The Web of Life

The Contemplative Society presents:

The Web of Life: A Retreat for Contemplative Solidarity

With teacher Heather Ruce, practice groups with TCS board, and special online appearance with Cynthia Bourgeault to help us unpack this incredibly important topic.

Dates: November 20-23, 2023

Location: Lake Loon Retreat Centre, Maple Ridge, B.C. 

In-Person Registration Here

Zoom Registration Here

How do contemplatives engage the world when forest fires, floods, and political uproar are happening in our own backyards? How do we stand in contemplative wisdom and be present in depth to the beauty and suffering inherent to the web of life on this blue-green planet? 

We invite you to join The Contemplative Society board for three days as we learn from, and practice with, Cynthia Bourgeault, Heather Ruce, and each other. With an intention of stabilizing ourselves in compassion, discernment, forbearance, creativity, and spiritual strength and courage, we’ll take a deep dive into contemplative solidarity (tonglen, kything) and imaginal practices, as well as centering prayer, lectio divina, chant, movement, and silence.

The retreat and practices will be facilitated by TCS board members Therese DesCamp, Lorie Martin, Henri Lock, and Jesse Burson. Heather will be joining us remotely for live teaching, chant, and movement. Cynthia will be joining us remotely to dialogue with retreat members about the questions and observations that emerge from our work together.

Please see Our Team page for more information about our facilitators, including Heather Ruce.

Details:

Join us in-person at Loon Lake in beautiful Maple Ridge, BC, or online via Zoom. In-person room assignments are based on first-come-first-served registrations. Shared accommodations will be two people to a room until we run out, and then we will offer dorm accommodations (max. four people to a room). A limited number of scholarships are available for both in-person and Zoom participants. For enquiries, please contact us at admin@contemplative.org.