Ease of Being: LGBTQ+ Buddhist Retreat
Sanjay Soni
Jeanie Bags
Clara Wood
Heather Stark
Jenny Chamarette
Hear first about our retreats & events
This is a Buddhist retreat for those identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, non-binary, genderqueer, and those who simply don’t fit into the gender identity or sexual orientation norms of our society.
Because of the heteronormality of most spaces in our society, at times we may not be comfortable or safe showing up as our whole selves, inclusive of our sexual orientation and gender identities. This retreat provides the space to bring those parts of ourselves within the context of a meditative and Buddhist environment.
We will join as a community, to meditate, garden, and learn from Buddhist teachers and each other. Meditation can be a powerful way not only to connect to ourselves and each other, but to also explore letting go of internalised oppressions.
Whether or not you have been on retreat before, you are welcome to become part of this community of practice.
Practising together we can discover new sources of peace and well-being and enjoy the beautiful nature of the Sharpham Estate.
Read on for more details on this retreat and click the Leaders, Schedules and Venue & Directions tabs above for further information.
Experience Dharma teachings at The Barn
This retreat is for you if you:
- identify as LGBTQ+
- are prepared to live and work in community, preparing meals together and working in the gardens
- are aged 18 and over
There will be a maximum of 11 participants on this retreat.
There are periods of silence on each of our retreats.
Our programme of retreats at The Barn can be viewed and booked here
Daily meditations
There are approximately three 40-minute meditation sittings each day, and it's important that you commit to them to deepen your practice and connect to the community here.
Working on the land
It is important that you are willing to participate in working on the land as part of your mindfulness practice (we can easily find suitable tasks for people with health difficulties) and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week.
What you’ll experience on this retreat
During this retreat you’ll:
- experience guided meditations and periods of silence and quiet contemplation
- be living in community with like-minded people, sharing experiences and tasks, including the making of meals and taking care of the house
- have a single-occupancy room and your own space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself
- have access to 24-hour hot teas, coffee & infusions in the kitchen
- be able to explore the beautiful Sharpham Estate, set within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
Mindfulness in nature at Sharpham
When you experience Sharpham's inspiring and nourishing environment, we hope you'll connect spiritually with the natural world, so you’ll:
- become aware of how we are all part of nature - not artificially separate from it
- pay attention to and appreciate the natural world surrounding us
- explore nature through your senses and your natural creativity
- Tread more lightly on our finite planet, developing a respect and reverence for all living things
Click here to read our ethos and principles
What you need to know
If you decide to stay with us, we’ll send you a list of what you need to bring for this retreat in your Welcome Letter that we send out after you've booked.
You can also find out more about staying with us on our Frequently Asked Questions page, including
- accessibility information
- why we encourage you to come on your own and not with partners or friends
- what the difference is between our retreats
Food & your dietary needs
We have a fully stocked organic and vegetarian kitchen. The main meal is at lunch time.
We can accommodate gluten-free and/or vegan dietary needs. However, our kitchen is not gluten, dairy nor nut-free. We do not provide gluten-free bread, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Due to the nature of the kitchens at the Barn with food being prepared by participants and no dedicated chef, we are not able to accommodate guests who have anaphylaxis. If you have anaphylaxis we recommend you book on to one of our other retreat venues - Sharpham House, The Coach House or our Woodland Retreats.
Please make sure you include dietary restrictions and any food allergies on your Booking Form. We may need to communicate further with you about specifics. The booking form is sent as a link once you have booked and paid for a retreat.
Our water is provided from our own spring, UV treated and filtered.
Your physical and mental health
This retreat is suitable for you if you have some meditation experience, or you are seeking to renew or reconnect with your practice.
Although meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in managing stress, depression and anxiety our retreats might not be suitable if you are experiencing major depression or other clinically diagnosed psychiatric illness such as bipolar disorder, psychosis or current self-harming. Click here for more information and for our booking process
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have a room close to a toilet, please contact The Barn team on the number below and we'll try to help.
Note that we hold silence from 8.30pm to 9.00am each day, and all day Wednesday.
Sunday
| Afternoon |
|---|
| 2.00pm to 4.00pm – Your arrival |
| 4.30pm – Welcome talk, introductions and tour |
| 5.30pm – Guided meditation |
| 6.30pm – Supper. Then settling in |
| 8.30pm – The Barn goes into silence until 9.00am the next day |
Monday to Friday:
This is a typical schedule.
| Mornings | Afternoons |
|---|---|
| 6.20am – Wake up | 12.20pm – Meditation (some guided) |
| 6.50am – Movement and meditation | 1.00pm – Lunch |
| 7.30am – Household tasks | 2.00pm – Personal time |
| 8.00am – Breakfast | 4.30pm – Teaching |
| 9.00am – Morning sharing and meeting | 6.00pm – Supper prepared individually or in groups |
| 10.00am – Gardening | 7.50pm – Meditation (some guided) |
| 8.30pm – Barn moves into silence until 9.00am the next day | |
Saturday:
As above until 8.00am. Silence ends at breakfast. After that, there is time to clear your room and depart between 9.00am and 10.00am.
