I was stressed out. I was working too hard. And I felt that I had no space to be with myself. I was really close to throwing my hands in the air and giving up. But instead, I picked up the phone and called Croydon Hall to come here for a week on the Community Experience Programme.

 

I had first come to this wonderful oasis in Somerset in summer 2001 as part of a retreat and had been struck by the beauty, space and energy here. So when I needed to "time out" on my life for a while, Croydon Hall felt like the right place to go.

When I arrived here again I was feeling frayed at the edges, to say the least, and just a little nervous at coming back to a place where I had undergone such a major transformation, only without the anonymity of being part of a group. It was also a big step to choose to spend a week with 14 people I basically didn’t know, and didn’t know how well I would relate to.

However, I soon discovered that the beauty of this place is not just in the countryside and buildings, but also in the community that keeps it all going. I was welcome from the moment I arrived and genuinely felt like a valued part of the community.

Under the programme, participants contribute a number of hours to the community over the course of their stay (this is a working community, after all!) and every effort is made to accommodate your preferred activity. Mine was gardening – although I had never done it before – and I soon felt my mind emptying and a blissful peacefulness come upon me as I dug, cut and edged. But just as I was given encouragement and support, I was also given space and this last week has left me so relaxed, I feel I could float away!

I chose to contribute 20 hours over the week and this left me plenty of time to take in the beautiful countryside, go for walks, sit and read (there is an excellent library of Osho and other texts available), or just do nothing and simply be. I was also welcomed to all daily meditations and was able to try (for the first time) Dynamic, Kundalini and the Evening Meeting Meditation without feeling like a novice in a room full of experts. Every meal lived up to the excellent reputation that Croydon Hall has earned for the finest vegetarian food possible, and in the evenings I was able to connect with members of the community, share experiences, feelings and stories.

I feel that I have, in just a week, de-stressed, de-toxed myself physically and emotionally, truly been at one with nature and re-discovered a stillness deep down that I had almost lost sight of. And I feel I have made some new friends into the bargain as well.

I can’t really do justice to this experience here in this article. To anyone who wants to try something a bit different, and feel what it is like to be a part of this beautiful community, I say get on the phone right away and come! I’ll definitely be back!

John Tobin