Our Saturday Meditation + Mindfulness 1101 Class

Boy, I’ve been carrying that weight, carrying that weight for what feels like a long time behind the scenes at The Higher Haven, just as The Beatles predicted. I lost an Aunt I sincerely loved in June, and it was a successful but challenging Spring. That said, I found my footing this past weekend, got in the moment, and made a firm decision to go ahead and teach Saturday’s class, thinking doing so might cheer me up a bit. And I’m happy to say that it did, with Angela and Blake above spending the afternoon, and concluding the day with a walk down to our dock along the edge of the Black River. I know we had many folks wanting to stay the weekend, and so we’ll be offering this class again in July, amending the name to Meditation + Mindfulness 1101 given its killer healing content, and will definitely offer overnight accommodations that weekend for mid-summer night dreaming. The latter half of July is in fact being left wide-open for scheduling individual visits and private stays, and so we look forward to seeing you all and walking our bit of wilderness, as well as sitting together in stillness, in our ongoing pursuit of liberty.

Here’s Angela take on Saturday’s class: “Many people are alive but don’t touch the Miracle of Being Alive.” -Thich That Hanh. “Blake and I had a miraculous afternoon with Paul Tootalian, an awe-inspiring and extraordinary Healer who showed us how to sit in stillness without resistance. The day was magic. We learned various methods of practicing mindfulness and dove deep into why meditation is so empowering, transformative, and healing. Life is certainly full of inescapable emotional and physical pain, but we can reduce our suffering and ease our burdens with this expansive practice. My favorite part of the day was when Paul got out his drum and belted out his powerful Native American songs. Every cell my body felt this vibrational medicine — it was a surreal and divine experience. This workshop expanded my knowledge of the ancient culture of the Americas and love for the wise, enlightened Native people. I’m really looking forward to attending one of Paul’s Ceremonial Healings.

I encourage you to check out The Higher Haven. He offers a variety of amazing spiritual retreats and Ceremonies. The property is a serene sanctuary nestled away from all the hustle and bustle. I promise that you will love your encounter with Paul. My heart is so grateful that we were led to experience this.” (Ours, too!)

Our Spring Noble Silence Meditation Retreat Weekend

Enjoy scenes and dialogue from our Spring Noble Silence Meditation Retreat (SNSMR). Dialogue you say? When silence was the supposed subject matter? Yes. An exchange of ideas and channel of communication flowing with hope, joy, renewal and healing from our closing Talking Circle and beyond. All this after having spent a relatively short time period — Friday dinner to Sunday lunch — coupling time spent abiding on a special stretch of nature while working simultaneously at a spiritual practice birthed by nature itself, and practiced by people who relied on nature for their survival. We’re humbled by the power of the extraordinary form of Mindfulness and Spiritual Purification taught here, granting us the ability to ground and help people heal emotionally just where they need to be grounded and healed — within. And deeply.

“Beautiful place. Beautiful purpose. Beautiful people (and dogs!)” reported Lynne. “What a beautiful place, beautiful people and beautiful experience,” echoed Anna. “This retreat is so unique, personal, inclusive and welcoming. I am glad to be a part of it!” “So Much Peace. Thank you for this wonderful experience. The beauty of the property enhances the tranquility one finds here. Thank You!” “Many thanks! Very Healing Experience and a Wonderful Space.”

And finally Margaret with some thoughtful feedback that again both humbled and blew us away: “I just returned from a Noble Silence Retreat Weekend at The Higher Haven Retreat Center. I had an intention set for the weekend but little did I know that I would exceed that intention ten-fold. The meditations were deep and meaningful. The environment could not have been better. The garden, the pathways, the river, the woods were all perfect and beautiful. By the end of the weekend I felt completely transformed on a very deep spiritual level. I have a level of euphoria that has not left me. Paul is incredible. You can read his beautiful heart in his eyes. He shared so much about his experiences with indigenous people, Ceremonies and songs. He has ignited a desire in me to learn more about Native culture and traditions. He is a wonderful and motivating teacher. Many deep friendships were also forged over the weekend. I feel like I will be in touch with everyone from the retreat for a very long time. Whether you have been meditating for a long time or you are just starting out on your journey, The Higher Haven Retreat Center is the place to grow, learn and deepen your practice.”

On that note, after a busy Spring Retreat Season, we’ve had a few openings in this coming weekend’s Ceremonial overnight, while the latter half of June offers our breezy but informative Meditation + Mindfulness 101 Saturday June 25th class, as well as some openings for private lessons that can be simply scheduled by Contacting Us. We’ll be filling in the summer schedule and even setting dates into the Fall with some new offerings so stay tuned, stay strong, Until Then, Toksha.

Our First Comprehensive Spiritual Development Retreat

There’s our happy, connected crew from our weekend retreat, an overwhelmingly successful three-day transformational happening made up of four standout classes. Starting with Meditation and Mindfulness 101, elevating a Saturday evening circle focused on Indigenous Purification Practices, ending with Spiritual Development Class 1101 — containing cosmic truths laid down by the mighty John Ashbrook — and a lovely Yin Yoga session infused with the light of Teacher Rebecca Ufkes. Who needs Mary Oliver when Rebecca, formerly known as the artist Rachel, provided her own poetic take on Time. “Time has a place for sure Running a race, baking a pie, departure of a flight to sunshine - today, this moment, time has no place, As, I watch the red bird gather delight, as the birch trees dance with the morning dew, with coffee in hand, and the touch of golden fur on my skin, Time, who is wonderful in his time, Has no place, today, in this space.”

As to time in an aware, healing space, it seemed well-spent by all, in Alissa’s words, “a restorative and relaxing weekend, so fulfilling and absolutely what I needed and wanted.” “This is a beautiful space,” reported Kelsey Cz from central Illinois. “Thank you so much for hosting and providing a transformational experience.” And finally Mary’s take, a Fenville local and new Higher Haven fan. “This weekend I attended a spiritual retreat at Higher Haven in South Haven Michigan, needing to reset, relax, and rejuvenate. I'm at a point in my journey of life where I'm seeking TRUTH and spirituality. The universe connected me to Paul at Higher Haven, and the weekend retreat was everything I had hoped for and more. I've returned to my 'regular ' life with a new, rejuvenated view of the world, and have felt peace and tranquility while evaluating where life is headed. Thank you for providing such a beautiful space and program for those of us seeking TRUTH, peace and tranquility in this wild world of ours.”

Thank you Mary. And Alissa. And Kelsey. And John, Rebecca, and all. We’re onto the next with a several great, overflowing offerings for June, and will fill out the late summer schedule by the end of May, Hokahey, what a boon see you all soon.