The Story So Far...

We hope you will enjoy a dip into some of what has happened so far; and there is so much more to come! We will write the ‘book’ one day.

In 1985 our land in Crete was bought by an idealistic group of people from the UK, including Julie Murray and her parents. At that time only Greek people could own land on Crete so a good friend of Julie's mother and father, an American-Greek, became the title-holder. The property remained in his name, though the original group broke up in 1991. The land went up for sale, but it never sold.

Julie left Crete in 1994, had some challenging years... She had two psychic readings from Morwenna Wells, their first meeting, in 1998 and '99. These readings were very helpful to her life journey but also reconnected her to the dream for the land in Crete, and what could happen there, after it being unwanted and neglected for years. Listening to the tape recording of the reading, sitting in the living room in what is now Owl, Julie saw the outline of a bird land outside in the moonlight, just when she heard the words ‘’if you want your dream to become a reality don’t take it off the drawing board- don’t trash it in your imagination’’ and put together the thought – ‘but this (this Crete land) was my dream’! When she pushed away the mind fear and recognised the bird was a sign, it flew off silently – an Owl (hence the naming). She told Morwenna about her ideas, who offered her help and the two planned an experimental 6 weeks programme to try out the idea of White Mountain Retreat!

From idealistic dreams, the first colours and textures of the wonderful tapestry woven at White Mountain appeared in 2001.

2001

With Morwenna's strong link of communication with spirit, we were guided to clean out the main house, which had been empty for 5 years, prepare the Group room and the upstairs (now Quiet) room. We were 7 people for the opening ceremony on May 5th 2001 at 6pm. (We found out later, auspiciously, this was at Beltain, the sacred festival, of Life, Fertility, and Expectation). Morwenna channelled a powerful address as we stood in a circle holding hands. The presence in the room was tangible. We were thanked for the part we were playing, bringing this centre into physical form and were told this was divine business, not ours. We had no idea of its potential (because of the limitation of mind), that one day it would become a beacon of Light, it was not limited at all, and that only fear from the mortal mind could stop it from becoming reality.

It was said that Eagle energy was being planted here that day and that it would show itself in physical form as a token. We were asked to keep the Retreat simple, keep it clean, work with love and acceptance, pay no regard to what others’ opinions were, but to follow what we believed to be right, for the common good. We chose the name Eagle for the house after this event - signifying the soul's flight as truth and spiritual freedom. Eagles did indeed show themselves, in remarkable abundance, from then on!

It was all very new and exciting. We learned of an ancient tribe who had lived around our headland, who wanted to live in peace, simply, worshipping Mother Earth and her gods - our ancestors! We marked a stone circle on the headland with its doorway facing west; a place of worship for them, healing, loving power still present here, recognised by those simple people some 6,000 years ago!

During the 6 weeks, we ran 3 workshops, people visited. We learned about aspects of how to be caring and co-operative in our approach with each other, while creating clear boundaries for all. Working to create a family atmosphere, so people could feel safe and comfortable, with space, considering different perspectives - guests, staff, the land, the animal life. We had simple gatherings, lighting candles, making circles, blessing prayers, inspiration from affirmation and angel cards. The circle on our headland is one of our sacred places; the first landmark of a continuing story of truth, healing, courage, abundance, love and acknowledgement of the Creator of all things.

We did all this on a shoestring, and friendly pieces of plastic. The timing of how things came together, the synchronicities, the healing work that happened in this first year, all gave us the surety to go on, in trust, with the development of this wonderful place.

2002

Our first full season, which we had planned, printed a brochure, and the solution to finance arrived only 10 days (!) before our due start date. A generous loan from Anne and Bryan Wardman (Kate's parents - Bryan is Morwenna's brother,) launched us forwards. Julian Franks, Julie's ex-husband gave his support, looking after their boys so she could run the centre in Crete. With John Thorn, our Man Friday's care and skills, we overhauled, redecorated and named Phoenix for our guest building, Owl for the top house. So many ideas came forwards, attention to space clearing, colours, light and textures, star and moonlight bathing and conversation.
The mighty birds, hawks, buzzards and eagles frequently performed around us, lifting our souls; we marvelled as they quartered the valleys, unmoving, noticeably most when the winds blustered, as if to confirm their mastery of the air!

Kyleigh, our talented Australian cook, met Arjan, the Albanian maestro with stone, and life was never the same for either of them again... We had our first Earth Healing workshop, retreat guests, campers, work & play, together with sunshine, good food, great hospitality, good company and that special feeling that accompanies White Mountain Retreat.

Arjan with his cousin Aleksi helped Jenny Tunstall our gardener start the first phases of creating our gardens to beautify the place. Simple planting beds were made around the houses, planting trees in quite barren ground. The quick response of nature to Jenny's loving and tending care was a wonder to behold - there was an air of magic to it all. It was the start of beautiful growth; colours, shapes, perfumes, dappled shade and the decorative visits of songbirds and insects.

Our first animals Florrie and Homer, brother and sister kittens made themselves at home and stole hearts!
Kate Wardman joined her father Bryan to see what Auntie Mo had been up to - what was so special about this place in Crete she kept talking about! They found the magic out for themselves, with Kate making a commitment to leave her job in the corporate world and come back as the White Mountain cook for the 2003 season!

