2024 in-person retreats with Susan
It would be wonderful to practice together in person.
Below are the retreats I’m teaching in 2024. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.
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May 22-26
Austin, Texas
The Spring Sessions: Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat
Fearless Creativity is a 4-day writing and meditation gathering that’s specifically designed to:
- Support you to get a lot of writing done
- Teach you meditation as a stand-alone practice and a support for creativity
- Give you the time and space you need to write
- Offer insights from my 15-year career as both a writer and a teacher
- Leave you with a 3-step daily at-home meditation and writing practice
- Demonstrate how your wisdom and creativity respond when you take a break from the busy-ness of everyday life
- Spend time in a supportive community
- Offer many opportunities to EAT TACOS!
It is a rare and precious thing to take time for yourself and your voice in this way. Bring your journals, laptops, writing projects, ideas, and intentions. I promise: words will come out!
Limited to 13 participants (includes one full scholarship)
Enrollment now open
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June 20-23
Drala Mountain Center
Red Feather Lakes, CO
Live an Awakened Life: Learn Meditation as a Spiritual Practice
In recent years, meditation has become known for its many desirable and scientifically validated outcomes. It can reduce stress and improve sleep. It repairs our immune system and helps us regulate our emotions. When combined with other therapies, it prevents relapse into depression and significantly reduces anxiety. And meditation has been embraced by corporate leaders, health-care workers, educators, and others to improve performance and foster health and well-being in our workplaces.
All well and good!
However, what often gets “left on the table” is the noble, spiritual wisdom that naturally flows from the practice – a profound, intimate experience validated by countless practitioners over thousands of years of Buddhist practice. The same technique that helps you sleep better has also been shown to cultivate patience, wisdom, and the ability to love deeply. It can even lead to complete liberation from suffering!. That’s one hell of a practice.
During this introductory program, we will explore:
- What is mindfulness-awareness meditation and where did it come from?
- How does this simple act of “sitting still” unleash wisdom & compassion?
- How can we establish a sustainable meditation practice?
- Why are the Three Supports and theThree Sacred Acts central to the practice?
This program will offer a thorough and gentle introduction to mindfulness-awareness meditation with time for discussion and optional personal conversation with one of the teachers. Short daily yoga sessions included.
Registration details here.
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June 26-July 6
Drala Mountain Center
Red Feather Lakes, CO
Authentic Presence and the Feminine Principle: A Heart Sutra Retreat
The Heart Sutra – the most pith of the Prajnaparamita Sutras – is a central text throughout all of Buddhism. It is widely revered, demonstrably powerful, and, one could say, thoroughly incomprehensible – at least by the conceptual mind. This is all great news.
In the Buddhist tradition such great news is depicted as the feminine principle – the profound, primordial wisdom that reveals enlightenment to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas: The “Great Mother” – the Prajnaparamita. When we, as practitioners, enter her realm of reverence, power, and mystery, we approach and embrace true awakening, a freedom unattainable through aspiration, intellect or even hours of meditation. Yet, it is in the blending of deep study, disciplined practice, and letting go where we invoke and embrace this magic of “non-attainment,” bringing the feminine principle vibrantly into our lives.
On this 10-day retreat, we will bring these three elements together – study, meditation, and letting go – as we practice “The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge” in a supportive and spacious community. We will explore what is meant by authentic presence and the feminine principle, how each is invoked in our practice to reveal liberation, balance, and joy.
Our time together will include group discussion, optional morning yoga, individual meditation instruction (upon request) and opportunities to rest your body, breath, and mind.
Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows will be offered.
Registration details here.
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October 16-20
Austin, Texas
The Fall Sessions: Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat
Fearless Creativity is a 4-day writing and meditation gathering that’s specifically designed to:
- Support you to get a lot of writing done
- Teach you meditation as a stand-alone practice and a support for creativity
- Give you the time and space you need to write
- Offer insights from my 15-year career as both a writer and a teacher
- Leave you with a 3-step daily at-home meditation and writing practice
- Demonstrate how your wisdom and creativity respond when you take a break from the busy-ness of everyday life
- Spend time in a supportive community
- Offer many opportunities to EAT TACOS!
It is a rare and precious thing to take time for yourself and your voice in this way. Bring your journals, laptops, writing projects, ideas, and intentions. I promise: words will come out!
Limited to 13 participants (includes one full scholarship)
Enrollment now open