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A Wellbeing Weekend in Llanelidan

Writer's picture: Patricia SumnerPatricia Sumner

Greetings from Spiritual Wales!


Not many people have heard of the tiny village of Llanelidan near the historic market town of Ruthin in north-east Wales, but it has become host to a Wellbeing Weekend for the last two years.


Llanelidan church

2023’s Wellbeing Weekend was a big success and so the organisers (the ‘Friends of Saint Elidan’ community group, of which I am a part) wanted to build on this success and make 2024’s event even better.


We all agreed that the last few years have been tough for people. The pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have really taken their toll. As a result, many people feel stressed, low and weary, so we wanted to offer a weekend where busy people could take some time out to focus on their own wellbeing, healing and relaxation.


We decided to include activities from different traditions and philosophies so that there would be something to appeal to everyone. It was a whole weekend dedicated to exploring how different spiritualities and practices can help us with our mental health and wellbeing – and all the sessions were delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners and therapists.


 

In this article

  • Wellbeing Activities

  • Hive of Activity

  • Poetry

  • Photography

 

Wellbeing Activities


These are the events that took place during this year’s Wellbeing Weekend, which was held on the first weekend in August:


Saturday


  • Celtic Morning Prayer – This set the prayerful and loving tone for the weekend


  • Chanting for Healing – From the Taoist tradition, the chant is designed to help shake up stuck and stagnant emotions and thoughts which can become adverse physical conditions if left unreleased


  • The Art of Relaxation – This session covered breathing techniques, visualisation and muscle relaxation methods


  • Individual Therapy Taster Sessions – This included Hands-on healing, Acupressure, Indian head massage, and Reflexology


  • Art Workshop – Intuitive drawing, allowing people of all ages to return to the child-like joy of drawing

  • Afternoon Tea – A time for socialising and meeting friends old and new


  • Sound Bath Meditation – Aided by the sound of ringing crystal bowls, people were able to meditate at a deep level



Laurie Hadden-Deering, the face behind Of the Forest Barn Temple, https://www.oftheforest.org/, offered the Sound Bath Meditation.


sound bath equipment

She said this about it:

“Did you know that when we are forming in the belly of our mother, it is our inner ear which is the first part of any of our senses to develop? Sound is our first experience of this world and perhaps this is why music and sound can move us in so many ways, creating waves of healing within our bodies on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. With the use of the crystal singing bowls, I am able to support people as they journey into a deeply relaxed state, where the vibrations and sounds from the bowls will aid their inner healing.” 

Sunday


  • An introduction to Tai Chi and Qigong – Gentle movement is vital for a healthy mind and body


  • Poetry Writing Workshop – Writing on the theme of ‘gratitude’ to aid creativity and mental wellbeing


  • A ‘Christfulness’ Walk – A ‘Sensio Divina’ walk with Rev Diana Greenfield around the picture-postcard village of Llanelidan


  • A Taizé service – Soothing song and meditations in the church to end the weekend



Gaynor Gaynor https://www.facebook.com/taiji.north.wales, who has held weekly Tai Chi and Qigong classes in the Vale of Clwyd for 27 years, led the hour-long introduction to some of the basics and principles.

tai chi qui gong beach man


She said,

“Many of the people who came to the Tai Chi taster session last year are now attending regular weekly sessions and enjoying their Tai Chi journey. For me, as the teacher, there's no greater buzz than seeing folk outdoors moving with intent and purpose practising Tai Chi.”

Hive of Activity


On 3rd and 4th August, the village of Llanelidan became a hive of peaceful activity.


Rachel McChesney, who had never visited the village or pilgrim church before, commented afterwards:


“I’ve met new people. I’ve learnt how to write poetry. I feel nice and calm. It’s given me lots of food for thought in a beautiful location. I enjoyed the Sensio Divina (divine sensing) walk around the village, using mindful breathing and all my senses to see the bigger picture and what we are a part of. There have been beautiful cakes, pretty keepsakes and good company this weekend.”

Rev Diana Greenfield of the Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area, who was involved in organising the weekend, said:


“The peaceful holiness of St Elidan’s Pilgrim Church, located in the beautiful village of Llanelidan in the Vale of Clwyd, provided us with a fabulous canvas on which to create our Wellbeing Weekend. It gave all who attended a valuable opportunity to reset mind, body and spirit, through a variety of different experiences from prayer, healing therapies, art, poetry and song. We are keen to see this type of weekend continue in the future and hopefully grow into a well-established community event which is a blessing to both the local and wider community.”

Poetry


My friend and fellow poet, Leaf Pettit, and I led the Poetry Workshop on the theme of gratitude, which was enjoyed by both new and experienced poets. This is the poem I wrote, inspired by the tranquil surroundings of the churchyard:

 

In gratitude of churchyards St Elidan’s Pilgrim Church


Swaying ox-eye daisies and flaming fox-and-cubs gaze up at ancient yews, their thick trunks leaning like the lichen-yellowed graves that stagger uphill.
Grey bark flakes like sunburnt skin – weathered sailors on ships toppling and tilting with the tides of millennia, which bulge and crack the tarmac path until we feel the roots of this place; the fathomless shifting of ages.
Meanwhile, high in needled malachite branches, a goldfinch chatters of forget-me-not skies bursting from cuckoo-flower cloud.

Leaf Pettit wrote a poem about a sunflower in the church:

 

Gratitude Helianthus annuus

is golden bright and bold, a glorious inflorescence radiating energy, heat of the sun. Brilliant yellow against the dove-grey sky of a faded August afternoon. Faces east in circadian rhythm, a golden ratio of solar rays perfectly aligned, a sacred sunburst, encircling a fuzz of nutrition. At heart, interconnecting spirals nurture hundreds of new beginnings.

Photography


Photographer Sue Lloyd

attended the Wellbeing Weekend and took these wonderful photos of the church and churchyard, really catching the sacred atmosphere of this ancient site.


sunshine church window

bunting church grounds


The ‘Friends of Saint Elidan’ community group hope to plan another Wellbeing Weekend on the first weekend in August next year, as it gives people a rare opportunity to have time for themselves in a peaceful, beautiful and healing environment.

 

- Pat Sumner

 
Pat Sumner Spiritual England Author

Patricia Sumner is a prize-winning poet and children’s author living in North Wales. Previously a primary school teacher specialising in English, Pat now runs her own editing and proofreading business, and teaches creative writing to adults.


As well as two collections of poetry, she has had several children’s books published – picture books, adventure stories, educational books and a new novel.


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