“When we see enchantment in one another and ourselves, the world blows wide open. Love grows where there was none.” ~ Rene Denfeld
The desert can evoke many feelings, assumptions, and perhaps even a sense of the desert as a place of “harsh realities to avoid”. But what might we discover if we look more closely? Might a deeper look reveal a vitality and beauty that we miss at first glance? How might we approach the desert with a sense of wonder and awe? And how might the wisdom of the desert provide some guidance in our personal and collective lives?
Perhaps you are currently living with a situation or pondering a deep question that is inviting a deeper look. Maybe you desire a more congruent rhythm for daily life. Perhaps you are looking for solutions, answers and/or a way of abiding with wholeness in the current reality. The desert offers us companionship for this journey of discovery. During this retreat experience, there will be an opportunity to engage in personal work within a supportive community. Thus, we can become mirrors of wisdom for one another as we witness our individual and collective explorations and unfolding.
The Desert Enchantment Retreat invites participants to experience the unique magnificence of southwest Utah. In communion with our inner wisdom, fellow explorers, and the ecosystem of the desert, we will create a Circle of Trust® based on the work of Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal. This approach includes:
- Guided reflections rooted in metaphor, poetry, story and movement.
- Open, honest dialogue oriented by invitation and grounded in shared vulnerability.
- Individual and small-group discovery of inner wisdom, purpose and identity
- Dedicated time of discernment through Clearness Committees
The quality of our Circle of Trust space is shaped by some core practices: everything we do is invitational, and we do not engage in fixing, saving, advising or correcting one another. Instead, we listen carefully and with generosity. We learn to ask and respond to open, honest questions. These practices and the opportunity to explore the desert itself will enable us to discover the vitality, clarity, and beauty around us as we explore the ebb and flow of our experience, individually and communally.
The Center for Courage & Renewal and its facilitators do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, and marital status.
