issue 5 

Forest chill out to shake off the old year

Looking for greener accommodation, together with peace and quiet? We found such a place at ‘Osho Oasis’ in a forest near the old road between George and Knysna. I felt at home in the many arched lines and rounded spaces. The feminine, restful energy was just the place to chill out after hunting deadlines and running a green publication in the mad world of newspapers.

Scattered A-framed wooden huts huddle amongst tall trees around the central covered dining lapa. I sensed immediately the love and care with which over the past 6 years Meera van Pletzen, originally from Austria, and her former partner Hamid Croukamp had crafted this place by hand. To one side the octagonal stone and wooden meditation hall waits for you to come and sit.

Here you can feel the silence and see the peace. A fireplace set in one wall. No distractions to your inward path. Shiny wooden floor for stretching, listening, dancing, enjoying a fire in the winter. Cooking hut with gas stove, for vegetation meals around a big table. I was surprised to find this undiscovered jewel within walking distance of river pools and elephant paths. Around a shared meal, we found out what this place is all about.

What do they offer?

• Full Moon Retreats each month from Saturday 6pm until Monday 4pm.
• Individual Retreats for anyone who feels a need to take some time out, meditating, being quiet, walking, reading.
• Seminars - Anybody who would like to bring people for a seminar or similar event are welcome, as long as these groups are dedicated to meditation, human growth, creativity and natural living. Meera sends out monthly newsletters, announcing the program. There are a few people already who use this venue regularly, to do Tantra work,or Family Constellation workshops.
• Holiday camps are occasionally offered - loosely structured around yoga, massage, art projects, meditations, sitting at the fire and communal cooking, eating.
• A wooden house is for rent on a monthly basis – for anyone who is interested to contribute here in one way or another – at least marginally.
• Children and pets are not really suitable, although they do house events for children at times.

Guests can use all the communal facilities – the meditation hall, the lapa with dining room, wood heated showers, outdoor fireplace. Meera can supply people with materials to work with, there is a little library, a huge audio collection as well as DVDs. They also offer guidance on a donation basis, and are willing to take people for a walk or to the rock pools of the Homtini River. People wanting to do their own thing are welcome, too.

The communal kitchen is rustic, but equipped. The individual retreats are usually self-catering, and during Full Moon retreats people cook and eat together Osho Oasis also engages in community projects, and would love to house more events aimed at upliftment, reconciliation and processes designed to support vulnerable children. The Osho Oasis is in a way Meera’s own hermitage at this moment, where she spends time alone. She loves to meditate with people, to provide a space to go in, also supporting people with issues in their lives which they would like to explore.

What is Meera’s dream?

That some people will join her to work together, creating an organic vegetable garden, maintaining and further developing the property. As things stand the venue is unique - dancing with the elements is a part of the meditation, as they live on rain water, use wood heated showers, composting toilets – no electricity in the central retreat area. There is a 12V sound system though in the meditation hall, compatible for i-pod s, flash-drives as well as CDs and tapes.

What are the rates?

R150 a person per night. Facilitation for the Full Moon Retreats and any form of guidance during individual retreats are paid for on a donation basis. Visitors need to bring a torch, bedding and vegetarian food to cook. There is emergency bedding for an extra fee. The property was bought as a CC and is a Non-profit organisation. Contact Osho Oasis at tel 0443569068 or mail alkadeva@cyberperk.co.za See more information here.