What I really liked about the retreat was my ability to connect with and witness the courage of my fellow LGBTQ+ people - a privilege and powerful - in a beautiful and nurturing space. LGBTQ+ people need more spaces like this to heal their traumas
I felt completely held by the co-ordinators' courage, honesty and love. I trusted them with my vulnerability
An affirmation of the kindness and goodness of human beings
This retreat takes place at The Barn with superb views over the River Dart.
Please note that The Barn Retreat is in a different location to Sharpham House. Make sure to follow the directions to The Barn Retreat, rather than Sharpham House.
Click here for our How to Find Us page on this website.
Click here to view and download directions and a map to The Barn
Click here view and download walking/cycling directions to The Barn
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have a room close to a toilet, please contact The Barn team on the number below and we'll try to help.
We are 3 miles from Totnes – famous for its Transition Town movement
We are in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Phones and laptops
We ask all participants to turn off mobile phones and electronic devices for the whole of your retreat. This helps you and everyone else to disengage from daily life and live fully in the simplicity and quietude of a Buddhist retreat.
Sustainability
We take sustainability seriously.
Heating and hot water in The Barn is run from our log furnace and solar thermal panels. We supply as much food as possible from our organic gardens; the rest comes from Riverford Organic Farms and Essential Trading Cooperative. We also have two large photovoltaic solar panel arrays on the Estate and use biodegradable cleaning products wherever possible.
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£375 - Supported Rate
The Sharpham Trust is committed to ensuring that retreats at The Barn are accessible to all - regardless of income. The Supported Rate is for those unable to pay the Standard or Benefactor Rate.
£450 – Standard Rate
Paying the Standard Rate means you will be contributing towards our running costs, supporting the work of The Barn and helping retreatants of lower incomes to access our retreats.
£525 – Benefactor Rate
If you are able to pay the Benefactor Rate, that means that you'll be supporting others who cannot afford to benefit from a Barn retreat on The Sharpham Estate. Your choice to pay this rate will help us with the running costs of The Barn, enabling us to continue our charitable work connecting people to nature and fostering mindfulness and wellbeing, as well as caring for the land, wildlife and wider estate.
Room types
All rooms are comfortable single rooms, with a shared bathroom.
Hot drinks are available 24 hours for you to get for yourself in the kitchen.
Bursaries
Limited bursaries are available for those experiencing financial hardship. Currently we have only one bursary placement per retreat. Contact the Barn team on [email protected] or call 01803 732661 at least 4 weeks in advance if you wish to apply.
Our bursary fund relies on donations. If you’d like to help another to go on retreat here through our bursary scheme, you can give online quickly and easily by clicking here
Lindsay Alderton
Lindsay (she/her) has been a committed Buddhist practitioner for over two decades, and has regularly led retreats and courses in mindfulness, compassion, and meditation.
A student of Tibetan, Theravadan and Insight teachers, she has also trained to teach Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) and is especially enthusiastic about how practices of self-compassion can lead to more liberatory ways of relating to difficulty. For the last few years she has been training with the Presencing Institute which has taught her the importance of a spiritual practice grounded in the lived experience of the body.
Currently completing her placement as an integrative therapist, Lindsay is particularly interested in the creation of safe, inclusive spaces and helped design and deliver the Barn's first LGBTQIA+ retreat. As an activist trainer Lindsay has worked with the Ecodharma Collective and the Campaign Against Climate Change, and in 2017 helped launch the the Ulex Project, a pan-European training centre for campaigners and change makers. She is committed to combining spiritual practice with social action in fuller service of life.
Currently she is currently a Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn.
Armel Wraight
Armel Wraight (they/them pronouns) is the founder of Stillpoint Mindfulness and has been teaching mindfulness to individuals, groups, and business for 10 years.
Their training to teach mindfulness is wide-ranging and includes MBSR and MBCT at Bangor Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, The Mindful Self-Compassion programme with Kristen Neff and Chris Germer, Dot b. with the Mindfulness in Schools Project and Finding Peace in a Frantic World with Chris Cullen at Oxford Centre for Mindfulness.
A psychotherapist in practice for 25 years, Armel holds group space with safety, skill, humour and compassion. Armel also facilitates LGBTQIA2S+ international mindfulness spaces and is co-writing a curriculum for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion specifically for a queer audience.
Armel is especially interested in self-compassion and trauma-informed mindfulness teaching. Their personal practices of meditation, queer intimacy and nature connection bring deep support to their facilitation work.
All rooms are single occupancy.
How to book easily and securely:
- online on this page
- by phoning 01803 732542
If you've got any questions about this retreat, call The Barn team on 01803 732661 or email [email protected]
We’re not always in the office, so be prepared to leave a message saying when we could call you back.
Do check our Calendar to see and book for our events - or join our mailing list by clicking here to be kept in touch about Sharpham Trust news, retreats & events.
