Becoming Clear

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Jump to: France Retreat UK Retreat Morocco Retreat Ongoing Local Classes Previous Years

Activities

2017: Retreats, Seminars, Camps, and Events

  • 1 - 5 November 2017: South of FRANCE
    • View/Download the Retreat Flyer
      (NOTE: Michel is still working out the price and booking details, so the flyer is basically a "save the date" notice)
    • God-Goddess-Source is our Lover, not our jailer.
      Body TRULY IS the Temple, Heart IS the Altar, and
      Self IS the Lens focusing Unlimited Love into Limited Form.
    • Accorder le Coeur, Devenir Clair
      (Tuning the Heart, Becoming Clear)
    • A Weekend Retreat of Embodied & Heart-Tuning Sufi Practice
    • Lieurac, Ariège, Midi Pyrénées, France
      (in the south of France)
    • ➢ Dances of Universal Peace ➢ Wazifa (mantra) ➢ Zikr (remembrance) ➢ Deepening in the Dances ➢ Walking Meditations ➢ Body Prayer ➢ Silent Contemplations ➢ Sohbet (Heartful Conversation) ➢ other Heart-centered, Mindful Explorations of Breath, Body, Sound, Silence, Movement, and Stillness
    • photo: Muiz Brinkerhoff
      Muiz

      Guided by Muiz Brinkerhoff
      from Northern California, USA
      with musical support, and some leadership assistance from local Musicians, and Dance Leaders

    • Questions about the Program, the Retreat Process, or More Info:
      muiz@becomingclear.org

    • More Info about Muiz
      use the About page link, in the navigation bar above.

    • To Book, or for more info about the venue, or logistics, contact Michel Dumoutet:
      lamaisonalieurac@gmail.com
      NOTE: Retreat Price & Booking Details are still in the process of being finalized. Please contact Michel about your intention to join us.

    • During the Weekend We’ll Work Together To:

    • Weave a dynamic, supportive tapestry of inner and outer experience — Combine movement and sound with stillness and silence — Expand the horizons of our individual spheres of Awareness — Tune our Hearts to the Group Heart and open to Becoming Clear — Practice fully inhabiting our bodies in the Present Moment — Dive into the Ocean of Infinite Love, Harmony and Beauty at the Center of our Being — Increase our Radiance and Magnetism — Cultivate positive, peaceful and loving atmospheres — Engage in the process of Waking Up in gentle, relaxed, and even playful ways, without grasping or avoiding — Enhance our balance and integration of the many polarities of Everyday Life: outer & inner, shallow & profound, ordinary & extraordinary, profane & sacred, personal & transpersonal, doing & being.

Jump to: France Retreat UK Retreat Morocco Retreat Ongoing Local Classes Previous Years
  • 10-12 November 2017:South West ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
    • View/Download the Retreat Flyer
    • Tuning the Heart, Becoming Clear
    • A Weekend Retreat of Embodied & Heart-Tuning Sufi Practice
    • Marist Sisters Retreat Centre, Nympsfield, near Stroud,
      Glouscestershire, UNITED KINGDOM
    • maristretreatcentre.co.uk
    • ➢ Dances of Universal Peace ➢ Wazifa (mantra) ➢ Zikr (remembrance) ➢ Deepening in the Dances ➢ Walking Meditations ➢ Body Prayer ➢ Silent Contemplations ➢ Sohbet (Heartful Conversation) ➢ other Heart-centered, Mindful Explorations of Breath, Body, Sound, Silence, Movement, and Stillness
    • photo: Muiz Brinkerhoff
      Muiz

      Guided by Muiz Brinkerhoff
      from Northern California, USA
      with musical support, and some leadership assistance from local Musicians, and Dance Leaders

    • Questions about the Program, the Retreat Process, or More Info:
      muiz@becomingclear.org

    • More Info about Muiz
      use the About page link, in the navigation bar above

