A single week at Garden of Lemons can make a big difference to your life. I know, which is why I go for a week every year to let go of stress, enjoy the gentle breeze, the abundant flowers and that deep joy of being there that comes from having time to both think quietly and talk to others about what really matters. We’ll be quiet for a few hours each afternoon, but also have plenty of time to talk. We will focus on how we can live with faith in a modern life where we both want to do good for others and for the world and at the same time want time to go inside ourselves and examine who we are and why we exist right now. There are no special prerequisites to participate, and you can join, whether you have never tried anything like this before or have already experienced how much joy it gives with a week of immersion in your own soul life – not least in this wonderful place. Each day begins with contemplative prayer in the orangery, followed by contemplation (with morning coffee and movement) on God’s speech to us through prayer and lectio divina, among other things. We are also on a silent pilgrimage in the valley that resembles the landscape of Lake Geneserat. After lunch, we have two quiet hours for rest or walking before we meet in the afternoon for a presentation and conversation in the orangery. Before dinner, we gather under the olive trees or by the pool for a good glass of wine and a quiet chat. On Tuesday, we spend the whole day in Úbeda, a unique city that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and where I myself had decisive spiritual experiences. A special guided tour awaits us there. On Thursday, you can choose to go to Granada or join the local church after a full day of silence. These will be moving days. This is the third year I’ve gone to Garden of Lemons and I can’t wait to go again.
