This is your invitation to a magical weekend of heart-opening connection with the Earth, ourselves and each other. Together, we will share uplifting, empowering and fun practices, delicious food, great activities for kids, space to talk and listen, sing and dance and play with an amazing team of facilitators. Don't miss out. All welcome!
Resting together in a beautiful rural retreat in amongst the hills of Derbyshire, we will experience the simplicity and beauty of heart community. Sharing simple practices for deep heart connection, sharing delicious meals together, and sharing in celebration of this sacred Earth, we have this opportunity to experience what real life can be.
We will also have quiet spaces where you can reflect on your own, taking the time you need for you. Many of us who feel the call of the Earth are very sensitive and need space as well as connection. At this heart-centred gathering, we aim to celebrate unity in diversity, to recognise that each of us is like a beautiful flower in the garden of Life. We are all wonderfully different, each contributing our unique gifts for the benefit of all, including ourselves.
All funds raised go to support the valuable community work of the Elephant Rooms in Draycott and the charity work of the Heart Of Living Yoga Foundation supporting underprivileged children in Sri Lanka, Brasil, India & the U.K. This event is volunteer-powered for the benefit of all.
“I give. You give. We all receive.” ~ Padma Devi, Founder of Heart Of Living Yoga
Outline Programme (see below to meet the team)
Throughout the weekend we will be creating a collaborative peace mandala art piece using a variety of natural materials. Within the nature mandala there will be space for you to share a prayer or a wish - facilitated by Hayley. We will also have activities for kids, teens and folk of all ages. Please get in touch if you have questions.
Friday 18th July
4pm Arrive and settle in in your own time
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Welcome Gathering with introductions and heart connection
8:30pm Heart Song around the fire
10pm Heart Meditation before bed
Saturday 19th July
7am Morning Heart Meditation with Vishwam
7:30 Earth Heart Yoga with Vishwam OR Earth Song Circle with Sami
9am Breakfast
10am Five Elements Qigong with Laurie from Sage Yoga OR Journeying through the Elements with natures creativity, sound and resting in the heart with Emma Maradava and Lor Bird.
For the children: Clay tree sprits with Hayley
This workshop will support children to delve into their imagination and creativity through play. We will explore natures wonders to connect with a tree, and forage for natural materials. Create a tree spirit made from clay and natural materials. Our tree spirit could develop magic powers if we wish, magic to support Mother Earth, to support ourselves and each other.
11:30am Tea Break
12 noon Midday Gathering for heart connection and sharing
1pm Lunch
2pm Sound Bath with Sami OR Heart Rest with Vishwam
2:30pm Tea break
3pm Women's, Men's and Open Circles, leading into One Circle
For the children: Nature Printing with Hayley
Nature printing (hapa zome) Using natures abundance we will forage for flowers and leaves. Using hammers to press the colours of the natural materials into fabrics to create different patterns.
5pm Free Time
6pm Dinner
7:30pm Special Kirtan with Matt Fox
8:30pm Stories and poems around the fire
10pm Heart Meditation before bed
Sunday 20th July
7am Morning Heart Meditation with Vishwam
7:30 Earth Heart Yoga with Vishwam OR Earth Song Circle with Sami
9am Breakfast
10am Gentle Earth Connection with DK Green OR Writing from the Heart with Vishwam
For the children: Heart Fullness with Anandita
Each activity will be a little adventure into the present moment, helping us build awareness, grow kindness (for ourselves and others), and enjoy the magic of just being here, right now. You’ll have space to be creative, to share if you want to, and most of all—to have fun while learning something meaningful.
