La Maison de Rêves: how would you feel when sleeping here?

The photos that are contained in this post about Opening Space Retreat are focussed on our Maison de Rêves (House of Dreams), the little dépendance or guest house where are visitors stay. It is away from La Grande Maison or Big House so a private and peaceful time is assured.

There is a deliciously comfortable bed in the Maison de Rêves, more than big enough for a single person or even a couple. Our guests have often told us that it is comforting to be in bed in the Little House even in the middle of a storm. They say it takes them back to their childhood when the weather is so exciting when one is not outside in it.

The Maison de Rêves has electricity which means our guests can be warm in the Wintertime, make drinks at whatever time they choose and have light in the midst of absolute blackness (we have no street lights, so the time to get light is when we have a clear night when the galaxy is abundantly visible)

A beautiful old French clock sits on one old style distressed bedside cabinet. We found this in a friend's dépendance and she let us have it to add to the ambience of the Maison de Rêves.

The other bedside table plays host to a print of two loving comrades, marching along and smiling to one another and also to a 1930's jug and bowl set.

This delightful Art Deco table is a place for a beautiful photograph by Baron Adolph De Meyer, Vogue's first fashion photographer and a copy of a French magazine dated 1914.

This beautiful room is within a small wooden house in the garden of the Opening Space Retreat. Here the Big House can be seen in the distance, and has the advantage in the Summer of opening out directly onto its own terrace, with loungers. Below can be seen the setting for this beautiful and restful place.

What can Nigel and Simon do for you?

We are both committed to making a difference and to sharing our expertise and experience with as many people as possible both at Opening Space Retreat and via the internet through online mentoring and distance Reiki sessions. We thought it was time to reveal the team here so here goes.......

Nigel is one half of the Opening Space Retreat. He is an Usui Reiki Master and a writer. He is in charge of bookings, web design and a hefty chunk of creating the delicious food here. Nigel also leads the music around the starry-sky lit firepit sessions. He is also the main contributor to the building and gardening maintenance programme and in developing ideas for these two areas.

Here am I! Simon, the other half of Opening Space Retreat. I am an Usui Reiki Level Two and a Seichem Reiki Master and also a writer/mentor/life coach. I am the promoter and the main ideas man for the Retreat and with my mentoring background am often engaged with our visitors in helping them to sort out their lives.

We also have two ladies who assist in the general welcome and in keeping the seats warm and in calling people to the dinner table. These are BooBoo and Millie.

How can Dr R Saravanan help you?

Dr R Saravanan is based in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu, India. He is a qualified and registered Homeopath. His website address is http://www.homeopathyforholisticwellness.in/

Homeopathy

He is passionate about Holistic health and this includes techniques such as Bach Flower Therapy and Holistic Nutrition which he integrates into his Homeopathic practice.

Bach Flower Essences

De-Tox nutrients

He has authored articles about Homeopathy and Holistic Health. His main interest is in helping people to cure diseases through natural healing techniques.

Cleansing Juices

Dr Saravanan is professional, insightful and attentive. And he gets results! This is why we at Opening Space Retreat wanted so much to work with him and to bring his particular skills to the table for our visitors. Dr. Saravanan advises us on our De-tox Programme here at Opening Space Retreat and he can be available before, during and after a retreat at the Opening Space Retreat offering the following services via Skype, email and phone:

* Personalized Homeopathic consultation

* Personalized Bach flower therapy consultation

* Tailored diet/nutrition consultation

 So it is important to consider! How Dr. Saravanan can help you?

What do you know about the healing properties of Pyramids?

This beautiful pyramid which now sits in our library, has re-ignited an interest for me in this shape and in the potential healing properties which it has. Pyramid is a word of Greek origin Pyra (Fire or in healing terms the energy field) and Mid (Core of  the system). This object above rests at the very centre of our library and treatment room at the OpeningSpace retreat and evokes a strong healing sensation on the room.

Egyptian Mummy

The pyramid shape has a special significance, its powerful apex is able to deflect cosmic radiations downward to its base where it meets the Earth's Gravitational Force, creating a Bio-Energy field. Because of this external deflection the inner core of a pyramid and its contents remains unaffected and safe, one only has to look at the revealed contents of Egyptian tombs in Pyramids to understand this fact.

