Bodhi Seeds Retreat - Tools for the Great Turning
13th November - 6th December 2020
An awakening journey for experienced young adults (aged 18-35)
Beginning with a multi day wilderness meditative journey, followed by a one week gentle Vipassana/Samata residential retreat and finishing with an artistic integration and visioning time.
This year's inquiry will focus on our relationship to the wilderness. Participants will be hungry for the intimacy with nature and have a willingness to live simply
Why
We are facing the collapse of the natural environment, facing challenges to our old social and economical structures. There is a need for active hope, to participate in and support wholesome communities, where integrated and mature human beings contribute for the birth of a new culture.
"Do not look away. Do not avert your gaze. Do not turn aside. This teaching clearly calls for radical attention and total acceptance." Joanna Macy
We believe that supporting young adults in their journey through life and their awareness/connection with what is going on in the world is one of the most significant things to participate well in the ongoing change. We aspire to give the participants strong tools to navigate their development through life. Meditation, sacred art and rite of passage into the Great Turning.
How
Learning and deepening skills to cultivate awareness, clear seeing, compassion and loving kindness; a care for ourselves and all our relations; a mode of being that integrates all and responds to the world in a wholesome way.
Practically, we are going to start in the nature of the KahurangiNational Park for a yatra style moving meditation combined with a vision solo quest. A way to connect in nature as we connect with ourselves and our wild natural way of being.
On our return we will begin a 2 week Vipassana/Samatha meditation retreat. We will explore meditation as a method for deep caring and inquiry. Calming the body/brain/mind/community to allow for nature to bring forth insight and deepening understanding. The main tool will be daily meditation with Open Floor, Deep Ecology inquiry, Feldenkrais, Compassionate Communication and Heart Sharing. We aspire to integrate this praxis with offerings, a care for the land and for the community through gardening, cooking, art and sharing circles.
We aspire to wire for goodness a seamless flow of kindness, interest, patience and love for the world.
The Program, When and Where
The program was built in the aspiration to offer young adults spaces to deepen their understanding and practice of awareness, clear seeing, compassion and loving kindness. It will also increase their connection with nature and community living.
Separation / Setting Aspiration / Intention, 13th-18th Nov - Welcome in Treesong and wilderness journey in the Kahurangi National Park from.
Practically, we are going to start in the nature of the Kahurangi National Park for a yatra style moving meditation combined with a vision solo quest. A way to connect in nature as we connect with ourselves and our wild natural way of being. A moment to let go of the busy life and set our aspiration.
Transition / Deeper dive in meditation, 18th-26th Nov - A deeper dive in meditation: 7 days Samatha-Vipassana retreat at the supportive environment and history of Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
On our return we will begin a week of Vipassana/Samatha meditation retreat. This will be a deepening time with a larger block of noble silence. We will explore meditation as a method for deep caring and inquiry. The main tool will be daily meditation with body work, compassionate communication and Heart Sharing.
Return / Integration and community living, 26th Nov - 6th Dec - Integration time in community at Treesong Education and Agroecology Home.
Coming out of Wangapeka we will explore returning to society with time to assimilate. We aspire to integrate the learned praxis and experiences with offerings, a care for the land and for the community through gardening, cooking, art and sharing circles.
We aspire to wire for goodness a seamless flow of kindness, interest, patience and love for the world.
Open week at Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre:
The period between 18th to 26th of November will be open to any experienced young adult (aged 18-35) that wants to deepen your meditation practice in community.
It will be a gentle, deep, embodied offering held by three long time facilitators, Jaime Howell, Juliana Griese and Andy McIntosh, taking place in the beautiful and supportive environment and history of Wangapeka.
If you are interested in participating just for this period, check all the information and register through the Wangapeka Website (link coming soon).
Team
Managing and facilitation
Jaime Howell
Juliana Griese
Andy McIntosh
Elders, spiritual holders and supports
Tarchin Hearn and Mary Jenkins
Who
This is an intimate offering for young adults who want to integrate their understanding and practice of meditation with the living earth. Places are available by application. Participant requirements
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A consistent meditation practice
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A willingness to live outdoors and cope well with adversity
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Overall mental and emotional stability, can cultivate moments of resilience, can receive feedback, exist on the edge, self regulate emotions
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Willingness for adventure, to enter the great not knowing.
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Live with the challenges and blessing of being in a community.
This retreat is to support the change makers. Young people who feel motivated to learn how to plant, grow and harvest the fruits of mindfulness and more for the wellbeing of everyone and everything.
Registration for the core groups, the folk committed to the full journey (from 13th November - 06th December): https://forms.gle/aDe6ZGoC5fbdXFa46
There are just 4 places available for the 3 weeks retreat and 14 for the period in Wangapeka.
Registration just for the Wangapeka part of the retreat (18th-26th November): We will update soon here the registration system for this Period
Costs
Our aspiration is that young people can afford this opportunity.
If the cost is a limitation for you, we are open to hear your needs and think together about some possibilities that can support you. Yes there are some possibilities that are already in our view.
Bodhi Seeds full journey, from 13th November to 06 December including the period at Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
Sliding scale $1072 - $ 1297 - including food, accomodation and the transport necessary for us during this three weeks exploration.
$1072 is the baseline - camping as a member in Wangapeka, without fee for the organization and dana that you may choose to give;
$1297 includes stay in a unit as a non member in Wangapeka, a fee for the organization without Dana.
In the Wangapeka period the cost vary due to the type of accommodation (unit or camp) that you choose and if you are a member or not. Let us know your preference about accommodation and if you are a member or intend to be one, so we can send you the cost options with more precision.
For the teachings and facilitation you can choose to give what is in your heart combining with what is possible for you at this moment.
Bodhi Seeds, a deeper dive in meditation and community, from 18th - 26th November at Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
Sliding scale $504 - $826 - including food and accomodation for this 7 days retreat.
$504 - is the baseline - camping as a member in Wangapeka, without fee for the organization and dana that you may choose to give;
$826 - includes stay in a unit as a non member in Wangapeka, a fee for the organization without Dana.
The cost varies due to the type of accommodation (unit or camp) that you choose, if you are a member or not and if you are willing to contribute with the organization/administration fee that covers the cost of materials and basic expenses of the facilitators like transport. Let us know your preference, so we can send you the cost options with more precision.