    • Booking Details

    • £ 170 Before 01 September (Early Bird Booking Discount)
      • £ 50 non-refundable deposit required to book
        Balance due by 01 September
    • £ 200 After 01 September (Late Booking Amount)
      • After 01 September, full amount is due on booking
    • Booking Deadline: 25 October
    • Cancellation Policy:
      • £ 50 deposit is non-refundable
      • For cancellations received before 25 October, 50% of the fee is non-refundable
      • After 25 October, 100% of the fee is non-refundable
      • Feeling Uncertain? Consider Course Cancellation Insurance
        • We realize that this is a strict cancellation policy, but it is driven by the retreat venue's strict cancellation policy, and needing to cover any concessions that we offer to others, and at the least, a portion of Muiz' airfare from the US and expenses while in the UK.
        • The Marist Centre require a final attendance count 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the retreat, at which point we are responsible for their total fee for room, board, and facility usage based on that final count, whether or not there are any late cancellations.
        • If there's a possibility that you might have to cancel, you can protect yourself against non-refundable course fees as well as any pre-booked travel, by considering course cancellation insurance. Karim discovered one company — CancelSure-Insurance (www.cancelsure-insurance.co.uk/) — which seem perfect for this situation, based on the coverage and claim details info shown on their FAQ & Premiums pages. They focus on Course Cancellation and Curtailment, cover non-refundable course fees, plus room and board at the venue if included in the course fee, and any pre-booked travel. The policy is very reasonably priced with a low excess (£ 25 per person) if you do need to make a claim.
          • Example: for a 55 year old with an early bird retreat fee and pre-booked travel up to £ 200, the policy cost is £ 18 (for ages 56+, it is £ 21) ... so for a £ 170 retreat fee plus a £ 30 pre-booked train fare, the late cancellation payout would be £ 200 - 18 poilcy premium - 25 excess = £ 157.
          • Because of what we have to guarantee the Marist Centre, this is more than twice what we could possibly refund if we didn't hold back any of the retreat fee to help offset a portion of Muiz' airfare and expenses, and any concessions that we've offered to others.
        • If this sounds like it might work for you, please read the information at their website, contact them and ask any questions you might have, and make your own decision.
    • Email or Ring Karim Mike Hadden
      mikejhadden@gmail.com
      01432 261222
      [from outside UK +44 1432 261222]

    • The Marist Sisters Retreat Centre has room for 32 residential participants, primarily in shared, twin bed rooms, with two rooms having double beds. Meals are made on-site using locally grown and sourced food as far as possible, and there is some accommodation for individual dietary allergies and restrictions. Please discuss your specific dietary needs with Karim before you book.

      Non-Residential Attendance

      The following options and prices for non-residential, part- or full-time attendance, are available. If we do have full residential enrolment, there will need to be a limit on the number of non-residential people we can accommodate.

      Friday E ONLY (includes dinner) £ 25
      Saturday M-A-E (includes lunch & dinner) £ 55
      Saturday M-A ONLY (includes lunch) £ 35
      Sunday M-A ONLY (includes lunch) £ 25
      (M = morning A = afternoon E = evening)
    • During the Weekend We’ll Work Together To:

      Weave a dynamic, supportive tapestry of inner and outer experience — Combine movement and sound with stillness and silence — Expand the horizons of our individual spheres of Awareness — Tune our Hearts to the Group Heart and open to Becoming Clear — Practice fully inhabiting our bodies in the Present Moment — Dive into the Ocean of Infinite Love, Harmony and Beauty at the Center of our Being — Increase our Radiance and Magnetism — Cultivate positive, peaceful and loving atmospheres — Engage in the process of Waking Up in gentle, relaxed, and even playful ways, without grasping or avoiding — Enhance our balance and integration of the many polarities of Everyday Life: outer & inner, shallow & profound, ordinary & extraordinary, profane & sacred, personal & transpersonal, doing & being.

Jump to: France Retreat UK Retreat Morocco Retreat Ongoing Local Classes Previous Years
  • graphic: banner image Morocco Retreat
  • November 18-28 (Tues-Sat), 2017:
    Taroudant, MOROCCO
    • View or Download Flyer(s):
    • Come Join with Us for Another
    • Caravan of the Heart
    • A 10-Day Inner and Outer Journey of Discovery, Deepening, and Reconnection
    • At La Maison Anglaise, in Taroudant, and in the surrounding, fertile Souss Valley, and parts of the Atlas & Anti-Atlas Mountains of Southern MOROCCO
    • ➢ Dances of Universal Peace ➢ Wazifa (mantra) ➢ Zikr (remembrance) ➢ Deepening in the Dances ➢ Walking Meditations ➢ Body Prayer ➢ Silent Contemplations ➢ Sohbet (Heartful Conversation) ➢ and other Heart-centered, Mindful Explorations of Breath, Body, Sound, Silence, Movement and Stillness
    • photo: Jilani Cordelia Prescott
      Jilani Cordelia
      photo: Muiz Brinkerhoff
      Muiz

        Guided by
        Jilani Cordelia Prescott and
        Muiz Brinkerhoff

      • Questions about the Program, Retreat Process, More Info:
        jilanicordelia@gmail.com
        muiz@becomingclear.org