Pyramid in China (Photo Graeme Nicol)

Pyramid Vastu or Pyra-vastu is a practicle art to harmonize-mind, body and spirit with the environment, by just placing  “Pyramid Yantras” on the body. Pyra vastu is a powerful science of creating balance and harmony by core level corrections, with the help of pre-programmed Pyramid Yantras. Pyramid Vastu is based on the essential principles of subtle anatomy and law of the universe. Here you are when practising this art, utilizing your own hidden capabilities to achieve a better tomorrow. Pyra vastu is ideal for correcting vastu or feng shui defects without physical alteration, shifiting or breaking home or work place. It deals with the roots or vital force, behind all action within it. It is totally innovative concept of subtle level correction with pyramids based on mind over matter. It deals with our inbuilt power and ability of Mind-Body-Emotion. This powerful intention at the core level induces energy within us. (information taken from, http://www.suprapowers.com/pyramid.htm)

Healing Benefits: 
* Heals wounds, boils and bruises quicker
* Assists in weight loss
* Increases resistance to diseases
* Gives relief to and cures asthma 
* Soothes toothaches 
* Eradicates migraine
* Helps with the common cold 
* Reduces high B.P 
* Assists with arthritis 
* Calms palpitations of heart
* Supporrs those with epilepsy 
* Eases insomnia 

Drinking pyramid energized water 
* Cures conjunctivitis and other eye problems 
* Helps digestion
* Gives the skin a healthy and youthful glow


If you know more about the healing properties of pyramids let me know.

What are the benefits of Mudra Yoga Hand Positions?

Gyan Mudra

Try to find a comfortable and quiet place. Keep your back and neck straight. Press the tips of your thumb and index finger together and keep the other fingers straight. Rest your hands palms up on your knees. Keeping a relaxed hand put a little pressure on your joined finger tips. 


Practice it for 20-30 minutes every day.


Benefits include: 


* improving memory and concentration 
* improving nervous system and with tension, anxiety
* helps with loss of sleep
* helps to deal with depression and fears
* assists in spiritual attainment

Do you want to be part of an ever growing facebook group?

Social Media is a such a vast entity and one which brings like-minded and even opposing factions together in one gigantic criss-cross of communication, networking and joint-working. We at OpeningSpace Retreat are very much aware of what is possible via this gigantic tool for worldwide change. 

Le Berceau by Berthe Morisot

We have a Facebook group called OpeningSpace Retreat and we are keen to generate a worldwide following of visitors to our retreat house Le Berceau, the name being taken from a painting by Berthe Morisot, one of Les Trois Grandes Dames of Impressionism, and translated as the cradle. The house nestles in the hamlet of Couffy, a diminutive of the French for a baby's basket, Couffin. 

Berthe Morisot by Manet

Le Berceau, is a place which nurtures and protects its visitors, but as for many, if you are simply too far away or in such circumstances that prohibit you from visiting we would like to be able to share insights and information that we know to be of use. The Facebook group OpeningSpace Retreat is the perfect place to connect and learn and share information. The group alongside this blog is a repository for information and insight.

Our hamlet is set in rolling countryside, agricultural working land, steeped in countryside traditions and with vistas such as the one below. 

So, do you want to be part of the ever growing Facebook group?

OpeningSpace Retreat

Why would a donkey be wearing a hat?

This donkey was seen at the National Easter Donkey Fair in Poulaines, Indre which is a village some 10km away from us. Traders come from all over the country to buy and sell donkeys of all shapes and sizes.

There is a local variety of donkey called the Berrichon, pictured below, with a distinctive line of dark brown in its coat and running along its back.

The donkeys are paraded around an enclosure so that buyers can see the animals for themselves and at the same are being judged by a local panel.

One has to admire the love and attention that the French lavish on these animals, and everything which is used for them i.e. harnesses, Gingham booties and of course chapeaux, which brings me back to the whole hat mystery. Can anyone answer my question? Why would a donkey be wearing a hat?

How do you feel about ruins and decaying things?

This old Citroen lies in the garden of a neighbour, who knows why? It is loaded with stuff, so perhaps it has a practical storage purpose. It does not sit on a pathway or road but instead nestles under a tree in an orchard? What feelings does this image evoke?

This is a ruin of a famous spa in southern France, it was a popular spot in the 19th century. The owner left it at the height of its popularity to pursue the burgeoning market for mineral water, only a few miles away. This popular spa had hotels, beautiful gardens and even its own railway station, the whole complex now a returning-to-nature ruin. How does this image make you feel?

Taking both images is it possible to say that each image calls up different emotions? If they do, can you say how each image differs in its affect on you and maybe why?

How do you make the leap from your stressful city life to a rural retreat in France?

Another crowded tube train.......?

Another busy day at the office......? How similar to your life are these images. How do you find a time for yourself, to pursue dreams, relax and rejuvenate yourself? If you are used to these scenarios how on earth do you make the leap to experiencing a retreat in rural France? 

