A trip to Parcevall Hall to attend a Retreat led by Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, with the title Sacred Spaces and Pilgrimage. This event became a reality by Susan Swire who invited Rubert to lead the Retreat. With gratitude to Sir William Milner and Parcevall hall staff.
A Ryanair flight from Dublin to Leeds Bradford on Thursday the 23rd of June, 2023, was an experiences within itself. To tell you the truth, geographically I had no idea where I was going and what was to unfold; this was an unchartered trip. For me, England consisted of London and Limington-On-Sea, as these were the only places I had ever visited. A taxi to Leeds train station and a train to Skipton certainly opened up the horizons.
Oh, now I see, we are in Emmerdale (a British TV soap opera) countryside! Indeed, I passed the ITV television studios where Emmerdale is filmed. Jo Craven, the Warden at Parcevall Hall had advised me to ring a particular taxi service number once I'd alighted the train at Skipton.
My very chatty taxi man was a delight to engage with, however, as he endeavoured to navigate 'the way' according to Google maps, I noticed by his various shifting body movements that he was becoming more than a little perplexed. "What and where is this place?", he exclaimed.
The road became increasingly more narrow as we began our accent up a stone walled, green field topography dotted with farm animals. Indeed, we were twice brought to an abrupt stop by traversing flocks of sheep, bleating loudly at the sight our unwelcome vehicle. Eventually, we reached our destination and were greeted by Mary who was one of the caretakers at Parcevall and lives in a nearby cottage.
As my driver pulled away, waving a fond farewell to us both, Mary informed me that two other ladies had arrived from international flights and we would be alone in the building for the night. The other guests and staff were to arrive the following day up until 4pm.
Mary led me along a red carpeted series of corridors to arrive at my compact yet homely and warm room, with a view to the Parcevall Hall courtyard. She informed me that I would have the whole Chaplin wing to myself! As I duly navigated my way around the various rooms, meandering hall spaces and winding stairwells, I indeed met my new housemates in one of the main receptions areas off the dining room.
Margaret from Washington, USA and Barbara from Geneva, Switzerland, enthusiastically shared their identities and stories as did I, and we giddily delighted in the fact that we would be the sole occupants of Parcevall Hall for the night.
Barbara did inform me that that the Hall had a beautiful calm energy as she sensed my concern for our safety.
A heart-stopping 'gong' was sounded at 8.30am the following morning to announce breakfast and indeed this sound was to proceed each meal over the coming days. This low tone sound vibration (hum) became a very welcome rhythmic punctuation throughout each day, as we collectively adjusted to the rhythm of the Retreat and of the building itself.
Hour by hour, and just like an Agatha Christie movie, the other protagonists on Retreat arrived, each embodying their own unique energy, spirit and autobiography. As 6pm dinner was sounded and served we each shared this collective sacred space with our Retreat leader, Dr. Rupert Sheldrake.
What was to unfold was a truly life changing experience which included an off-grid, uphill pilgrimage using an ordinal survey map to find a specific holy stone in an area approximately 2.5 kilometers from Parcevall Hall. To be continued...
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