We are alive at a time of growing uncertainty and tremendous loss. Countless species, ecosystems, and human cultures around the world are endangered. How do we respond to this loss, and the daily barrage of distressing news? What do we do with feelings of overwhelm and despair? Where do we find inspiration for taking part in collective efforts for positive change?
Join a small community of 10 participants for this immersion in the Work That Reconnects, an interactive body of work known worldwide for empowering activists in movements for social justice and ecological protection. Joanna Macy and her colleagues have been evolving this dynamic theory and practice over the course of four decades, inspiring many thousands of people to engage wholeheartedly in The Great Turning to a life-sustaining society.
Drawing on Living Systems Theory, Buddhist thought and practice, and Deep Ecology, the Work That Reconnects offers a way of seeing the world as our larger living body, helping us re-examine the harmful assumptions and attitudes that now threaten all communities of life on Earth. A current evolving edge of the work is to actively address the systemic roots of power, privilege and oppression in our society in order to create spaces that are respectful and inviting for all. Learn how to be fully present to the suffering of our world and experience a shift from feelings of despair and apathy to enthusiasm for collaborative action and collective liberation.
This is at a special discounted all-inclusive rate of $275 per participant. We are setting the current group number to 10 and there will be a wait list after that. The wait list will be tapped if we have a warm spring to enable cottage camping for additional guests. This will be determined in mid-March.
Reservation Information
Friday, March 22 - Sunday March 24, 2019
Up to 10 guests total in Main House
Additional in cottages (up to 5) if desired and weather suitable
Main House Five Guest bedrooms (shared if more than five guests):
First Floor: Water Bedroom: Two Twin XL beds
Earth Bedroom: Two Twin XL beds
Accessible full bath with accessible shower plus one half-bath
Second Floor: Sunrise Bedroom: One Queen and one Twin XL bed
Moon Bedroom: Two Twin XL beds
Stars Bedroom: Two Twin XL beds
Two shared full baths
Cottages Oneness & Duality: Up to five beds available in unheated rustic artsy cottages.
Bedrooms are first come, first served and are not pre-assigned. All beds are made with thoughtfully appointed, comfortable sheets, blankets, and pillow. Each guest is provided with one towel set. Please bring your own eco-friendly toiletries and if you have a favorite pillow, feel free to bring that, too.
Wifi throughout main house and sporadic areas on the property. We suggest social media be restricted to one hour before dinner on the first night then put devices away until the end of the retreat.
All meals are served family style in the Still Waters Dining Room and/or with outdoor seating when weather-permitting. We use non-GMO, local and organic ingredients whenever possible. We work with chefs that align with these preferred principles whenever possible.
Arrival Date: Friday, March 22, 2019, Check in between 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Departure Date: Sunday March 24, 2019, Check out 2:30 pm
Includes all accommodations, vegetarian meals and site usage. Includes all required CT Bed & Breakfast Occupancy (11%) and Sales Taxes (6.35%).
Meals include:
Friday night dinner
Saturday breakfast, lunch & dinner
Sunday morning light snacks
Sunday brunch
Still Waters Retreat Center artist-owners Tao & Amy LaBossiere will be onsite all weekend to support the group.
Workshop Facilitator
Kirstin Edelglass is a wilderness guide, ecological educator, psychosynthesis counselor, and co-founder of the New England Council Collective. She began studying with Joanna Macy eighteen years ago and facilitates Work That Reconnects in a variety of settings, including as Joanna’s assistant. The initiator of the Earth Leadership Cohort for young adults, she enjoys strengthening communities and promoting solo experiences in the natural world. Kirstin lives in Marlboro, Vermont with her husband and two daughters.
Retreat Organizer
Julie (Hai Lien) Wagner has deep family roots in the land and shoreline of CT. She is a certified Master Wildlife Conservationist and Master Bird Conservationist and volunteers for several environmental non-profits. She is an ordained Dharma teacher and leads asangha at the Hai An Pagoda in New Britain, CT. Professionally, Julie is Professor at UConn where she conducts behavioral diabetes research with the neediest populations. She is married and enjoys hiking, reading, birdwatching and skeleton articulation.
Questions? Contact Kirstin at kedelglass@marlboro.edu , or Julie at juwagner@uchc.edu
Comfortable outdoor shoes for walking and hiking
House slippers for main house (we have some guest slippers available)
Sunscreen, if desired
Bug repellent, if desired
- warm clothing for chilly evenings around the bonfire
- warm hat
- rain jacket, umbrella
- flashlight
- water bottle
- travel mug
- notebook and pen
- cushion to put on your chair
- earplugs if you are a light sleeper
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
- musical instrument and/or songs (for sharing music Saturday evening)
- favorite poems
- a copy of the book Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy and Molly Brown which can be found at: https://workthatreconnects.org/category/books/
Reservations are first come, first served. We know that plans can go awry. However, we rely on your Reservation Deposit and a cancellation costs us time and money. We are not a big hotel chain that can offer same-day cancellations. When you enter into a Rental Agreement with us, you are informed beforehand that our Refund Policy is as follows: If an advanced cancellation is necessary (90 days or more in advance), 50% of your Reservation Deposit and Payments may be applied to a future reservation and is otherwise forfeited. After this time frame, cancellations will be considered a No-Show, and there will be no refund. Once you arrive at Still Waters, No Refunds will be given due to the weather, your change of plans, or an early departure. We are not responsible for acts of God and nature including power outages.