Someone the other day looked at this blog and at the Opening Space Retreat website and said " it looks great, very impressive, but I could never come there because I would feel so horrendous having been there, to go back to my stressful and mundane life in the city, I couldn't face it"

We at the retreat can understand this as we both gave up stressful lives, ones we thought we were trapped in, to come to this idyllic place........

but we also know that it is possible, in stages, to make the leap for just three or four days. This can be achieved by letting the retreat happen to you before you actually step on a plane, mount a train or get into your car to come here. For instance, if you are stressed or worried about a problem then we can offer  distance reiki healing or inspirational mentoring and life coaching via phone or skype. Both of these things have the effect of supporting you to stop for a moment in your fast-paced lives and to reflect on where you are in life and where you'd like to be in the future. 

All of this takes the stress out making the leap to a retreat, one which is solely designed for you, where you get to be the centre of the Universe for once: where you can get up when you want; always have good food available; have two people interested in you and willing to offer the support you need and also be able take advantage of a beautiful rural surrounding with its copious amounts of wildlife and wide open skies. 

So don't think that you have to endure the crowded tube train and million and one things to do at the office for ever. You can on occasion get off the treadmill and allow yourself to experience the bliss that is Opening Space Retreat. 

How could this space benefit you? How can you make it happen?

Do you need a designer?

This is Ben, the Opening Space Retreat graphic designer, he designed the banner headline on our website www.openingspace.co.uk working closely with Nigel the retreat's web designer and has also created and formatted a sample cover and chapter for my first novel. I have totally enjoyed working with Ben whose idea-to-finished-product process is seamless and inspiring. For instance, he took a section of the novel and with a few words from me about the main character he showed me just how astute he is in his understanding of what I wanted.

Ben is a 28 year old creative design professional who has worked for companies and for individuals. His specialisms are in building and interior design, graphic design and children's book illustration. He draws his inspiration from pure nature and this inspiration beings an intensity to his life and in his emotions. By his own admission his work sometimes channels sharp anger, quiet sadness and a sweet happiness. 

Below are some of his works: 

Ben is a joy to work with. He is insightful, flexible and hard-working. If you need a good graphic designer he is your man.

Ben's more personal work can be found at his Deviantart page 

BEN"S EMAIL ADDRESS IS - artcurse@hotmail.com

Do you feel sluggish?

Do you find yourself feeling sluggish? Has middle age seemingly crept upon you when you were not looking? Are you a person who eats processed food and works long hours? This bowl of what looks like grass, could be the answer you crave. Of course, it would be good to eat more healthily and work at a less stressful pace, but if you find it difficult then try Wheatgrass. 


Wheatgrass, Triticum Aestivum provides chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes. It is available as a freeze dried powder or as a juice, and it is possible to cultivate it yourself. I prefer the cultivate yourself route as at least you have some control from plant to juicer stage. Also in the latter instance you can see from the picture that it is a vibrant addition to a dining table or patio.

If you are made of tough stuff you can consume it on its own, but for the faint of heart or those who are green sludge phobic then mixed with orange juice or in a smoothie suffices. Be prepared though as a major system booster it can affect your digestive system for a day or so.

Going back to your lifestyle, there is just a chance that when you come to Opening Space Retreat you might like to do a de-tox weekend, to clear your system and see beyond the sluggishness.......

A Chocolate adventure....

This is a shop window for a chocolatier in Romorantin, which is a town about 40km away from the Opening Space Retreat. We were there with Nigel's sister Gill, who was visiting us for a holiday. The French really know how to decorate a window, they are so enticing and delicious, in more ways than one!

A little closer to home is a Pâtissierie, Chocolaterie, Musée du Sucre and Salon de Thé called Jacky Chichery of Valencay, a superb confection of delights for the aficionado of sweetness. These cakes, the ones below are masterpieces of the Pâtissier's art. The shop has been operating for over two hundred years and one can see they have definitely mastered the art form.

The chocolates in this shop are second to none, and every retreat guest can expect a small sachet of them awaiting their gratification

The Musée du Sucre is a delight, housing as it does a charming array of sculptures in sugar, even a large scale model of the Chateau of Valencay, Home of Tallyrand, Napoleon's Foreign Miniser. The Musée also hosts special demonstrations of the sugar sculptor's art.

Finally, to cap it all, as if you cannot leave without buying something from this vast collection of delicacies, there is a Salon de Thé, where you can sit, relax, soak up the atmosphere and gorge yourself on a range of goodies.

Gaynor Johnston, Sculptor

Gaynor Johnston, is a wood sculptor based in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Opening Space Retreat is, so far, host to four pieces of her work, detailed below. These works speak of the countryside and of the generous spirit of the artisan who crafts them.

A walking stick, turned and painted..... with detail below

A walking stick, turned and unpainted....with detail below

A sculpture of twisted wood, varnished with a sloped top......

Gaynor is available for commissions, including walking sticks, sculptures and lamp stands. She can be contacted via us at OpeningSpace retreat (www.openingspace.co.uk) or through this blog