Community Events for 2021 + 2022
Dharma & Myth:
Buddhist, African-American and Celtic Storytelling
with Erin Selover, Charisse Minerva & Victor Lee Lewis
Sunday, July 18th, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
through Spirit Rock
In the Dhammapada, the Buddha points us to, “Experience this world as a bubble, a wave, an illusion, or a dream.” But how do we actually do that? Ironically, through living our lives more fully, we can learn to gradually let go more fully, through wise discernment.
In this time of unprecedented need for courage, there is also a need for creativity and a new story of what is possible. Through the lens of the core Buddhist teachings on the Four Noble Truths, we will explore the paradox of living fully and letting go through the ancient, transcultural wisdom tradition of storytelling.
In the morning, we will work with sacred myths from Buddhist, African-American, and Celtic cultures as guides for reimagining what is possible at this time. In the afternoon, we will co-create contemporary personal myths together, to inspire each other to live and let go more and more fully.
All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. Register here or for more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org
Autumn Metta Retreat:
Cultivating Pure Love
Wednesday, September 1 - Sunday, September 5
Led by Spirit Rock Teachers
Erin Selover and John Martin
Offered on Gift
“Pure love is love that has no wish to
hold and to keep, but is simply
given freely.” - Ayya Khema
On this annual retreat with John and Erin we will cultivate the beautiful heart qualities of Metta (pure love/lovingkindness), compassion, supportive joy and equanimity to awaken inner-resilience and a spacious balanced heart. This further awakens a tenderness that allows us to increasingly discern suffering from non-suffering and gain courage to speak and act with wisdom.
Moreover, through continued practice of the Brahmaviharas over the course of the retreat we will point to the gradual awakening process that realizes a peace and contentment that transcends the outer conditions of the world. We are meant to live in the world with an open and loving heart, able to hold all of the joys and sorrows of life in pure love.
In this online retreat, we will have the opportunity to bring these qualities forth into our daily lives. The schedule for this online retreat will include a morning meditation instruction and short talk (8:15–9:15 a.m.) and afternoon guided sit and talk (4:30—5:45 p.m.). There will also be small group practice meetings and scheduled online sits throughout the day to support the practice. Some may choose to sit many hours, others may only attend the periods for instructions, small group practice meetings and talks.
Practice Schedule
8:15-9:15 Guided practice
11:00-11:45 Optional sit
2:00 -2:45 Optional sit
4:30-5:45 Guided practice & Dharma Talk
7:30-8:15 Optional sit
[(For Letter: Practice Discussion Group Times)
1:00 - 1:45
2:00 - 2:45 + 6-6:45 for those who can’t make during day]
Retreat Registration
Please register for the retreat here (www.selfretreat.org/retreatregistration/).
At the time of registration we are requesting a retreat administration fee of $35, with no one turned away for lack of funds.
Dana (donations) for the teachers can be offered during – or at the end of – the retreat.
If you have any questions you can email the Retreat Manager, Kerry Nelson, at kerry(at)selfretreat.org.
Dana
This retreat is offered freely, at no cost to anyone who participates. The support for the teachers will be provided by donations participants offer at the end of our retreat. Generosity is what allows the teachers to continue to share the Buddha’s teachings, and will allow the teachings to be carried forward into the future.
Erin Selover is on the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock and a Change and Transitions Strategist with the Skillful Change Institute. She is trained as a somatic psychotherapist, biodynamic touch practitioner and leads a global meditation community integrating Buddhism, Mystery Knowledge and the Celtic Wheel of the Year.
John Martin is the Co-Chair for the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Committee, and on the Teachers Council. His teachings emphasize the aliveness of practice in everyday life, and the importance of cultivating the brahmaviharas in daily life. He leads a weekly sangha and an advanced practitioner study group and co-leads an LGBTQI sangha.
Cultivating Dignity through Equanimity
Honoring the Autumn Equinox
with Erin Selover
2 day retreat on zoom
September 18 - 19, 10 - 4:30 PST
Equanimity is one the four heart qualities described in classical buddhist texts. It is said to bring balance and wisdom to the three other heart qualities of joy, love and compassion. Equanimity can be experienced as stillness and composure that maintains steadiness even amidst difficulties
Equinox is a time of year when day and night are of equal length all over the world. Connecting with the earth’s relationship to the sun at equinox, offers an opportunity to reflect on how to bring steadiness and wisdom to individual, relational and societal imbalances.
In this retreat will use silent meditation emphasizing the elements based in the Satipatthana Sutta to align with the wisdom of the earth and sun at this time. There will also be dharma talks, inquiry practice, ritual and journaling. Everyone welcome.
2021 Samhain Ritual
Celebrating the Celtic New Year + Honoring Ancestors
Create your Samhain Ritual with Support
October 30, 9:00 am - 11:00 am, PST (Orienting + Intention Setting + Meditation)
October 31, 9:00 am - 11:00 pm, PST (Returning + Meditation + Sharing Insights)
Samhain is the Celtic New Year. A time to literally create your own broom (or buy one on etsy) and sweep away the dust of the past 13 moons. It’s also an invitation to enter deep time and honor our ancestors through ritual, ceremony and celebration. Particularly if you have lost a loved one or a particular aspect of yourself this year (who hasn't), it can be a time to mark a cycle of closure. With the support of those that have gone before, it is time to take stock, make repairs, relish in the space of letting go and begin to call in the qualities of your becoming.
