Dates: June 14 – June 16, 2019; 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sliding Scale: $225 – 600. Code DR2M19.

Description:
The central metaphor of our spiritual practice is that of awakening, of “waking up”—from being asleep and often living as if in a dream. The understanding is that we don’t see our lives and experience clearly; things are in reality not as they appear to us. Yet seeing clearly, with wisdom and compassion, is possible, and out of such seeing can come skillful responses!

In this retreat, we explore four ways that we see in a distorted manner, working with understandings and practices to help us see more clearly in these four areas. We investigate how we often see in four problematic ways:

(1) through the lens of the personal self;
(2) through our social conditioning;
(3) by imagining a world of solid, enduring, separate individual beings and objects (as opposed to seeing impermanent, “empty,” interdependent phenomena); and
(4) by seeing a separation between oneself and all else (other selves and objects), where there is ultimately non-separation.

The retreat will include sitting and walking meditation, including some guided practices, as well as talks and discussion.

Date: July 6, 2019; 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sliding Scale: $75 – 200. Code DR3D19.
6 CE credits available for $60, for psychologists and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, chiropractors, K-12 educators in some districts, and acupuncturists.

Description:
Connecting our meditation practice with our speech and communication is one of the main ways to bring spiritual values further into our everyday lives. In this day retreat, we will support this intention by integrating periods of sitting and walking meditation with talks, communication exercises, and discussion. We will focus on (1) the basic teachings of the Buddha on wise speech, (2) cultivating mindfulness during speaking and listening, and (3) learning how to practice wise and compassionate speech in difficult conditions–such as when there are difficult emotions, when there is conflict, or when there are challenging interpersonal or group dynamics.

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals and K-12 educators, as well as the general public. Health care professionals will be able to incorporate the tools and practices offered in this program in ways beneficial to clients or patients. Continuing Education (CE) credit available. See below for attendance requirements and more information.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
At the end of the program you will better able to:

• Describe the foundations of skillful speech in four ethical principles as taught in the Buddhist tradition, and be able to use these principles when communicating in the health care field;
• Describe 3 ways of using skillful speech in challenging and difficult situations, useful for interactions with clients and coworkers;
• Describe 2 practical methods of developing more caring speech, including cultivating empathy in speech, that might be used in both professional and personal settings;
• Describe 2 practical ways of developing greater mindfulness and presence during speech, which, when used in a clinical setting, may result in improved patient care.

Continuing Education content level: Intermediate

Dates: Monday, December 16, 3:00pm – Monday, December 23, 11:30am; 7 nights
Sliding Scale: $1800 – 800, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 318R19.
14 CE credits available for $140, for psychologists and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors.
Will open for registration on 8/14/2019.

Retreat Description:
In this retreat, we will emphasize centering ourselves at the time of the holidays and the New Year, through quieting our minds, grounding in our bodies, opening up our hearts, and using inquiry to help give energy to our practice. There will be a special emphasis on opening to the darkness, including to our difficulties and challenges, as well as to the coming light–to our beauty, joy, wisdom, and love. The retreat will include complete meditation instructions, sitting and walking meditation, daily loving kindness practice, daily qigong practice, evening talks, practice discussions, and a Winter Solstice ceremony.

Financial assistance is available for all Spirit Rock residential retreats. Our scholarship rate is $40/night and available for all those with financial hardship with special funds allocated to People of Color (POC), folks with serious medical conditions, and young adults (age 18-26). Scholarship funding is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Scholarships are budgeted per retreat and because they are in high demand, can run out quickly. We encourage you to register for a retreat as close as possible to the registration opening date (lotteries are an exception).

A unique scholarship opportunity — the Hemera Contemplative Fellowship! If you are 18 years of age or older with a commitment to service — serving others through your profession — you should consider reviewing the eligibility for this Fellowship. In general, this Fellowship is for those who are full-time in the listed eligible professions and are new to silent residential retreat practice. Follow this link for more detailed information: Hemera Contemplative Fellowships. ONE scholarship allowed per person, per calendar year.

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. Health care professionals will be able to incorporate the tools and practices offered in this program in ways beneficial to clients or patients. Continuing Education (CE) credit available. See below for attendance requirements and more information.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
Based on the content of this program, you will be able to:

• List 4 ways of developing mindfulness, of different parts of our experience;
• Describe a loving-kindness meditation that may be useful during difficult times;
• Describe practices that may be used during stressful times, such as holidays or family gatherings, to find balance and calm;
• Incorporate mindfulness of breath practices to settle and stabilize awareness and to calm the mind, that may be used in preparation for and when working with clients.
• Incorporate various mindfulness practices to improve emotional self-regulation, that may be used while working with clients;
• Utilize body awareness practices to deepen presence and the ability to listen well with clients;
• Demonstrate three ways to bring mindfulness into daily life in ways that improve well-being;
• Demonstrate three ways to bring lovingkindness into daily life in ways that improve well-being;
• Describe the applicability of mindfulness meditation as a resource for health care providers;
• Utilize Qigong movements to develop the centering and grounding of the body, and settling and calming of the mind and body.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory