Breathing in Birdsong 2025

Breathing in Birdsong 2025

23 - 26 May 2025

Early summer is a beautiful time at Taraloka. The air is full of birds and their songs: the deep velvety song of the blackbird; the sweet descending notes of the willow warbler. On this weekend retreat we will interweave meditation with appreciation of birds and their song, finding spaciousness and peacefulness, and allowing ourselves to be saturated with natural beauty.

For two and a half thousand years Buddhists have been practising meditating on the breath, cultivating a gentle awareness of that simple yet vital process that keeps us alive. This practice of awareness is not only a way for us to cultivate a sense of spaciousness and ease. It can suffuse all of our experience, bringing a sense of connection with, and appreciation of, all living beings.

No previous experience of meditation needed – just curiosity to learn something new, and a willingness to step out into rain or sun.

Join in our massive shrine room sleepover (comfy mattresses, pillows and duvets provided) or else come camping with your friends in our wonderful meadows, with the luxury of hot showers and all your meals prepared!

Please note that during this retreat a new office will be being built (on the opposite side of the car park to the retreat centre). There will be some noise.

Please note:
Mattresses in shrine room and camping are still available but all bedroom spaces are now booked.

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A retreat is an opportunity to still ourselves, to let busy-ness drop away and to live a simpler life.  It’s a time to connect more deeply with ourselves, with others and with the world around us.  This retreat assumes no previous experience of meditation.  We will give a full introduction to the Mindfulness of Breathing practice.  There will be plenty of time out in nature, periods of silence, short talks and a chance to ask questions.

You might want to bring a pair of binoculars with you and a bird book.  We strongly recommend outdoor clothes and waterproof footwear for wet weather.

Suggested donation (in addition to the booking fee): £225 waged / £160 unwaged

Booking Fee: £65.00

Single Rooms: No single rooms currently available on this retreat. Please email to go on single room waiting list.

Booking Form

Waiting List Booking Form

Bookings are closed for this event.

Paying for your retreat

Taraloka runs on generosity.

To book a retreat you pay a booking fee. This is the only charge made for coming on retreat. As far as possible, we don’t want anyone’s financial situation to stop them from coming to Taraloka.

At the end of your retreat, you have the opportunity to give money towards Taraloka. If you are able to donate, you are giving to another person who otherwise could not afford to come on retreat. And you are helping to give the gift of Taraloka to the women of the future.

We have suggested donations as these reflect the basic income needed to make a retreat viable. However, they are only suggestions. It is genuinely fine to give ten times these amounts, nothing, or anything in between.

Running on generosity is radical – thank you for being part of that.

For more information see what does it cost and a flow of generosity