Eat, Dance, and Pray

This retreat offers us the opportunity to tune ourselves to natural rhythms and demonstrate Peace and Harmony. Celebrate community through the Walks and Dances of Universal Peace, Zikr, Sufi Practice, Yoga, Singing, Walking, Sitting, Listening, Swimming, Meeting new and old friends, Dancing some more … We eat, dance, pray, work and play together!

Spiritual Directors are joined by a group of talented teachers who together offer a rich and varied tapestry of experience. The core practices we share are the Dances of Universal Peace, Zikr, with integrated Sufi practices. In addition, possible offerings include Yoga, Meditation, Sound Healing, Opening to Nature, Authentic Movement, Writing, Musicianship, Drumming, Shabbat, Healing, Aramaic Lords Prayer, Walks, Listening, and Sohbet.

Location: Rural North-Central Massachusetts (1.5 hrs from Boston).

Nearest Airport: Boston Logan (1.5 hrs) & Manchester NH (1.5 hrs).

Time of Year: last full weekend of July, Thursday dinner – Sunday mid afternoon.

Who Attends: All people welcome! Dancers, Dance Leaders, Musicians, Families, Old and New friends, Lovers of Nature, and of course, the extended NE Sangha.

Weather to Expect: This is high summer in New England, a lovely time of year here! It can be hot and dry or warm and rainy – but sure to be green and lush. A New England saying about the weather – If you don’t like it, wait a few minutes!

Accommodations: The camp takes place on beautiful old land with a farm house, attached barns, 2 sleeping cabins, a hot shower cabin, and a 30′ diameter Dance Yurt. There are many soft easy places to camp, both in the meadow and in the woods by the Yurt. The farm house and loft of the barn offer inside shared sleeping spaces for those who need them, as well as contributing to an experience of home comfort. Tents and canopies provide outside gathering and eating spaces and augment the shared living spaces of the house. Add organic gardens, good water to drink, fresh air, nearby walking trails, a quiet lake for swimming, and a waterfall to sit by. All in all, a wholesome healing environment.

Special Considerations: The last few years the camp has filled by June, so register early! We only accept full-time participants. Partial work exchanges are available. EDP is a participatory event; we eat, dance, pray, play, and work together! Everyone does some karma yoga everyday. Meals are vegetarian and delicious! Cell phones tend not to work here. Plan to unplug for the weekend and take a rest! There is a house phone for emergencies.

Special Features: Children’s program, Healing Temple, Saturday Night Zikr, Dance Yurt, Organic gardens abutting acres of beautiful woods, walking trails, waterfall, lake for swimming.

Early bird reduced fees; Children’s fee; We offer a few partial work exchanges, and family/youth rates. Please inquire!