In every season of life, there is a call to make sense of our place in the world, to discover our gifts and ways of being of service, to live into the highest vision of which we are capable, to figure out what is ours to do and find a way to do it. How do we discern that call in these tumultuous times? In the midst of political division, war, environmental destruction, and attacks on the most vulnerable members of our communities, we are pulled in many directions and may be tempted to run away or withdraw into ourselves. What can we offer our beautiful, needful world? How can we find the quiet power and groundedness that comes from listening to our souls?
In order to hear the still, small voice within, we need community. Parker Palmer writes that “If we are willing to embrace the challenge of becoming whole, we cannot embrace it alone…We need trustworthy relationships and tenacious communities of support.” In The Journey Toward Wholeness, a four-retreat series based on the work of Parker Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal, we will create such a community—– a Circle of Trust®. Guided by core principles, including the belief that everyone has an inner teacher, we will create a trustworthy, welcoming space that honors the integrity and identity of each person. We will experience the power of stories; practice the skills of deep listening, asking open and honest questions, and spiritual accompaniment; explore “shadow” and paradox as sources of insight; and embrace nature as a teacher. We will be invited to consider the questions of our lives using the cycles and metaphors of the seasons, as well as poetry, music, art, silence, and reflective practices as doorways for inspiration and transformation. A centerpiece of each retreat will be an opportunity to participate in the Quaker process of the Clearness Committee. All of this takes place amidst the natural beauty and rhythms of community life at Pendle Hill, which provide an ideal seedbed to inspire, nourish, and deepen this work.
What questions are you holding in this season? Join us for a deep dive into your soul’s journey, cultivating the ground for hope and renewal in our lives, our workplaces, our communities, and our world.
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.
