Songs from Silence 2027

Led by: Jo Spence, Joe Hill, Dayajoti, Ruth Coutinho and Amalasiddhi (yoga)
Location: Frogmill, Dartmoor, Devon
Deposit amount: 
Experience level: All levels
Age group: Adults
Total suggested cost (excluding deposit): standard: £350, supported:£250, donation tier (helping others to come on retreat):£650
Vehicle Pass: Car: £15, Live-in- 6m and under: £30, Live-in- over 6m: £30

See our FAQ for an explanation of the deposit/dana/donation tier system. Please read this if you think you will not be able to afford the retreat, or if you are not sure about the deposit/dana/donation tier system in any way. We have suggested donation amounts to guide; they are structured to reflect what it costs us to run a retreat. However, you are free to give as little or as much as befits your circumstances.

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“We must bear silence before we can feel in our bodies the deep joy of what the world is always already singing to us.”

This retreat will explore working and playing with sound, vibration and the voice as Buddhist practice.

Singing can ground and soothe the body and mind, helping to create a sense of safety, openness and trust – within ourselves and with each other. It is one of the gateways the body offers us to discover deeper and richer layers of experience – including liberating ways of viewing our existence (insight).

Together, we will explore what it might feel like to listen to sound and silence with the whole of our being, allowing it to open us to the particular place we find ourselves in, and the vibrant aliveness of all things.

As well as learning beautiful songs in harmony, including Buddhist mantras, there will be meditation, ritual, yoga and periods of silence.

All welcome – no singing or meditation experience necessary. All songs will be taught by ear, so you don’t need to be able to read music.

What to expect
Part of any Buddhafield retreat is the experience of living together on the land. Even in periods of silence, we can stay connected with each other through working, living and practising together in community. There will be groups offered each day to connect, share and ask questions; delicious vegan organic meals; and a campfire hearth at the centre.

The daily programme will be something like this:
6.30-6.55am Mantra chanting
7-7.45am Meditation
7.50-8.30am Meditation
7-8.15am Introduction to meditation for those new to it
8.15-9am Breakfast
9.15-10.30am Morning circle and karma yoga/work period
11-1pm Song and Voice first session
1.00 pm Lunch
3-4pm Yoga
4.15-4.45pm Meditation
5-6pm Groups
6.15pm Dinner
8pm Song and Voice second session + Ritual

Things to note

• We have an extensive Retreat FAQ page here. Please read this thoroughly and, if you have any questions that aren’t answered, get in touch.
• If you are bringing a vehicle to a retreat and it is staying on-site, you need to buy a vehicle pass. This helps us to manage the number of vehicles on our sites as space is very limited. Please do not bring a vehicle if the relevant pass is sold out. Please liftshare where possible or use public transport.
• If you are travelling by public transport, we offer pickup from the Whiddon Down bus stop for this retreat.