Practical Mysticism (Virtual Programming)

(Virtual) Practical Mysticism, Wednesdays from 7pm - 8:30pm (mountain) beginning June 15th, 2022

Overview
Practical Mysticism provides an opportunity for all who are interested in spiritual practice to come together and share their personal journey.

Through our sharing, this program intends to create a safe, learning environment where all voices are acknowledged and heard.

The Practical Mysticism program facilitates growth and perspective for each person to enrich their journey and their individual practice. We encourage living in the moment.

How it works
All paths are welcome within the group. Aggressive debate, and engaged conflict are prohibited. This learning experience offers a chance to appreciate the beautiful dance of each individual as they move through their spiritual journey. An established group sharing format will be utilized to ensure equality is practiced and all have a chance to share if they wish. We believe safe space is essential to growth. Inclusivity is our guide.

Sessions
Starting Wed, June 15th (7-8:30pm mountain) this Program will be held the third Wed of each month, hosted in a Zoom format. There is no cost to attend. We will share experiences, practices, and techniques within the communities of Shadowcliff, Grand County and beyond.

Additionally, we will also offer an onsite gathering from Thursday Sept 15th to Sept 18th at Shadowcliff. (Registration and cost information for the onsite offering coming soon!)

Important Note: The online sessions and the onsite session are independent of each other, you can participate in any or all of the offerings.

Questions? Please email Shadowcliff Programs at programs@shadowcliff.org

Please RSVP to programs@shadowcliff.org to receive the Zoom link.

It's free to attend the monthly Zoom sessions. Please RSVP to programs@shadowcliff.org to obtain the link.

Practical Mysticism with Larry Leblang

Larry Leblang, a longtime Shadowcliff member of the Shadowcliff community, currently serves as the treasurer of the Shadowcliff Board of Directors. Larry's career path has included roles such as General Manager and Director of Finance for a number of organizations, primarily in the non-profit community. He holds an M.P.A. (Masters of Professional Accountancy), a B.A in Philosophy, and has been licensed as a CPA.

His spiritual practice has embraced both Eastern and Western mysticism for the past 50 years. Starting with the teachings of Ram Dass in 1970, the essence of Hindu and Buddhist practice is the foundation for an ongoing practice and understanding of his soul’s journey.

For the past eight years he has attended Quaker meeting in Santa Fe, and incorporated elements of more traditional Christian and Western practices into an ecumenical model of one’s place in the universe. He has come to appreciate Quaker based communication techniques and practices, and they serve as a model for much of the workshop facilitation.

September: Practical Mysticism (On-Site Programming)

Practical Mysticism with Larry Leblang

September 14 – September 18

4 nights lodging & meals

$635 (Single occupancy) $415 (Double)

Program Cost — Pay as Inspired

(We do not want program cost to be a barrier to attendance.)

(Suggested donation $160)

REGISTER TODAY!

To support the best experience for all, registration is limited

Overview

An invitation to those seeking to experience more of their life as a spiritual path! Let’s come together to create a cherished four days. We will open to the Love and Light within us as we come together in community and individually experience and share these deeper parts of ourselves.

Using tools of connection such as meditation, prayer, time in nature, sharing from silence, and music, we will create a safe space for learning more about ourselves, and our journey as human beings. The Cliffside Lodge has been reserved to hold our experience.

Wed evening – Overview and introductions
Thursday – Anchoring in Unconditional Love – through intention, focus, and accepting a connection within us with Higher Self or (your own word)
Friday – Coming to Balance – with our ego and our shadow
Saturday – Living in the Inspiration of this Moment

Evening Closing – Live Musical Celebration

We are happy to share that Scott & Bruce, two of our resident musicians, will be hosting a ShadowSing-a-Long Saturday evening. Let’s create joyful frequency together and celebrate this new and enriching Practical Mysticism program.

