Belonging, Bridging, Becoming: An Immersive Residency for Young Adults
Humanity and the planet are going through a rite of passage where we’re being compelled to learn to live in new ways and get a sense of what matters most to us.
—M. Rako Fabionar, Program Director,
Innovative Living and Learning Institute
Transformative Friendships Build Bridges
In the early 2000s, I ran ballot measure campaigns across the country to ensure that LGBTQ people couldn’t be fired or kicked out of their homes for being gay. In these campaigns, hundreds of us went door to door, telling neighbors and strangers our stories in hopes that they’d see us as human. These were hard conversations. Many of us had to confront our biggest fear: that we would be rejected because of who we knew ourselves to be.
Practice: Ramadan and Fasting of the Heart
“The observance of Ramadan puts you in a mindset where you think about relationships with others, life, blessings, generosity; it settles you into appreciation,” notes our colleague and Fetzer senior program officer Mohammed Mohammed.
Through your experience of hunger and thirst, you value things that we often take for granted.
Practice: Ramadan and Fasting of the Heart
“The observance of Ramadan puts you in a mindset where you think about relationships with others, life, blessings, generosity; it settles you into appreciation,” notes our colleague and Fetzer senior program officer Mohammed Mohammed.
Through your experience of hunger and thirst, you value things that we often take for granted.
Group retreats return to GilChrist
We are excited to welcome group retreats back to GilChrist! Group gatherings of all types have been a hallmark of the hospitality we provide, and over the past two years, we’ve missed the connection and renewal they offer to guests. While solo retreats give much-needed respite from the rigors of daily life, a group retreat has a special way of building community through shared contemplative practices. In January, it was so good to see participants gathering again in WindHill – safely and joyously!
Compassionate Leadership a Spiritual Innovation?
Compassionate leadership, a rare skill set, is a core competency Uvinie Lubecki is dedicated to making commonplace through her work with Leading Through Connection. No stranger to the business sector, Uvinie has worked in the start-up world selecting, managing, and evaluating innovation projects. She was part of the incubation team at Aetna; head of business strategy and new product innovation at RelayHealth McKesson; and a management consultant on Deloitte’s innovation strategy team.
It Is Well With My Soul Retreat [FULL]
This retreat is fully booked. To inquire about being added to the waiting list, please reach out to Kayle Rice at the contact information below.
Deep Intimacy Couples Retreat [FULL]
This retreat is fully booked. To inquire about being added to the waiting list, please reach out to the facilitator using the contact information below.
This retreat is for couples who hope to:
The Paradox of Fall
In the northern hemisphere it is the autumnal equinox, a perfect time to share a reflection on the season by Parker Palmer. In 1995 Parker wrote a welcome for the Fetzer Institute's newly built retreat center, Seasons, which included his musings on each of the four seasons. Here we excerpt his reflection on autumn in the Upper Midwest where he lives and where the Fetzer Institute is located.
Just as You Are: Fall Yoga Retreat
Underneath the routine of doing and expectation, a gracious joy for simply being awaits. Fall is a glorious time to slow down and revel in the beauty of being enough, and GilChrist echoes that sentiment back to you. Open landscapes, cozy cabins, and sounds of nature are a balm to busy-ness, affirming that you are enough -- just as you are. With this retreat, you are invited to reflect and relax into who we are the hustle and bustle melt away. Poetry, nature, solitude, and togetherness will cocoon this special time of unwinding and unfolding layers to bask in your inner light.