An invitation.
- Naomi Gates
- Jun 13
- 2 min read
A while ago I wrote a blog post about Names – Name Wrestling.
Some time later, it was read by a lovely man Tony who is the warden at a retreat house on the edge of Dorset's Jurassic coast called Othona. It resonated with him and asked whether I’d consider offering a retreat on the theme.
Wow what a fabulous invitation. And yes, I would!
On the 8th-11th October.
Most of us carry names that were given before we could speak, names that may reflect the hopes, histories, or stories of those who named us. For some, these names feel like home. For others, they carry wounds, expectations, or stories that no longer fit.
Across the Judeo Christian tradition, as in many cultures, encounters with the Divine often led to a new name, a new way of being seen and knowing Divine love and affirmation.
These ancient stories remind us that naming is always relational, shaped by encounter, longing, and the limits of language.
Many of us struggle with the inherited names for God—names that feel too small, too heavy, or entangled with harm done under them. We long for language that is spacious enough to hold our experience of the Holy: loving, liberating, and alive.
This three day retreat offers a gentle, creative space for those whose relationship with their own name needs tending or healing. And for anyone who feels uncomfortable with the names for God they’ve inherited.
Through story, poetry, silence, music, movement, playful exploration and the wild beauty of Othona, we will listen for the truths our own names carry, and those they obscure. And, we will explore the words, images, metaphors, and shapes that help us encounter the Divine with greater freedom, curiosity and connection.
In a world where God’s name is often invoked in ways that divide or wound, this weekend invites you to rediscover the sacredness of naming as a path toward wholeness. Together, we will create a safe, spacious community in which to explore discomforts, longings, and wonderings, and to open ourselves again to the One who calls each of us by name.
If this piques your interest, I’d love you to join us.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
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