This is an experiential retreat oriented towards opening to and processing the energy of grief. We are drawing from two ancient wisdom traditions: Christian Mysticism and Zen Buddhism to guide us on this retreat.

Surender as Pathway to Self:

A Contemplative and Experiential retreat drawing from the wisdom traditions of Christian Mysticism and Zen Buddhism.  Self is understood here as the pure essence of one’s Beingness.  For the Christian it is a non-dual consciousness referred to as Spirit or Christ Consciousness, for the Zen Buddhist it is the non-dual state of Buddha nature.

Both of these traditions converge in their understanding of the procedural pathway to our true essence, Listening from the Heart, Feeling into the Body, and surrendering protective patterns of the mind.

A central theme in this retreat will be an exploration of Grief as a core component of a Surrendering Process.  As human Beings we somatically carry multiple layers of grief; personal losses, grief inherited from ancestral legacy, cultural and cosmic grief perpetuated by wars, famines, natural disasters, and the destruction of the Earth.   Everything and everyone we attach to, and Love will ultimately have to be let go of.  For the Buddhist this is the path of impermanence and surrender, for the Christian it is the process of Kenosis, or emptying.

Participants will be invited to open to and welcome in the experience of grief in whatever way it may show itself.  Grief is fundamentally a relational experience, grief requires community witnessing, this retreat will construct a communal container of love and support where grief can be fully witnessed.  In that experiencing and witnessing another dimension opens up, a space that might be described as joy, peace, freedom, the transcendent, or the divine.

 

Presenters:

Gerry Grace Ph.D, M.Div

Gerry born in Ireland, is living and working in San Antonio Texas, he leads workshops and retreats primarily integrating his expertise in psychotherapy and spirituality.  He has served as lead trainer for The US Army’s Medical Command in training all mental health professionals in evidenced based treatments for PTSD.  He is a certified trainer in Exposure Therapy for PTSD, he is an EMDR therapist and facilitator, he is also an IFS level 3 certified therapist. He is currently serving as retreat/workshop leader and psychotherapy/spiritual direction private practice.

 

Sandra Medina Bocangel MD

Sandra was born in Peru, went to medical school in Mexico City and now lives and works in San Antonio.  She is a Harvard trained Chinese Medicine MD and Acupuncturist.  Her spiritual practice is Zen Buddhism, and she is connected with the Austin Zen Buddhist Apamada Center.  Sandra also teaches Qi Gong housed at Oblate School of Theology.  She is IFS informed and presently undergoing Hakomi training.  Her approach to wellbeing is somatically oriented, with a deep compassion for how the burdens of the mind and heart get stored in the body.

Hosted by: Gerry Grace Ph.D., M.Div. & Sandra Medina Bocangel MD. Cost: €415