Announcements

KHANKAH OF THE HEART
THE WINGED HEART

A residential retreat at Wistaston Hall Oblate Retreat Centre, Crewe

14th – 17th January 2027 From supper on Thursday to after lunch on Sunday.

Even the darkness shines when we remember!” (Neil Douglas-Klotz)

In this retreat we are inspired by the Illuminated Souls mentioned in the Sufi Invocation of Hazrat Inayat Khan. These radiant beings of all time and no time, the shining ones, open the door and point the way as we polish the lamps of our own souls to reveal the illuminated breath here and now. Even the darkness shines when we remember!” (Neil Douglas-Klotz)

Jilani and Shamsia have a vision of a Sufi community, a Khankah, based not in a building of bricks and mortar, but in the relationships between the deep and loving hearts of its members. All fervent seekers are welcome to join, whether you are new to this or have been walking the path for many years.

Shamsia Sandra Sunfire lives, Dances and Walks in Wales and has done for nearly 30 years. She follows the Path of the Heart, the Path of Love. Shamsia is a leader and mentor of Dances of Universal Peace. She loves the retreat process that draws on the rich tapestry of wisdom teachings and practices, the rhythms of nature which empower us to be more of who we truly are. She both leads and attends retreats. Shamsia is a conductor in the Dervish Healing Order and is dedicated to service on the healing path.

Jilani Cordelia Prescott is a guide in the Sufi Ruhaniat International, Cherag, SoulWork practitioner and leader of the Dances of Universal Peace as well as a mentor of other dance leaders. She has over thirty years’ professional experience as a teacher and musician. Her relaxed and patient teaching style means people easily learn the practices, and can be free to enter the powerful and healing depths of the experience. Jilani lives in the misty Pennine hills of northern England, and brings her love for the Earth to everything she does.

Cost: £545 – £500 – £460 including all meals (generous/standard/cost prices: self selecting sliding scale based on need). £80 deposit (non-refundable) reserves your place. Please get in touch with us if these prices are beyond your means. We want to be inclusive and we hope to have bursaries. Single/shared accommodation available.

Shamsia and Jilani will have musical support from Halim Geoff Carter and Robert Salik Orange

We are very grateful to have received a grant from the Oneness Project to support an ongoing bursary fund to enable us in turn to support those encountering financial difficulties so that they can join us.  We have previously been supported by Dances of Universal Peace International. This bursary fund will be available to all including those who will in future serve and support our communities, the young people.  We recognise that these are challenging times and that financial challenges are becoming more widespread and that a bursary fund will help our community to be more supportive and inclusive. If you are experiencing abundance and feel inspired to support our bursary fund, please contact us.

We are committed to exploring sustainable ways to continue to gather as a Sufi Community, financially and based on caring for the Earth’s limited resources.  This venture has been unfolding in our hearts and our lives each and every time we meet, we nurture and pray for its past, present and future.

Please don’t be shy about approaching us to discuss bursaries or paying by instalments, which can make it very affordable.

Contact us now for more information or to book: email  Jilani on jilanicordelia@gmail.com, or Shamsia on sandrasunfire@gmail.com.

The Sacred Manuscript of Nature

Come and immerse yourself in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside and ‘the Sacred Manuscript of Nature, the only book which can enlighten the reader’ (in the words of Hazrat Inayat Khan, the Sufi mystic). For these days we will live together close to the land and deepen our connection to Mother Earth through many different heart-opening practices. There will be beautiful live music, times of sharing, and simple practices to develop our understanding of ourselves and our connection with each other and with Sacred Unity. There will also be space to sit by the camp fire and chat, or walk in the local countryside. You can find your own balance between safe, friendly connection and peaceful solitude.

There will also be opportunities for training for dance leaders, including circles where new or more experienced dancers, dance leaders and musicians can explore the dance leading journey, with guidance and supporting practices held by Jilani, who is a very experienced mentor and trainer of dance leaders.

This event is offered in association with Khankah of the Heart, a UK Sufi community based not in bricks and mortar, but in the loving hearts of everyone who feels part of it. Through Khankah of the Heart we may be able to offer some bursaries for those who would otherwise be prevented from attending this camp by the cost. Please ask!

New Site: Unstone Grange

 Unfortunately at very short notice and for reasons beyond Rissa’s control we are no longer able to use her field this year, which I know will be a great disappointment to us all. However, miraculously another amazing site has become available, well known to me and much loved. It is Unstone Grange in Derbyshire, which is usually fully booked, but in an extraordinary turn of events it is available to us for Sufi Camp in August this year!

It is a beautiful piece of land which has been held in trust for a generation and used for spiritual and sacred events of various kinds. There is a camping field, and productive organic gardens, plus we have use of the house with 35 beds and excellent catering facilities. It is 2 miles from Dronfield railway station, and is served by a regular bus service from Sheffield and Chesterfield, so it is easily accessible by public transport (and we can help with lifts if necessary). Here is a link to their website so you can have a look at it: https://unstonegrange.co.uk/

We really hope that you will feel inspired to join us at Unstone Grange. This change of venue might actually be more accessible to you, depending on where you live!  If you have any queries about the venue or accommodation please let us know. And if you can confirm your booking as soon as possible, that will help us greatly in finalising our new arrangements. At this point, there are only shared rooms available in the house.

More Details

This exciting event is designed to be affordable, and although our costs are higher with the change of site, please do enquire if you really would need further help to be able to attend. Conversely, if you find the price is reasonable or cheap for the value which is being offered, please consider offering a donation to subsidise those who are less well off, and to uphold the financial sustainability of the camp going forward. £350 (generous) or £320 (reduced) for camping plus £170 (generous) or £130 (reduced) for shared rooms in the house.

Bring anything you need to be comfortable, including special food. You might also like to bring teas/coffees and delicious snacks to share. Our meals will be suitable for vegetarians, with vegan and gluten free options, and are included in the price you pay. We will all offer our karma yoga or Seva services in turn to chop vegetables, wash up and clear away.

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment! Last year the camp sold out. Contact Jilani with any questions prior to booking, and feel free to ask for my bank details if you prefer to pay by BACS.

Accommodation Options

The cost of the camp includes three meals a day and the charge for a camping space. There are a few spaces for camping vehicles too. For an additional fee, you can sleep in the house (shared rooms), if you can’t, or don’t want to, bring your own tent or camper van. Please enquire if you would like to book accommodation. There is also the possibility of nearby AirBnBs if you prefer more luxurious lodging.