Quiet Days
for Churches and Community Groups
At Soulful Vision we realise our retreats can be prohibitive for some due to time or resources. This is why we have devised our quiet days in our aim to be fully inclusive.
Steve will join you in your locality and lead your group through a day devoted entirely to slowing down, breathing deeply, and observing the world around you with a newfound sense of wonder and respect. You’ll learn to engage your senses fully, noticing the play of light and shadow, the delicate details, and the vibrant colours that often go unnoticed in the rush of everyday life, helping you see the place you live and/or work in new ways.
Our quiet days can be facilitated around a secular framework or Christian narrative and we have a quiet day specifically for people in positions of church leadership.
Our aim for these days is to promote kindness and strengthen relationships within your community group or staff team as you learn to see through each other’s eyes, and to help promote fresh vision for your picture of the future.
Together, let's cultivate healthier, happier, and more harmonious communities, where individuals thrive and teams flourish.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a good photographer?
No. Modern cameras take great pictures all on their own. Our focus is not on the technical side of photography (although Steve will help if you get stuck) but rather we focus on how we see and being truly present to the things in front of us which we often miss in the busyness of life. Whist we welcome keen photographers onto our workshops, if you like taking pictures on your phone and perhaps sharing them with friends or on social media, you are more than qualified to attend one of our workshops and we would love to see you there.
Do I need an expensive camera?
No. You simply need a camera you enjoy using. This can be the one on your phone or if you have another camera bring this along to the workshop – then you have the choice of which to use. Our retreats and workshops do not focus on technique, but we will help you get the most out of your smartphone or camera.
Does this help with anxiety or depression?
Possibly. We all get unwell at times whether that is a mental illness or physical illnesses. It’s really important you see your doctor if you are unwell as there are many treatments available. There is a lot of research linking mindfulness to better health so our workshops may help you maintain better mental and emotional health but we are not an alternative to recognised treatments. If you have been diagnosed with a mental illness, you must chat to your doctor or therapist before attending one of our workshops.
Is this art therapy?
No. Art therapy is practiced by registered practitioners, often working in mental health centres. There is a lot of research on the health benefits of mindfulness. Our approach helps make mindfulness accessible by showing you how to use the camera you carry around in your smartphone (or a normal camera) to centre in the moment for brief periods throughout your day.
Do you work in the corporate and public sectors?
Yes. We believe our approach has huge benefits for teams and we can provide a dedicated workshop for your place of work. The visual exercises we do help us realise how we all see and approach things differently. This can promote a better understanding of our colleagues, allows problems to be viewed from different perspectives and can build team cohesion which can lead to greater productivity and staff wellbeing.
Do I need to be religious?
No. Most of the major world religions have a contemplative tradition, and our background is found within the Christian tradition and we use a spiritual technique called visio divina. But, you do not need to share a Christian faith to benefit from a quiet day. For Church groups and Christian retreat centres we frame our approach within a Christian narrative, but all our other work embraces a secular approach as we want these workshops to be open and of benefit to everyone. We have a lot we can learn from one another.