Getting caught up in looped states – sometimes called proliferation or rumination – is a central problem for human beings. These can take the form of powerful fantasies or feelings of hatred that keep going round our minds, or of dogmatic beliefs that keep us bound to recurrent ways of thinking. Middle Way Philosophy is concerned with practically addressing this situation, drawing on understanding from Buddhist tradition, psychology, philosophy and systems theory, and using a range of practices including mindfulness, the arts and critical thinking. On this retreat, we will reflect on why and how we get into loops, review the strategies we can use to avoid them, and support each other in a range of practices that can help us. The retreat will be led by Robert M Ellis, who has practised for around 40 years and published extensively on this topic – most recently in his book The Five Principles of Middle Way Philosophy (Equinox, 2023).

This retreat is suitable for anyone who is willing to engage seriously in engaging with their loops through practice, even if they are newcomers to practices such as meditation. The retreat is focused on practice, where you take responsibility for helping yourself, rather than therapy. If you have any issues with mental health, this is not not necessarily a bar, but please let us know on booking, and we may get back to you for further discussion on whether the retreat is suitable for you.

To book on this retreat, please go to costs and booking.