Peer-led Silent Retreat

The Contemplative Society joins the local Living Presence group in inviting you to take part in an entirely self-led silent retreat. While most of the retreat will be in silence, participants will decide the structure of sits, Lectio Divina, chanting, and supportive debriefing to help bolster each other’s practice. Registration is now open!

RETREAT DETAILS

Cost: $550 CAD (including $75 non-refundable deposit)

Pre-requisite: as there is no professional leader, a minimum meditation practice of two years is recommended

Click to register now! Space is limited, and immediate payment of your non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. Questions can be directed to Ian Brown at 250-727-2480 or yg743@victoria.tc.ca. Peer-led Retreat registration (May 14-19, 2018)

Hosted by Living Presence, in association with The Contemplative Society

Location:   Cowichan Lake Research Station (7060 Forestry Road, Mesachie Lake, BC)

Dates:        Monday, May 14 - Saturday, May 19, 2018

Cost:          $550 CAD

Pre-requisite: at least two years' meditation practice

PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING:

While this historic forestry camp facility offers simple, rustic charm in a lakeside, woodsy setting, it was specifically built for a team of men. While everyone will be assigned private accommodations, there are no private washrooms in the sleeping quarters and only about 10 shared washrooms and showers and, therefore, people may find they have to wait or be flexible in timing their use of these. Access to WiFi is limited, but there is cell phone reception (though we ask you to limit your use). As we held successful and rich Wisdom Schools on this site in 2014 and 2016, as well as many other retreats, we are confident that participants will reap many rewards at this location, especially if they come with the intention of bringing an open attitude, a sense of humour, and goodwill. Whatever challenges present themselves, Cynthia Bourgeault often reminds us these are precisely the conditions for experiencing the full benefit of a retreat.

The retreat will be entirely self-led; that is, participants will time the sits, choose and lead the chants, and choose and read the Lectio Divina. There will be no professional leader so participants will need to be seasoned meditators with at least two years of meditation practice. Although participants will determine the actual structure of the time, a typical day might be a half-hour sit before breakfast, extended Lectio Divina session after breakfast, break, triple-sit, then lunch followed by a two hour break. Then in the afternoon another extended Lectio, triple-sit, and supper followed by an hour of talking about the day and getting support for one’s personal experience, followed by a half-hour sit and bed. To enhance the experience, you might consider leaving cell phones, personal computers, and tablets at home. Lectio Divina could well entail the full description as given in Cynthia Bourgeault’s book Wisdom Jesus, Chapter 13. Also see http://www.contemplative.org/contemplative-practice/lectio-divina/

There are many travel routes to this destination, so we strongly encourage you to do your trip-planning research in advance of registering. Google Maps is a great place to start.

Given all the above, we ask you to carefully consider if this event is suitable to you prior to registering.

Once your registration is confirmed, we will ask that you pay a non-refundable retreat deposit ($75 CAD) to hold your spot at this event (deposits will not be accepted prior to confirmation). Details for sending your deposit will be provided in your confirmation email. Spaces will be reserved in the order registrations are received.