Welcoming Anne to The Barn

Anne Cockroft - our latest Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn - tells us about herself here.

I have a long time interest in spirituality- after reading books about Sufism and writings by different spiritual teachers when I was 18 years of age - I spent a long time practising The Headless Way, after reading Douglas Harding's ‘On having no head’ and becoming involved in a community of practising people. 

After teaching for many years and raising two daughters, I was drawn to re-explore an inner life 5 years ago and began going to weekly meditation and qi-gong evenings at a local Buddhist centre. This kick-started a more formal daily practice - I also did an 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course at this time.  I discovered the beauty and depth that can be touched in silence, my first completely silent week long retreat was with Freely Given Retreats in 2015.

In 2016 I went to Gaia House and spent two years there as a coordinator. During this time I also continued developing my training in embodied healing practices, building on my previous training in massage and shiatsu to study Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy at The Karuna Institute on Dartmoor. This work sits beautifully alongside meditation and relational practice.

Now I'm here at The Barn at Sharpham, and I’m excited to spend a year nestled in the wildness of nature, immersed in a practice of the dharma and meditation and with a longing to connect in depth and honesty in the intimate community that develops there each week.

Click here to find out about becoming a Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn