Cultivating Presence Through Movement, Meditation, and Poetry

Cultivating Presence Through Movement, Meditation, and Poetry, a residential retreat with Alice Boyd & John Brehm, at Alton L Collins Retreat Center, September 4-8, 2022.

“The greatest gift we can give our world is our full presence, and our choice, moment by moment, to stay present.” —Joanna Macy

When we’re fully present, even for a moment, we find the stillness and peace we long for are always already right here, waiting for us. Such moments can be a refuge, a safe haven from the anxiety of accelerating change and collective trauma we are all living through right now. They can also be, as Joanna Macy says, our greatest gift to the world.

But being present isn’t easy. In this five-day retreat, we’ll explore three related practices—Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lessons, meditation, and mindful poetry discussions—that strengthen our capacity to stay present even in the midst of challenging conditions. Unwinding habitual ways of moving, resting in the stillness of meditation, and engaging with poems not as puzzles to be figured out but as rich experiences to be enjoyed, all help orient us toward the present moment. We’ll also be integrating more writing practice into this retreat and more space for sharing our writing (always optional), whether it be poems or prose reflections.

Space is limited – early registration is recommended!