Winter’s brutal majesty blew in this weekend, socking us proper, with today’s early a.m. additional pow keeping the home fires burning, the hiss of our wood stove signaling the serene season’s arrival. We enjoyed a powerful November Ceremonial Overnight, with warm fires and teas employed, the cooking of the Chaga above being one of several preparatory rituals performed prior. Are you familiar with Chaga (nonotus obliquus) the parasitic that grows on birch trees, known to be a powerful, medicinal, burnt charcoal-like fungus loaded with antioxidants? If not, you may have to pay us a visit for the final Ceremony and retreat of the Fall season , sip some healing tea, and take in the story of how Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Russian writer and Soviet dissident, discovered its extraordinary curative properties. That’s just one of several accounts enjoyed by our recent crew, who reported “An amazing experience, having come with no expectations of what it would be like, but then being blown away, enjoying every part of it, and hoping to come back in a heartbeat.” That heartbeat being Ours — One Heart, One Mind, One Voice, One Chanupa — Matakuye O’yasin!
Before November’s gales, however, there was October, when the trees are stripped bare of all they wear, what do I care, October, and kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall but You go on and on… as did our Fall retreats, including a visit from Master Teacher John Ashbrook. “I recently attended the Comprehensive Spiritual Development Retreat at The Higher Haven,” shared Kelley M., “And it was just what I needed to reboot and refuel. I decided to attend this meditation/yoga/plus retreat after having surgery. I believe that our healing needs to be addressed holistically, so the weekend provided the mindfulness and stress reduction that I needed. The accommodations were beautiful and comfortable, the property was amazing, and I also loved the chance meeting of the people who joined the retreat for the weekend. Something wonderful happens when we can break away from our normal environment and allow ourselves to embrace a place of healing with people who are there to do the same.” So True. John will be back in the Spring of 2023, along with his Kundalini yoga teacher sidekick Kimmy P., the weekend of May 21st, with registration soon open.
Among many encouraging developments this year was the strengthening and solidifying of our rad, rotating community, with several students returning for repeat visits. Here’s Erika on her attendance at both the Spring and Fall Noble Silence Meditation Retreats. “There is a lot of pressure in my life to be everyone’s everything. The Noble Silence Mediation Retreats provide me with a haven to exist without the heavy expectations of having to do, fix, and solve for others. The space to explore the beauty in life free from expectation has brought me back to The Higher Haven. Each retreat is a unique personal journey that leaves me feeling refreshed, relaxed, and hopeful. Thank you Paul, thank you Higher Haven for providing me the resources to be my true self, and the ability to return to the things in life that truly matter” Thank you Erika. We Love you TP (!), and hope to see you and anyone who shares a similar mindset at our Winter Noble Silence Meditation Retreat Weekend from Friday March 3rd to Sunday March 5th, kicking off a stellar 2023 retreat season.
Between now and then, we’re also happily offering one more go at our monthly Meditation and Mindfulness 101 class this coming Saturday, November 19th, with overnight accommodations available, for some some serious, pre-Holiday centering. More soon on our new 2023 offerings as well as the tried and true, before we take some time to rest, retreat and renew. Until then, Toksha
“
