Men’s Retreat – North Tasmanian Wilderness

You deserve to shake off the dust and dirt of the year at the Men’s Retreat – North Tasmanian Wilderness

Relax and Reset.

That’s what our Men’s Retreat – North Tasmanian Wilderness is about, from Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December 2024.

Our first retreat was last July and it was successful for the sixteen men who turned up.

Ben Hughes, co-founder of fastest growing men’s group The Men’s Table had this to say about it.

“It was a wonderfully fulfilling Men’s Retreat. You never know how these things will play out and what characters will be joining you. The whole weekend was one of nourishing and discovery, with a broad cross-section of like-minded men.

The Dorje Ling Buddhist Centre is the perfect location, the journey there is stunning and once you arrive it is tranquil and offers each man plenty of space. The programme used subtle, yet powerful techniques to really get men thinking about what was really going on for them in their lives.

It was hugely beneficial for me and I left feeling reborn. I highly recommend you attend.”

It might be just the challenge and adventure that you need. It will be a small group of 16 men led by two skilled facilitators.

Why Does It Work?

• It’s a non-profit run by experienced men for men. It aims to improve Men’s Well-being in a difficult complex and changing world.
• The place, a Buddhist retreat centre a 40-acre site is a refuge in the Tasmanian wilderness with strong healing energy.
• It has a range of activities proven to work with Men.
  • Men’s circle groups run by experienced facilitators
  • Reflective walks in the forest along with forest meditation
  • Deep relaxation yoga techniques
  • Sound baths
  • Exercises to allow men to let go and move forward
  • The unique and creature life-sculpting journey called the wisdom stone journey
  • Great food and the company of like-minded and supportive Men.
  • Experienced facilitators Paddy and Dave, see bios below

Who Are You?

• You are most probably looking for some constructive time-out and renewal.
• You are curious and up for a sense of adventure and challenge.
• You are able to step into being open with others and sharing your thoughts and feelings.
• It might feel a bit scary but you want in.
• You are comfortable working in a group setting and can listen and respect others without the need to judge.

Men’s Retreat – North Tasmanian Wilderness

Date: 5 pm Friday 29th November – 3 pm Sunday 1st December

Where: Dorje Ling Retreat Centre 1078 Lorinna Rd, Lorinna TAS 7306.

Click here for the Google Maps link

The retreat officially starts at 5 pm on Friday when registration and accommodation issues are sorted.

Men are encouraged to arrive earlier to settle in relax and get to know the other men.

Dinner is at 6.30 pm followed by an evening circle introduction session.

Breakfast is at 8.15 am with optional activities for early risers before breakfast.

Saturday finishes at 9 pm and the retreat finishes mid-afternoon Sunday.

Men can stay Sunday night for an early morning start on Monday.

Travel

There is no public transport to the retreat centre. Men will need to travel by car, rides with other men can be arranged once bookings are in.

The centre is 2 hours by car from Launceston airport. Other Men from Launceston or Hobart offer lifts/carshare.

Accommodation

There are a variety of huts and cabins, with separate toilets and showers. You will need to bring your own bedding.

Also, bring hand or head torches.

If you need to sit on a chair in a circle, bring your own folding chair.

Food

There is a dining room and kitchen.. All food will be provided, ground coffee, tea and bikkies. The menu will be vegetarian, with lots of local sourdough bread. If you have special dietary requirements you can either bring your own food or negotiate
with us to provide them.

You will have use of the kitchen.

The Retreat Centre

Is called Dorje Ling a 40-acre site in the forests of Lorinna. It started 40 years ago as a hippy Buddhist commune, then called Illusion Farm. It is a collection of huts, houses, dining facilities, solar electricity, water, toilets and showers.

Its address is 1078 Lorinna Rd, Lorinna TAS 7306. The centre is owned by the Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre.

There is a recent documentary on the history of Dorje Ling, made by Richard Bradley.

It costs $15 to watch all proceeds go to running the retreat centre. Link https://bladelfilms.vhx.tv/products/illusion-farm

Cost and Registration

The retreat is open to all men of any ethnicity, faith or sexuality.

Costs are $357 per person.

