Healing, Belonging and Kinning: An Ecodharma Retreat

APPLY HERE

Join us at the stunningly pristine and healing Rocky Mountain Ecodharma retreat center  for a retreat designed for empowering anyone who cares about the healing and belonging in these wild times of polycrisis (climate, genocidal wars, xenophobia, pollution, rise of fascism and mental health crisis). You could be a community organizer, healer, educator, activist, artist, scientist, journalist, lawyer, author or storyteller working. Through silent meditation, movement/yoga, guided dialogue, a deep grief and rage ceremony, an extended “Solo” time in nature, small affinity group work, and dharma talks by the teachers we will explore how we can deepen our love for each other and develop kinship with all beings. The two key aspects of this retreat that we will build up to and descend from are: grief/rage ceremony and an extended “Solo” practice time in nature.

“Kritee made the retreat feel very safe and comfortable from the very beginning.  It gave me room to let go and indulge in and accept my humanity.”  (Zayd Omar)

Venue at Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Center

See website HERE  | Photo gallery HERE  |  Address map HERE

Daily schedule

Schedule Each day will include healing, belonging and kinning practices, i.e., silent seated and walking meditation, outdoor walking, rituals/ceremonies and relational practices in small groups or dyads and dharma talks by the teachers. These sessions will discuss how our bodies store and remember stresses, how can we express and release these stresses through movement, meditation, rituals, and group-work. We will also engage in ceremonial practices that tap into our gratitude, express grief, anger, despair, fear and inspire actions. Please see a draft schedule here.

Is this retreat really right for you?

This will be good for you if:

— You want to belong to your body, your mind, your human and more-than-human community. You care about ancestral energies and the intelligence and sentience of all life.

— You’ve become disenchanted with traditional silent retreats that do not include emotional connections with other participants. You no longer resonate with activism that shames people, but you deeply trust that we need inner trauma healing to build our collective power.

— You’ve begun to encounter the direct relationship between your individual spiritual or psychological healing and efficacy of your work in this world.

— You’re ready to explore what is possible through deep relating, belonging and vulnerability.

— You want to face and transform your grief, fear and anger but not be controlled by them

— You are not looking for completely silent retreat but you are willing to give silence and meditation a try. Silent meditation is not always comfortable but you know that spiritual practice is not about being comfortable.

— You are comfortable with being tested and following COVID protocols. You are also okay with silence and being away from internet and phone connection.

“The grief ritual was incredibly profound. I was heard and seen and emotionally held in a way I have never experienced.” (Rande)

This might not be for you if:

— You are not ready to look at how climate crisis is related to racial injustice and inner trauma healing.

— You are not up for the discomfort and vulnerability of sharing some of your truth with others. Our goal is emotional safety and trust, but also emotional connection, and that takes a little bit of courage and willingness to be open and honest about your feelings.

— You’re looking for a completely silent retreat or a retreat which will not have any “silent” time.

— You have a heart-lung condition such that you will have difficulty at high altitude. The retreat center is at ~8500 feet.

— You need wheelchair access.

— You will be uncomfortable by being out of contact with the world. (The staff will have the ability to make and receive emergency calls or emails on your behalf, but phone and internet are not available for personal use).

Infectious Disease Policy

See the complete infectious disease policy here.

RMERC prioritizes creating a safe and comfortable retreat environment. While we don’t require vaccinations, testing, or masks, individual retreats might have stricter policies. We recommend wearing N95 masks during travel and self-monitoring your health before arrival. If you experience symptoms, contact the retreat leader and consider adjusting your plans. HEPA air purifiers are available in shared rooms, and mask-wearing is always welcome.

“Most transformational aspects of the retreat were: Building a solid container of trust and safety, the elaborate and heartfelt rituals and ceremonies (especially the grief ceremony)…”  (Dr. Karthik Kashinath)

Cost and Scholarships

No one, especially LGBTQ, black, indigenous and other people of color, will be turned away for lack of funds.

With support from RMERC, we can offer partial scholarshipsfor people of color, LGBTQ, full-time grassroots activists, people between 18-30. If you are in need of a scholarship, please talk to us. If you can support sesshin participation of others, please let us know.

In-person:
Tuesday arrival (Five full days)
$550 (applying before February 30, 2024)
$600 (applying before March 25, 2024)
$650 (applying after March 25, 2024)

• Arrival before 3 pm on the first day.
• Dana for sesshin leaders will be welcome.

APPLY HERE/Registration

Please complete online form to apply for the retreat. Please save/print the online form as a PDF before hitting submit because some browsers have an issue sending the form across. We will send you ways to pay after your application has been accepted.

Deposit and cancellation

Our payment, cancellation and refund policy for this retreat includes:

• Nonrefundable registration deposit of $120.
• Final payments (less the nonrefundable deposit) will be due 30 days prior to the retreat.
• Cancellations 30-15 days prior will get a refund of half of the final payment.
• For cancellations inside of 15 days there will be no refunds.

Dietary needs

Food preparation will be led by brilliant chef and dharma teacher Imtiaz Rangwala. In alignment with teachings of deep nonviolence towards all beings, the food served will be vegan. Figuring menus and quantities, shopping, organizing, and cooking are complex and crucial tasks for a retreat. We provide simple, wholesome, natural, predominantly organic, vegan meals. Individuals are allowed to bring vegetarian items for personal use. We can accommodate common food allergies such as gluten, soy or dairy, but not preferences. We will never serve eggs, meat, or fish. Make sure to include on the application form full details of any special allergy or health needs you have, and we will contact you if they require discussion.

Samu (Sangha service or yogi jobs)

Some of the work necessary to support the group will be handled by participants during the retreat. You should be able to choose your job, and will keep it throughout the retreat. Most participants find serving others in this way quite enjoyable, and a great opportunity for practice in action.

What to Bring

Our retreat manager will send another retreat specific packing list and a way to sign up for Samu jobs a few weeks before the start of the retreat.