A Sacred Altar
a workshop. a tending.
“The mind needs an altar. The mind needs to lay down what is not theirs to carry.”
“Our hearts and minds seek relationship. We cast about for it. The earth and spirit do as well. The altars we create make space for these relational transactions.”
INTENTION
In this three day guided wilderness retreat participants will use personal exploration, ways of council and connection to land to to guide them into the art of altar making. This practice will encourage participants to create space for reflection, meditation, contemplation, and ritual. Our hope is this practice serves as a calming anchor, helping individuals find their center, and learn the art of creating sacred spaces in this spiraling world
THE SHAPE OF THE DAYS
Wild spaces are important to us and to our soul. Now maybe more than ever. Doing this work in nature helps ground us and engage in conversation with the elemental forces of existence and to the healing depths of our living world.
Our retreat will take place at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, located in the dunes of lake Michigan in Manistee. We’ll meet at the trailhead and from there hike a mile or so on a well worn path to our campsites and settle into our journey together.
- Friday – Arrival & Orientation to the ceremony
Landing, sharing and witnessing our intentions. Creating the ceremonial container. - Saturday – Practice: Listening, Gathering on the land with reciprocity, Building our Altars and Sharing our stories
Exploring in community and on solo journeys the deeper gifts of nature, ancestry, and learning the art and practice of altar building
- Sunday – Integration: Catching the story and Mirroring for Empowerment
Story-sharing, witnessing, and weaving insights into life.
Over the next few months we will meet as a cohort and discuss details such as meal planning, safety, equipment, physical and spiritual needs.
To register please fill out this short questionnaire – https://forms.gle/nB2g5Yvmf3mmRwLn6
If you have any questions, please reach out to Brent or Gerren anytime.
Gerren – gerren.y@gmail.com
Brent- lifedeathandart@gmail.com
YOUR GUIDES
Brent Harris is an artist, an educator and end of life doula whose practice utilizes nature based reflection and creativity as a path for us to relate to and honor our cycles of living and dying.
Brent offers a rites of passage approach to help guide clients to a successful and fulfilling journey through personal thresholds, into a renewed relationship to the world and into themselves. Whether you are searching for tools to navigate the complexities of life or seeking counsel for an end of life journey, this work will help to create essential practices to navigate and honor the journey.
Gerren Young is a father, husband, friend, craftsman, student, men’s work facilitator, musician, and playful participant in the rhythms of nature. He enjoys inviting people into trust and belonging with the land and community. Altars have played an important role in Gerren’s life in healing the mind/body/nature divide and are a continual source of renewal and grounding. He looks forward to helping you to explore your own relationship to the greater forces of life through altar building and tending.
DONATIONS
We offer our work on a sliding scale of payment. As you consider what you can give, please think of the value of your experience and the individual time given by each guide. Please also keep in mind the resources provided, and your relationship and commitment to our community.
Your contributions are essential for us to continue this work. What you give is the foundation of this work, supports community wellness, and builds those experiences yet to come.
By valuing the true worth of this experience and giving generously you help us move towards a relationship that supports reciprocity and care for the whole.
We’ll share food, conversation, and presence. The rhythm of the days will be gentle and spacious, guided by the land’s own pace