Join us at Flores del Camino retreat centre
on an ancient pilgrims’ path in northwestern Spain
Easter Retreat
with Alexander John Shaia & Basia Goodwin
~ Part 1
Join us on-site for a 9 - day Easter retreat at Flores del Camino
March 25 - April 2, 2024
with the possibility to add …
~ Part 2
Easter Camino
A specially curated 7 - day pilgrimage walking retreat to the Valley of Silence.
Gentle and spacious walking over one of the most beautiful stretches of the Way.
April 2 - 9, 2024
This retreat is now full.
Contact us is you are interested in the going on the waiting list or want to sign up for 2025.
An Ancient Prayer
Through presentation, ritual gestures, poetic prayers, contemplative exercises and quiet walks, you are invited to recover the mystical Easter of early Christianity (pre 500 CE).
What Are We Coming to Pray?
This ancient Easter is remarkably different to the one celebrated today. The eight days of what Christians call "Holy Week" – Palm / Passion Sunday through to Easter Sunday – were crafted some 800 years ago to be a dramatic morality play, meditating on the supposed final days of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death and resurrection. Today, many of us are surprised to discover that this morality play is neither Easter’s origin nor intent.
Twelve centuries before the creation of “Holy Week”, Easter was a sacred 72 hour festival, spanning three nights and three days. This Easter prayed with the Cosmos. Three times, everyone prayed at sunset, prayed in the depth of night time darkness, and prayed at first light and new dawn. This thrice lived experience of night to dawn supported mindful living of the Christos, knowing the eternal pattern of dying and rising. The festival’s high moment was third dawn or Easter Sunday morning. When the sun rose on third dawn, everyone renewed their spiritual (baptismal) vows.
The core symbols/rites of this Easter are:
fire of our ancestors,
foot washing (as intimate marriage rite)
bathing the glorious cross,
touching the cord that binds and the two beams of the equidistant cross,
increasing radiance through the night vigils,
joining of womb (baptistry) and phallus (Easter Candle), and all humanity with every cell of the Cosmos,
Great Third Dawn,
renewing our covenant of life,
anointing with the Oil of Resurrection,
bringing and setting the table,
red eggs.
Living in a radical form of human community was the practice and true fulfilment of this Easter. Can there be a more noble cause for us today? In todays globalised world might we return to the wisdom of our elders who wish to teach us how to create, sustain and deepen in a vital diverse communion.
During the retreat you will also have the opportunity to create some sacred geometry designs and paint with natural pigments made from Camino earth colours.
A unique experience
Embraced within community join us in a peaceful environment on the Camino.
The Village
You will be staying in one of the most beautiful villages in all of Spain. A heritage site, Castrillo de los Polvazares dates back from Celtic times to the 16th century. Enjoy stunning views at every turn. The warm coloured stones will embrace you. They glow at sunset and the old arched wooden doors shimmer red, blue and green. The village is in complete harmony with its surroundings and you can take spacious walks in the beautiful landscape.
The Retreat Centre
Your home will be Flores del Camino - a charming traditional Maragato house lovingly renovated to receive you. You will be staying either in an ensuite room at Flores, or at the nearby hotel we work in partnership with. Enjoy stunning views overlooking the village, church and rural landscape.
Extend the retreat.
Optional Part 2 ~
Easter Camino
April 2 - 9, 2024
A specially curated 7 - day pilgrimage walking retreat to the Valley of Silence.
Gentle and spacious walking over one of the most beautiful stretches of the Way.
The Easter Camino
This is your opportunity to extend your Easter retreat along the Camino.
This mini pilgrimage is open only to the retreat participants to ensure an intimate experience.
Leaving from the doorstep of the retreat centre, you will encounter one of the most beautiful stretches of this ancient pilgrims path, steeped in history, symbol and legend. The walking will be gentle and spacious, at your own pace, yet framed within a story and a structure.
See further details in the schedule below.
Preliminary Schedule
Part 1 Retreat
9 day on-site Easter retreat
Facilitated by Alexander John Shaia, supported by Basia Goodwin.
Day 1 ~ Mon 25th Arrival between 3 and 4:30 pm. Opening Session at 5pm, followed by our evening meal.
Days 2 - 7 ~ Tue 26th - Sun 31st
Retreat
Day 8 ~ Mon 1st Closing our time together & preparing for the return home
Day 9 ~ Tue 2nd Morning departure
Part 2
(Optional) Easter Camino
Facilitated by Basia Goodwin
Includes overnight stays in guesthouses along the way.
Day 9 ~ Tue 2nd
Flores del Camino ~ Rabanal - Pilgrimage Day 1
(14km - average walking time 3h)
From the very start, as you leave Flores and pass through the lovely villages of Santa Catalina and El Ganso, you’ll be accompanied by Camino symbols, the labyrinth and the goose. You will cross a threshold, from a flat landscape to a gentle climb. Your destination for the day is the charming village of Rabanal, with more than a thousand years of history linked to the Visigoths and Templars.