2003

Early in the year Morwenna's beloved husband David Wells died after losing his painful battle with cancer, and Julie's father Malcolm Murray died, within a few days of each other. For both friends, it was very hard, but neither lost the vision for White Mountain Retreat. We started again, with Julie and Kate driving our trusty Supervan down to Greece. Edward, Julie's black Labrador dog (with his own passport) was on board and soon to join the team was Quin the puppy.

We worked towards the installation of a beautiful lawn, pergola and paving around Eagle - in preparation for our biggest group to date from White Eagle Lodge.

Sally Childs, friend and ex-work colleague of Kate's visited for the first time "Why didn't you tell me it was so beautiful here" was her first question! Together with our usual mix of ways to stay, it was another season filled with sun, laughter and love.

2004

Our first year of Willing Hands - a work exchange and wonderful for the gardens! We also had our first Open Day and Healing Well day, to develop our local connections as a local resource. We started regular yoga classes for locals and guests taught by the lovely Maria Varelas, a Greek-Australian. We had new guests, repeat guests, there was the football and Olympics, some wonderful courses like flower remedies, drumming, with a performance evening where our vibes were heard across the bay at least!

Ian McPherson made his first visit in May this year. Ian is a seasoned Retreat visitor, had been very involved at Findhorn and loves Crete - so his compliments on White Mountain Retreat (and the food!) were a great affirmation to us that we were doing something right! We had Ewan Scott's help as Man Friday and developing our provision of healing therapies as our in-house therapist, for guests and locals.

2005

This year showed how wide our net had already been cast. We had an international guest list including Heroines Quest 'Goddesses' from Seattle, enthusiastic photographers from Washington state, catching sunrises and Minoan delights, Qi Gong mastery and the delights of the Hawaiian culture. This Hawaiin experience, a group week led by Sylvia Cochrane introduced David Hall to Crete and began a love affair for him with the island! There were the myriad joyful colours of healing with weaving, Yoga and Pilates. We had our first blessing ceremony for a couple held at a full moon ceremony under the olive trees, within our sacred circle.
Each week the place would change character, become a different world! Particularly fun was to observe how our flowers and plants delighted to be exotic as Crete became the latest Hawaiian isle - just for a few days. See how our Garden has grown!

2006

In March Alan Clarke, a new White Mountain friend, came to help on-going boundary issues. Alan is able to see energies and understands earth energies such as ley lines. Helped by Steve Fullbrook, the two built a new stone circle in ten days, and cleared pathways, sometimes called dragon lines, coming from this circle to allow energies to flow correctly. The place has felt more secure ever since. In June, Alan built a beautiful Cretan labyrinth in stone on the headland, a further simple enhancement for the land and its energy system.

After a wonderful season of Yoga, meditation, Pilates, flower remedies, world cup football, and a lively crew from Oz following earth ley lines, Apollo and Athina, Michael and Mary, we closed in October and put the place to rest once more. We shared more delightful evenings, dining under the stars, at tables beautifully adorned. Our friend Nicolette Cottrell gave her healing hands as our in-house therapist for the season and help to Kate and Julie. The buffets were loaded with delicious food all season prepared by Kate's loving hands; delights both for eye and tastebuds!

This had been our most successful Willing Hands year yet; both spring and autumn times gave the gardens attention and love that left them radiant and refreshed.

Towards the end of the year, sadly, Morwenna passed away, after a short illness. She made a wonderful contribution to the loving atmosphere and fun of White Mountain that will live on.

2007/2011

We closed down at the end of 2006 and accepted that we would not open again until it was possible for us to operate legally and fully. It was hard, shocking but necessary.

Julie has continued to live on the property, basically as the caretaker, with the animals who are here - a few extra have come and gone since. Julie, an expert in Bach Flower Remedies, spent much of the time over one year writing a handbook on a fresh perspective of understanding and prescribing the Flower Remedies, which, hopefully, will soon be published.

Kate returned to England, with Quin, staying with family in Kent and also spending some time living in Glastonbury - a place she found reconnected her to the energy of White Mountain. Kate has taken the opportunity of being back in the UK to add many more strings to her bow - including Reyad Sekh Em (Egyptian Healing) and Setsukido (Japanese Ki massage). Kate is also the UK distributor for 'The Guided Journey to Self Mastery' board game.

During these years many people from various parts of the world have written to us, and or, dropped in to visit and take a look around or come for few days, in their travels. Though we are closed, the place still attracts people to make a connection – we call this ‘White Mountain business’. One such ‘chance’ meeting, which is a story in itself, was Julie meeting David Hall and Nikki Ashworth in a local supermarket, over a packet of cream! They had been back several times to Crete, and planned to marry on Crete the following year. The delight for all was that their celebration was organised and enacted in the spirit of White Mountain and forged a deep friendship, like family. Though we don’t know how, at present, there is a strong connection and we feel they will get involved at White Mountain. To help safeguard White Mountain for the future, David has kindly offered to act as our Honorary Treasurer for this time.

How the property ownership would eventually be solved has proved extremely complex, difficult to understand or accept but we hold to the belief, despite a few wobbly moments, that a way will be found for White Mountain Retreat to live again, which brings us to this web site – full circle!

Now, finally, we are getting close, and the way is clear of obstacles, so, we may well be preparing to write the next chapters of this amazing story.