Dan Gilliam: Sacred Spaces
Sacred Spaces – A Retreat for Developing Conscious Awareness
Sacred Spaces – A Retreat for Developing Conscious Awareness
Sacred Spaces is a weekend retreat designed to assist individuals to expand their conscious awareness or spiritual connection in order to enjoy a deeper quality of life, love, purpose and usefulness. In a relaxed, safe and fun environment, participants are exposed to practical and effective means for developing their personal spiritual practice through simple meditative activities and group interaction. Personal reflection, journaling, silence and solitude are other avenues through which retreatants are reminded of the truth they know but may not be fully accessing. All spiritual paths are honored at Sacred Spaces, but no particular approach to enlightenment is taught or encouraged. Retreatants who join in this experience are affirmed in their unique phase of development and offered practical methods for progressing toward a more fulfilling or consistent spiritual process.
Sacred Spaces retreats are facilitated, but not taught. Guided, but not directed. Each individual is a valued part of the intuitive process of mutual discovery.The retreat format is simple with six group sessions, segments of free time and shared meals. Each session includes a brief introduction to a principle for developing conscious contact, a time of meditation and small group discussion of two interactive queries. Of the many spiritual concepts available six have been chosen for use at Sacred Spaces retreats. These principles are common to many paths of enlightenment and processes for change.
Six Principles for Developing Conscious Awareness (Copyright Sacred Spaces Retreats)
1. All the truth we need for life, love, healing and happiness exists within us.
2. Truth can be blocked by ego, fear, selfishness and resistance to change.
3. Awareness and growth is initiated through the process of surrender and detachment from unhealthy mental and emotional patterns.
4. Maturity is perpetuated by the willingness to be responsible for our actions and behavior and a commitment to change.
5. We grow in self-awareness and in our ability to love, trust, accept and understand one another through intimate connection with a spiritual community.
6. Our growth is measured and further developed by practicing the values of peace, love, compassion and service in daily life.
The next Sacred Spaces retreat will be held at the beautiful and quiet Grailville Center (http://www.grailville.org/) near Loveland, Ohio March 16-18, 2012. Lodgings are simple but comfortable with ample room for group gatherings. Grailville has 300 acres of nature trails, woods, pastures and wetlands. There is also an outdoor labyrinth for walking meditation which will be incorporated into the retreat program. Contact Jenna Meek, event coordinator, at meekjl@gmail.com with questions about availability, cost and registration, or register online at http://www.sacredspacesretreats.org/.
Sacred Spaces is a weekend retreat designed to assist individuals to expand their conscious awareness or spiritual connection in order to enjoy a deeper quality of life, love, purpose and usefulness. In a relaxed, safe and fun environment, participants are exposed to practical and effective means for developing their personal spiritual practice through simple meditative activities and group interaction. Personal reflection, journaling, silence and solitude are other avenues through which retreatants are reminded of the truth they know but may not be fully accessing. All spiritual paths are honored at Sacred Spaces, but no particular approach to enlightenment is taught or encouraged. Retreatants who join in this experience are affirmed in their unique phase of development and offered practical methods for progressing toward a more fulfilling or consistent spiritual process.
Sacred Spaces retreats are facilitated, but not taught. Guided, but not directed. Each individual is a valued part of the intuitive process of mutual discovery.The retreat format is simple with six group sessions, segments of free time and shared meals. Each session includes a brief introduction to a principle for developing conscious contact, a time of meditation and small group discussion of two interactive queries. Of the many spiritual concepts available six have been chosen for use at Sacred Spaces retreats. These principles are common to many paths of enlightenment and processes for change.
Six Principles for Developing Conscious Awareness (Copyright Sacred Spaces Retreats)
1. All the truth we need for life, love, healing and happiness exists within us.
2. Truth can be blocked by ego, fear, selfishness and resistance to change.
3. Awareness and growth is initiated through the process of surrender and detachment from unhealthy mental and emotional patterns.
4. Maturity is perpetuated by the willingness to be responsible for our actions and behavior and a commitment to change.
5. We grow in self-awareness and in our ability to love, trust, accept and understand one another through intimate connection with a spiritual community.
6. Our growth is measured and further developed by practicing the values of peace, love, compassion and service in daily life.
The next Sacred Spaces retreat will be held at the beautiful and quiet Grailville Center (http://www.grailville.org/) near Loveland, Ohio March 16-18, 2012. Lodgings are simple but comfortable with ample room for group gatherings. Grailville has 300 acres of nature trails, woods, pastures and wetlands. There is also an outdoor labyrinth for walking meditation which will be incorporated into the retreat program. Contact Jenna Meek, event coordinator, at meekjl@gmail.com with questions about availability, cost and registration, or register online at http://www.sacredspacesretreats.org/.