Cultivating a Compassionate and Meaningful Life
An in-person Universal Education Gathering in Scotland
An Invitation to Pause, Reflect, and Reconnect
Join us for a nourishing Gathering – Retreat in the heart of Aberdeenshire, where we’ll explore the 16 Guidelines for Life as a framework for cultivating compassion, resilience, and meaningful connections.
Set against the backdrop of the Scottish countryside, this gathering offers time to reflect deeply, connect with like-minded people, and bring fresh inspiration into your daily life. Together, we’ll combine gentle practices such as meditation, journaling, mindful movement, and shared reflection to explore how the Guidelines can enrich both inner growth and outer relationships.
What to Expect
Across three days, you’ll be guided through a balanced flow of learning, practice, and connection:
Day 1 – Arriving & Settling
Warm welcome, introductions, and setting intentions
Shared evening meal and meditation to ease into retreat life
Day 2 – Deepening Practice Morning Qi Gong to awaken body and mind
Explorations of key Guidelines such as Humility, Kindness, Patience, Generosity, Honesty, Gratitude, Kindness and Respect
Reflective practices: guided meditations, journaling, and mindful eating
Heartfelt discussions and paired sharing to strengthen community bonds
Day 3 – Integration & Looking Forward
Morning visit to a nearby stone circle for grounding and connection
Closing sessions on integrating the 16 Guidelines into everyday life
Commitments, takeaways, and a celebratory farewell circle
**See detailed agenda below
Venue & Accommodation
Our retreat will take place at the Sir Arthur Grant Residential & Outdoor Activity Centre, a peaceful venue surrounded by nature.
Capacity: Spaces are limited to 38 participants in on-site accommodation.
Nearby options: Additional lodging is available in the Aberdeenshire area for those wishing to stay off-site.
Who Is This Universal Education Gathering For?
This gathering welcomes anyone interested in living with greater compassion, meaning, and awareness, whether you are new to the 16 Guidelines or looking to deepen your practice.
The session structure is carefully designed to foster meaningful reflection, strengthen connections, and inspire actionable outcomes, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience.
Practical Details
📅 Dates: Friday 25 September – Sunday 27 September 2026
📍 Location: Sir Arthur Grant Centre, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
🍴 Communal meals provided (with mindful eating practice woven into shared dinners)
🧘 Practices include Qi Gong, meditation, journaling, mindful dialogue, and time in nature
Join Us
Come as you are, open to reflect, connect, and grow. Together, we’ll explore timeless wisdom and practical tools to help us live with greater compassion and meaning in our daily lives.
For more information and to to confirm your participation, please send an email to Gillian Cruickshank: gilliancruickshankwellbeing@gmail.com
Please use this Google booking form to reserve your place:
A minimum deposit of £50 is required on registration to reserve your place. The remaining amount is
payable by 25 August 2026.
Detailed Agenda
As the organizers continue to shape this wonderful event, we are happy to share a more detailed agenda of the gathering
Day 1
4:00 – 6:00pm Arrivals, welcome and settling in
6:00 – 7:00pm Session one: introduction to weekend and one another
Activity: Group sharing of initial thoughts, expectations for the weekend and setting intentions
7:00 – 8:00pm Communal Dinner
8:00 – 9:00pm Evening meditation / reflection
9:00pm Journaling / Rest
Day 2
7:30 – 8:30am Movement – Qi Gong
Facilitated by: Lorna Forsyth
8:30 – 9:30am Breakfast
9:30 – 11:30am Session one – Foundations of inner peace – exploring wisdom
Activity:
Dalai Lama’s short video: The Importance of Cultivating Inner Peace
Guided meditation to connect with the concepts of wisdom and one’s place in the world
Explore how Humility and Kindness can develop wisdom
Facilitated by: Bobettes
Gillian Cruickshank, Lorna Forsyth, Cath du Preez and Stefanie Steurer
11:30- 12:00pm Free Time / Snacks / Journaling / Walking
12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00 – 3:00pm Session Two – Cultivating positive qualities – inner strengths
Session: Explore guidelines like Patience and Generosity, focusing on their role in developing resilience
Activity: Journaling prompts on personal experiences of practicing patience or generosity
3:00 – 3:30pm Free Time / Snacks / Journaling / Walking
3:30 – 5:30pm Session Three – Cultivating positive qualities – joy and empathy
Session: Empathy circle
Activity: Interactive exercises to cultivate empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives
Facilitated by: Wendy Ridley
5:30- 7:00pm Communal Dinner
Activity: Mindful eating practice during dinner, with participants encouraged to notice sensory details and express gratitude
7:00 – 9:00pm Session 4 – connecting with others
Activity: 16 Guidelines Game in the BBQ Hut
9:00pm Journaling / Rest
Day 3
7:30 – 9:30am Visit local stone circle / Wild swimming in nearby river
9:30 – 10:30am Breakfast
10:30 – 12:30pm Session One – The power of Grief, Grace and Gratitude
Facilitated by: Claudia Massaro – Zuiden
A two-hour experiential workshop:
Grief is something we all experience, yet many of us have never been taught how to meet it with compassion. Whether we are grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, our health, a dream, or simply a chapter of our lives, grief invites us to slow down and listen deeply to our hearts.
In this two-hour workshop, Claudia gently explores how grief, grace and gratitude are intimately connected. Rather than trying to “move on” from our grief, we discover how embracing it with kindness can become a doorway to healing, wisdom and a deeper appreciation for life.
Drawing on personal experience, timeless wisdom, reflective practices and insights from her book, Claudia creates a safe and nurturing space where participants are invited to explore:
- Understanding grief as a natural expression of love
- Finding grace in moments of uncertainty and change
- Cultivating gratitude without denying our pain
- Practical mindfulness and reflection practices that support healing
- Transforming loss into a deeper connection with ourselves and others
Instead of talking about fixing grief, this workshop is about learning how to walk beside it with courage, compassion and an open heart.
Participants will leave with practical tools, renewed hope and a gentle reminder that even in life’s most difficult moments, gratitude can become a quiet light that guides us forward.
12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:30pm Session two – commitments & next steps
Session: Creating personal commitments for continuing to practice the 16 Guidelines beyond the weekend.
Activity: Each participant shares one key takeaway or commitment.
Farewell, reflection & celebration
A closing circle for expressing gratitude and saying goodbye
Closing dedication:
2:30 Departure
