ECC RESIDENTIAL WEEKS SUMMER 2004

Descriptions below.

Full details with costs, contact details and booking forms on website
http://www.edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk

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HEALING SPIRIT at Laurieston Hall, SW Scotland

5 to 12 June 2004

HEALING SPIRIT 2004 will be a space to explore healing, growth and
wholeness.

We will build community by opening our hearts, speaking of our lives, our
wounds and wishes.

Sharing in body and spirit, calling on spirit to be with us and guide us, we
will open ourselves to healing, discovery and transformation.

This journey into energy and healing will culminate in a communal
celebration of everything we are.

The week is likely to include: element rituals, meditation, chanting, naked
rituals, dance, massage, energy healing, game, heart circles, dream sharing
and periods of silence.

The organisers wish to offer respect to all paths of Spirit, which for us is
the universal energy within all that is.

This week is about Who We Are, as spiritual gay men, and is intended as an
exploration of our relationship with the Universe, with life, love and each
other.

Please come to take part in a communal experience.

Bring your healing-massage-other skills to add to the pot, and expect a week
of opening, sharing and mending-transcending.

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AUGUST 'TRADITIONAL' WEEK at Laurieston Hall, SW Scotland

from 31 July to 7 August 2004

A 'traditional' gay men's week in early August for about 60 men.

What do we mean by a 'traditional' week?

Well, we anticipate having an opening gathering for everyone to meet at the
start of the week and another to round the week off at the end: 'Opening'
and 'Closing' Go-Rounds.

We also expect to offer small groups of 6 or so to meet daily, where we can
'feedback', and support each other in confidence, known as base groups.

A well tested formula for personal growth, exploration and enjoyment as a
community.

The 'traditional' week is laid back, open, and relaxing, depending upon what
the participants bring to it; this has included: swimming; meditation;
Tai-Chi; circle dancing; a cabaret; nude sunbathing; highland dancing and
'T' shirt painting; or just hanging-out chatting and playing music.

Workshops are presented on diverse topics from massage and aromatherapy to
poetry, life drawing, gay films, and afternoon tea at Kittys Café.

You can pick what you want or run a workshop yourself on whatever topic you
choose to offer.

The organisers will get the week started but then it is up to everyone to
make of it what they will, and choose their own level of activity and
involvement.

We intend to continue this tradition, of personal growth fun and games, art
expression and enjoyment.

In line with ECC's general policy, until 1st June 2004 we will reserve a
third of places for people who have not been on an ECC week before and a
third of places for people who have been on a GMW.

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GAY MEN'S WEEK IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

Saturday 21 to Saturday 28 August 2004

We return once again to High Close, for this regular and now
well-established event in the ECC calendar.

High Close Youth Hostel is set in a quiet hillside location in the beautiful
Langdale Valley, yet within easy reach of Ambleside and Grasmere, where
Wordsworth lived for many years at Dove Cottage.

The area offers excellent walking in stunning scenery, from easy afternoon
strolls to energetic all-day mountain hikes, and nearby Loughrigg Tarn
offers exhilarating outdoor swimming.

We take over the Hostel for the week, and it becomes our space. We have
exclusive use of the large rambling building with its large dining room,
workshop spaces, secluded garden and veranda with views towards Lake
Windermere.

Sleeping accommodation is in bunk beds in rooms ranging in size from four
beds to twelve, and with many more beds than people there is plenty of room
to spread out.

All meals are prepared for us by the Hostel Staff, with whom we have built
up an excellent working relationship over the years – they always look
forward to our visit!

What will happen at High Close? We normally organise a boat trip on one of
the lakes. There will almost definitely be a cabaret on the Thursday night,
and there will be support groups to help us share the challenges and joys of
being a community of over fifty gay men.

Someone usually organises a mountain hike, so bring your gear if you fancy
that.

Otherwise the time is ours to relax, meditate, attend (or even run) a
workshop or two, sing, dance, walk, swim, or just take in the beautiful
scenery.

Above all, we hope the week will be relaxed, informal, friendly and fun.

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MOVEMENT, CREATIVITY AND TAI CHI at Laurieston Hall, SW Scotland

11 to 18 September 2004

After two highly successful weeks at Laurieston in the last couple of years,
we are delighted once again to be able to offer a week of Art, Dance, Music,
Meditation & T'ai Chi for 2004.

The week will be quite structured, with workshops on specific themes running
throughout the week, giving a strong cumulative effect and a sense of
momentum to what we do.

There will be a particular emphasis on movement as a means of freeing-up and
expressing our bodies.

We will have some exciting workshops using dance inspired by Five Rhythms,
as well as a daily practice of Qi Gong and T'ai Chi to help ground ourselves
and begin to rediscover some of our potential power.

There will also be great opportunities to explore our ability to create
sound and harmony with our voices and/or musical instruments, as well as a
chance to express ourselves in colourful and imaginative ways with paint,
crayons and other art materials without fear of being criticised or judged.

We hope to encourage plenty of listening and sharing of our experiences.

There will be a Heart Circle everyday, as well as an opportunity for people
to share their dreams each morning. There will also be a daily practice of
sitting meditation.

Despite the large number of workshops there will be ample free time for
people to relax and enjoy the usual delights that Laurieston has to offer -
such as walks in the woods; the sauna; and swimming in the loch if you are
feeling bold or brave.

There will no doubt be plenty of fun and laughter as well as times of quiet
and silence.

Although the week may be physically quite challenging for some people, it is
important to remember that you can take everything at an appropriate pace
for yourself, so everyone is welcome.