Nurturing Spirit

Listening With Love
A Nurturing Silence Retreat
October 21 - 23, 2022
In person, Samish Island, WA

In this weekend retreat of deep reflective listening, we'll explore how to listen in a way that integrates body, mind, and heart, into a loving and compassionate whole. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the ocean and Samish Island, we'll slow our momentum, cultivating a silent space to receive the healing balm of contemplative practices:

• sitting and walking meditation
• gentle yoga, breath, and embodied awareness
• mindful eating (nourishing plant-based meals)
• deep rest and relaxation

This retreat calls upon diverse wisdom traditions and is open to all levels of experience.

Our special guests will be Jonathan Prescott and Vickie MacArthur.
Keep watching for more retreat info!

Jonathan Prescott

Jonathan Prescott, BCC BCCC BCPC is a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor. As a long time ordained student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Jonathan’s practice is to support people experiencing illness and end of life, foster effective caregiving and reconnect people with their innate wisdom and compassion. Jonathan has also studied with Dharmacharya Eileen Kiera and Jack Duffy Roshi at The Mountain Lamp Community and with Frank Ostaseski of the Metta Institute and Zen Hospice Project.

Jonathan offers workshops and retreats to help caregivers become more openhearted, effective, and joyful. He has served as Chaplain in hospice, cancer care, and hospital settings. During Jonathan’s 40-year spiritual practice, he’s led and served many organizations in the Buddhist, Quaker and non-profit realms.

He is the founder of Radiant Light Zen, Morning Light Sangha, The Anacortes Mindfulness Community, and The Island Sangha. Together with his teaching partner, Michael Melancon, they support Zen students with daily meditation, retreats, and individual practice guidance.
At home in the San Juan Islands of Washington, Jonathan relishes the peaceful solitude of his small farm.

Radiant Light Zen website www.radiantlightzen.org

Jonathan is the author of The Road To Freedom: Learning To Drive With Joy And Kindness.

 Nurturing Silence Retreat: Listening With Love

Schedule 

Friday October 21st

4pm  Arrive

5:00 Tour of Samish and Facilities

6:00 Supper

7:30 Gathering/Welcoming/Introduction

8:30 Yoga Nidra/Meditation

9:00 Bed

Saturday October 22nd

6:30  Rise

7:00 Meditation

8:00 Breakfast

9:30 Session 1: Settling Into Silence

11:00 Outdoor Walking Meditation

12:00  Lunch

1:00 Rest

2:30 Session 2: Listening With our Minds, Hearts, and Bodies

4:00 Dharma Circle sharing

5:30 Supper

7:00 Singing into silence

9:00 Bed

Sunday October 23

6:30  Rise

7:00 Meditation

8:00 Breakfast

9:30 Session 3: Listening with Love

11:30  Closing Circle

12:00 Pack up Cabins

1:00  Retreat Ends

Accommodations

Each person will have their own cabin unless you are with a family member, someone from your bubble, or someone you have travelled with and wish to stay with.

We have 16 E- cabins. 8 have 3 beds, one queen, one double with a twin bunk overtop. 8 have one queen bed. Two E cabins share a bathroom and shower room with a personal sink and mirror in each cabin. E cabins will be given to those with special needs first and following that, on a first come first requested basis.

We have 40 Rustic Cabins. Some have queen beds, others have multiple twin bunks. Our rustic cabins have access to one of two bathhouses, with showers, toilets and sinks.

If you have a special need or a preference, please let us know in the notes when you register.

We also have tent and RV space, please let us know if you will be bringing a tent or RV.

What to bring

Bedding or sleeping bag and pillow.

Toiletries and towels

Water bottle

Rain Gear for outdoor activities – optional- check the weather before arriving, you may want an umbrella or hat

Walking shoes or boots for the forest and beach

Slippers for inside the Dining Hall and Yoga Space, so we don't track dirt into our spaces

Flashlight 

For classes:

Comfortable clothing

Yoga mat, strap, sash, or belt

A personal journal

Extra yoga mat if you're able

An open heart and an open mind

A few extra yoga mats will be available – please advise us if you will need one.

Chairs will be provided for those not comfortable on the floor.

*Let us know if you have any food allergies when you register, our menu will be plant-based.

Current Covid Policy - Please note that our policy is subject to change based on Covid cases

In light of Creating Connection’s enduring principles around the worth of all persons, unity in diversity, and personal responsibility, we are offering guidance for our retreats in 2022. We do this because of our call to welcome everyone including the least and most vulnerable among us.
 
First of all, our corporate responsibility at a minimum, is to follow local Covid guidelines for safe gatherings.

 
Second, each of us has a personal responsibility to consider what we can do to protect one another. Personal responsibility is:

• Updating your Covid-19 vaccination by receiving any boosters that are available. 
• Considering getting vaccinated if you have not yet done so, as it is the best way, we know of to curb the spread of Covid-19. 
• If you aren’t vaccinated, we ask that you get tested for Covid-19 no more than two days prior to arriving at camp. (free rapid tests are fine) 
• Not coming to camp if you are feeling even a little bit ill. 
• Isolating for 5 days prior to coming to camp, regardless of your vaccination status, to ensure you are not unduly exposing yourself and others to illness. 
• Wearing a mask while indoors to avoid spreading illness. 
• Ensuring good hygiene through:
• regular hand washing
• coughing or sneezing into an elbow or sleeve

Our guiding question for you is: How will you protect the precious neighbour that sits beside you at this retreat?

 
 We also encourage everyone to respect one another’s choices in how they have responded to Covid. Regardless of our individual views on vaccinations or public health mandates, we come together as one community who find unity in diversity. Some people will feel more comfortable wearing a mask and keeping their distance, others will be ready to embrace everyone. Please respect the speed and space of each person’s engagement at Listening with Love: A Nurturing Silence Retreat. We will provide color coded name tags for everyone so others will know our comfort level with contact around each other.
 
We can’t wait to spend time with you.

Your Nurturing Spirit, Creating Connection Team