Eli - Hermitage news

Dear friends

As some of you may have heard, after seven years of dedicated service as a resident, Eli will be moving out of the Hermitage this Autumn. This move is part of the vision renewal for the Hermitage, with more of an emphasis on the sacred space being held by retreatants and the local community going forwards.  The Sangha recognises that a small number of people cannot continue to sustain all the activity at the Hermitage and that we can’t support long term residents post working life. We are moving towards a more collective responsibility for the place.

Most of you will have had the pleasure of meeting or communicating with Eli through visiting the Hermitage or through her role as Events Manager, and so you will know the care and love that Eli has given to the Hermitage and Sangha with such generosity, for which we are all immensely grateful. We have relied on her for being a constant presence at the Hermitage, usually working away in the background ensuring that everything works smoothly, which she has done so skillfully and with such a warm heart.

Although Eli won't be resident at the Hermitage she will be living locally, helping to support the activity at the Hermitage along with the local community. Going forwards, Eli will be taking a lead in supporting our students and teachers to hold post DHB practice groups and the sangha retreats that will be emerging from those groups. We will still have the pleasure of Eli’s presence!

I’m sure you will join me in thanking Eli for her commitment, generosity, warmth  and service to the Hermitage and wishing her well in her new home. May Eli’s life continue to be a source for the Dharma to flourish!