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Event
Old Growth Lakes ~ a 4-day Wilderness Meditation Immersion #2
OLD GROWTH LAKES: WILDERNESS MEDITATION IMMERSION #2
Discover the profound effects of meditation and yoga in wild nature!
Heal, restore, and transform through guided meditations, gentle yoga, mindfulness reflections, and nature-exploration in the stunning Cascades wilderness. Let your mind and body fully unwind, wholly supported from our elegant backcountry camp and organic kitchen, inspired by the wisdom of pristine nature and a mindful community of nature-lovers...
Hosted at private mountain-top lakes near Sweet Home, Oregon.
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RETREAT DATES:
August 22nd - 26th, 2019
Thursday 2pm - Monday 2pm
*Early Bird Deadline EXTENDED to August 7th!
**Bring a friend and get a $50. Bring a second and get another $75 off!
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RETREAT CAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS:
Our unique wilderness retreats are held in secluded wild areas, yet only require a 1/4 mile walk to access our elegant backcounty camp. Our camp includes a large open-air meditation tent with canvas floor and central fire/altar, a medium-sized open-air kitchen tent for our cooks and participant-dining, clean/private outdoor pit toilets, and beautiful areas for personal camping, swimming, and solo/group exploration. Participants are welcome to sleep in the main tent or bring a personal tent.
Our wilderness kitchen serves three locally-sourced, organic meals/day - with both vegetarian, meat, and special diet options. We have ample clean water, as well as tea & coffee available.
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RETREAT OVERVIEW: (see below for detailed retreat schedule)
Each day offers guided sitting and walking meditations, gentle yoga, dharma talks with Q&A, and wilderness explorations through the local ecologies - as well as personal time for rest and rejuvenation. In addition, each participant will meet one-one with the teacher to discuss their practice.
The meditation instruction is inspired by the teachings of the Insight Meditation tradition (based in Theravada Buddhism), the practices of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR), the inspiration of Western scientific insight (evolutionary biology, ecology, psychology), and most importantly, the pervading presence of Nature itself.
We hold the majority of the retreat in "noble silence", honoring the spirit of inward contemplation and presence.
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TESTIMONIALS:
"The space you heartfully chose for the retreat was and is beyond magical, and exactly what my being was in need of. Every aspect of the Nature's Heart Retreat felt like meditation, from walking, to seeing, and eating, and of course, breathing, and has followed me back into the society that I am a part of. Brushing my teeth is an experience now, and I am just beyond grateful for the opportunity to slow down enough to notice the details of it all, and the hilarious thread of thought that I am now able to appreciate and recognize in the midst of it all."
- Rivka Abrahmson, Nature's Heart 2018.
"We walked in silence through ancient groves and high mountain lakes to a spacious camp set along the edges of a wide sedge grass meadow. The meals were unbelievable. Fresh, organic, and sourced from local farms. Tastefully prepared with love. Yet, among this incredible natural bounty Justin delivered Dharma talks that were grounded and accessible. He has found ways to express the ancient wisdoms of the Buddha that are applicable to our own lives here and now, in this different time and culture. To drink in the nature of oneself day after day in community with others of like mind is a transformative experience."
- Zachary Dolan, Nature's Heart 2018
"The whole experience was really beautiful. Justin led us through various mindfulness exercises while also encouraging each of us to forge our own unique path of internal reflection and outward curiosity. Jackie supported us with some of the tastiest vegan meals I've eaten in a long time; I felt my energy take a huge leap forward during the retreat. Overall the experience was wonderful; I am definitely interested in a return experience this year! Thank you Nature's Heart Retreat!
- Jason-sai Gamble, Nature's Heart 2018
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TEACHERS:
Wild Nature
Wild nature is a powerful teacher. In its authenticity, its simplicity, and its wholeness, nature imparts to us an easeful, connected way of living and being. It shows us all (beginners and experienced alike) that meditation can be easy, natural, and full of joy and meaning.
Nature also is a powerful support to our hearts and minds, reminding us to come home to the larger web of life we exist within. Held in this way, we find that challenging experiences flow with greater ease, acceptance, and understanding. We find that transformative insight and perspective on ourselves and our lives arises effortlessly in the reflection of Nature's profound presence of being.
Justin Michelson - Meditation and Mindfulness
Justin is a Eugene-area meditation and mindfulness teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition, as well as owner of Native Foods Nursery, a native plant nursery in Dexter, OR. Growing up north of Seattle, Justin's love for Nature dovetailed with mindfulness practice from an early age, evolving into a strong care for the environment and people of the Northwest.
