Two sessions to choose from:

Saturday, February 16 (with optional Friday night stay)

 or

 Sunday, February 17 (with optional Saturday night stay)

The rigors of winter are accompanied by amazing gifts….

Times of dormancy and deep rest are essential to all living things.

Winter clears the landscape, however brutally, giving us a chance to see ourselves and each other more clearly, to see the very ground of our being.   ”~ Parker J. Palmer

One of the gifts of winter in these climes is the way the world around us slows and stills. For many creatures winter is a time of hibernation or migration; seeds cast in the abundance of autumn lie dormant, waiting for spring. It is an inside time for curling up by the fire, a time of deep replenishment and reflection – often hard to come by amidst the hectic pace of our days and the relentless attention to the communities, causes, and people we care about.

 “Wintering Through: Exploring Your Life’s Calling in a Time of Transition” is an opportunity to experience the winter gifts of stillness and rest, of renewed clarity and mindful presence. Grounded in the truths of your own stories and questions, and guided by the Circles of Trust^® model based on the work of author and educator Parker J. Palmer, this Courage and Renewal^® Retreat invites you to step with intention into a place apart, to pause from the frenetic pace of your regular days, and to explore in fresh ways the Big Questions of your lives – questions of identity, meaning, purpose, and calling.

We will gather from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Prairie Oaks Institute near Belle Plaine, Minnesota, whose mission is to be a catalyst for the rejuvenation of people and the planet. The retreat will be facilitated by Dr. Chris Johnson, a Circles of Trust^® facilitator and Director for Vocation and Integrative Learning at Gustavus Adolphus College. The day will include the chance to learn from the quiet beauty of POI’s winter landscapes, led by Gustavus biologist and naturalist Dr. Cindy Johnson.

We are able to make this unique and life-giving opportunity available at a substantially reduced cost of only $45 per person, including materials and lunch. Optional overnight accommodations may be available for an additional $40/person. Space is limited to 18 participants, so please register early (by February 8, at the latest)

 We look forward to having you with us!