Day Retreat Series │ Greeting the Four Natural Elements: Earth, Water, Fire and WindKadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

This year, Janet will bring you three day-retreat sessions themed around different elements of nature. Unlike before, you will explore the four fundamental elements – earth, water, fire and wind – that make up everything in nature as well as within each of us. By combining mindfulness meditation and yoga practices, you will learn to let your inner nature shine forth. At the same time, you will be guided to become aware of imbalanced elements, learn to nourish them anew, and learn how to find harmony both internally and externally in your life. Let us return to nature together, respecting and appreciating the natural state of all things, seeking the true meaning of life, while also becoming the most at ease version of ourselves and unlocking our hidden talents.

Everything in the world is mainly composed of 'Earth, Water, Fire and Wind' and so are we. These four elements form the foundation of life; they are interdependent, and each element holds its unique symbolic meaning, which shapes the basis of our existence:

Earth: Symbolises stability and safety, providing the foundation for our growth.
Water: Represents flow and change, promoting continuity and adaptation of life.
Fire: Symbolises power and passion, igniting our creativity and drive.
Wind: Represents freedom and flexibility, allowing us to maintain an open mindset in life.
During each full-day retreat, you have the opportunity to:

Learn and Understand: Theories related to the elements and chakras.
Experience and Apply: Practices related to the elements and chakras, including physical exercises (yoga or body applications), walking or sitting meditation, to experience the presence and interaction of the four elements.
Balance and Nourish: Identify any imbalanced elements and learn how to nourish yourself with exquisite lunches tailored to different elements, promoting physical and mental well-being.
Self-Exploration: Engage in inner exploration, reflective practices and sharing.

Session 1｜'Earth and Water'
With the Earth element as a foundation, we cultivate a sense of safety and stability, connecting well with our bodies. We then learn about the flexibility of the Water element, understanding the feelings of inner flow, and rediscovering our passion for life through these sensations.

Session 2 | 'Earth and Fire'
With the Earth element as a foundation, we cultivate a sense of safety and stability. The Fire element has powerful transformative abilities; through action, we can change our destinies, learn to set healthy boundaries, and cultivate a strong sense of self-worth.

Session 3｜'Earth and Wind'
With the Earth element as a foundation, we cultivate safety and stability. Learning to unconditionally accept ourselves allows us to be as free as the Wind element. Accepting ourselves enables us to accept others.


Facilitator

Janet Lau

Janet has been passionate about seeking the truth of life since childhood. She began exploring the existence of God at a young age and started practising yoga at the age of 22. Later, she embarked on the path of Zen practices and different modalities of inner work because of encountering marital difficulties. After more than two decades of walking on this path, she finally came to terms with her 19 years of depression and realised that most of our mental and physical conditions stem from the projection of the mind. Slowly but surely, she could feel a higher form of Presence – God. She also discovered that whether it's yoga, Buddhism, Christianity or spiritual studies, all paths lead to the same destination.

Now, Janet is dedicated to using a variety of approaches to assist friends from different faiths or non-religious backgrounds based on the life lessons she has experienced during her years of practice. Through yoga postures, sitting meditation, the practical application of Buddhist teachings, self-reflection and spiritual exercises, she helps individuals understand themselves, overcome fears, accept themselves and live their lives authentically, following their hearts and unleashing their highest potential.

A brief personal introduction:

Published author of many books, including Living with Yoga and Mindfulness, The Darkness and Light of Life and The Spirituality of Relationships – the Relationship with the Self.
Columnist for The Buddhist Compassion magazine in Hong Kong.
Teaching yoga teacher training courses, workshops and retreats in Asia since 2012.
Guest lecturer for the Master of Buddhist Counselling programme at the University of Hong Kong and Dharma Drum Mountain Foundation.

More Details: https://www.kfbg.org/en/events/day-retreat-series-greeting-the-four-natural-elements-earth-water-fire-and-wind

It is recommended to register for all three sessions at the same time, but you can also choose to register for a single session.