i am thinking of going to a monastic retreat....

[ThatVikRinA22]

please tell me what i can expect if i do this?

i feel burnt out and in need of some quiet time to myself. i am not a catholic, but thinking about going any way.

any advice? tips?

cheers

Depends what type of monastery you choose, but most catholic monasteries have an order of life which includes prayers at certain times of the day which visitors are welcome to join in to but it is always made clear that it is not expected they will. My dh sometimes goes on retreat and basically the monks just leave yuo alone but also are available to talk to if you want to, kind of in a counselling/listening role.

Most places live in a certain level of silence, with times for coming out of that eg at afternoon tea, some places are silent the whole time. Most places have guest rooms with good facilities and places to go to have time on their own. Have you found somewhere you would like to go? I can recommend a few if you like, depending where you are.

Only advice would be to do what you feel works for you - ie if you want time completely by yourself it's fine - but if you feel joining in some of the life of the monastery could help then that's fine too. Hope you find it helpful.

i think it actually could be helpful - i just want some quiet, reflective time away on my own, no idea what life in a monastery entails but am willing to get stuck in.

i am in yorkshire - the two i was looking at were Ampleforth York and Holy Rood House near Thirsk.

maybe it's worth considering going somewhere further afield to really get away from it all. There's a RC monastery in N. Wales which was featured on the tv prog THe BIg Silence - there's an Anglican convent in Wantage (Oxon) which I read about, also Worth Abbey is lovely.
Have a lovely time... (am a wee bit envious!)

I went on a weekend retreat a few weeks ago. It was a very positive experience The silence can be challenging to cope with, not because of the lack of sound, but because you end up meeting yourself in it and that can be difficult.

I would certainly go on one again.

I've no idea what they are like but whenever I have passed Lee Abbey on the Exmoor coast I've thought it looked like a lovely place for a retreat (its not monastic or catholic or in Yorkshire, obv!)

thank you - i am going to look into this because i feel very strongly that i need this, and soon.

i would love to go further afield, its just that i want to get there under my own steam, and a long drive is something i didnt really want to do. i dont want DH taking me, i want to go alone, drive alone, and come back alone. weird maybe but i just feel i need this time totally for me. ive got some soul searching to do.

im going to look into this, nice to have others input, thank you.

There is a retreats magazine which you might find useful. Also many retreat centres have websites so you can look at what "programmes" are available. You can then choose whether you form part of a led group - although you may prefer to just "be" there or to be "individually guided". I went on a fantastic group retreat, I didn't know anyone else going, but it was really good to be able to share experiences.

another friend has said there is a buddhist retreat centre nearby....i am confused about which to go for.

Marybs - do you know what the retreats magazine is called at all?
thanks

Grimma, I have been to Lee Abbey many times. It is indeed a beautiful place, but tends to be more conference type things although I'm sure you can go and stay there on your own for retreat etc - it's just not like the quiet life of monasteries and you may get heggled by well meaning evangelicals at supper time Lovely though!!

Worth is good and dh goes to Glasshampton which is a tiny Franciscan friary in Worcestershire, lovely silent place.

www.retreats.org.uk/retreatsjournal.html

I'd love to go to St Bueno's, that would be my ultimate!

thank you MaryBS, i will have a proper look at that tomorrow.