What is a Retreat?
A retreat is the act of temporarily removing oneself from one's usual environment in order to become immersed in a particular subject matter. A retreat can be taken for reasons related to spirituality, stress, health, lifestyle, or social concerns.
A retreat can either be a time of solitude or a community experience. Some retreats are held in silence, while at others there may be a great deal of conversation, depending on the facilitators and the participants. Retreats are often conducted at rural or remote locations, either privately, or at a retreat center such as Our Haven.
A retreat serves the body, mind and spirit by allowing time to find greater inner peace. When you find inner peace, you move the world toward peace. This is why it is vital to escape from the world’s bombardment of sounds and images and take time for the mind and heart to come to stillness.
Retreat practice provides the opportunity for you to restore your energies, have time to rest and to let go of the day to day mundane responsibilities and focus on your own inner development and spiritual growth. You can learn to nurture yourself, restore a sense of balance and well-being, and open up to nature. A weight may seem to be lifted from your shoulders and you may be able to experience a fresh perspective that will renew your appreciation for life and your commitment to appreciate and use every precious moment.
Spiritual Retreats
Spiritual retreats like the Women's Goddess Retreat focus on the following:
- Discovery: Spiritual retreats allow you to discover a whole new self and help you in removing the limitations that your mind is occupied with. These retreats also allow you to discover a whole new perspective towards life.
- Transformation: Spiritual healing retreats allow you to transform your perspective and focus on things besides your daily life and work; these retreats help you find new paths in life.
- Participation: These spiritual retreats usually have group activities. Participating in these activities helps in increasing your confidence level.
- Intention: Retreats are arranged with an intent in mind. Our statement of intent is here. You may also want to consider your own personal intentions for going on retreat.
Choosing a Personal Intention
People go on retreat for a number of reasons that generally focus on positive personal change. You may be seeking a retreat for a number of reasons. Ask yourself if on this retreat you would like to:
- Relax at a deep level
- Rejuvenate your Spirit
- Take time for reflection
- Gain clarity on an issue or your life path
- Find meaning in your life beyond daily or material concerns
- Heal
- Practice your Faith
- Contemplate
- Create
Retreat Literature
There are many great books about taking a retreat of your own, or for taking on retreat with you. Here are some of our favorites. Click on the images to be transported to the Amazon.com page for that book.
Books About Women's Retreats and Circles
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Woman's Retreat Book: A Guide to Restoring, Rediscovering and Reawakening Your True Self --In a Moment, An Hour, Or a Weekend
Jennifer Louden
This is our favorite retreat book and one we return to again and again! This book is perfect for creating your own retreat time and inspired the Women's Goddess Retreat. |
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20-Minute Retreats: Revive Your Spirit in Just Minutes a Day with Simple, Self-Led Practices
Dr. Rachel Harris
You too can recreate the feeling of retreat with only a few spare moments. |
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Sacred Circles: A Guide To Creating Your Own Women's Spirituality Group
Robin Deen Carnes & Sally Craig
A guide for taking the concept of the women's circle from retreat to everyday exisitance. |
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A Weekend to Change Your Life: Find Your Authentic Self After a Lifetime of Being All Things to All People
Joan Anderson
A wonderful book about seaside retreats. |
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Calling the Circle: The First and Future Culture
Christina Baldwin
A key text in the movent towards circles in our culture. For women and men. |
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The Millionth Circle: How to Change Ourselves and The World--The Essential Guide to Women's Circles
Jean Shinoda Bolen
This slim and powerful book is written like poetry and speaks of a vision to change the world one circle of women at a time. |
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Girl Group Confidential: The Ultimate Guide to Starting, Running and Enjoying Your Own Women's Group
Jennifer Worick
Be they quilting bees, bridge clubs, volleyball teams, book clubs, ladies who lunch, or conciousness-raising groups, girl groups can change your life and the world! |
Books to Take on a Women's Retreat
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Imagine a Woman in Love with Herself: Embracing Your Wisdom and Wholeness
Patricia Lynn Reilly
Excerpt. © All rights reserved.
Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman.
A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.
Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.
Imagine a woman who has acknowledged the past's influence on the present.
A woman who has walked through her past.
Who has healed into the present.
Imagine a woman who names her own gods.
A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.
Who designs her own spirituality and allows it to inform her daily life.
Imagine a woman in love with her own body.
A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.
Who celebrates her body's rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.
Imagine a woman who honors the body of the Goddess in her changing body.
A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.
Who refuses to use her precious life-energy disguising the changes in her body and life.
Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.
A woman who sits in circles of women.
Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.
IMAGINE YOURSELF AS THIS WOMAN. |
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Circle of Stones: Woman's Journey to Herself
Judith Duerk
A book of women's self reflection, unfolding, and spirituality. |
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Seasons of Change : Using Nature's Wisdom to Grow Through Life's Inevitable Ups and Downs
Carol L. McClelland
A nature-friendly approach to recognizing and celebrating our cycles. |
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Women Who Run with the Wolves
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
This book contains enough deep inner working material for a lifetime of retreats. It explores the development of a woman's soul through story and her wild nature. One of our favorites. |
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The Circle Of Life: The Heart's Journey Through The Seasons
Joyce Rupp & Macrina Wiederkehr
Another joyful book about using the seasons of nature as a symbol for the seasons of our lives. Written by two lively, juicy nuns! |
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Gift from the Sea
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
A classic reflection of one woman's time retreating by the sea. Timeless, and full of meaning. |
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Succulent Wild Woman
SARK
All of SARK's books are full of juicy life and succulent inspiration. This is her opus, and our retreat's manifesto! |
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Growing Old Disgracefully
Hen Co-op
A hilarious guide to life after sixty for outrageous older women. |
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The Heroine's Journey
Maureen Murdock
Explores how women can carve out their own journey to self realization and wholeness through archtypical symbolism and mythology. |
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The Way of Woman: Awakening the Perennial Feminine
Helen M. Luke & Marion Woodman
Uses Jungian psychology to create a profound and meaningful roadmap to a woman's soul. |
Here is a really lovely printible (.pdf) listing of wonderful books for women's retreats and personal growth from AWomansWay.com
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