REGISTRATION for

Lama Willa Blythe Baker’s April Charlottesville Retreat

“Rewilding the Heart”

April 28 – 30, 2023

Sponsored by the Jefferson Tibetan Society (http://jts.avenue.org)

From the Buddha to the Dzogchen yogis of Tibet, ancient masters have long relied on the power of the natural world to nurture peace and awaken insight. Following their example, we too can learn to commune with and receive teachings from the natural world. Join Lama Willa as we explore the power of trees, streams, ponds, open skies, leaves, birds, animals and winding paths to open us to the meaning of meditation.

Rewilding the Heart is inner work that helps us attune to the wisdom and love that are always flowing around and through us, the non-conceptual voices of the natural world that seek to draw us home to our deepest being, our core of authentic compassion, kindness, and availability to extend ourselves to each other and the wider world.

Through rekindling our innate interconnectedness with the natural world, we simultaneously discover the spacious, luminous, and awake qualities of our own being. Within this web of interconnectedness, we discover that liberation from suffering and the freedom to realize our aspirations are not about transcending the human condition, but about finding the inherent freedom within it.

  (See attached for complete retreat description)

Retreat Description:                                “Rewilding the Heart”

From the Buddha to the Dzogchen yogis of Tibet, ancient masters have long relied on the power of the natural world to nurture peace and awaken insight. Following their example, we too can learn to commune with and receive teachings from the natural world. Join Lama Willa as we explore the power of trees, streams, pond, open skies, leaves, birds, animals and winding paths to open us to the meaning of meditation.

Rewilding the Heart is inner work that helps us attune to the wisdom and love that are always flowing around and through us, the non-conceptual voices of the natural world that seek to draw us home to our deepest being, our core of authentic compassion, kindness, and availability to extend ourselves to each other and the wider world. 

Rewilding work takes us through three phases: 

1. Preparing the Ground: Preparing the ground involves slowing down and learning to listen deeply. This is a mode of deep receptivity to the wisdom of the wild, and the wisdom of our own body, our emotions  and our true nature.

2. Walking the Path: The path of Rewilding is one of cultivating sacred relationship, a deep, rich sense of intimacy with ancestral lineage, plant beings, animal beings, wild spaces and one’s own wild nature within. Path work includes developing skills for accessing inner stillness, insight and self-compassion.

3. Extending Care Beyond Self: Extending is not a cultivation in a conventional sense. It is the result of the work of rewilding the heart…extending  happens spontaneously when we discover that we have never been separate from what we wish to protect, nor from what threatens it. This truth of non-separation is not a cultivation, but rather a reality that emerges with practice.

On this retreat, participants will develop a repertoire of practices and approaches that allow us to embark on a pilgrimage to rewild the heart. We will learn how communing with the elemental forces of fire, water, earth, air, and space can heal the body, transform the heart and liberate the mind. During this retreat, our “meditation hall” will migrate from the forest to the shores of a pond, from open fields to winding trails.

Following a communal dinner, we will open the retreat Friday evening with a fire puja. We will ground in practice and teaching in Bridge Between the Worlds’ beautiful meditation hall and as weather permits, our days will be spent meditating in the temple of the verdant spring of rural Keswick, VA. We will learn how to take the principles of meditation into walking, hiking, and other forms of mindful movement.

Through rekindling our innate interconnectedness with the natural world, we simultaneously discover the spacious, luminous, and awake qualities of our own being. Within this web of interconnectedness, we discover that liberation from suffering and the freedom to realize our aspirations are not about transcending the human condition, but about finding the inherent freedom within it.

All levels of meditation practice are welcome. 

We will observe noble silence during this retreat.

RETREAT LOCATION:    Bridge Between the Worlds

https://bridgebetweentheworlds.com/

COVID POLICY:  This retreat will follow NDF’s COVID policies as per Lama Willa’s request.

For more information visit:  https://naturaldharma.org/covid/

• Proof of vaccination at check-in
• Negative COVID test 24 hours or less before registration
• Masks required in the food serving area only
• Encouraged to bring with you 1-2 rapid COVID tests

LIABILITY FORM: You will be asked to sign the attached liability form as part of the retreat check-in on Friday afternoon, April 28.

