"As long as there is one to sing and one to dance,
one to speak and one to listen, life will go on.
— Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation
To live in a sacred way is to live in a world where everything is alive, everything has soul, and everything speaks to us. Could it be that the deepest gift the human ones can give, at this moment in Earth's evolving life, is our gift for ritual and ceremony: our stories, our dances, our gestures, our songs?
In this retreat we will explore the art and practice of creating ritual and ceremony — ceremonies to mark significant life passages, to honor our grief, to celebrate the seasonal gifts of creation, to pray for healing, and daily rituals to express our gratitude for the gift of life.
Much of our time will be spent outdoors:
"It is all a question of story. We are in trouble now because we do not have a good one" -- Thomas Berry
Squirrels can teach us balance within the circle of gathering and giving out. . . As masters of preparing, they also are reminders that in our quest for our goals, we do well to make time to socialize and play. Work and play go hand in hand, or the work will create problems and become more difficult and less fruitful. ~ from ANIMAL-SPEAK by Ted Andrews
Spiritual Journaling in Nature offers a break from our hectic, overscheduled lives by providing space and time to breathe, center ourselves, and play in the woods by ourselves and with others — human and non-human! The program gives an overview of how to set up and keep a nature journal as a spiritual practice. We will talk together about the significant spiritual role the natural world played in the faith formation of our ancestors and discuss the important opportunity for spiritual deepening that nature offers. We will go through the elements of keeping a nature journal and explore how journaling in nature helps us to be centered, mindful and attentive to both Spirit as well as other creatures.
Many know that the path we are on as a global society is not sustainable for people or the Earth. For over 30 years, Permaculture as a grass-roots movement has been growing, deepening, and spreading all over the world with a focus on finding practical sustainable solutions. As an ethical design science, Permaculture offers a relevant strategy for individuals, communities, and organizations who are seeking social and ecological change with a deeper understanding and awareness of natural patterns.
Retreat to the Ridge and bring your art with you. If you draw, dance, sing, write, play a musical instrument, sculpt, sew, or otherwise create—this retreat is for you! Practice in an inspiring mountain setting; share creative experiences with one another; explore the connection between silence, spirit, and creativity; try something new in sampler sessions with guest artists. Parents and younger sibs welcome.
We live in a time between stories. For many, our old stories that tell us who we are and what life and the world is about no longer serve us well. A new story is emerging, but is not yet here. We know it is time to let go of much from our past to fully enter the new. It is time to cast off.
Join us for our traditional "non-traditional" Stations of the Cross at Rolling Ridge on Friday, April 18; this is the walking meditation we have done here for more than a decade, through the sacred spaces and forest paths in and near the Retreat House. The details of the script for this change every year but the core remains the same: re-visioned Stations created lovingly and prayerfully from gathered pieces of our lives (and always visually compelling), time for walking mindfully and in silence together through the springkissed forest, opportunities for speaking aloud the cry from our hearts, and finally a gathered community waiting in darkness and hope.