Every year when we announce a Compass retreat, the first questions are practical. What happens there? Is it like a workshop? Will I have to speak in front of everyone? What if I am an introvert?
Here is an honest picture of the shape of a retreat, though each one is designed around its own theme and group.
Arriving
Most people arrive a little nervous. That is normal. The first hours are about arriving properly: settling in, meeting each other, putting phones aside, letting the mountains do some of the work. We begin slowly, because people cannot grow while they are on guard.
Belonging first
Early activities are designed to build trust. Light, playful, warm. By the end of the first day, strangers usually feel like companions.
Going deeper
Then we go deeper. Sessions explore mindset, habits, goals and dreams, and the beliefs and stories that shape them. Yaqeen Sikander brings a psychotherapist's depth to questions of healing and emotional wellbeing. I bring practices from Bloomseeing and coaching. There is always a balance of reflection and action, of individual work and group sharing.
Nobody is ever forced to share. Introverts are welcome and, in my experience, often have the most to offer.
Nature as a teacher
Kashmir is not just the location. It is part of the programme. Some of the most important moments happen outdoors: a quiet walk, an exercise by water, time under the trees. It is hard to stay small inside when the landscape is this large.
Leaving with direction
Before we leave, everyone shapes their own next steps. Not a vague promise to "be better", but concrete commitments and a sense of who they are becoming. And then the community continues.