Contemplation - Dialogue - Creation
Mary's House Community
The Cloud of Unknowing
Sat 21 Nov
|St Mary's Church Hall
How can a 14th century mystical text help us go deeper into our modern experience of contemplation?


Time & Location
21 Nov 2026, 11:00 – 16:00
St Mary's Church Hall, Innox Hill, Frome BA11 2LN, UK
About the event
“The universes which are amenable to the intellect can never satisfy the instincts of the heart.” - The Cloud of Unknowing
The Cloud of Unknowing is a spiritual classic written by an anonymous English monk in the 14th century. The author believes that the spiritual journey demands full self-awareness and honesty, a perpetual shadow-boxing with our own weaknesses and imperfections. While physical withdrawal from the world is not essential, letting go of attachments to people, expectations, and things is (Richard Rohr). Entering the cloud means first forgetting and then "unknowing". What do these ideas mean for us with our 21st consciousness and busy lives? Simon and and Martha will lead us on a journey into "the cloud" and see what we find.
MHC retreat days may include a presentation and dialogue, an opportunity for contemplative practice, some practical outdoor work (if you are up for it, and the weather permits!) and…