Our Headless Way workshop workshop will be centred round a series of experiments designed to respond to the question “Who or What am I at zero distance from myself?”

This is, essentially, a non-verbal exploration: discarding, as far as possible, memory and imagination.

Starting again, going by the evidence, we arrive at some startling conclusions with profound consequences for our lives.

This approach to seeing our essential self springs from the work of Douglas Harding, a twentieth century master who lived in Nacton, near Ipswich.

This session will be run by Bill Garside who spent many years with Douglas, travelling the world and sharing these practices. 

Alex Menhams will also share a few activities with the group to explore how ‘headlessness’ creates space for connection, and spontaneous playfulness.

Bill Garside

Bill has been giving workshops sharing this simple insight for many years and in various places round the world.

He met Douglas Harding as a young man and the two became close friends, often sharing workshops together. 

Bill is now in his 70s and continues to learn about what this  “ Headlessness” may mean – it’s so varied and interesting for each one who shares the journey.

Who is it for?

These sessions are open to anyone who wants to enjoy shared presence and connection, and is open to laughing, learning and exploring direct experience.

You’ll be able to connect with others, share your experiences, question anything, and laugh, cry, shout or reflect in silence on the beauty and absurdity of it all. 

What to expect

We’ll explore a range of things ‘glimpse’ practices and pointing out exercises devised by Douglas Harding and others. Douglas was one of the 20th century’s pioneers of self-awareness practices and he was born in Lowestoft and lived in Ipswich. 

This approach to enquiry is non-dogmatic. Or rather the only dogma as such is to explore your own personal experience and come to your own conclusions. So you can expect your views and beliefs to be respected, included, and perhaps challenged, in a process of open inquiry .

Details

– In person
– Helmingham
– Sunday 14 July
– 10am to 1:30pm (arrive at 9:30 for refreshments)
– £30

This session will be held in a lovely large yurt in a private location in Helmingham. The address is 29 Gosbeck Rd, Helmingham, Stowmarket IP14 6EP

If you’d like to come but can’t afford it, just drop me a line and you can have a free bursary place – no questions asked.

Alex Menhams of Here & Now People organises sessions like this to explore awareness, presence and identity by playing around with direct experience. He values laughter and light-hearted community on the spiritual path.

Alex is an experienced facilitator who creates a friendly space where people can learn, connect, experiment, play, create and simply be.

Why the picture of a frog on a lillypad?

It reminds me of a haiku by Basho on awakening to wholeness:

The old pond,
A frog jumps in
Plop!