Lay and Women Retreats

Course/retreat 1
Wilderness spirituality (Women only)

Many of us connect to the divine through nature. And we are beginning to see that our survival depends on our love of the world. Drawing on the wisdom of writers (such as Loren Eiseley, Sigurd Olson, Barbara Kingsolver, Sallie McFague) as well as the wild wisdom of the ancient beach rocks, the silent river mosses, the fragrant sphagnum bog, we will clarify our relationship to the world and draw strength from her.

Course/retreat 2
Canoe trip (Women only)

A trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness immerses us in nature at its most distilled, and helps us peel off layers of distraction and pretense. As we paddle, reduced to what we can carry on our backs, set up camp, cook, swim, we will also listen to the sacred in the world around us as well as the stories of each others' lives. (We will start and end at WindCradle; there may be extra costs for equipment rental, etc.)

Course/retreat 3
Imaging God

Our god images affect our spiritual lives, and during this retreat we will consider how we might renew those images to deepen and freshen our faith. We will examine familiar metaphors, words and images, dust off some forgotten ones, and create new ways of approaching the divine.

Course/retreat 4
Writing our Lives

We all have a story to tell, as Flannery O'Connor pointed out: "The fact is that anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days." Narrative is central for understanding our own and the sacred stories, so we will read how some writers (such as Annie Dillard, Reynolds Price, Annie Lamott) have written about their life experience and write about our own.

Course/retreat 5
Walking with Mary Magdalene (Women only)

The New Testament offers role models of courageous, creative women, and in this retreat we will explore their lives in scripture and consider how our lives parallel and can be inspired by theirs.

Course/retreat 6
Bread of Life

As we stir, proof, knead, and shape loaves, we will reflect on the stirrings, bubblings, pummelings of our lives. While there will be opportunities to wander amongst the ice sculptures created by the big lake as well as chances to go snowshoeing, we will take time to sit by the fire and smell the bread baking.

Course/retreat 7
Snowbound!

Sounds muffled by snow, storms beating the lake shore, animal tracks crossing our paths, fires roaring in a fireplace: these are all central to winter life at WindCradle Cairns. During this retreat, we will read "winter" in words and the world around us, taking time to reflect on the seasons of our lives. We will snowshoe some river beds and watch the lake's ice sculptures as we consider our own hibernations and the beginnings of new life stirring deep. We may well see northern lights!

Check in late Thursday afternoon. Introductions Thursday evening from 6:00 PM over appetizers. Retreat finishes on Sunday with reflection and brunch.

$350 for doubles
$395 for singles

© 2007