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"The Nightingale in the Soul: Poetry and the Masculine Heart – William Ayot"
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A RESIDENTIAL RETREAT FOR MEN
The Shrunken Soul
Healing Men's Shame in a Wounded World
A Retreat for Men
with
William Ayot & Simon Roe
Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th November 2025
The Shrunken Soul
Healing Men’s Shame in a Wounded World
Do you beat yourself up when things go wrong? Do you doubt yourself
at crucial moments? Can you never quite get there, or be good enough?
These are signs of an all-too-common wounding in the lives of men.
Whether it happened through a carer’s cruelties in childhood, belittling
and bullying at school, or constant sideswipes and point-scoring at work,
being shamed can have a terrible effect on us as we grow and develop.
“When their light has picked you out
and their questions are asked”…
In an age of increasing self-knowledge, shame remains one of the least
recognised scourges of modern life. It is cumulative, debilitating and life-
limiting. Over time it teaches us to shrink from and even hate ourselves.
The all-pervasive depth of shame’s wounding can be seen in abuse,
addiction, broken relationships, inexplicable anger, rage and violence.
Join William and Simon in a safe and supportive male environment as
they dive into the workings and woundings of shame in men’s lives.
During this highly experiential weekend in the remarkable
Monmouthshire countryside, they will be using skills and techniques
(such as story, poetry, ritual and deep sharing) acquired as they too
served time under the shadow of shame, bringing back some hard-
earned gold to share…. Expect a kind welcome and a warm
understanding…
……………………………… “Say to them:
‘I am not ashamed’. A sure horizon……………
will come around you. The heron will begin
his evening flight from the hilltop. ……………..
………………………………………………………………Wendell Berry
……………………………………………………………………Be Ready
Please note: this unique men’s retreat will include contemplative time in
the healing and gentling company of horses, as led by experienced
facilitator Ruth Tudor in her dedicated menage at Trealy Farm.
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Venue: Trealy Farm, Mitchel Troy, Monmouth NP25 4BL
Arrival Time: from 4 – 6.30pm on 13th November
Workshop Timings: The workshop will start with dinner at 6.30p.m.
Costs We are separating the cost of the accommodation from the cost of the workshop. This is for transparency.
Cost of Workshop: £500 with early booking discount if booked before 31st July 2025. If booked after 1st August the full price is £600. (NB Food and accommodation is charged on top of this fee).
Accommodation Costs: from £435
FOR FULL INFORMATION ON THIS COURSE AND ACCOMODATION & FOOD CLICK HERE
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Facilitators:
Simon Roe
Originally trained as a body psychotherapist with Nick Totton & Em Edmondson, Simon has nearly 30 years’ experience of working with individuals and groups.
For the last 25 years’ he has worked almost exclusively with men & teenage boys in a variety of settings including 1-1 psychotherapy, domestic violence work and Rites of Passage events. He is a Respect approved trainer & supervisor www.respect.uk.net for domestic violence practitioners.
Simon is a fully accredited member of the Association of Facilitators www.associationoffacilitators.co.uk
William Ayot
William Ayot is an award-winning poet, author, teacher and ritualist. Over three decades, he has organized, hosted, facilitated and led, men’s and mixed personal development events and rites of passage, working in rehab, correctional, personal development and organizational contexts.
He uses poetry and the arts to teach leadership in boardrooms and business schools around the world, currently teaching on the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD. William also designs and leads bespoke rituals for individuals and groups in his purpose-built ritual garden in Monmouthshire, Wales.
Writing includes the play, Bengal Lancer, three collections of poetry, and a prose book on ritual. He is currently writing a book for and about men in a time of epochal change.
William leads personal tailor-made rituals for people in South Wales, UK.
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