Awaken In Nature Summer Retreat
Since early 2023, Patch of Heaven Sanctuary has welcomed nature enthusiasts, mindfulness practitioners, and anyone seeking peace and rejuvenation to spend a day in quiet contemplation within our tranquil, sacred grounds. This practice of retreat offers a chance to reconnect with oneself and nature.
Our Chief Experience Officer, Suzanne Jewell, envisioned a “Signature Series” held quarterly, each event celebrating the seasons and honoring the tradition of meditation retreats worldwide. These retreats provide an opportunity to “take a day away” (or more, reflecting her commitment to the Vows of Refuge).
What does retreat mean?
- Finding space to breathe and be.
Why should you retreat?
- To settle into summer and provide vital rest for your mind, body, and spirit.
Awaken In Nature Summer Daylong Mindfulness Retreat:
This immersive daylong experience invites you to leave behind the hustle and bustle of city life. Embrace “slow living” by starting the day with a simple yet powerful act:
- Disconnect: Drop off your phone and disconnect from technology.
Agenda Highlights:
- Intention Board: Pause and reflect at our Intention Board, setting your “sankalpa” or aspiration for the day, guiding your heart and mind.
- Mindfulness Setup: Awaiting you is a jewel-toned meditation cushion, a personal journal, a Heart Stone, and a color-coordinated yoga mat.
This retreat aims to foster a community of practitioners drawn to nature, encouraging a gentler way of living in harmony with the Cycle of Life. Explore ancient meditation and contemplation practices grounded in the 2600-year-old traditions of insight (vipassana) and present moment awareness.
Nature’s Healing Power:
The day guides guests to set aside the hectic hustle, embracing the soothing rhythms of nature within our 20-acre forest preserve and sanctuary. Mindfulness in nature, shown by the NIH to reduce anxiety and increase calm, is more than a simple walk; it’s about experiencing nature deeply.
Mindful Pocket Park Exploration:
Learn about earth-focused awareness practices, delve into the neuroscience of anxiety, and discover the antidote through our Mindful Pocket Park. Practice “Paying Attention With Your Senses” (P.A.W.S) using sight, sound, scent, touch, and taste to heighten present moment awareness. Enjoy the birdsong, the breeze, the uplifting chimes in our Sound Garden, and the sacred act of offering a prayer at our Tibetan Prayer Wheel in the Touch Garden.
Guidance and Support:
Led by trained teachers of mindfulness, yoga, resilience, and sound healing, this retreat offers first-hand experience of the benefits of increased awareness, concentration, meditation, and contemplation.
Join us to explore the day’s soothing spaces, tastes, and shared moments, and reconnect with nature and yourself in this unique and enriching retreat.
Learn more about each instructor and the day’s activities by visiting our website. Secure your spot today and prepare to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary.
