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New Possibilities |
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Welcome to a special issue of New Possibilities, a periodic newsletter for the clients, colleagues, and friends of The Mandorla Center. With the fall season approaching, what better time to discuss the basic principles of retreat services and answer some common questions regarding retreats, such as: · What is a retreat? · Are there different types of retreats? · How is a retreat center different from a retreat getaway? · What type of services should I expect from a retreat center? · What are the basic elements a retreat center should embody? While you have probably heard of retreats, you may not be totally sure what retreats are all about and the benefits they offer. This special issue will answer these questions and provide you with the information you need to best decide how to choose a retreat that is right for you. |
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The foliage of the Appalachian Mountains displays a spectacular palette of colors in fall season. |
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Welcome to Our Special Retreat Issue! |
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Special Retreat Issue, Aug., 2004 |
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To add or remove your name from our mailing list or to contact us with questions, comments, or ideas for our next issue, as well as event and news items that you’d like published in the newsletter, please e-mail us at pblessin@bellsouth.net or call us at 678-290-1337. If you know of someone who can benefit from the information in this newsletter, please pass it along. All correspondence and information (including personal data such as email addresses, etc.) sent to the above email address (the Director of The Mandorla Center) is kept completely confidential and is not shared with anyone outside The Mandorla Center. The editor reserves the right to make appropriate edits to submissions to ensure all information published stays within all ethical, legal, and professional standards, and is consistent with the positive and supportive spirit of The Mandorla Center. © Copyright 2004, The Mandorla Center. All rights Reserved. |
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Feature Article |
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Fall is right around the corner—there’s no better time to take a retreat in the North Georgia mountains, when the weather is cool and the views breathtaking. |
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Retreats: ‘Vacations’ for The Soul In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us. - Virginia Woolf Most of us would love to participate in a retreat but find it difficult to do so because of our responsibilities to stay close to home. And when we are able to take a few days off, we may feel that it is selfish to spend money and ‘leisure’ time on ourselves. So, that longed-for retreat is put aside, and we promise ourselves that next month, next summer, or next year we will make time for our own emotional welfare and spiritual renewal. But participating in that much sought-after retreat experience is more doable (and necessary) than you may think. What is a Retreat? When asked by others about retreats, the common questions I hear are: what is the purpose of a retreat and what are the benefits. The dictionary gives us one definition: · a quiet, private place, a place of refuge · a time of seclusion, for quiet thought, prayer, or study These basic definitions are a good starting point but let’s expand on what makes the retreat experience so life-changing. Retreats promise a different experience that vacations, resorts, camping or other weekend getaways can’t provide. Most people ignore our inner voice’s desire to put aside the daily tasks for a few days and take some time to nurture themselves. But at some point in our lives, our inner spirit will insist that we nurture ourselves and retreat into rest, solitude, and self-care, on a regular basis. To relinquish our everyday tasks for a few days, to get safely away from the doorbells, emails, and ringing phones, to breathe the fresh mountain air, to witness a multitude of stars in the night sky, to attune our spirits with the rhythms of nature, to renew ourselves spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally, is what a retreat is all about. Retreating reminds us of what is truly important. Retreats are essential to well-being, to living a balanced, meaningful life, full of wholeness and self-care. Is a Retreat What You Really Need? Before signing up for a retreat, make sure you understand what retreats are all about and make sure a retreat is what you really need. Also, be sure you understand the differences between a getaway (vacations, resorts, spas, country clubs, cruises, etc) and an authentic retreat. Retreat getaways or retreat lodges as they are sometimes called include public lodges, inns, guest-houses, resorts, spas, B&Bs, or any other place that offers a ‘retreat setting’ but lives you to your own devices to do as you wish. A retreat center, on the other hand, is also set within a natural environment setting but also offers their retreat services focused around a central topic or purpose, and these retreat services typically include seminars and/or workshops to further enhance the retreat experience for the participants. In other words, a retreat center offers some structure and purpose that allows the participants to renew their spirits, to reconnect with nature and God ,and to reconnect with the other participants. If you are simply looking for a distant getaway, a change of scene, a break from work, etc., then you probably need a vacation - not a retreat. And if you are yearning for some time away from the kids or even your partner, then consider a solo-vacation - not a retreat. And if you need to get away for a weekend of golfing, massage therapy, and saunas, then consider a resort – not a retreat. All of these are wonderful and worthwhile ways to spend some leisure time, but they are not retreats. Retreating is a time for solitude, physical and emotional renewal, as well as spiritual discovery. A retreat allows you to revitalize, relax, renew, and reconnect for the length of the retreat. An retreat center typically includes meals, overnight accommodations, and indoor/outdoor meeting facilities for workshops and/or seminars to support the retreat’s purpose. In short, a retreat should include everything you need to make your retreat experience complete, rewarding, and life-changing. Retreat services usually fall into the following types: · Spiritual Retreats (Christian, Catholic, non-profits, etc) · Artists Retreats (writing, sculpting, painting, music, etc) · Nature Retreats (hiking, wilderness, adventure, etc) · Health & Wellness Retreats (healing, weight loss, etc) · Educational Retreats (teachers, administrators, etc) · Women’s Retreats (personal growth, special interests, etc) · Men’s Retreats (personal growth, special interests, etc) · Couple’s Retreats (marriage, family, special interests, etc) Basic Elements of Retreating Let’s discuss the basic elements of retreating. In my experience of participating in and helping to facilitate retreats, as well as looking at the various retreat services being offered, I believe there are four basic elements of good retreating. I call these elements the four “R’s” of retreating: Revitalize, Relax, Renew, and Reconnect. These four elements are the essence of a good retreat and ones you should look for when evaluating a retreat. Revitalize: To revitalize means to ‘give new life to’; it means to recharge one’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual batteries; this comes about by letting go of the normal stress of everyday life and by focusing on what’s truly important in our lives. By revitalizing ourselves, we approach our careers and relationships with renewed vitality and a new perspective. Relax: Relaxing means dwelling in solitude within ourselves and being at peace with ourselves and our surrounding. Serenity is not a place outside of you, it is a place within you! The desire to retreat often comes from a deep inner wisdom informing us that we need to relax and relinquish the everyday stress so that renewal may begin. Every retreat, regardless of how it is structured, should provide ample down-time to relax and reflect. Renew: Renew means to ‘make new again’; to restore. Renewal of body, mind, and spirit begins with a deep inner desire to achieve balance and integration in our lives. Renewal puts us in the proper emotional and spiritual space to allow us to reaffirm our experience of life. Reconnect: Our televisions, computers, telephones, pagers, newspapers, etc., often prevent us from connecting with the soulful aspects of life. Retreating is a wonderful way to discover and reconnect with the essentials of life and, for at least a short period, to remove the unnecessary distractions in our lives. Preparing For a Retreat Once you understand the elements of retreating and have decided that you want to retreat, you should plan for your next retreat. Your retreat plan should deal with what type of retreat you want to participate in, who will be leading the retreat, how the retreat will be led, and when and where you want to have your retreat. WHAT Type of Retreat to Take? You should listen carefully to what your thoughts and deep feelings are telling you. What special needs do you have in your life right now that a retreat can address? In what ways is your life out of balance and how can a retreat help bring you back into balance and wholeness? If you are not sure but have a knowing that a retreat is what you need, consult with your counselor, therapist, minister, or trusted friend for advice on what type of retreat to take. What are your interests and values? Your particular interests and value system will have a large influence on picking a retreat that is right for you. So, for instance, if you love to write or paint and believe in the power of creativity, then maybe you should seek out an artist retreat that can allow you to explore and reconnect with that unlimited creative source within you. Or if you are a couple and are looking for a retreat that will allow you to reignite the passion of your relationship, then maybe you should seek out a couple’s retreat. WHO Will Lead The Retreat? You should also consider the person facilitating the retreat. Is this person a skilled facilitator and is he/she skilled in leading the particular type of retreat he/she will be facilitating? Does he/she understand the purpose of the retreat process, and the need to facilitate the retreat in an ethical and professional manner. Also, find out if any preliminary screening of participants is done by the facilitator to ensure you will be participating with like-minded individuals who are appropriate for the type of retreat being offered. HOW Will The Retreat Be Led? Before signing up for a retreat, ask the retreat facilitator for a retreat agenda so you know what to expect. Make sure you understand what special topics will be covered, what activities/events, if any, the participants will be expected to engage in, and the timeline for the entire retreat. If you have a good idea about what to expect on the retreat, the more comfortable you will feel and the fewer surprises you will encounter. WHEN to Take a Retreat? When is the easy part. You may take your retreat at any time, especially when you feel a need to revitalize, relax, renew, and reconnect. When on your retreat, make sure your family and friends know how to contact you, and vice versa, in case of an emergency. WHERE to Take a Retreat? For those who have never been on a retreat, you may feel you have to go to some far away place, but this is not true. To make the retreat convenient and worry free, look for retreats in your local area – retreats that are within 1 to 4 hours driving time. Participating in a retreat close to where you live will reduce any worries about being too far from your family. Plus, you won’t have to concern yourself with airfare or other expenses. A Final Comment There are probably retreats in ‘your own background’. You can look on the Internet (www.retreatsonline.com) for retreat centers and retreat services. One of the best and most reliable ways to find a retreat that is right for you is to check with your therapist, counselor, minister, or a friend who has participated in a retreat. It’s your life, decide to live it passionately!
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If you are a mental health, educational, or religious/charitable organization and would like to announce an upcoming event, send your submissions for possible publication in our next issue to pblessin@bellsouth.net. |
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Upcoming Events |
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Important News |
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On-going Women’s Groups The Mandorla Center offers several on-going and exciting “Women’s Growth Groups”. The unique format provides a safe and enriching space where women can embark on their journey to wholeness and self-discovery. If you are interested, contact cdarnell@bellsouth.net for more information or call 678-290-1337. Mandorla Lodge and Retreat Center The Mandorla Center is now accepting inquiries regarding retreats, group meetings, conferences, and other related activities at our Lodge and Retreat Center. If you are a mental health practitioner, educational organization, or religious/charitable organization and are interested in holding your next meeting in a beautiful lodge setting in the North Georgia Appalachian mountains, contact us at pblessin@bellsouth.net for more information about how we can make your next meeting a positive and memorable event. |
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The Mandorla Center 1640 Powers Ferry Rd. Building 17, Suite 250 Marietta, GA 30067 678-290-1337 |
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The Mandorla Lodge and Retreat Center 610 Old Mill White Rd. Ext. Jasper, GA 30143 678-290-1337 |
