Turtle Haven in Deming, WA recently announced an unusual and inclusive Easter weekend retreat with Dr. Ravi Ravindra. The event is planned for March 30 through April 1, 2012, and the public is invited to attend. The theme is “A Spiritual Celebration of Easter: A Mythic Journey of Sacrifice, Death and Resurrection.”
Ravi Ravindra was born in India, went to Canada as a graduate student and later as an immigrant, and is now Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he served for many years as a professor in the Departments of Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and of Physics. He was a Member of the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla, and Founding Director of the Threshold Award for Integrative Knowledge. He was a member of the Board of Judges for the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. Ravi's spiritual search has led him to the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, G. Gurdjieff, Zen, Yoga, and a deep immersion in the mystical teachings of the Indian and Christian classical traditions. He is the author of several books on religion, science, mysticism, and spirituality.
“What we treasure so much about Ravi is his embodied wisdom, his training as a physicist and a world religion scholar, and his accessibility. He travels the world over, teaching and lecturing, seeing this as his soul's calling.We look forward to another immersion in our own cherished and collective community wisdom and that of our warm and wise guide, Ravi Ravindra.” –Elizabeth Kerwin and Jillian Froebe, co-owners of Turtle Haven, Deming, WA
Elizabeth Kerwin and Jillian Froebe, co-hosts of the event, invite all to this unique spiritual celebration of the Easter season, which will explore the symbolic meaning of death and resurrection, different interpretations of the meaning of sacrifice, and the cultural overlay that has come to see sacrifice as an undesirable experience. A variety of sacred teachings will be used to initiate the weekend’s explorations into the heart of the meaning of spiritual “rising” before the experience of each person’s physical death, including:
- Gospel of Phillip: "Those who say the Lord died first and then rose up are in error, for he rose up first and then died.”
- Buddha: "Look within, you are the Buddha."
- Sufi: “If you die before you die, you will not die when you die.”
The weekend’s activities promise to engage the intellect, the body, the voice, and the senses as participants celebrate the spirit of Easter through guided and silent meditations, labyrinth walks, movement awareness exercises, song, and connection with the natural world in the beauty of spring at Turtle Haven.
Turtle Haven in Deming, WA offers yoga and counseling amidst great natural beauty. The whimsical and inspiring “Path of Hope” trail winds through the forest and alongside the Nooksack River, and ends near a garden, a fire pit, and an eleven circuit Chartres labyrinth, which was designed by The Laughing Flower Labyrinth Company and installed by Turtle Haven residents and volunteers.
“I seem to have become a "missionary" to three distinct groups: in India I seem to be urging the Indians to see and participate in the grandeur of the Indian spiritual traditions; in the West—mostly USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand—I am drawing attention to the treasures in the Gospels in particular but in the mystical depths of the Christian tradition in general; and to the scientists I urge a recognition of the level of the spirit as higher than that of the mind. These I try to do mostly by talks and workshops here and there, and occasionally by writing." – Dr. Ravi Ravindra
The cost for the retreat is a sliding fee scale of $165 to $190. Once registered, participants will receive more detailed information. To register, send name, address, email address and phone number with the full tuition payable to: Jillian Froebe, 6551 Rutsatz Road, Deming, WA 98244. Payment plans and/or financial assistance are available. Registration is limited to create a more intimate experience, so early registration is encouraged. Elizabeth Kerwin's blog at http://elizabethkerwin.wordpress.com/ contains additional retreat information. Some housing options are available for out-of-town participants. Tea and water will be provided; participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch and snacks.
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