Since 2000, he has practiced with his root teacher, Rodney Smith, who authorizes him to share the teachings of mindfulness & Insight Meditation. He has also completed Spirit Rock Meditation Center's Community Dharma Leadership program, Mark Coleman's Awake in the Wild nature-meditation training, and is in process to become certified through UC San Diego in MBSR.
He lives in an earthen cabin at a retreat center in Dexter, OR, from where he leads retreats, runs his nursery, and teaches at the nearby Eugene Insight Meditation Center, including bi-annual intro courses, day-long retreats, and weekly talks. His teachings weave together the essential teachings of the Dharma with a deep love for the natural world and the Northwest Bioregion.
Jacquelyn Rose - Yoga Instructor and Head Chef
Jacquelyn is a registered yoga teacher, holistic health practitioner, and culinary creative. She will be leading efforts in the camp-kitchen for the weekend, while also guiding yoga practice daily. She has completed 400-hours of yoga teacher training and leads group and private classes at yoga studios, gatherings and festivals alongside offering workshops and retreats. She is a certified Holistic Health Counselor through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and has a dedication to supporting sustainable agriculture through mindful nutrition. She is a lover of the outdoors and values the connection between the health of our bodies and the health of the Earth.
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SUGGESTED DONATIONS: (see registration avenues below)
Four full days of meditation/yoga teaching, gourmet organic meals, & camping accommodations.
1) Organization Donation: $239 - $299 before June 1st ($50 more after)
$239 - Subsidized donation
$269 - Sustaining donation
$299 - Supporting donation
***The organization donation is designed to meet the costs of administration, insurance, rent, outreach, supplies, movement-teachers, and set-up/clean-up. Its not designed to pay the main teacher a living wage for preparing teachings, holding the retreat container, meeting with participants, or follow up. Hence, there is an additional Teacher Donation for that purpose, to support the work and livelihood of the teacher.
***Payment plans available (inquire within)
2) Teacher Donation ("dana"): (offered at the end of the retreat via cash/check)
***Offering mindfulness teachings on a donation basis comes from the tradition of Insight Meditation. It keeps these powerful mindfulness practices accessible, honest, and communal. However, it only works if attendees incline their hearts to understand and participate in it. We invite you to consider this as a spiritual practice of generosity and loving-kindness. Any amount is welcome, but please offer the teacher what feels generous to you while also within your financial means. The offering supports the livelihood of the teacher and their work. This donation is offered via cash or check at the end of their retreat. Thank you. Please let us know if you have any questions.
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WORK-TRADE POSITIONS: The positions below provide partial trade program. They require firm commitment and follow-through and hard work. Inquire with your interest and experience at naturesheartretreats@gmail.com.
1) Group Camp Take-down #1 (full-trade minus $40 impact fee)
2) Group Camp Take-down #2 (full-trade minus $40 impact fee)
3) Skilled Kitchen Assistant #1 (half-trade)
4) Skilled Kitchen Assistant #2 (half-trade)
***If you are unable to work-trade or meet the suggested donation amounts, we are still open to working with you! Please contact naturesheartretreats@gmail.com for special scholarship opportunities.
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DETAILED RETREAT SCHEDULE: (see below for more on the power of "natural mindfulness")
The overall retreat and each day has a consciously designed flow: The mornings have a consistent, grounding structure, then opening to more spacious afternoon explorations, and finally relaxing into reflective evenings around the fire and under the stars. Likewise, the tighter structure of the first day gives way to more flex time in the following days as we begin to feel more at home in ourselves and on the land.
Approximate schedule:
Thursday:
2:00pm ~ Arrive in Idanha, OR - logistics/carpooling
3:30pm ~ Arrive together at site - park/gather gear
4:30pm ~ Site tour/orientation & personal camp setup
5:30pm ~ Welcome Dinner!
6:30pm ~ Orientations to "Yogi Jobs" for the retreat
7:30pm ~ Welcome Talk & Logistics
8:00pm ~ Sitting Meditation
8:45pm ~ Closing Sharing Circle (enter "noble silence")
Friday:
6:00am ~ Wake up bell, Tea available
6:30am-8:00am ~ Sunrise Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga
8:00am ~ Breakfast Served
9:30am-12:00pm ~ Sitting/Walking Meditation.
12:00pm ~ Light Lunch Served
2:00pm-5:00pm ~ Guided Group Hike & Sitting Meditation
5:00pm ~ Dharma Talk/Q&A - 1st Foundation of Natural Mindfulness
6:00pm ~ Dinner Served
7:30pm-9:00pm ~ Sunset Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga.
