Feedback about World Spirit

Fern - Feb 2001:

' My friend and I recently experienced World Spirit's South Indian Temple Tour and couldn't have been more delighted with it!
Along with our highly knowledgeable and generous World Spirit guide, Jim - an American who's been living in India and studying its spiritual traditions for thirty years - we often found ourselves to be the only Westerners amongst hundreds (at times, thousands) of worshipers at the amazing, off-the-beaten-track-for-tourists Hindu temples we visited. This translated into a wholly authentic, intimate, and profound experience of spiritual India - just what we were hoping for! '

Julia - Feb 2003:

' It was such a wonderful tour - definitely all that I had hoped it would be - it showed me a side of India that I had always 'known' was there but had never truly experienced before James was a brilliant guide and great companion, just as you said he would be, and I'm so very pleased that I had the chance to meet and travel with him Thank you again for all your help, and for putting together such a unique and magical journey...... '

Greg - Jan 2005:

' The Tour was W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L !!! .....The two guides, Micha & Jim, as well as the sense of direction and detail provided by World Spirit, were so much appreciated, and all at a very reasonable cost on the part of World Spirit. I previously lived in SE Asia for 10 years I was looking for a way to 'crack the India code' because of the influence of India on those places, especially religiously. The Tour did that I had had one trip to India in 1986, but on my own, and got nothing close to what I got from the World Sprit tour. You have one very satisfied customer here..... '

Hillary - Jan 2004:

' I enjoyed Tamil Nadu very greatly, and got on very well with Jim....Jim's outlook is exactly mine, and we had some good talks The Tour was very successful ...experiences in the temples were treasures about which there is nothing meaningful I can say here The Sri Ramana connection is most important.... '

Annie - Jan 2004:

' I did have the most amazing time with Jim in India I learned so much and had some wonderful experiences Jim was a great 'guide' and teacher '

Japanese Gardens Temples & Gardens in Kyoto link
Bill and Marilyn - April 2001:
' We were just wanting to say thank you for arranging such a wonderful holiday, everything worked well. The breakfasts in the hotel were in fact excellent, the communal bathing was fascinating. Cycling in Kyoto was an excellent way to get round and see all the back streets and also for Marilyn to find gardening boots and drainpipes! The small group and special gardens, Robert, Keiko and Bills expertise and Grahams company couldn't have been better. Our other friends in Japan were extremely kind and gave us an excellent introduction to Japanese culture and Zen Buddhism '

David - Nov 2001:
' You and Robert provided me with a thoroughly satisfying and exhilarating encounter with Kyoto. It was not only one of the finest aesthetic experiences of my lifetime, but was a deeply moving emotional one as well. I feel stirred by my remembrances of the gardens and the people. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou... '

Sue and Stuart - Nov 2002:
' A brief e-mail to say how much we enjoyed our trip to Japan, made so easy and pleasurable by your World Spirit input '

Jean - April 2002:
' I wanted particularly to thank you for your help and guidance....I'd like to congratulate you and Robert in putting together the perfect holiday ( not a package ) for 'discerning people' The initial guided tours of the most beautiful gardens were ideal We hit the ground running on day 1 - no time for jet lag and were treated to a gentle but thorough introduction to Japanese culture and people, as well as the different styles of gardens That gave us the confidence and opportunity then to explore our own areas of interest separately We all felt that 10 days was the right length of time....... '

Lucy - April 2003:
' J & I had a marvellous time in Kyoto Robert was a very knowledgeable guide and pitched the information he gave us, and the pace of the Tour, just right '

Jenny - April 2004:
' Just to say how absolutely terrific the trip to Kyoto was The gardens were stunning - I took 26 rolls of film Robert was the perfect leader - friendly, warm, generous, hugely knowledgeable and a delight to be with ................ I went back to Arshiyama and found that a delight - walking by the river and up into the hills where I found a tiny temple with one priest and his teacher and the teacher's family My last day I spent wandering the streets of Kyoto - one of my favourite cities By the end the weather was really hot and the cherry blossom streaming off the trees - gorgeous........ For your interest, I only spent £500 in two whole weeks !!!! '

Yook and Michael - November 2003:
' Just a brief message to say thank you for a fantastic holiday Robert is a superb guide and was very helpful at all times......Thanks again for a super holiday '