In the evening, you can experience the pilgrims’ blessings & vespers, still chanted by the monks in the atmospheric 12th century Romanesque church.
Each of our evenings and mornings will be grounded in gentle community reflection time.
Day 10 ~ Wed 3rd
Rabanal ~ Foncebadon - Pilgrimage Day 2
(6km - average walking time 1h30)
Morning spacious reflection time in Rabanal at the Stone Boat.
Afternoon short walk to Foncebadon
Day 11 ~ Thu 4th
Foncebadon ~ El Acebo - Pilgrimage Day 3
(11km - average walking time 2h45)
At this meaningful point on your journey, you will reach the highest point on the Camino: Cruz del Ferro, a gentle place of letting go for pilgrims. Here, you are invited to participate in the tradition of symbolically leaving a stone from home.
As you pass the mountains of León, you will discover breathtaking views over the Bierzo region. Your destination of the day is the charming mountain hamlet of El Acebo with its distinctive architectural style.
The day will end at dusk as you watch the sunset over the the extensive Bierzo plain from a purposeful viewing point in the village.
Day 12 ~ Fri 5th
El Acebo ~ Molinaseca - Pilgrimage Day 4
(8km - average walking time 2h)
You will descend the mountain to reach the charming village of Molinaseca situated by a tranquil river. After having lunch there, we will make our way by car to the nearby Peñalba de Santiago. Nested within the breathtaking Valley of Silence, Peñalba is our highly symbolic pilgrimage destination. It is known for its exquisite 10th century Mozarabic church with solstitial alignments.
Day 13 ~ Sat 6th
Peñalba de Santiago - The Valley of Silence - Pilgrimage Day 5
The valley gained its name because a hermit lived there in silent contemplation. At sunrise you will make the circular journey around the Valley to and from the hermit’s cave. For the rest of the day we will end our time in purposeful retreat.
Day 14 ~ Sun 7th
Walking back to Flores from Rabanal - Pilgrimage Day 6
Early morning Taxi to Rabanal
Walk back to Flores from Rabanal (14km)
Dinner & Night at Flores evening gathering by the font
Day 15 ~ Mon 8th
Final Day at Flores - Pilgrimage Day 7
Prayers & reflection by the font
Preparation for your return home.
Day 16 ~ Tue 9th
Departure after breakfast
This Camino is for all. It is a spacious experience that suits your pace and body. You can take taxis on the longer walking days if your body is struggling and tells you your walking day needs to be shorter. Being a pilgrim is more that just walking.
This schedule may be subject to changes.
Your facilitators
Alexander John Shaia, PhD, is a thoughtful and poetic man, living the ancient rhythms of his Lebanese, Aramaic and Maronite (Eastern) Catholic heritage. He is an author, educator, cultural anthropologist, spiritual director, Jungian psychotherapist known as a creative, multi - disciplinary thinker and internationally sought out speaker. With deep conviction, he invites us into spiritual practices for the 21st century - ones that cross traditional boundaries, encourage vital thinking and inhabit a genuine community of the heart. For almost fifty years, he has worked to recover the mystical Easter of early Christianity. He lives in a small fishing village on the coast of Galicia in northwest Spain.
Basia Goodwin (MA) is co-founder of Flores del Camino, an artist, educator, and passionate retreat facilitator. She is dedicated to crafting purposeful space for creative and contemplative journeys and leading groups on the Camino. An alumnus of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, she specialises in the use of geometry in traditional arts, craft & philosophy. In her creative practice she works with a variety of mediums , including ceramics & glass. She makes & paints with natural pigments, using local Camino ochre earths and delights in sharing the joy of the creative process with others. She is currently co-authoring a book on the sacred art of the Camino de Santiago.
What’s included
Accommodation
During your stay at Flores del Camino, all accommodation consists of ensuite bedrooms.
During the mini pilgrimage, accommodation where possible will be ensuite as well. In the final day in Peñalba, some participants may have to share a room.
Food
During your stay at Flores del Camino, nourishing and healthy meals prepared onsite and served with love in either the dining area or in the courtyard under the pergola. Wine is offered at dinner.
During the mini pilgrimage, all meals will be provided.
Dietary requirements
When on-site at Flores, we cater for the following dietary requirements: vegetarian, gluten-free, carb-free, dairy-free.
However we cannot guarantee all dietary requirements during the mini pilgrimage / outside restaurants. Please get in touch with us if you have concerns.
Sessions
All equipment & material provided.
Outings
Site entries & transport fares for cultural activities.
What’s not included
Flights
Airport Transfers. See how to get here.
Insurances (travel, health, etc.)