MEALS:  Lunch and dinners will be catered by Botanical Fare, a local plant based restaurant. https://www.botanicalfare.com. In April, a survey will be sent to you inquiring of any dietary needs and/or allergies.

DATE AND TIME DETAILS:

    Friday, April 28  Check In                4:30 – 5:45 pm

                                   Dinner                   6:00 – 7:00 pm

                                   Evening Session   7:15 – 9:00 pm

    Saturday Sessions  9:00 – 5:00   Lunch & Snacks provided

                                                              (Dinner sign-up optional for commuters) 

    Sunday Sessions   9:00 – 4:00      Lunch & Snacks provided

*See specific schedules for commuters and residential participants on the registration pages.

REGISTRATION FEES:  All registration fees include Friday dinner, lunches & snacks.

*Due to the limited size of this retreat & fee commitments involved to sponsor it, we appreciate receiving your registration & fees as soon as possible for planning purposes!

     Commuters:      (Add $20 for optional Saturday Dinner)

                                  Program Fee:   $245                                  

                                  Suggested Benefactor Option:  $300  (to support scholarships)

     Residential:     Program Fee:  $285  (Includes Sat./Sun. breakfast & Saturday dinner)

                                      PLUS accommodation costs (rooms, couches, camping available)

                                Suggested Benefactor Option:  $340 (to support scholarships)

                                       *See Residential Registration page for accommodation costs

                                 Limited scholarship opportunities are available.  For more

information, please contact: lamawilla.cville@gmail.com

RETREAT CANCELLATION POLICY:

Because of the limited accommodations at Bridge Between the Worlds, room accommodation fees are non refundable under any circumstances, unless someone is on the waiting list and able to step in and take your spot.  Cancellations for commuters or residential participants more than 4 weeks before the start of the retreat will be charged a $75 cancellation fee; between 4 weeks to 11 days prior to the program will be charged a $150 cancellation fee. For any cancellations 10 days or fewer prior to the start date of the retreat, no refunds are offered.

However, if you are feeling ill, feel you might have been exposed to the COVID virus, or test positive for COVID, please cancel your attendance at this retreat, even on registration day. In this case, we will provide a full refund of your registration payment.

Registration: 

TO REGISTER, CLICK ON THE APPROPRIATE LINK BELOW:

The link takes you to SignUpGenius  –  Click “Sign Up” – 

At the Bottom of the Page Click “Save and Continue” which takes you to the registration page.

COMMUTER:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BAAA82EA3F8C61-lama   

RESIDENTIAL:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BAAA82EA3F8C61-lama1

FAQs:

NOBLE SILENCE:  This retreat will observe Noble Silence to enhance our weekend practices of silence, contemplation, and meditation. Noble Silence is a practice in which participants refrain from talking in order to reduce distractions and deepen their practice. This can be a bit strange for those who are new to it, but it is a time-tested and effective method for connecting with our deeper selves, below the level of conceptual thought.

COMMUNICATION:  You are strongly encouraged to unplug from email, computer, and cell phone activities while on retreat. We do understand that there are some cases when contact with the outside world may be necessary. If you need to check email or make a phone call, please do so away from other participants, so that care is taken not to disturb others.

SMOKING:  Bridge Between the Worlds is a smoke-free facility. No smoking is permitted in the building or anywhere on the premises.

ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUGS:  Bridge Between the Worlds is also an alcohol-and-drug-free facility. None are allowed unless proof of prescription is shown at check-in.

DRESS: Dress at this retreat is relaxed and informal. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as well as seasonally appropriate items for warmth or comfort. Layers of clothing are best, as temperatures tend to fluctuate in the spring.

PETS:  We cannot accommodate pets, however there is one cat on premises. Please note in the comment section of your registration if you have an allergy to cats.

FRAGRANCE:  While we strive to provide a fragrance-free environment on this retreat, some products that are used in cleaning may have subtle scents. If you are extremely sensitive to fragrances, please include this information in the comments section of your registration form. We ask that you please refrain from using perfumes/colognes  while attending this retreat.

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