Register an interest or reserve a space and you will be sent a payment link.

padriacmurray@gmail.com – 0427 837830

Retreat Directors

Paddy Murray: Started as an economist and consultant and then moved to construction, blacksmithing, and rural contracting. He then focussed on working with men, starting with setting up a large homeless Men’s accommodation project.

He trained as a masseur and yoga teacher and then gained a counselling graduate diploma from the University of Canberra. He has worked for the government on PTSD programmes for veterans and working with behaviour change programmes for domestic violence perpetrators.

He then worked as a Buddhist prison chaplain in a maximum security facility for 5 years. He has run several workshops, including ‘Soul Food For Men’, ‘Dancing With The Angel of Death’ and ‘The Wisdom Stone Journey, Life Planning for Men’.

He is the author of a manual ‘Facilitating Mens Groups’ used worldwide for training facilitators.

:  Dave is a qualified Gestalt psychotherapist with over 20 years of facilitating group work, Men’s work, sound baths and sound healing. He loves to support personal growth and development and uses a variety of instruments to
create and hold sacred space.

Dave has been working in the Drug and Alcohol field for the last 15 years and is a full-time trainer leading adult education sessions for sector workers and working with men in and around the prison system.

Dave has been playing the yidaki or didgeridoo for 30 years and has received permission from traditional owners in Arnhem Land to use the instrument in healing spaces. He combines the yidaki with Handpan, djembe, crystal singing bowls and Native American Flute to create and hold sacred and ceremonial spaces for personal exploration and transformation.

The 12 Agreements for a Men’s Group ©

Men have evolved these agreements over the last forty years to create effective and sustainable groups. You might not fully understand the meaning and importance of them.

It is essential to clarify and discuss them with your group or an experienced facilitator.

1. Safe Container: I agree to help maintain this group as a safe container within which men can fully share all aspects of their life journey. I understand that judgement, blaming, shaming, anger etc., reduce the sense of safety in the group
   and limit a man’s ability to share fully.
2. Whole Self: I agree to take the opportunity to share my deeper or inner self as it relates to my experience of the world. I agree to support and encourage other men in that sharing as well. I understand that this group is a place to share
   what I often cover up with masks and other protective devices to survive in the outer world.
3. I statement: I agree to focus on “I” statements as much as possible. This helps me own and honour my real world.
   I understand that third-person or “You” statements are often a way of disconnecting from my authentic self.
4. Listen Fully: I agree to listen to others as fully as possible. I understand that listening fully honours and respects the other man’s sharing. In a sense, it means that you could honestly say, ‘I hear you.’
5. Non-Judgement: I set aside my judgement of others. I listen as an impartial witness and try not to react in a judgemental way to the other man. I understand and accept that what the speaker is saying is their reality.
6. Questioning and advice-giving: I only question or advise a speaker if they have given permission. If I have feelings, thoughts or questions that arise in response to another’s speaking and wish to share them; I will ask permission to
   share. I might share my experience of similar issues with those expressed. I also understand that directly advising another has limited value and presumes that I know what I am talking about.
7. Responsibility: I understand that my thoughts and feelings belong to me and are my responsibility. I know that to blame others for my thoughts and feelings is to take a victim position. If I own my stuff, I can choose to do something about it.
8. Anger and abuse: I agree to not direct anger, abuse or threats at another man. I can talk about our strong reactions, feelings or beliefs and what might trigger them in the world or the group. I can take the opportunity to explore the origin story of these intense feelings with the group’s help.
9. Confidentiality: I agree to keep the identity of those who attend and what they say in the group confidential. If I have reservations about any matter, I agree to discuss that with the group.
10. Equal time: I agree that each member has a similar space and opportunity to speak. If I or someone else wants additional time to talk or focus on an issue that is hot or urgent, then permission should be sought from the other men.
11. Rescuing: I agree to allow each member to feel and express their emotional state fully. I understand this involves crying, shaking, yelling etc. I know that attempting to rescue or comfort another man can be a way of avoiding my own
    emotions that arise in witnessing their distress. Expressing how someone else’s distress triggers us can be a helpful response.
12. Silence: I accept that silence in the group can be valuable. I understand that silence can be uncomfortable for me and that sometimes I rush to speak to avoid that discomfort. I know that silence can be potent, giving myself and others time to reflect.