9:00pm ~ Closing Sharing Circle
Saturday:
5:30am ~ Wake up bell, Tea available
6:00am-7:40am ~ Sunrise Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga
7:40am ~ Breakfast Served
9:00am-12:00pm ~ Sitting/Walking Meditations
12:00pm ~ Light Lunch Served
2:00pm-5:00pm ~ Guided Group Hike to new location & Sitting Meditation
5:00pm ~ Dharma Talk/Q&A - 2nd/3rd Foundation of Natural Mindfulness
6:00pm ~ Dinner Served
7:30pm-9:00pm ~ Sunset Sunset Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga.
9:00pm ~ Closing Sharing Circle & optional Late-Night Sitting Meditations.
Sunday:
5:30am ~ Wake up bell, Tea available
6:00am-7:40am ~ Sunrise Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga
7:40am ~ Breakfast Served
9:00am-12:00pm ~ Sitting/Walking Meditations
12:00pm ~ Light Lunch Served
2:00pm-5:00pm ~ Solo exploration/contemplation time, and optional small group meetings with the teacher.
5:00pm ~ Dharma Talk/Q&A - 4th Foundation of Natural Mindfulness
6:00pm ~ Dinner Served
7:30pm-9:00pm ~ Sunrise Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga
9:00pm ~ Final Reflection Circle (We officially break noble silence after this final reflection circle - only in the kitchen area.)
Monday Morning:
6:00am ~ Wake up bell, Tea available (back in "noble silence")
6:30am-8:00am ~ Sunrise Sitting/Walking Meditation & Yoga
8:00am ~ Personal camp clean up
8:30am ~ Breakfast Served, (break "noble silence")
9:45am ~ Group camp clean up.
10:30am ~ Closing Circle & treat
12:00pm ~ Walk to cars
12:45pm ~ Short meditation before getting back in the cars.
2:00pm ~ Back in Idanha, OR
**Sittings/Walking meditation will generally be 30 minutes in length.
***Breaks after meals will include volunteer jobs & individual meetings with the teacher (at least one during the retreat for each attendee).
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PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE ENCOURAGED:
Due to the extended length and remote location of this retreat, we encourage all attendees to have previous meditation retreat and camping experience.
Arrangements can be made for help carrying gear. Let us know if you'd like some help! : )
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REGISTRATION: There are limited spaces at the wilderness camp. Reserve your spot through one of the following avenues:
1) Send donation via PAYPAL to naturesheartretreats@gmail.com. (PREFERRED - send using "friends and family" option to avoid fees.
Make note "Old Growth Lakes")
2) Use a card on our online ticketing site: You're here already!
3) Send check to Nature's Heart Retreats at 81868 Lost Valley Ln, Dexter, OR 97431.
PAYMENT PLANS:
We offer the option of payment plans for special circumstances. Inquire at naturesheartretreats@gmail.com for more details.
CANCELLATION POLICY: see policy on Facebook event page.
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THE POWER OF NATURE MEDITATION:
On their own, mindfulness practices have been medically proven to have a plethora of beneficial effects. Mindfulness can provide relief of anxiety, depression, phobias, ADD and other mental ailments; they encourage greater relaxation, joy, peace, and other positive attitudes/emotions; they have shown to increase physical healing, immune system function, and reduce chronic pain. Mindfulness practices even have been shown to increase generous, compassionate, and kind actions in the world!
Likewise, on its own, spending time in Nature - in the presence of living things (plants/animals) or the elements (being outside) - has shown amazingly similar positive effects from a growing body of international research studies. Nature immersion can provide relief of distressful states such as depression, and anxiety and encourage wholesome states such as relaxation and joy. It can increase mental focus, improve our immune strength, heal lifelong traumas, and work through intense life changes. Nature immersion can even catalyze transformative insights and spiritual experiences that we can carry through the rest of our lives!
Mindfulness and nature-immersion are showing themselves as unmatched medicines that produce well-documented positive effects on our overall well-being and happiness. When both of these medicines are consciously combined they become an incredibly potent tonic for our body, mind, and soul. Combining the intentional activity of mindfulness with the healing presence and transmission of Nature itself amplifies the positive potentials of both.
Whether we are looking for physical, emotional/mental, or spiritual help, or all of the above, practicing mindfulness in nature is a very promising solution that may help us on our journey!
For more information, see the "About Us" tab on our FB home page.
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OTHER DETAILS:
GUIDELINES:
We will follow the guidelines of the "5 Precepts" during the retreat, mindfully refraining from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxication. On retreat, this includes refraining from sexual activity and mind-altering substances of any kind.
