- This event has passed.
The Call to Freedom
What is freedom except to know your Self, your will, and to be the natural, unrestricted expression of that Self?
February 20 @ 10:30 am – February 22 @ 4:30 pm GMT
A three-day weekend experience on the essential teachings, principles and practices of A Course in Miracles with Simon Christopher at the Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, near Bath in Somerset.
This is an invitation to join a joyfully focused in-person healing event for discovering the true meaning of freedom, and to add your voice to its song of rejoicing.
Friday to Sunday, February 20th to 22nd
Each one yearns to find the freedom they have lost, seeking in their own way for that hidden treasure. Is not freedom, finally simply being yourself? To be yourself is to know your Self and your Source. Freedom lies in laying aside the little self-will and accepting the Will you share with God as all there is and all you want to be.
For the ego it is inherently difficult, this act of surrender and acceptance in letting this be true, for it is its whole undoing. Only in God, the wholly unlimited, can we find our Will and our freedom, its creative and limitless power, and its everlasting joy. Upon examination what is mistakenly called by freedom’s name is tinged with fear, restrictive, conditional or limited, coming at great effort or cost. Freedom can be found only in the Eternal and unlimited nature of Mind untouched by the dark dream of sin, fear and guilt.
“And now the ego is afraid. Yet what it hears in terror, the other part hears as the sweetest music; the song it longed to hear since first the ego came into your mind. The ego’s weakness is its strength. The song of freedom, which sings the praises of another world, brings to it hope of peace. For it remembers Heaven, and now it sees that Heaven has come to earth at last, from which the ego’s rule has kept it out so long. Heaven has come because it found a home in your relationship on earth. And earth can hold no longer what has been given Heaven as its own.“ACIM Text 21.IV.7
Freedom is a state that pre-exists the state of separation, before the body, before the choice to identify with the ego. The way back to that state lies in the plan set forth in the mind-training curriculum of A Course in Miracles. Spirit is ever free, yet the mind has lost its way in ever tightening circles of defense against reality.
This Course has come to save time by offering a plan to follow, established through the accomplishment of the resurrection. The means of undoing the bondage to illusions and the love of sacrifice, in the mind, is provided unambiguously. Many practices are offered to bring about experience in which to place our faith and step forward, away from the imprisonment of our wills, towards the light and our freedom and release.
In this place, at this time we unite in a single desire to examine the dilemma of being created free yet knowing only an objective prison in which we live and die. Here we will look at the meaning of freedom and reason will help guide us to see the way to its re-discovery through undoing and acceptance.
We will no longer fear our Will but see that in it lies our freedom from the illusions we held ourselves subject to. For if we remain bound there is no freedom to be found. Yet in the holy instant, the timeless now, we are free to change our mind about ourselves and to awaken the truth that we are free, created in freedom, eternally established there. Now we are free to be as God has willed His Son to be, forever like Himself. And now the song of freedom is heard again around the universe, the sound of the Eternal calling to Itself.
“The miracle teaches you that you have chosen guiltlessness, freedom and joy. It is not a cause, but an effect. It is the natural result of choosing right, attesting to your happiness that comes from choosing to be free of guilt.“ ACIM Text 14.III.4
Illuminate Mind Foundation offers a continuing programme of instruction in the teachings and practices of A Course in Miracles, designed to foster the awakening of the light in which we find complete freedom to be ourselves as we liberate our minds from mistaken ideas about what freedom is and where to seek it.
God’s love is all around us and His grace is ours as we look to the divinely organized Atonement curriculum of A Course in Miracles, and undertake to learn the happy lessons of true forgiveness which lead us back to where we are at Home in the holiness of the Present State, which is the Heaven of His perfect love. Amen!
“Think of the freedom in the recognition that you are not bound by all the strange and twisted laws you have set up to save yourself. For you are under no laws except Gods.” ACIM Lesson 76
with Simon Christopher
This is an invitation to join us in the illuminate, spiritual mind-training of A Course in Miracles, and the passionate certainty of your awakening to the reality of eternal life!
Come and discover the power and simplicity of the miracle of true forgiveness. And we will celebrate together, the healing of the mind to a whole new identity in the celestial order of perfection and love.
“Christ has come to search the world for what belongs to Him. His vision sees no strangers, but beholds His Own and joyously unites with them.” W.160
“Who can be born again in Christ but him who has forgiven everyone he sees or thinks of or imagines? … Who could be set free while he imprisons anyone?… it is on his freedom that the way to liberty depends for both of them. Therefore, hold no one prisoner. Release instead of bind, for thus are you made free.” ACIM Lesson 192
Ammerdown Centre
We will be hosted in this welcoming Interfaith conference and retreat centre, – a sanctuary of hospitality, peace and reconciliation set in the heart of the beautiful Somerset countryside .
The Ammerdown Centre is a Christian foundation for spiritual renewal, interfaith dialogue, and reconciliation set in Radstock village, just 12 miles south of Bath. Situated within the historic parkland, gardens, and woodlands of Ammerdown Park, guests can relax in the garden or wander further afield through woodland and open countryside. (scroll down for more info.)
Please use this contact form to let us know of your interest in participating, if you have any questions, or for any other enquiry.
Booking Info and Costs
Friday to Sunday, February 20th – 22nd
Costs
Full Board at Ammerdown Centre: –
- Shared ensuite room – £380
- Private ensuite room – £400
Tuition: – participation by donation. Suggested contribution £225
NB: – No-one excluded for financial concerns, please see below for more info. Details on how to make your donation will be forwarded after booking.
Booking:-
A £100 booking deposit towards board and lodging is required to secure your place, with the remainder to be made by February 6th. (We will email you a reminder with your final costs.)
Please note, booking is through the Illuminate Mind Foundation and not the Ammerdown Centre. Please book with us as soon as possible or before December 20th.
To register your interest in participating please provide your name and mobile no. by using the Contact Form. Or if you prefer, call Holly on (+44) 798 883 1332. A booking form will be forwarded to you.
Please note – If you are intending to participate, please let us know as soon as possible, or also if you need further information or have any questions.
N.B. – We operate a donations policy in order to make our events as accessible as possible regarding the costs involved. In this way, the costs of an event become directly related to your need, your circumstances and the spiritual principle that “giving is receiving”. If you have a clear desire to participate and the costs seem to be an obstacle, you are welcome to enquire about any assistance available through the Illuminate Mind Foundation charity. Please use the Contact form on the website Illuminatemind.net.
Travel, Arrival & Departure Info
Arrivals – Friday morning by 9:00am February 20th
(NB – if wishing to arrive the evening before we begin, please book an additional night through Ammerdown. Let us know and we will provide details.)
Departures – by 5:30pm Sunday February 22nd
Note – if you require accommodation on any additional nights you will need to book directly with Ammerdown Centre.
The cost for an additional night including supper, bed and breakfast is £117.6 per person (VAT incl). B&B only from £67. B&B info page on Ammerdown site. Staying on after the retreat – please note – a minimum of 6 guests are required to make it viable for the Centre to offer overnight accommodation on the nights following the retreat (let us know if you would like to stay on and we’ll keep you updated on the numbers to enable that to happen).
Ammerdown Meeting and Conference Centre
Address–
Ammerdown Park, Radstock,
Somerset BA3 5SW UK
“The Holy Spirit’s purpose was accepted by the part of your mind the ego knows not of. This part has seen your brother, and recognized him perfectly since time began. And it desired nothing but to join with him and to be free again, as once it was. It has been waiting for the birth of freedom; the acceptance of release to come to you.” ACIM Text 21.IV.4