This article has just come out on the Oxford Diocese website, and will shortly be available (with pictures) in "the Door" - which is the Diocese of Oxford newspaper. We hope you enjoy it!
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Spotlight on Spiritual Refreshment
If your idea of going on retreat is a cold cell, a narrow bed and institutional food, then LosOlivos in southern Spain may not be for you. If, on the other hand, warm sunshine, comfortable bedrooms, generous hospitality and an intriguing programme appeals, it just might be.
LosOlivos is an eco-centre set in 20 acres of national park in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Andalucia. It is Spain’s first Christian Art and Spirituality Retreat Centre, and formally opens in January 2011. LosOlivos is the brainchild of the Revd Dani Munoz-Trivino, until the end of 2009 Team Vicar of Marlow, and Guy Wynter, who has a business background.
They have spent most of this year restoring and fitting out the 200-year-old hacienda and devising the programme, which includes photography and Flamenco, stone carving and cookery as well as more traditional retreat weeks. Some of the course leaders will be familiar to readers: Bishop Stephen Cottrell, Archdeacon Karen Gorham and the Revd Ernesto Lozada. “One of the things that triggered this project is the fact that both of us have been involved in art and spirituality projects in our churches in the UK, as part of the Emerging Church scene,” says Dani. “I’d been on retreat a couple of times to lovely places, but they were fairly basic. We found ourselves thinking, ‘wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a place people could go and have a more holistic experience, and explore their faith through creative courses’.”
They turned to Spain for the perfect location: somewhere beautiful, reasonably accessible, and close to cities of historic interest. A retreat offers a wonderful opportunity to step off the treadmill. After a personally difficult six months, a few days’ breathing space and spiritual refreshment was just what the doctor ordered. So using up the last few days of my annual leave, I joined a short taster programme in October to sample elements from the programme.
The experience begins with a warm welcome from our hosts. The nine rooms are simply furnished but individually decorated and extremely comfortable. If you want peace, there are 20 acres of almond and olive orchards to lose yourself in.
LosOlivos is designed to be carbon neutral, and all heating and power is generated from renewable energy sources. The centre works with Climate Stewards to offset the carbon generated by guests’ travel. The days are framed by morning and evening prayer in the chapel, and afternoons are designed to be quiet. Our first activity is a taste from “Sea and Sierra”, a photographic and walking week. The tutor is Guy, who takes us through some basics of composition, before leading us into the mountains with our cameras. Later we download our pictures and share the fruit of our morning. It becomes clear that not only have our skills improved, but we’ve gained something by so carefully considering the landscape (which is stunning).
We’ve noticed more detail over the morning; changes in the position of the moon and the fall of a shadow. And we’ve slowed down. Later in the day we spend some time exploring the spirituality of San Juan de la Cruz (St John of the Cross). Dani explains that, for the Spanish, his writings hold an equivalent importance to Shakespeare’s. He spent an important part of his life in Andalucia where he completed one of his best known works, The Dark Night of the Soul. Under Dani’s direction, we contemplate one of his poems.
The following day brings the most hilarity, when our small group is set the task of harvesting almonds. The process involves spreading nets beneath the trees, bashing the branches and gathering nuts in baskets. There’s a two-fold purpose: LosOlivos offers low-cost eco-weeks, harvesting olives (in February) and almonds (October), so we are indeed piloting an activity; but we are also gathering a vital ingredient for lunch. Playing we might be but it’s satisfying to be so close to nature.
The final activity involves a cookery lesson: how to make a Spanish paella. The almonds need shelling, blanching and peeling for the accompanying salad. Our tutor (Dani) is an inspired cook and the paella is delicious; we find that here is something about cooking and sharing a meal together that’s wonderfully restorative to the soul. Overall, the time has been inspiring, enjoyable and refreshing – and a chance to delight in God’s goodness.
To find out more about LosOlivos, see www.haciendalosolivos.org or phone 01865 600698 (UK rates).
As a special introductory offer, the first ten people to apply can have two FREE nights in addition to any four-night booked course or retreat. Just quoteLOSOLIVOSDOOR when booking.
Sarah Meyrick is Director of Communications for the Diocese of Oxford.