In addition, we will honor noble silence the main three days of the retreat (Friday/Saturday/Sunday), with the exception of individual check-ins with the teacher, practical speech during volunteer jobs, and nightly sharing circles (and of course, any emergencies). However, gentle eye-contact, heartfelt smiles, and simple favors are welcome, being sensitive to the experience of others.
These guidelines helps us all sink deeper into our own experience, sustain a safe space for everyone, and open up to the natural world. Thank you!
COMMUNAL SPIRIT:
This is a communal event ("sangha"). All participants will be required to join in taking care of the collective camp for 1hr/day. These jobs will include meal prep and dishes, bell-ringing, water filtration, fire-tending, maintaining the "bathroom", etc.
SELF CARE/GROUP CARE:
Please see the gear list below and provide for your own backcountry needs - let us know if we can help! Please arrive at the private land no later than 2:00pm on Thursday. Have all your gear ready to go, and be prepared to leave your car until Monday at 2:00pm. For practical and safety reasons, any late arrivals or early departures from the retreat must be pre-planned and approved by the facilitators. Parking space is limited - please do your best to carpool! Thank you!
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FOOD/WATER:
We will cook three simple, healthy meals/day. Vegetarian and meat options will be available. Lunch will be the biggest meal, with breakfast and dinner being lighter. Please let us know of any dietary requirements, and feel free to bring your own supplementary snacks, if needed. Also, please bring your own utensils and dishware!
Filtered water will be pumped and provided for the camp. Please bring your water bottle!
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RECOMMENDED GEAR LIST:
Backpack and small day-pack
Backpacking tent (optional - participants are welcomed to store personal items and roll out sleeping gear under the common meditation tent)
Clothes for cool and warm weather (IMPORTANT)
Hiking Boots
Socks
Rain jacket, and light rain-pants
Sleeping Bag (warm) and Sleeping Pad
Personal dishware & utensils (IMPORTANT) - plate, bowl, fork, spoon, knife.
Special foods/medications (IMPORTANT - storage available in kitchen)
Fruit Donation (for breakfast/snacks)
Sunscreen, Sunhat, Lip balm, and Sunglasses
Bugspray
Personal toilitery items needed to feel comfortable in wilderness
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Headlamp or flashlight + extra batteries
Biodegradable Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, etc.)
Water Bottle
Meditation/Yoga props. (one cushion/backjack may be sufficient. Yoga mats are optional, as yoga can be done direct on the canvas drop cloth) ***IF you need a cushion, mat, or backjack, let us know - we can likely loan you one!
Meditation Blanket
Towel (optional - if you want to swim/bathe)
Journal (optional - if you want to write!)
Pocket Knife (optional, but handy)
Wrist watch w/ alarm (optional - there will be bells if you are within ear-shot)
Special objects for altar (optional)
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INSPIRATION:
A poem by Meister Eckhart entitled "When I Was The Forest"
When I was the stream, when I was the
forest, when I was still the field
when I was every hoof, foot,
fin and wing, when I
was the sky itself,
no one ever asked me did I have a purpose, no one ever
wondered was there anything I might need,
for there was nothing
I could not love.
It was when I left all we once were that
the agony began, the fear and questions came,
and I wept, I wept. And tears
I had never known before.
So I returned to the river, I returned to
the mountains. I asked for their hand in marriage again,
I beggedI begged to wed every object and creature,
and when they accepted,
God was ever present in my arms.
And He did not say,
Where have you
been?
For then I knew my soulevery soul
has always held
Him.When I Was The Forest
When I was the stream, when I was the
forest, when I was still the field
when I was every hoof, foot,
fin and wing, when I
was the sky itself,
no one ever asked me did I have a purpose, no one ever
wondered was there anything I might need,
for there was nothing
I could not love.
It was when I left all we once were that
the agony began, the fear and questions came,
and I wept, I wept. And tears
I had never known before.
So I returned to the river, I returned to
the mountains. I asked for their hand in marriage again,
I beggedI begged to wed every object and creature,
and when they accepted,
God was ever present in my arms.
And He did not say,
Where have you
been?
For then I knew my soul
every soul
has always held
Him.
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EUGENE INSIGHT:
This event is hosted by Nature's Heart Retreats and Eugene Insight Meditation Center (EIMC), located in Eugene, OR at 1645 Oak St. It meets every Sunday evening to practice and share the Dharma from 6:30-8:00pm. Join us!
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LocationPristine Mountain-top Lakes near Sweet Home, OR (View)
Undisclosed
Sweet Home, OR 97386
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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Contact
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