    • approx. £ 962 GBP
      (approx. $ 1,195 USD or € 1,124 EUR)
      £709 GBP in advance + 3,135 MAD (Moroccan Dirhams) on arrival
    • We invite you to join us on this Caravan of the Heart ... Step through the door we open for you into a transforming and healing Heart Space ... Deepen into yourself and the group with a variety of Sufi practices — Dances of Universal Peace, Zikr, chanting the Waza'if (Divine Names), Breath Practice, Silent Contemplation, Practicing Kindness & Gratitude ... Relax into the deep friendships we've developed over the years with the delightful people who take such good care of us in Morocco ... Discover the dynamic mix of the ancient and modern worlds within the matrix of an open and progressive Muslim culture ... Where the Guest is seen as a messenger from God and sincere hospitality is paramount ... With warm winter sun, acres of citrus and banana orchards, miles of argan trees, sometimes with goats climbing in them, fields of saffron crocus having just been harvested, exotic souks with mounds of colourful spices, dates, almonds, and olives ... Sharing Zikrs around the fire at the desert camp with our drivers and hosts, under a canopy of a million stars ... Singing and dancing with vibrant Berber women ...

    • If you're feeling drawn, contact registrar Jane Bayley, and send a £100 deposit
      • Online Booking Form:
        cecu.co.uk/bookings/
        "(For the "Dates of stay" field, choose "Jilani & Muiz 18-28 Nov 2017" from the Group Holiday choice box. Also please read the "Booking Conditions" using the link at the bottom of the booking form)
      • Questions or More Info:
        About Bookings, La Maison Anglaise, or Morocco website or email Guest House Owner Jane Bayley:
      • jane@holidays-with-heart.co.uk
        www.holidays-with-heart.co.uk
      • More Details & Photos
        View or Download Flyer(s):

Current On-Going Classes

  • 2nd Tuesdays, 7.30 - 9.30pm
    • Monthly Zikr
    • led by Muiz & Gayatri

    • Monnet's House
      7415 Hayden Ave
      Sebastopol, California, USA
    • flyer
  • 2nd Mondays, 11.30am - 1pm
    • Sufi Satsang UK #1
    • A Monthly Sufi Studies Class
    • led by Muiz

    • Online Video Conference, by Invitation
  • 3rd Wednesdays, 12 noon - 1.30pm
    • Sufi Satsang UK #2
    • A Monthly Sufi Studies Class
    • led by Muiz

    • Online Video Conference, by Invitation

2016

Retreats, Seminars, Camps, and Events

Practicing Presence in Everyday Life
  • a weekend retreat combining
  • Sufi Practices, Dances of Universal Peace, Zikr
  • and a variety of other Heart-centered, Mindful Explorations
  • of Breath and Body, Sound and Silence, Movement and Stillness
  • 2 - 4 December 2016
  • at The Heart Centre,
  • in West Yorkshire, England, UK
    (near the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge)
  • focused by Muiz Brinkerhoff
  • with musical support, and some leadership assistance from Jilani Cordelia Prescott and Tamil Robert Orange
In July & August 2016
in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, & San Francisco
Special Guests from England
Leading Dances of Universal Peace, Zikr, and Sufi Practice
photo: Jilani headshot

Jilani Cordelia Prescott

photo: Tamil headshot

Tamil Robert Orange

photo: Jilani, Tamil, and Muiz

Jilani, Tamil, and Muiz, after Jilani and Muiz
returned to England following the Morocco Retreat
in April 2015

Jilani Cordelia Prescott, her husband Tamil Robert Orange, and their 3 children, from West Yorkshire, England, will be in northern California for the month of July and the first weekend in August.

Jilani was initiated in the Sufi Ruhaniat by Muiz in 2006, certified as a Leader of the Dances of Univeral Peace (DUP) in 2008, and is now a DUP Leadership Mentor, working with Dance Leadership mentees of her own, in the UK, Ireland, France, & Spain. In addition to leading DUP for many years at the 2 annual English camps: Sacred Arts Camp, and Unicorn Dance Camp, she also leads her own DUP retreats at home, and around the UK, and several times a year in France. She has also been on the teaching staff at the annual French Summer DUP camp (Camp d'Été) for 5 years. At home she leads a weekly Dance & Sufi Practices circle, and a monthly DUP circle in nearby Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Jilani and Muiz are co-leading a 12-day retreat in Morocco in December (details below).

Tamil has been playing drum and guitar for the Dances for many years, and began leading the Dances about 2 years ago. He and Jilani often lead together at home.

These various scheduled events will be a wonderful opportunity to meet them, and experience their wonderful leadership and musical skills; and for them to meet the northern California Sufi and Dance community.

IN ADDITION: These events will also be fund raisers to help with the cost of 5 airfares from England, and 5 Mendocino Sufi Camp fees. Contributions are tax-deductible if made via Golden Gate Sufi Circle. If you'd like to take advantage of a tax deductible contribution, contact Muiz for the specific details about how your check must be made out, to ensure it qualifies as deductible.

