Active Hope workshop
Saturday June 8th, 2024 at 10 am
Cedar Forest Retreat Center, Bull Lake MT
Recommended donation $100
Journey Of Immanence
workshop Intent
The Active Hope Workshop is open to all who feel the body of Mother Earth suffer from climate disruption and the abuses of the industrial growth society. The intent is to empower participants to (1) explore the power of gratitude and the beauty that we can recognize in the world; (2) to identify the suffering of Mother Earth and our own; (3) to differentiate the feelings and emotions that have left us disempowered, in a safe nurturing environment; (4) to integrate a new narrative, perception, and belief system based on infinite possibility and a mindful capacity to be with what is; and (5) to transcend everything, how to walk forward empowered and mindfully engaged in a complex world. Workshop methodology will include Ceremony, artistic creativity, physical body movement (Yoga, Tai Chi), mindful meditation, storytelling, visualization, and journaling.
Mary Pipher succinctly captures this transformative process in her book ‘The Green Boat.’ “Our reaction to overwhelming stress is trauma. At first, we simply are too stunned to respond. But gradually, healthy humans sort themselves out and find adaptive ways to deal with reality. This process requires us to face the truth, feel the pain of that experience, and ultimately transform that pain into action and authenticity. As we move through this cycle, we can acquire the skills we need to overcome our sense of doom and discover our own capacities for transcendent coping. By this I mean that we can find deep within ourselves new strength, deeper courage, and an enriched capacity to love the world.”
Wild Wisdom of the Earth Walks
First Friday of June, July, August, September 2024
Meet at Ross Creek Cedars Trailhead, 8 pm
Donations accepted
How we walk on the Earth is a literal expression of how we relate to the Earth and ourselves. Walking meditation is an incredibly powerful journey of learning to purposefully and attentively move through this world. As we learn to cultivate awareness and focus on each step taken we begin hone our mind, body, and spirit to the rhythm of the Earth. We begin to be informed by the Earth’s frequencies, awareness, and wisdom. These personalized mindful meditation walks are being held in a sacred ancient cedar grove that naturally invites us to be present with our experience. Walking through the Cedars we open ourselves to learning the wild wisdom of the Earth. The art of slowing down, listening to the silence, and walking gently on the Earth is a process cultivated through conscious intention, an open heart, and open mind.
re-wilding soul Journey
Small group guided journeys in the wilde
Available dates in 2024; June 22-23, July 20-21, August 24-25, September 21-22
Donations accepted
The only way I know how to describe this journey is a story….
I was fortunate to be raised in the mountains, my most formative memories and experiences were held in the mountains. The mountains are my family, wise learned beings who have great perspective. The Cabinet Mountains taught me how to appreciate the wild, to walk in the wild, to listen to the wild, to embrace the wild and uncontrollable forces around me. These mountains taught me to be humble before that which is unknown and unknowable all the while grateful to witness the immense magic and power before me. Then I left the mountains, molded myself in the social normative experience of college, degrees, and career, doing my utmost to “fit in,” to “do what was expected,” and “contribute to society.” Alas the more I tried to cram myself in the box of consensual reality the greater the void I felt within. There was a chasm that could never be filled with travel, art, concerts, learning, clothes, food, drugs, cars, or any other material acquisitions. The hunger that yearned inside was for reclaiming the wild within. So I returned to the mountains more humble than before, open to reacquainting myself with their wild wisdom. Now I approach the mountains with great intention and honoring. I know each journey begins with a cleaning, purification of mind, body, and soul. I know what I see in the mountains is a reflection of myself. I know how to sit in stillness, embody the void, and hear the mountains speak.
Re-wilding the soul journeys are designed to empower the participants to create their own soul relationship to the mountains. We will explore stillness and silence in the wild, listening and hearing in the wild, and the unique language the mountains speak to us. We will learn how to journey in the middle world. We will participate in Ceremony to come in Ayni with the Apus of the Mountains.