The Middle Way is a practice, and face-to-face retreats provide the best opportunity to experience it in practice, connecting the ideas to their application in a supportive atmosphere, as well as getting away temporarily from any stresses in your life, and making new friends.

The Middle Way Society has been running retreats since 2013 – largely weekend retreats, but also with a few longer week-long ones. These retreats are distinguished by their model of integrative practice, combining different complementary approaches such as meditation, the arts and critical thinking. They also often explore aspects of the Middle Way as a universal practical approach. Initially retreats were held at a variety of hired venues, but they now have a secure home at Tirylan House – the small retreat centre started by Robert M Ellis and his partner Viryanaya in south Wales, UK.

A typical day on a Middle Way Society retreat might include meditation in the morning (not too early – probably 8am!), a talk and discussion in the morning, free time in the afternoon when you can walk, chat or reflect, and sometimes an arts activity (e.g. sharing poetry or music) in the evening. There might also be an optional work period when you can help in the forest garden we are developing at Tirylan House. There will also be three meals together, where there is plenty of chance to discuss the issues that have come up more informally, or just to get to know the other people on the retreat.

For more information about Tirylan House, plus the up-to-date schedule of retreats coming up, please go to the Tirylan House website. You will find the Middle Way Society retreats listed on the menu at the top under ‘retreats’. You can also book your place on a retreat on the Tirylan House website.