Joyce - November 2004:
' Many thanks again for a splendid tour of gardens in China & Japan ... ' ' withered by winter the sound of the wind one colour world ' ( Basho ) ...enjoying a 'Haiku Garden' , four seasons in poets & print...thanks to your introduction '

Sarah - November 2002:
' The China end of the trip worked very well indeed and Dad & I thought the whole trip was very worthwhile. Many thanks for all your organisation and insights ! '

Linzi and Mark - April 2002:
' The Tour was great and I found your ( Robert ) laid back and flexible approach suited me perfectly. You were attentive and informative...and although tired at the end of the day with the walking, you told us enough to keep it real and interesting. We would not have enjoyed it so much just using a book and guessing which of the hundreds of gardens was worth the effort '

Taiko Fukui
International Taiko Courses link

Emma - October 2003:

' ...well, I landed back.....but life is not the same. It was a wonderful experience in Japan....thankyou for your help in getting there.....I stayed for the second week.. '

Panit - October 2003:

' I've just returned from the one week Taiko class in Japan and would like you to thank you for making it possible for me to have this experience with Taiko It was like you gave me a surprise gift all wrapped up, and I did not realise how wonderful it was until I opened it I really appreciate all the efforts you have put into making the arrangement and providing funding I do not think I could thank you enough '
( Panit won a prize of a week's Taiko course in Fukui at a Joji Hirota concert in San Francisco )

Linzi - October 2003:

' I was completely at ease with the ritual and requirements of the Dojo....at the end of the day I generally felt energized and the group held together well On the Friday evening, we were fortunate to attend Daianzenji meditation which was a wonderful end to the week Thankyou for recommending Eihei-ji which I visited on the first Sunday The choice of hotel worked well as having a Japanese room was economic, comfortable and had good facilities, Japanese bath was excellent at end of day for relieving stress and getting a good night's sleep Also very useful to know the hotel has freely available 24hr internet access '

Karen - October 2003/04/05:

' I have meant to write several times to let you know what a great time I had in Fukui
It was just amazing '

Sylvia - October 2003:

' Thank you very much for all your hard work and efforts in making the Kurumaya International class such a raving success If it weren't for all your follow through and behind-the-scenes finessing, things wouldn't have ran so smoothly...so a BIG thank you '

Susan - October 2003/04:

' I must thank you for the amazing experiences in Fukui I loved everyone and everything It was one of the best trips in my life, and I have travelled lots ! '

Atsuko - October 2003:

' I had such a wonderful time in Fukui '

Val - October 2003:

' I just wanted to thank you for organising such a wonderful trip It was an incredible experience on many levels This was my first visit to Japan but will definitely not be my last I was only able to scratch the surface of this wonderful culture.....We had an amazing evening with Sensei's other classes They couldn't have been more welcoming or open hearted '

Creative Arts In Loutro
Writing & Poetry - Workshop link Drama - Workshop link

Malcolm - October 2000:

' I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to perform in Crete, it was an experience that I shall never forget and, as I hoped, it has given me so much guidance towards my play. The issues we are currently exploring are many of those workshopped in Loutro and the journey that I am guiding the actors along, is very similar to the path that Nicholas took us along.
Those rare moments of reflection when time presents them, makes me realise just how lucky I have been, not only to have felt the experience but also to have met the people concerned. It amazes me just how close three out of the four people became in such a short time of knowing each other '

Jill - September 2000:

' Tom, Audrey and I are joining Marion's course 25th September to 2nd October. We enjoyed it so much last year.
We see the sea and the sand and the rocks of Loutro all the time in our minds.
Looking forward to seeing you again '

Di - May 2004:

' Thankyou for guiding my spirit here and for laying on the magic '

Katie - May 2004:

' The structure of the course worked well for me as I learnt and played ! I thought the balance between free time, writing time and the workshops was just right, even in the evenings one could continue chatting through ideas As a writer, the most rewarding part of the course was the simple fact of getting away to such a paradise - can't think of anyone that could not benefit from such an idyllic and inspirational setting '

Phillip - May 2004:

' ...if you wish to combine a break with a challenging and rewarding journey into your own writing, Loutro is a beguiling place and we are very fortunate to have as caring an organisation as World Spirit '

Moira - May 2002:

' I just got my photos back and can't believe how blue/turqouoise the water was in Loutro It all seems a bit like a dream......Thank you so much for organising everything, it was a beautiful two weeks '

Judy - May 2002:

' ...the evening reading was stimulating, moving, entertaining, amusing and an unexpected treat for two travellers dropping by Loutro by chance I am a freelance writer myself and after struggling all year writing what people want me to write, and feeling truly browned off with churning it out... ( Lemn Sissay's)...reading reawakened my love of words and language.. '

Ray - May 2004:

' The quality of inspiration and guidance received was excellent, and the small size of the group added to the experience through opportunity and personal attention I will return home inspired by the beautiful setting and the powerful creative inspiration of the course The quality of tuition was excellent '

Paul - September 2004:

' Thanks for an excellent Drama week in Loutro I love the place and may well return for one of the writing courses next year ....it was lovely to take 'time' instead of the kind of rapid short-cutting that often goes with professional rehearsal schedules '

Robert - September 2004:

' I can't believe I've been back just short of two weeks...I had such a wonderful time on the drama course - great place, brilliant people, fun and challenging experience, superb weather Thank you, again, for the organisation of what was one of the best breaks I've ever had Please keep me posted on future plans as I'd love to join you out there again in the future '

Ann - May 2004:

' I was going to say that I had arrived home safe and sound, but that's not quite true Sound, yes - but safe? Never again My heart is too full of dangerous moonlight ....I won't bore you with....the number of times I tiptoed to the edge of myself during that wonderful week With love, and admiration for what you are doing '

Zoe - May 2003:

' I'm still coming down off my incredible Greek HIGH ! About the best drug I've had in years...good medicine Loutro remains for me one of the most exquisite places I've ever been to Cretan men are great to look at and English ladies are just too interesting ! Thank you so much for getting back to my ancestral home I had a glorious time '

Val - May 2003:

' Just to say thank you for all your help last week, I had a fabulous time and met some great people....it was a blast.... '

' Yet though we leave our parents for a lover,
then children fill our minds, no other
tie as strong as this ! Yet we recover
all else erased, the memory of our mother :
the first and last, morning and evening star,
Like mine, who asks again, 'Where did you
leave the car ? '

Frank - September 2003:

Craggy brows
frown over Loutro
Tree bespattered gorges
tempt the footloose
Trees eke a living
from sparse soil and water
Sure footed goats
traverse their territory
Sheep, bell-led,
crop the foliage
while tourists marvel
at God's majesty

Sheila - May 2001:

' Thanks for getting me to this beautiful and inspiring place '

Sue - 2001/02/03/04:

PARADISE

There is a tiny bay
Peopled by a golden race
Boatmen
Waiters
Shopkeepers
Goatherds
They gaze out to sea
They speak in wisdom's parables
They are Gods in disguise

Frances - 2001:

THE GOAT BELLS

I want to know about the goat bells,
for their small hollow knocking is in my head.

I want to know
if a bell might be worn by many goats in succession,
if it might be generations, centuries old,
and if a child in the village might be wakened
by the same, the very same music
as was her mother, and grandmother, and great-grandmother.

I want to know about the bell-maker.
When he hammered out the tin cup
and hung the small clapper, did he test the bell
for tone and timbre, thinking maybe of a goat he knew,
so that when you open your shutters to a rush of light
and hear a near, familiar tapping and tocking,
you can say Ah, my goat Maria, is there -
and did he die long ago, the bell maker,
and do they remember his name in the village,
and is "bell-maker" said along with his name,
and is a new baby sometimes called after him? -

or are they disposable bells that come in large boxes
from Athens, or Tokyo?

I want to know what a bell means to its goat.
Do the bells at first drive the goats nearly mad,
and do they in the end settle for this madness
as they settle for the high winds
in the worlds where their clever feet take them
and the sweet still places they know
and the smell and scrunch of thyme
and the daily giving of their warm milk -
and I want to know if, at the last,
it is the bell's kiss on the air
that gives direction to the man with the knife?

For the bell sounds the goat, its to-ings and fro-ings.
its choices and changes, and the silence of the bell
is the goat's musing and sleeping

I want to know about the goat bells,
for their faint hollow harmonies are knocking
at the bowl of mountains under the sun
against the silvered pulse of the sea.