Fall 2020 Workshops
Walking the Labyrinth of the Soul: St. Teresa's Inner Castle
Online Program Offered by Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, North Andover, MA Wednesday, November 4th, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All passes away except God and God alone is sufficient. -St. Teresa We often pause approaching a labyrinth. It’s as if the soul ‘knows’ what’s coming in that very moment of ‘not knowing.’ Yet, love compels us and so we step. Ah, but this is no ordinary love for, as we move ever closer to our interior center where the diamond shines brightest, we discover that this love requires the ultimate sacrifice: the gift of our self so we may experience our birth in Christ. But we don’t know yet, as the little butterfly in the last mansion, the ecstasy that comes from the death of all that has stood in the way of us walking with our God. We don’t know so we step reverently holding fast to St. Teresa’s assurance, “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All passes away except God and God alone is sufficient.” Join us and walk the inner labyrinth as it weaves through the seven mansions in St. Teresa’s interior castle, progressively revealing the many facets of the inner diamond. Explore with interactive reflection, Christian mantra practice, circle dance, and experiential exercises. Come and catch a glimpse of the butterfly within. It just may compel you to wonder at the joy—the joy St. Teresa says will make the soul forget itself, forget everything, except that which proceeds from this joy—namely the praises of God. Previous Workshops & Events: Journey to the High Places: Themes from Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard Online Workshop Offered by Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center Wednesday, May 20th, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM Free to the public with optional donation to Rolling Ridge! “It is so happy to love,” said the Shepherd quietly. “There is pain too, certainly, but Love does not think that very significant.” Join us as we journey with MUCH AFRAID on her quest to follow the Good Shepherd to the high places where the Kingdom of Love resides. On the way, we, like MUCH AFRAID, will taste the eternal wisdom revealing just how we too may triumph over fear and darkness, that weeping that endures in our darkest nights, to know joy that comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5). We, too, will begin to taste freedom from those ties that bind when we discover how every challenging circumstance, when seen through the eyes of love, can be transformed. And we, too, just might begin to see ourselves as God sees us. On this online Day Apart retreat, we’ll blend interactive discussion of the major themes from this beloved allegory with Christian mantra practice, creating the conditions to hear in God’s own contemplative language: silence. We’ll journey into our interior landscapes to discover there twelve stones which just may reveal their secrets to us if we could hear—secrets we need to know to reach the Kingdom of Love. And we, too, like MUCH AFRAID, will be brought into the humble stillness as Love has its way with us, transforming us into Grace and Glory. Join us. Who knows? You, too, may just find yourself singing, "It is so happy to love." Ted X Talk! Rev. Dr. Stephanie Rutt presented her TedxTalk on June 2, 2018. She was nominated by Rev. Christy Sperrazza to participate in and was selected as one of ten Tedx presenters from over eighty nominations at at the 2018 event entitled "It's Complicated." |
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Haden Institute -
Summer Dream & Spirituality Conference Rev. Dr. Stephanie Rutt offered two sessions at this year's Summer Conference which was held during the week of May 27, 2018 Mantra Prayer: Doorway to the Sacred All faith traditions sound the Holy One. In this workshop, based on the book Doorway to the Sacred: Transform Your Life with Mantra Prayer (available on Amazon), participants are invited into the experience of the Holy through key mantra prayer practices from across faith traditions. Specifically, practices long used for cultivating healing, forgiveness, single-pointed courage and living with an open heart are highlighted. In addition, seven key guidelines for creating with mantra are explored and how to create and sustain a spiritual practice using mantra prayer is detailed. Along the way, participants discover that, by creating a joyful noise without, a silent sacred space is created within echoing connection and unity with all. To embody this sacred space, a variety of meditative forms are included such as walking, movement and dance practices and participants are invited to record their personal reflections through journaling and drawing. Come and sound the Holy One and discover the inner sacred echoing across faith traditions. Living the Prayer of Jesus: An Introduction to the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic Many of us have long known and recited the Lord’s Prayer. Yet, when studied through the lens of Aramaic, the language of Jesus, new vistas of understanding and experience emerge. Prepare to be surprised, delighted and, perhaps, even challenged. As one nun of over thirty years exclaimed after a recent workshop, “I’ve said this prayer every day for thirty years. And, now, I will never say it the same way again!” On this special journey through this well-known prayer, participants will learn the prayer in Aramaic, inviting the language itself to awaken ever deeper levels of awareness. In addition, for each line of the prayer, simple circle dances are introduced to celebrate the prayer’s hallowed treasures in community. Please bring a journal to record the inner treasures discovered on this sacred journey. This workshop is based on the book, Living the Prayer of Jesus: A Study of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic (available on Amazon) and participants will have access to a sound recording of the prayer in Aramaic to use for continued practice. Come and re-discover the prayer of Jesus. It will leave you not where you began. Haden Institute Asheville, NC 828-693-9292 |