On Summer's Private Lessons & Personal Visits

Qu’est-ce que c’est? What is it (?) one might ask. To find out in full, to de-mist the mist in mysticism as my Teacher Shinzen says, you may have to pay us a personal visit. Just last week, several of our students did, enjoying great spurts in their personal growth. These are folks who’ve previously attended a Noble Silence Meditation Retreat Weekend (NSMRW), or have joined us for Ceremony, then decided to return to hone their Vipassana Meditation skills or join our Saturday Meditation + Mindfulness 1101 class. Usually taught in the context of a meditation retreat weekend, 1101 will be taught again near the close of August. All that said, you’d be pleasantly surprised at what a rock, a wooden bench, an engaging mindfulness technique and a little time spent abiding in nature might do for you.

Lynne covered some good ground, literally and figuratively. We’re happy when people gain traction with their practice here because it’s not easy to do, with some feedback following on her triumphant return and positive spiritual experience. The work here isn’t a quick fix, but for those committed to bettering their one precious human life — and in Lynn’s case having the foresight into how this benefits her as well as the lives of others — it’s well worth it. Many of our limited openings for personal visits are filling, but there are still opportunities for private lessons. Along with deep contemplation, we do cut loose at times when all we want to do is have some fun, and we’ve got a feelin’ we’re not the only ones, with several spots still available for our August Women’s Weekend aka Heather Winia’s Birthday Bash. Watch for the full Fall schedule up soon. Toksha

“I thank you for the comfort of the Retreat House.  The sights, smells, and sounds were therapeutic for me.  I think of the mass populations around the globe who will never know what it is like to spend time in such a special place, and it humbles me.  I appreciate – to my core – the space you and Nature have helped create for those of us who seek to dive deeper, work harder, and treasure more greatly – to enhance richness and contentment in our lives, so that we might maximize the quality of our lives, as well as share this richness with others.

I thank you for sharing RoZie.   Who else could sit on an underwater branch, in the middle of a river, while planning which dragonfly to chase next, and be so incredibly adorable – all at the same time??!!  She reminded me of the importance of purity:  joy; exuberance; abandonment; excitement; and focus.  I believe she will partner with you well – providing comfort and opportunities to future guests in ways that no human being could ever do.

 I thank you for the private lessons  --   I think that experiencing the Noble Silence Retreat in June, followed by two days of private lessons in July with an overnight stay between to allow me the opportunity to practice new techniques, has provided me with tools, education, depth, and confidence to continue my meditation experience and deepen the quality of my life.  Your flexibility with my schedule and my specific needs to enhance my practice were pivotal in making this a success.  The Higher Haven could not be more appropriately named.    Thank you, Paul & Rozie” (And Thank YOU L.T. - P + R)

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July Touch The Sky

Hokahey I’m so happy to report that our July Way of The Contrary Weekend brought together one of the bravest and most brilliant crews of Higher Haven tribal members that we’ve had the pleasure of hosting. I don’t reference it that often these days, but in my former life I was a marketing guy, an advertising writer, who always hoped to employ his creativity uplifting humanity rather than trying to sell people stuff. Now I’m out to raise awareness that the Altar above, one of the healing tools of the ancient medical practice we run here, can actually cure some of the grave mental ills of the modern mind. Which is good news, because there’s a lot of psychologically unwell people running around the world today. Here, we can help still you and heal you. And we’ll teach you how to still and heal yourself.

Of course for the fortunate souls whose struggles on earth are somewhat less dark and deep, there’s always the physical, mental and spiritual uplift of Ceremony’s sweet renewal, well appreciated on life’s long road. We’ll be doing it again next month as we do every month, all through the Fall, again in 2023, onward and upward. And for now, the latter half of July is shaping up to be the perfect time to pursue a private lesson or individual overnight visit, best and easily done by e-maling: higherhaven@gmail.com. And don’t forget The Women’s Gathering of Women’s Gatherings with the Groovy Heather W. August 5th-7th, with a Satur-Day Event August 6th, and Fall’s full schedule up in the next few weeks.

Back to our great mini-tribe of July, here’s Michelle on her recent attendance in Ceremony: “I came to The Higher Haven hoping to heal from a recent breakup and past divorce. I wanted a “quick fix”, but what came out was a completely different way of looking at the past, present, and future. Paul is an unwavering spiritual leader who creates a very safe environment to share and heal. My group was amazing. My experience was amazing. The Inipi Purification Ceremony is 100% challenging both physically and emotionally. And 100% worth it. — M.H.

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!)