and group meditation we will explore ways to develop vivid presence and empathy. Come and have some fun! Kath Mitchell and Jane Hobday will facilitate this weekend.
Maximum 16 participants
25/26/27
‘Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There!’
A weekend of Breathing Meditation Practice.
It’s sometimes hard to keep up the discipline of regular meditation practice with the responsibilities and demands life seems to present. This predominantly silent weekend will be an opportunity for the support of the group to help strengthen and enliven our individual practice of breathing meditation (however embryonic). There will be regular structured sits during the day, opportunities for sharing and questions and time to enjoy just ‘being’ at the centre.
Facilitated by Jane Hobday.
Maximum 16 participants
August
1/2/3
Wangapeka True Stories Told Live
Do you have a story to tell about the Wangapeka sometime during the last 30 years? This weekend will be a chance for young and old to share stories about the place we care for, by the warm light of the fire. We may have a mini storytelling workshop on Saturday afternoon in preparation for Saturday night. Please come prepared with a kernel of a story or just come and enjoy listening to others. Ray Caird and Mike Elliot will start the ball rolling on Friday night. There will be plenty of time for rest and relaxation this weekend.
Denise Tebbs will facilitate this event.
Maximum 30 people
29/30/31
Chenreizig Practice weekend.
We will explore together in various creative ways, the beautiful sadhana of Chenreizig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Mark Schrader will lead this weekend of practice
Maximum 16 adults (children are welcome to come on the retreat so long as there is someone to look after them during practice periods)
September
5/6/7
‘Bodywrite’ : Writing Weekend.
Whatever your level of experience in writing, you will have a chance to explore, experiment and most of all, play with words … you may be surprised at what you can do! The weekend will include some Feldenkrais-type movements to help tap into your creative and intuitive self.
BRIDGET AUCHMUTY (aka Musters)
Bridget has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her short stories and poetry have been published in a number of journals and anthologies, and she has taught on the creative writing programmes at Massey University and NMIT. In her teaching she draws on many sources, including ‘The Artist’s Way’, and work by Natalie Goldberg and Anne Lamott.
Maximum 20 people aged 16 or older
12/13/14
Food and Fun
Share a weekend with Anna and Roger Wilde, authors of the popular cookbook ‘Real Fresh Food’.
Learn how to make inspirational healthy meals
• Celebrate spring with fresh ideas in the cosy Wangapeka kitchen.
• Integrate positive nutritional habits into daily life.
All recipes are gluten, dairy and sugar-free.
Most are vegetarian, but we will use some eggs and fish.
Includes new creations from the second edition of our book entitled ‘Real Fresh Gluten Free Food’.
Receive recipe handouts for all recipes.
A taste of what you will learn:
• How to make delicious gluten free bread (we’ll bring a sourdough starter to share too).
• Easy nutritious breakfasts: Vegetable scramble, Breakfast smoothies, gluten-free bircher style breakfast, buckwheat pancakes with cashew cream and compote.
• Healthy essentials: sprouting, dips, salad and dressings.
• Healthy gluten free desserts and raw delights including paleo brownie, apricot shortcake, raw cheesecake, creamy vegan ice cream
• How to create a Japanese style feast
Maximum 12 adults. Additional charge of $20 per person to cover specialty food costs. Total cost $134 (members) $146 (non members) plus dana for the facilitators.
October
10/11/12
Living in your Body
Come and treat yourself to a gentle weekend of movement and meditation. This will be helpful for anyone who would like to learn methods to relax, to enhance flexibility and to foster greater body awareness. Rona Spencer, who has run many classes of this nature on the West Coast, will facilitate this weekend.
Maximum 12 adults
17/18/19
Playback
Playback is a form of improvised theatre where the audience gets to tell moments and stories from their lives, choose actors to play different roles and then watch as it is played back to them.
It can be funny, poignant, touching and often very revealing to the teller.
We will have a team of actors getting together especially for this weekend, so don’t miss out!
Come along and tell your story!
Open to all ages Families are most welcome.
Facilitated by Karen and Glenn Harley from Christchurch
Maximum 30 participants.
November
31/1/2
Memorial weekend
This will be a creative weekend which will include time to acknowledge those who have inspired us. We will begin each morning with the introduction of the ‘Ngon-Dro’ Foundation Chorus (daily prayers) with instruments and tea. There will also be time and activities to connect and reconnect with the land.
This weekend will be facilitated by ‘The West Coasters”
Maximum 30 participants
If you have any questions about the Wangapeka Winter Programme please contact jane.hobday@clear.net.nz
To register for a workshop contact the caretaker on 03 522 4221 wangapekacentre@gmail.com
December
Young Adults Retreat – Wangapeka Retreat Centre
Sunday 15 Dec (afternoon) – Sunday 22 Dec (afternoon)
What nourishes you? What gives you a sense of well-being and belonging in any life circumstances? What can you really depend on? The theme for this year’s young adult retreat is refuge. Refuge is about finding inner peace in a busy and changing world. It is about being aware and connected to a reliable source of strength and purpose in your life.
The course has been specifically been designed to be responsive to the needs of those attending. The facilitators, Mark, Kath and Jaime are all experienced teachers who bring enthusiasm, creativity and safety to the group and individual process.
As a way of keeping costs affordable, and to build a sense of connection with each other, the group will be involved in a project at the Centre throughout the length of the retreat. The course will probably be limited to 13 participants so registering early is advisable.
Course fee – $225 approx. (includes food, accommodation and a resource fee) – facilitators are gifting their time. For more info and/or to register please contact Mark Schraderschrader.mark@gmail.com
Garden of Mindfulness
Sun 28th Dec 2014 to Tues 6th Jan 2015
The Garden of Mindfulness is an annual retreat that allows parents, adults and children to explore Dharma and Meditation together. Community, families and fun are at the forefront of themes. Adults can enjoy the beautiful, restful environment and working together. The kids can enjoy the fresh air, kids programme and the tremendous amount of space to explore.
Come and join us for ten days of creativity, community, loud times, quiet times, action and stillness. CLick here for more details.
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Join our mailing list to be kept up with changes to our programme.
or contact the Wangapeka caretaker
ph 03 522-4221
email wangapekacentre@gmail.com.
Please note all dates and times are subject to change and all bookings require a deposit and enrolment with the Centre.
Important: A place on any retreat cannot be guaranteed until a deposit and registration form are received at the Centre, and approval given by the teacher.
Costs for retreatants:
Groups hiring the Centre:
Charges for retreats run by groups hiring the Wangapeka are by arrangement with the group. Please contact the Wangapeka caretaker for further information.
Retreats run by the Wangapeka:
Charges for accommodation and food for Wangapeka-run retreats can be found on our Costs page, and some retreats may also collect money for travel and/or a cook. All costs are provisional and subject to change.
On Wangapeka-run retreats some support for those in financial hardship is available from our Sangha Support Fund.
It has been suggested that although, for some people, the charges are as much or more than they can afford, for others the charges are quite minimal and they could actually afford more. If you are in this financially comfortable position, please consider contributing more to the Sangha Support so that the teachings are accessible to everyone.
Please note that these retreat costs do not include Dana for the teacher.
Dana
The Wangapeka teachers live by Dana (koha/generosity) – a manifestation of your own expression of appreciation and generosity for all you receive. Please give as generously as you are able to help to support this teaching. (More about danahere)
Retreat Huts and solo retreats
We have retreat huts available for solo retreats. For further information and to register please contact the Centre. Ph 03 522-4221, email wangapekacentre@gmail.com.