We are living in a time of great uncertainty. Each day we hear about something else that is changing in the world, in the communities where we live, or in the places that we work. Sometimes, of course, change can be life-giving, opening us up to new perspectives. But sometimes navigating change can leave us feeling stressed and disoriented. This is especially true when the changes we are experiencing seem to be “happening to us”, when they feel like an abandonment of our values, or a distortion of what we thought was true. In times like this, it can become difficult to find our own “solid ground” on which to stand.
Having solid ground to stand on is essential as we experience change and disruption. A clear sense of what it is that gives our life vitality and strength can support us when we feel unsettled and unsure of what to do. It can help us open our heart and soul to our own experience. It can also open us up to understand and appreciate the experience of those around us, both within and beyond our human family.
It takes courage to live in unsteady times. It takes courage to be willing to explore what it means to be alive just now. It takes courage to choose how we will be in this moment: Will we numb ourselves, or will we do our best to awaken? Will we stay in the shadows of fear, or will we step into the light of possibility? The noise and felt chaos of the present day can leave us feeling disoriented and detached. And yet, beneath the chaos, there is still the quiet ache to belong, to make sense, to build something kinder than what we’ve inherited, to resist the status quo.
This retreat is designed for participants who are seeking connection and a brave space to make sense of how they are experiencing the unsettling and unsteady reality of our present day. In this retreat, we will claim sacred ground for discernment, renewal, and connection. We will hold space to explore the stories of our lives in order to root ourselves more firmly in our own being. And we will hold space for one another to examine questions of the soul that emerge in unsteady times such as: “What do I know about myself at this moment?”, “What does it mean to take a stand, and where are the edges of my comfort with resistance?”, and “What kind of community do I need to accompany me during this time?”. We will bring in creative expression and playful spontaneity to offer support for renewal and levity. Additionally, we will invite the instruction of Mother Earth by attuning to her gifts.
We will draw on the Practices of the Courage & Renewal Approach® to create a sacred space where participants can be on their own personal journeys while in the companionship of other gentle souls. Example practices include:
- Extending hospitality to create inclusive spaces
- Welcoming stillness (silence), slowness, and rest
- Asking open, honest questions to guide discernment
- Refraining from fixing, advising, saving, or correcting one another
- Honoring confidentiality
- Embracing diversity
The retreat will include Clearness Committees, a powerful discernment process from the Quaker tradition, where one person who seeks to explore a personally meaningful issue has an opportunity to be the “focus person” while a “committee” of three to six other participants listen deeply and offer open, honest questions in service to the focus person. Both focus person and committee members share a profound experience in this unique way of supporting one another in community.
This retreat will provide you with the opportunity to:
- Deepen your capacity to be fully present for yourself, others, and current realities
- Develop a new set of eyes through which to view issues in your life
- Slow down and renew by tending to your body, mind, and soul
- Connect more deeply with the wisdom of your inner teacher
- Take steps toward living more whole-heartedly and courageously
This retreat is limited to 18 participants. The retreat will begin with an opening circle on Friday, December 12, 2025 and end on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
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.
