1. Come Dance with Me: A Moving Retreat
Schs. Sanil Matthew SJ (KER) & Kensy Joseph SJ (BRI)
When we, the Kerala Jesuit Scholastics, were informed about the new type of InterPlay retreat on
the theme ‘Prophetic Play and Mystical Movement’ at Ignatian Retreat Centre, Pariyaram, Kannur,
from 23-31 May 2010 we were all intrigued and were really looking forward to it. The co-facilitators
from InterPlay India, Fr. Prashant Olalekar SJ (BOM) and Ms. Hazel Fernandes (Pune), not only
integrated Ignatian spirituality and InterPlay but also the masculine and feminine in a healthy
balance.
In the first session when Fr. Prashant invited us to join him in an action song on peace, many
eyebrows went up (including ours) and strayed glances and giggles were all around. Yet, at the end
of the song, we felt: “Hmm…not bad”. That was the beginning of a new and curious inward journey
to the vast and greatly unexplored recesses of our inner world through the means of mindfulness
and body wisdom.
Based on the daily theme we were led through a variety of holistic exercises putting us in touch with
the inner movements of the Spirit. In Movement Meditation, which integrates Interplay and eastern
techniques, the focus is on awareness in movement and stillness. It uses simple techniques of
improvisation to bring us to the present moment without any need for awkward positions or intense
discipline. We thus can experience the extraordinary in the ordinary which is the true encounter
with the divine.
The tools explored during the retreat varied from simple meditative walking to free-form dancing.
We were constantly reminded to pay attention to our “bodies” (including our instincts and
intuitions) and to trust our body wisdom. We were encouraged to move freely, like little children in
the kingdom of God. Awareness of breath, sound, and bodily sensations, leads to centering and if
combined with other dynamic forms can make the meditation more meaningful and rewarding.
Through simple InterPlay exercises like ‘walk, stop, run’, we discovered that spirituality doesn’t
always have to be “serious business”; sometimes it can be so much fun – and yet profound.
Justice and Peace
All was not simply fun, however. Throughout the retreat we were reminded of the pervasive
presence of structural injustices and violence, particularly towards women, and of our prophetic
commitment to global peace and ecological preservation. We had a profound experience of the
cosmic dance of creation and saw how we are intimately connected to the whole universe. Each day
at least one meditation was held outside the house, close to Nature, consisting of exercises that
combined elements of Yoga and Thich Nhat Hanh’s meditation techniques on mindfulness.

2. Ignatian Integration
As good Jesuit Scholastics many of us had apprehensions as to how it was going to be combined with
the classical Ignatian Retreat. Key meditations from the Spiritual Exercises like Principal and
Foundation, Two Standards, and Contemplation to Attain Love as well as Ignatian themes like
‘finding God in all things’, ‘contemplative in action’, ‘mysticism of service’, and ‘magis’ were treated
in a creative way. In dialogue with the director we were reminded that St. Ignatius Loyola
recommended any method and posture that one finds comfortable and conducive for greater union
with God. Once our fears were allayed most of us were able to give ourselves completely to the
stirring of the spirit through movement meditations, art, music, dances and mindfulness. We
experienced that “there is no reality that is only profane for those who know how to look.” (GC 35)
Although the three sessions we had each day, along with a lot of active participation in the Mass,
were conducted in a relaxed, free-flowing vein, we were still expected to maintain silence and spend
sufficient time in personal contemplation/meditation outside the sessions. We noticed that the
various creative spiritual exercises fostered deeper silence and greater awareness.
Highlights
 Awareness Walks: We were instructed to walk in a myriad ways, slow, fast, jogging,
integrating breath, movement and mantra…all with heightened awareness and mindfulness.
These helped us to be attuned to the present moment; to live in the present.
 Body Blessing: Gratitude for each part of one’s own body, blessing and anointing each
other, gave us the realization that the human body is in fact the temple of the Holy Spirit.
 Washing of the Feet: As servant leaders we felt privileged and humbled to commemorate
the Last Supper. The impact was profound as it made us experience the definition of the
Jesuit as given by General Congregation 34: ‘a sinner yet called to be the companion of the
Lord’.
 BiblioDance Contemplation: We were shown a video depicting an Ignatian Contemplation
through bibliodance as well as an InterPlay Contemplation on Mary Magdalene
(www.thedancingword.com). Subsequently, we were led through a similar contemplation in
dance. This was a mystical experience that helped us fully and truly “enter” into the
contemplation – mind, body and soul.
 ‘Retreat Directress’: Besides the usual spiritual direction we also had the opportunity for
some personal direction from a feminine perspective by Ms. Hazel, a professional therapist,
who helped us to integrate the various movements and emotions that surfaced through the
InterPlay activity.

3. Though all of our documents speak volumes on lay participation and the empowerment of
women, it was our first experience to have the presence of a lay woman in the context of a
retreat. Her energising facilitation of InterPlay and art sessions was really helpful. Her care and
concern for the retreatants helped us integrate our active and receptive dimensions in a
compassionate manner.
Afterword
There was no doubt that it was a novel experiment and enriching experience. Many of us, while
appreciating the laudable attempt to integrate body wisdom and Ignatian spirituality, felt that there
is still great scope for improvement in bringing about a better structure and dynamics in the Ignatian
tradition. A more systematic adaptation of Ignatian themes and integration of InterPlay techniques
would be highly effective to produce a wonderful retreat framework.
We found this style of retreat quite liberating and also helpful in integrating our “left brain” (the
centre of our logical and rational thought) with our “right brain” (creativity and spirituality). We are
highly impressed about the spiritual depth and creative potential of InterPlay (www.interplay.org)
and believe that it can be a wonderful tool to bring about substantial holistic transformation in any
group (religious or otherwise). The only requirement is that the participant has a body and
willingness to play. Above all, we found it useful to experience that “I am my body” and that we are
not called to a disembodied union with the Transcendent. After all, we do profess our faith in the
incarnation and “resurrection of the body”!
Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He! (Sydney Carter)
(Photos of the retreat can be viewed online at
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensyj/201005AnnualRetreat