Early April is a perfect time to step away from roles and routines, into our true nature and the ease of an open heart.
Our spring Breath of the Heart retreat at Breitenbush Hot Springs is an invitation to enjoy dharma reflections, contemplative practice, and extended periods of silence, as well as opportunities for kirtan and chanting, hiking and soaking, friendship and rest. Using breath, inquiry, and metta practices, our boundaries soften and mental habits untangle, slipping away like misty clouds in the wide open sky. All traditions and levels of interest or practice are welcome.
Retreat sessions will include dharma talks, interaction, and silent contemplative periods. Each day will offer opportunity for extended silence, as well as kirtan and chanting. Our time in session will be balanced with personal time for hikes, soaks, solitude, friendship, and the delight of the forest in spring.
Sessions this spring will be held in the round, wood-and-stone Forest Shelter, on the upper path between the cabins and the Lodge, just above Breitenbush Creek. Check the Breitenbush website for details about facilities and lodging.
Registration and fees: Retreat fee is a slim $108, plus lodging. Call Breitenbush at 503-854-3320 to register. All registration is handled by Breitenbush (Note: Retreat fee is $65 for Living Earth members.)
Betsy Toll has been exploring spiritual practice, compassionate service, and conscious social action for more than three decades. A writer and editor, she leads dharma circles, workshops, retreats, and community programs in Portland, and volunteers as a non-affiliated hospital chaplain with intensive care patients. She bows to the wisdom of many spiritual traditions, with special appreciation for Ram Dass, Joanna Macy, and Catherine Ingram. She has been following Ram Dass on the dharma trail since working on a project with Seva in the 1980s.
Questions?
For registration or info about facility and accommodations, call Breitenbush at 503-854-3320.
For questions regarding retreat format and content, or retreat fee, call 503-771-1940, or post your query below.
This sounds like an amazing retreat and, as someone who works in the social service field, one that I would love to be a part of. Unfortunately the dates don’t work for my schedule. Do you know if future Breath of the Heart retreats are a possibility? Thank you!
Thanks for your interest, Sarah. I hope you’ll be able to join us in the future. We offer retreats in this spirit at Breitenbush twice a year, in spring and fall. The next one Will be in November, Thurs. evening 11/14 to Sunday afternoon, 11/17 (or possibly one day longer, until Monday 11/18). I hope you’ll be able to join us. We usually offer a day retreat or two during the year out in the Columbia Gorge, so if you aren’t on our email list, you might want to subscribe, or check the website every month or so for updates.
Hi: This retreat sounds wonderful, and I really would love to join. I live in Portland and don’t know how to drive a car. How could I get to the retreat center? I would appreciate your guidance in this regard? Thank you so much.