This retreat is designed to support you entering into sacred space the weekend of Samhain, October 30th - October 31st. We will meet for 1.5 hours Saturday morning on video to orient to the holiday, set intentions and practice earth based meditation together. You will be encouraged to create your own rituals, practices and celebrations throughout the weekend based on your own lineages, interests and intuition. Moreover, it could be any one or combination of making get out the vote calls, solo time, co-creating ritual with friends, ritual with your family or simply holding Samhain in your consciousness as an intention to integrate earth based ritual in your life. If you are called to participate, join us!
We will return Sunday morning on video to welcome each other back, practice, share insights and watch the sunset together from our different locations. Marking together the beginning of a new year.
To register email corriebennett@gmail.com and you will be sent retreat information and a zoom link.
The retreat is offered completely on gift and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Suggested offering between $33 - $103. Please do not let finances be a barrier to receiving this offering.
Offerings can be made through Venmo @erinselover or paypal.me/ErinSelover
Calling Forth the Light
2021 Winter Solstice Retreat
Date to be determined
On Zoom
Winter Solstice marks the moment where the sun is farthest from the earth. In Celtic earth based traditions some would gather on the eve before the solstice to call forth the light. This practice of calling forth builds relationship with the sun, humbly requesting its return to warm the soil, our bodies and nourish all the seeds planted in fall and early winter.
On the eve of the longest night of the year we join in circle and ceremony to court the sun, calling forth the light of the sun within ourselves, each other and our global community. The three hour offering will include casting a circle, meditation, inquiry and shared reflections.
Please come with a candle and journal.
To register email corriebennett@gmail.com and you will be sent retreat information and a zoom link.
The retreat is offered completely on gift and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Suggested offering between $21 - $54. Please do not let finances be a barrier to receiving this offering.
Offerings can be made through Venmo @erinselover or paypal.me/ErinSelover
2022 Imbolc Ritual:
Celebrating the Lunar Imbolc
Tuesday, February 1, 6-8:30 pm PST
With Erin Selover
On Zoom
Imbolc is the half-way point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. A time where we are invited to begin to welcome the sun and slowly turn outward.
Imbolc is also a time to celebrate the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Brigid is a goddess of mercy. As we complete our reflection of the previous year and move towards the new life calling at Spring, Brigid encourages us to continue to bring tenderness, forgiveness and gentleness to the previous year.
To register email corriebennett@gmail.com and you will be sent retreat information and a zoom link.
The retreat is offered completely on gift and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Suggested offering between $21 - $53. Please do not let finances be a barrier to receiving this offering.
Offerings can be made through Venmo @erinselover or paypal.me/ErinSelover
Celebrating Ostara: The Festival of Balance
Aligning with the Energies of the Spring Equinox
Friday March 12, 4:00 - 6:30 pm PST
With Erin Selover
On Zoom
Spring Equinox is a time when day and night are equal all over the world. It’s particularly a time of tuning into the quality of balance, to see clearly the possibilities that lie before, however constrained, as the flowers blossom and the days gradually increase in light.
On the Friday evening just before the new moon in Pisces at 2:21 am we will gather to prepare for Spring Equinox the following Saturday, March 20th.
To register email corriebennett@gmail.com and you will be sent retreat information and a zoom link.
The retreat is offered completely on gift and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Suggested offering between $21 - $53. Please do not let finances be a barrier to receiving this offering.
Offerings can be made through Venmo @erinselover or paypal.me/ErinSelover
A Beltane Ritual of Becoming:
Celebrating the Sheela-na-gig
Create your Beltane Ritual with Support
Saturday, May 1, 9am - 10:30am, PST (Orienting + Intention Setting + Meditation)
Sunday, May 2, 4:30pm - 7pm, PST (Returning + Meditation + Sharing Insights)
Sessions are not recorded
Beltane is about reverence for all of life and celebration of the creation that grows from the union of the opposites. The Shella-na-gig is carved naked women squatting with knees apart, displaying her vulva, in the symbol of a vesica piscis, vessel of the fish, known for the potent power of creation emerging from the dark womb.
In this ritual we will intend to align with the power of the Sheela-na-gig as the veils between worlds open during Beltane. A time to consciously align with the instinctive and wild forces within and without for the benefit of all of life. Balancing the potency of the life force on the physical, spiritual and mystical levels in joyous celebration of the sacredness and power of unrestrained love, sexual pleasure and deep connection of the heart.
This retreat is designed to support you entering into sacred space the weekend of Beltane by humbling intending to align with Sheela-na-gig, Saturday May 1 - Sunday, May 2nd. We will meet for 1.5 hours Saturday morning on video to orient to the holiday, set intentions and practice earth based meditation together. You will be encouraged to create your own rituals, practices and celebrations throughout the weekend based on your own lineages, interests and intuition. Moreover, it could be any one or combination of solo time, co-creating ritual with friends or lovers, ritual with your family or simply holding
To register please complete the Registration Form and you will be sent retreat information that includes a zoom link from our retreat manager, Corrie Bennett. Please contact Corrie at corriebennett@gmail.com with questions.
The retreat is offered completely on gift and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Suggested offering between $33 - $103. Please do not let finances be a barrier to receiving this offering.
Offerings can be made through Venmo @erinselover or paypal.me/ErinSelover