Download the flyer

  • Sunday, 10 July 2016
    • at Tui's 2nd Sunday Dance Circle
      Sebastopol Community Center, Youth Annex
      390 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA95472

      11am – 1pm

      suggested contribution $ 10 – 20


      Tui has invited Jilani to lead a dance or two during this regularly scheduled Dance circle.
  • Tuesday, 12 July 2016
    • at Gayatri & Muiz' Monthly Zikr Circle
      Monnet's, 7415 Hayden Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472

      7.30 - 9.30pm

      suggested contribution $ 10 – 20 or more

      Gayatri and I have invited Jilani to lead most of the evening
  • Thursday 14 July, 2016
    • at The Mentorgarten (Murshid SAM's home in San Francisco)
      410 Precita, San Francisco, CA 94110
      "Dancing with the Beloved, Within and Without"
      7.30 - 9.30pm

      suggested contribution $ 25 – 35, or more
      (though this is a fund raiser, no one turned away for lack of funds)
  • Saturday 16 July, 2016
    • at The Barn
      (outside Sebastopol: Contact Muiz to register and for address & directions)
      "The Ocean Refuses No River"
      10am - 5pm

      suggested contribution $ 35 – 75, or more
      (though this is a fund raiser, no one turned away for lack of funds)
  • Sunday 7 August, 2016
    • at The Barn
      (outside Sebastopol: Contact Muiz to register and for address & directions)
      "Deeper Into the Heart of Love"
      10am - 5pm

      suggested contribution $ 35 – 75, or more
      (though this is a fund raiser, no one turned away for lack of funds)
December 6 - 17, 2016: Taroudant, MOROCCO
graphic: banner image Morocco Retreat
  • led by Muiz & Jilani Cordelia Prescott
  • at La Maison Anglaise Guest House
    Taroudant, Sous Valley, MOROCCO
    * * *  11 Aug 2016: Only 4 Retreat Spaces Left  * * *
    Exchange Rate for $ USD on 11 Aug was only $1.30 per £ GBP
    down from $1.50 to 1.60 before the Brexit Referendum vote
    (retreat fee of £895 at that exchange rate = $1164)
  • If you're feeling drawn, contact registrar Jane Bayley, and send a £150 deposit
  • Details
  • Download Flyer
  • Download Flyer ( with registration/booking details)

2013

graphic: Living Fully Flier, mini

2012

  • March 24, Sebastopol California, USA
    • Moving Presence: A Creative Collaboration of
      Movement and Awareness

      with Muiz and Nirtana Jane Elin
      • 9.30am - 12.30 pm
        $45 ($35 if registered before 19 March)
        see event flyer for details
        email Muiz to register, or for more info
  • June 1 - 3, Prescott, Arizona, USA
    • Lifting the Veil: Uncovering the Pearl of Great Price
      Hidden in the Depths of the Soul

      with Muiz and Devi Tide
      • A weekend retreat focusing on
        Ecstatic Spiritual Practice and Healing
        with Muiz and Devi Tide of Sufi Order International
        exact times on Fri, Sat, and Sun, and cost forthcoming
        see preliminary event flyer, and then check back. Once the contact person, cost, and timings have been finalized, the preliminary flyer will be updated.
        Retreat registration handled through the Prescott Community
  • July 26 - 29, Derwenlas, Wales, UK
    • 6th Annual Sufi Retreat, with Muiz and Sandra Sunfire
      Non-residential Weekend Retreat
      • This is the 6th year that Sandra and I have collaborated to focus this event, and it gets juicier, and deeper, and more wonderful each year. Zikr on Thursday evening, Dancing and Zikr on Friday evening, Dancing, a variety of Sufi Practices, and Heartful Sharing all day Saturday, and again on Sunday until 5ish. Potluck lunches and dinners on Sat and Sun.
      • Exact timings, cost, registration info, local Bed and Breakfast info, and other details will be posted at the Dances at Derwenlas website, on the Events Diary page, as the event date gets closer.
  • August 18 - 26, on a field in Dorset, England, UK
    • Unicorn Dance Camp/PTA
      (aka Peace Through the Arts)
      • This is the 3rd year that I've been invited to be on the teaching staff for this wonderful annual camp. What I'll be asked to present will be decided in the next several months, however if the pattern follows that of previous years ... early morning practices, a Development Group midmornings, and at least one of the evening program, as well as being available for one-on-one meetings with individuals during the day.
      • Registration and other details at the Camp website.
  • Other August and September events in the UK to be announced as they are finalized.