This day offers us a mini retreat – some time and space to connect more deeply with ourselves and life. Mindfulness practices, such as mindful breathing, Deep Relaxation and sitting and walking meditation, help us touch peace and ease. A short Dharma talk will explore the theme of mindfulness and creativity, and some soothing piano music will be part of the day.

In the afternoon, let yourself be guided in a creative exploration. This season is an InBetween Time when spring and winter overlap, and we can connect with nature and see what stirs in us. As we allow our body and mind to relax, creative flow might happen naturally. We have the chance to play with colours, nature materials, words and sounds, and to discover the wisdom of play!

Mindfulness and creative exploration have a lot in common. They reach beyond words, express what’s left unsaid, and touch the heart. They both benefit from attitudes of curiosity, beginner’s mind and non-judgment. The day is an invitation to put the problem solving mind to rest, to listen to nature and the whispers of our deeper selves, and allow ourselves to be surprised and renewed.

This is a Mindfulness Day in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village. Everyone is welcome – whether you have practised mindfulness before or are new to it, whether you get excited about creativity or want to run a mile.

Date & time: Sunday 2 March, arrive 9.30am for a cup of tea and to settle, 10am start-4pm

Venue: Murtle Hall, Camphill Estate, Milltimber, Aberdeen

Fee: Teas & coffees will be provided. This day is offered on a Dana (donation) basis, inviting you to offer generosity of the heart to support Suanne’s work.

Registration: For details and booking, please email Lindsay Lumsden, .

This is an invitation to come on a musical adventure. Intuitive piano playing in a small group is relaxing, surprising, creative, adventurous, inspiring, playful and fun. Join me for a Saturday afternoon to explore some easy-to-learn ways of improvising your own music.

We will build basic improvisation skills, enhanced listening and confidence, with a focus on enjoying the creative process. You will mostly play in pairs, improvising together, and discovering a new version of ‘musical chairs’… ✨ 🎶
Suitable for players in the beginning and intermediate stages of learning the piano.

Date & time: Saturday 15 March, 12.30-5.30pm

Venue: Susanne’s music space at Findhorn

Fee: £35.00. A couple of places at a reduced rate are available, please inquire. The workshop includes a tea/coffee break with refreshments provided.

Booking and info: 8 places available. To book or learn more, please contact Susanne here.

Join me for a weekend in the hills north of Venice. In the mild climate of the Italian spring, we’ll be meditating, listening and improvising music together, both indoors and outdoors. Everyone with an interest in sounds and silence, relaxation, exploration and play is welcome – whether you think of yourself as a musician or not.

We all have seeds of creativity inside. As we allow our body and mind to relax, creative flow can happen naturally. Let’s explore the music of the heart together, the music of this very moment, with curiosity and playfulness.

Mindful breathing, sitting and walking open doors to our creativity and aliveness. There will be time to meditate, play, sing, hum, tone, explore, create and reflect together. We allow nature to inspire us. We will listen deeply – to the nature sounds around us, the sounds within us and the music we create together. We will also spend some time in silence, allowing ourselves to be replenished and renewed. Sounds and silence inter-are, they deepen and enrich each other.

The retreat is open to people with any level of experience with music and none – everyone is welcome! Please bring along any instruments you might have, including shakers, bells etc.

PLEASE NOTE: Teaching will be in English and German with Italian translation.

Date & time: Friday 11 April, 5.30pm, until Sunday 13 April, 4.30pm

Venue: Terra Felice, Marostica, Vicenza (Italy), https://insiemeconsapevolmente.org/

Fee: 210.00 € incl. food and simple shared accommodation. Taking turns with preparing meals together in an atmosphere of mindfulness will be part of the retreat.

Registration: 12 places available, early booking recommended. For details and a booking form, please email Emanuela Sandini, , phone +39 349 6833495 or  +39 0424 77497 (Italian, English, German spoken)

For a free download of Susanne’s chapter, please contact her.

Price: eBook £9.75 (worldwide), paperback £24.75 including p&p (UK only). All proceeds go to the Everyone Project, helping fund mindfulness courses to groups who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them, for financial or other reasons.

Available here: Please email Vin Harris, .