11:30am Tea Break
12 noon Heart Blessing of the Waters Ceremony
1pm Lunch
2pm Heart Rest with Vishwam OR Natural Reiki Circle with Sami
2:30pm Tea Break
3pm Closing Circle
4pm Floating Home with Happy Hearts
Meet the Team
SamiLouLa loves to listen with her whole heart - to the rivers and the trees, to fellow human beings and to the Earth herself. She is the event co-organiser as well as a key member of the Elephant Rooms team. Sami offers reiki, sound healing, nature connection, and much more. You can find out more on her website at SamiLouLa.com
Vishwam Gurudas Heckert is a Heart Of Living Yoga minister, teacher and trainer now living in the Shetland Islands. He also loves to listen with his heart, to write from the heart and to live, as much as possible, in the heart. He is also a writing and wellbeing coach, a permaculture teacher and a healer. You can find out more about Vishwam by exploring FlowingWithLife.org
Laurie Lowe is a trauma-informed yoga, meditation, qigong teacher and owner of Sage Yoga Studio in Belper. She is well loved for her warm presence, joyful laughter and shining heart. Laurie began her journey with yoga over 20 years ago and his since worked with many great teachers who have transformed her life. She is honoured to share the teachings with all who come to her beautiful studio. Find out more at SageYogaStudio.com
DK Green is a shamanic practitioner & celebration, holistic psychotherapist and writer based in Derbyshire. He was part of the organising team for Oak Spirit Shamanic Gathering held at Unstone Grange over the course of four years, which was one of the key inspirations for the Earth Heart Gathering. He has also run annual shamanic circles for self development, both in person and online. You can find out more about DK and his work here.
Matt Fox is an aspiring Kirtaniya based in Bournemouth, where he has been sharing Kirtan locally since 2017. His journey into the unfamiliar world of Bhakti began through yoga teacher training and the profound inner experiences that followed. This sparked a deeper search across various spiritual traditions, ultimately leading him to fall in love with the practice of Kirtan—singing sacred mantras in community as a path of joy, devotion, and connection. You can hear his angelic voice on his Bandcamp page here.
Hayley will be joining Earth Heart gathering with her new born baby and partner to facilitate a creative space for children to play.
Hayley is a therapeutic creative arts and play practitioner and is a trained forest school practitioner. She facilitates workshops which aim to provide a nurturing space for children to delve into their imaginations through the blend of creativity, mindfulness, nature connection, and play.
Her ethos is to create a compassionate and non-judgmental environment, providing safe spaces for expression.
Emma Mardava is a Reiki Master & yoga teacher, sound healer, heart singer and Heart Of Living Yoga Meditation Facilitator. She has a passion for cooking from her heart to nourish all levels of being. She is the living embodiment of gentleness and a great joy to be with. Mardava lives in Derbyshire where she is part of the local Heart Of Living Yoga sangha.
Lor Bird is a mixed media artist and teacher. They have an expansive and playful approach to the dance of creativity. You can find out more about their work at ArtByLorBird.com
Anandita Jenni Capel is a Heart Of Living Yoga Teacher, Heart Meditation Facilitator, Transpersonal Coach and Youth Mindfulness Teacher, with a longstanding commitment to supporting others in cultivating self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a deeper connection to meaning and purpose. Since beginning her personal mindfulness practice in 2005 and transitioning into teaching in 2018, she has come to view mindfulness-based practices as profound invitations to reconnect with the authentic self and to engage life from a place of inner wisdom and stability.
You can find out more at her website.
Jo Peace is a holistic therapist, community facilitator & foodie!
She will be supporting the gathering with her 'nourishing with food' hat on. Providing plant-based, gluten free, healthy meals and snacks for you to enjoy.
Jo provides treatments and runs the cafe at Elephant Rooms. Her information can be found here: https://linktr.ee/innerpeacederby
Pricing
Residential (shared room in the house with 2 or 3 beds): £275
Residential (camping in the field): £245
Non-residential: £195
Teens (12-18): £75 (in house) / £50 (camping) / Free (non-res)
Kids under 12: Free
Meals are included. We ask everyone to bring either a veggie pasta dish or curry dish to help keep the costs down and to enjoy the spirit of sharing together. If you have particular dietary needs, please bring sure to bring any special foods you might need.
If you have any queries about anything at all, including payment plans or applying for bursaries, please get in touch here.
And if you have extra and would like to support those applying for bursaries, please let us know or purchase your angel ticket here.
This is a non-profit, volunteer-powered, community-nurturing event. Everyone is welcome!