The Web of Life: A Retreat for Contemplative Solidarity

With Cynthia Bourgeault joining for a morning online, Heather Ruce in person, and more…

Dates: November 20-23, 2023

Location: Online or at Lake Loon Retreat Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C. 

In-Person Registration Here

Zoom Registration Here

How do contemplatives engage the world when forest fires, floods, and political uproar are happening in our own backyards? How do we stand in contemplative wisdom and be present in depth to the beauty and suffering inherent to the web of life on this blue-green planet?

We invite you t

o join The Contemplative Society board for three days as we learn from, and practice with Cynthia Bourgeault (joining online for one session), Heather Ruce (in person), and each other (in person and online). With an intention of stabilizing ourselves in compassion, discernment, forbearance, creativity, and spiritual strength and courage, we’ll take a deep dive into contemplative solidarity and imaginal practices, as well as centering prayer, lectio divina, chant, movement, and silence.

The retreat and practices will be facilitated by TCS board members Therese DesCamp, Lorie Martin, Henri Lock, and Jesse Burson. Heather will be joining us in person for live teaching, chant, and movement. Cynthia will be joining us remotely via Zoom for a morning to dialogue with retreat members about the questions and observations that emerge from our work together.

Please see Our Team page for more information about our facilitators, including Heather Ruce.

Details:

Join us in-person at Loon Lake in beautiful Maple Ridge, BC, or online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and be made available for all registrants following the conclusion of the event. 

Zoom Option: Registration costs are are $200 CAD. 

In-Person Option: Registration costs include the program, food, and accommodation. Depending on the accommodation type selected, total costs range from $825 to $975 CAD. In-person room assignments are based on first-come-first-served registrations. Shared accommodations will be two people to a room until we run out, and then we will offer dorm accommodations (max. four people to a room). 

Scholarships: A limited number of scholarships are available for both in-person and Zoom participants (max. 50% discount on shared accommodations or Zoom fees only). For enquiries, please contact us at admin@contemplative.org.

Online Event Schedule

The Zoom participant room will open early, before the sessions outlined below, to provide participant an opportunity to engage. 

In-Person Event Schedule (Pacific time)Monday, November 20^th3:00-4:00 pm: Check-in5:30pm: Talking Dinner7:00 pm – 8:30pm: Welcome, Introductory Circle, & Overview of the Retreat ending with Centering Prayer & into the Great Silence

Note: *Nature Alter, Memory Cairn, Stations for processing are available throughout – Documents provided for Zoom participants

*Spiritual Direction offered by Lorie Martin, Therese DesCamp, Henri Lock, & Jesse Burson – in person as available

*Some of the Practice Sessions led by Therese DesCamp, Lorie Martin, Henri Lock, and Jesse Burson 

Tuesday, November 21^st7:15am: Silent Prayer at the Lake7:30am: Morning Centering Prayer8:00am: Silent Breakfast9:30am: Morning Teaching Session: Stabilizing Ourselves in Mystical Substances (with Heather Ruce)11:00am: Break11:15am: Morning Practice Session: Lectio Divina (with Therese Descamp)12:00pm: Lunch followed by Contemplative free time3:00pm: Afternoon Teaching Session: The Relational Web & Honoring Pain (with Heather Ruce)4:15pm: Break4:30pm: Afternoon Practice Session: Outside Heart Opening Walk (with Heather Ruce)5:30pm: Dinner7:00pm- 8:30pm: Evening Sharing Circle Session ending with Centering Prayer & into the Great Silence

Wednesday, November 22nd7:15am: Silent Prayer at the Lake7:30am: Morning Centering Prayer8:00am: Silent Breakfast9:30am: Morning Question/Response Session (with Cynthia Bourgeault) 11:00am: Break11:15am: Morning Practice Session: (with Heather Ruce)12:00pm: Lunch followed by Contemplative free time3:00pm: Afternoon Teaching Session: Engaging the World (with Heather Ruce)4:15pm: Break4:30pm: Afternoon Practice in Nature (with Lorie Martin)   5:30pm: Dinner7:00pm- 8:30pm: Evening Sharing Circle Session ending with Centering Prayer & into the Great Silence

Thursday, November 21^st

7:15am: Silence at the Lake7:30am: Morning Centering Prayer8:00am: Breakfast and Personal prayer timePack up and Room checkout…bags to meeting room or vehicles9:45am- 12:00pm: Closing Circle11:00am: Break11:15am: Closing Eucharist Mass on the World (with Henri Lock)12:00pm: Lund and Departure

To register, please select either the in-person form or the Zoom form below:

• In-person registration form

• Zoom registration form