We want to see what happens if we combine Japanese zen buddhist meditation with Circling, a facilitated relational meditation. Zen teaches us the depth of awareness. Circling teaches us the wilderness of human relations. We have 12 spaces for this, November 4-8th, 2026 in the Lake District, UK.
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Circling is…
A relational practice where you reveal what your experience is
And attune to what is happening for others
Vulnerable and radically honest
Intense and wild, deeply confronting
At times tender, subtle
Conducive to deep connection, love, presence
Paradoxical, confronting
Fun, unpredictable, emergent
1-min intro video here
5-minute explainer here
4-part documentary here
5 principles here
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Zen is…
A traditional and simple form of Buddhist meditation
Everything and nothing
Pointing directly to the heart
About not knowing
Humbling
At times blissful, at times stormy
About compassion
About stillness, discovering what it is like to be you
A practice of appreciating your life as it is
Undefinable
Please read more here
And listen to Dharma talks in podcast format here
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Because we cannot do without wisdom - but also not without understanding human behaviour (including our own).
There will be a daily routine with a combination of sitting (Zen meditation) and Circling, first days with more sitting, last with most Circling.
We will eat breakfast and dinner in silence. The lunch and the break afterwards is an unfacilitated social space where we invite you to take a walk with someone and share your experiences.
We will eat simple vegetarian food, and cooking and cleaning up together is part of the schedule.
There will also be guided meditation and you will have an opportunity to do “interviews”. These are short 1:1 sessions where you can ask questions and get support from a Zen teacher (in this case Steph). Interviews are a core component of Zen retreats.
We invite you to turn your phone off and leave it in the allocated phone prison for the duration of the retreat.
In the spirit of inclusivity we price the retreat like the following:
£300 is the price for the full retreat, including food, accommodation and travel for the teachers.
If this price means that you are not able to attend, please write an email explaining your circumstances.
If you would like to make a donation, we welcome eg. £100 on top of the minimum price which will either go to the centre, or to a person who is otherwise unable to attend.
To secure your place (we only have 12), you will be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit of £100 at signup.
At StoneWater Zen's retreat centre in the Lake District in England.
The address will be shared after you sign up.
The nearest airports are Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Newcastle.