September: Gift of Story (On-Site Programming)

(On-Site) Shadowcliff Gift of Story Retreat, September 19-23, 2022

Come away for a time of exploring the natural world as we bring light to the world of the Soul. Together we will think about our personal histories and use them to shape our understanding of what lies ahead for us. We will look at the “archetypes” that have guided our journeys. How do the same story threads continue to weave through our lives? What are they demanding of us? How can we live into what is most important to us while at the same time making peace with the themes that have kept us from our full expression? Each day will include plenty of time both for reflection and engaging with the beautiful and nourishing world around Shadowcliff.

A note from Laurie:

"Dear Friends,

I’m looking forward to our week together at Shadowcliff – to opening the windows of our hearts through the sharing of our stories and the building of community. Our retreat will be a chance for all of us to put down the burdens of our everyday life and look with fresh eyes both at what is around us in the eternal present moment and at all those events that brought us to where we are today.

Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister said recently in a reflection on the first images from the James Webb telescope, “science is my spiritual director.” Shadowcliff is a rich environment – a healthy ecosystem that we can observe and contemplate. As we take the time to delight in it, we might understand that here is Divinity engaged in incarnation. Looking within at the same time that we look without, we might also see our own breathtaking belovedness mirrored.

I hope that you won’t bring much with you when you come to our retreat. Something to write on and with, some pens or markers to color with, clothes that you can wear in layers so that you can take some off or put some on as the weather changes, a good hat, some walking shoes, some thick socks, and an open heart should suffice. We’ll spin our stories out for one another, and as we share them we’ll learn from them.

Stories are a wondrous gift. They are an important part of our legacy. If you have ever read a great grandparent’s writings, whether it be a love letter or just a list of things that got done in a day, you know what I mean. There is a magic in the most ordinary of things, and it is enhanced by knowing that we are related to the writer.

If you have never written anything about yourself before, no worries. If you have written a lot and want a retreat where you can devote your time to writing more, wonderful. If you know about spiritual autobiographies, great. If you don’t know what this means, it may become one of your favorite tools for self-exploration and sharing.

Come relax, ponder, observe, and enjoy. Shadowcliff is magic. And I am sure you’ll bring the magic of who you are to this place.

All the best, Laurie"

Laurie Gudim is a retired psychotherapist whose practice spanned over 30 years. With an M.A., in professional psychology extensive experience in lay leadership in the Episcopal Church, and training and experience in eliciting spiritual autobiographies from people of all faith traditions or none, Gudim has a deep reverence for the wisdom of individuals in relationship with that which is holy or spiritual to them.

September 19 - September 23

4 nights lodging & meals

$835 (Single occupancy) $615 (Double)

REGISTER TODAY!

February - March: Gift of Story (Virtual Programming)

(Online) Shadowcliff Gift of Story Retreat, February - March, 2022

As the Pandemic continues to assail us with new variants and our isolation and inability to plan and execute “normal” life events stretches on, a lot of people are finding themselves faced with the opportunity to discover where their deepest sense of priorities lie. Many are making big changes, some with precariously little forethought. We are asking ourselves: What do we really care about? How do we want to engage in the rest of our lives? Who is truly important to us?

A helpful tool in guiding the process of self-discovery is writing down and sharing the stories of our lives. Recalling and telling the tales that have formed us is helpful in generating a deeper understanding of who we are and where we need to focus in the months and years ahead. It is also a practice that creates strong bonds of love and understanding. And it is a valuable tool in guiding those under our care as they make their own decisions in the months ahead.

This year the Gift of Story Online Retreat will focus on the family and community connections that have shaped and continue to shape our sense of who we are and what we need to be doing with our lives. We’ll explore our relationships to family and friends. We’ll examine the conscious and unconscious expectations that rein us in or empower us as we seek to manifest who we most truly are. Then we’ll look at what we repress and what we try not to acknowledge in ourselves – in other words, at the Shadow. Finally we will tease out where and how our inner longings and guidance seek to bring us more satisfaction and joy.

We’ll have eight Thursday sessions, (times TBD) Mountain Standard Time. The first, third, fifth and seventh sessions will be lecture and discussion. The second, fourth, sixth and eighth sessions will be opportunities for participants to share writings or other ways of exploring their stories. You will never be required to share, but being a good listener to others’ offerings is essential.