The trefoil of dreaming: Listening to God the Revealer of Mysteries

A retreat led by Ali Dorey and Kim Tsai

Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd February 2026

Rydal Hall

https://www.rydalhall.org/

Communication (Dream painting) by Kim Tsai

There are many ways to listen to God. On this retreat, we will explore how God may speak to us in dreams, or through various dreaming practices. This retreat is open to all, whatever your experience with dreaming or not dreaming. The weekend will be accessible whether you have been on many retreats before or none.

We will use the Contemplative Fire Trefoil (“still waters”, “a learning journey” and “across the threshold” and the mystery at the centre) as a framework for the sessions.

This is not a silent retreat, although contemplation will be woven through it. Some participants may wish to journey into deeper solitude and silence in the free time, while others may wish to share together. We invite all participants to bring their own intentions while being sensitive to one another to make the retreat work for all.

There are limited places for this retreat being offered to Companions on the Way first, any remaining places will be offered more widely. Watch this space for the booking form coming soon…

Kim is a trustee of Contemplative Fire and has been recording her dreams daily for over 20 years. As well as writing down her dreams, Kim also paints the most significant ones and meditates on their potential meanings. For Kim, dreams are the primary way in which she listens to God and converses with the Divine (both through nighttime dreams and imaginal contemplations). On this retreat, she will share practices which participants will be able to develop in order to explore their own dream lives.

Ali is also a trustee of Contemplative Fire, who generally doesn’t even remember her dreams, but who has experienced a few significant dreams recently, which have borne some pondering. She also has a fascination with the Bible, which she studied at degree level, and will bring some biblical dream stories to the retreat. In the book of Daniel, through the experience of dreams and interpretations, God is given the title “Revealer of Mysteries”, which has always intrigued Ali.