Temenos Retreat in McGregor

25/08/2026

Spring Temenos letter

‘Spring does not hurry.
It simply opens to
What is coming’.

Many of the guests, who have recently made return visits to Temenos, often share with me their amazement at how our garden, once a barren piece of veld, has transformed into a lush wooded sanctuary. Certainly something to celebrate as we approach our thirtieth anniversary. Stepping back in time to its early, simple beginnings, I could never have imagined how its beauty and its ambience would unfold.

And here is spring, yet again. New beginnings, new hopes, new energy. A time to once again celebrate our grateful hearts that have navigated many seasons.

September and October are often considered the most beautiful months in McGregor. Not only are the garden themselves bursting into new life, but the surrounding valleys and hills are about to put on their breath-taking display of wild flowers. If you are a nature lover and can’t get to Namaqualand this year, you will nonetheless be rewarded beyond your imagination. For those who enjoy hiking in our reserves and may be on your own, we have the added bonus of providing you with a guide. Take advantage of our midweek special and celebrate a season of renewal. We are all made for new beginnings.

Love, Billy

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17/03/2026

Easter Newsletter

Across the world and across traditions, human beings share a deep intuition: that life moves through darkness toward light, through loss toward renewal. We observe it in the turning of the seasons, in the quiet miracle of seeds breaking open beneath the earth, and in the resilience of the human spirit after suffering.

Easter, in the Christian tradition, speaks profoundly into this universal mystery.

At its heart is a paradox: that which appears to be defeat may become transformation. The story moves from the silence of the tomb to the astonishment of new life. For Christians, this is the resurrection of Christ; yet it touches something that many spiritual traditions recognize – that life is not finally contained by death, and that the divine works most powerfully in hidden ways.

Jewish tradition speaks of hope that persists even in exile and suffering. For Sufi Poets the Beloved is One who continually brings life from what seems lifeless. In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the universe itself moves through cycles of dissolution and renewal, while indigenous wisdom traditions remind us that death and life belong to one sacred rhythm within creation.

The Easter season invites us into that rhythm. It does not deny the reality of suffering. The cross stands as a stark acknowledgment of injustice, pain and the vulnerability of human life; Yet the resurrection whispers that love is deeper than violence, that mercy outlasts cruelty, and that the Divine presence is never absent from the darkest night. For those who embrace a more contemplative approach to life, Easter can be experienced less as a doctrine to explain and more as a mystery to enter. It invites us to gentle questions: In a turbulent world, the season’s blessing offered with humility to people of all faiths and none, may simply be this:
That the deepest truth of the universe is not despair but renewal
That love is stronger than death
And that in the quietest garden, at the break of an ordinary dawn, new life is already beginning.

With love,
Billy

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01/03/2026

Our Groundsman Grant has decided to persue his career in Nature Reserve. We thank Grant for all his years of excellent service at Temenos and wish him well in his new career.
Temenos is looking for a full time garden supervisor and general maintenence person.
Please email your CV to: [email protected]

19/02/2026

There are seasons when the soul needs silence. This Lent, step away from the noise and enter a week shaped by stillness, prayer, and gentle rhythm at Temenos Retreat in McGregor.

From 23–27 March, the gardens close to the public and open to retreat guests seeking depth, reflection, and renewal. Optional yoga, silent meditation, and spiritual companionship are available throughout the week. Whether you are observing Lent traditionally or simply longing for quiet, this is a space to listen more deeply.

Book directly via [email protected] or call +27 (0)23 625 1871.

Temenos is the perfect place to ‘turn away from it all’. Should you need some quiet time or would like to work quietly, or just need to take it easy, our gardens are ready to welcome you. Our cottages are all private and secluded and there is plenty of fresh air in our expansive gardens. You may...

18/02/2026