WE ARE THE CIRCLE:
THE EARTH SINGS THROUGH US
A Writing, Mindfulness, and Nature Retreat
In Harriman State Park, Idaho with Nan Seymour, Scott Moore, and Amy May
Thursday, August 29th thru Monday, September 2nd, 2024
Labor Day Weekend
Only 10 spot left!
CALDERA
in praise of the green caldera
by Nan Seymour
gold-to-green of yarrow bloom
life-blood green of grasses
green-to-black brackets of branches
green determination of willows
green shade of skyward pines
against the blue rim
praise be the shimmer
of your green insistence
you will send forth your tendrils
to the edges
The Earth Sings Through Us!
Enjoy 5 days, 4 nights at a pristine wildlife and bird refuge located just south of Yellowstone Park,
on the banks of the Snake River, in the heart of the Henry’s Fork caldera.
You can expect a morning meditation ritual, deep and soulful writing sessions, exquisite food, connection with self and others, and the copious bounties of the natural world.
We plan to deeply connect with the earth and each other as we weave together an authentic and caring community. This year we will have more time than ever built in for connection to nature and contemplation, along with meaningful practice, strong community, and space for personal growth.
Provisions and Possibilities
For 5 amazing days, you’ll love:
Comfortable, private lodging
Expert teachings and loving guidance from Nan, Scott, and Amy
Daily gentle morning movement and meditation
Poetry and more poetry
Personal coaching for your writing
Yoga Nidra (guided meditation) with writing invitations
Fireside story circle
Partial day of silence
Privacy and time to write
Grounded, delicious sustenance provided by Amy May
Tea Of The Land Ceremony with Amy May
Most of our programming will be held in the spacious great outdoors. In addition to the sacred 7 agreements we’ll be making together, we are asking participants not to come if they have been exposed or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Lodging
Your cozy, modern cabin is built, fittingly, around the communal fire pit.
Accommodations are either:
Single room private bath
Shared room shared bath
Food
Our senses and hearts will be ravished by a series of sublime meals, created with love, skill, and a sense of terroir, by our beloved chef and resident food genius, Amy May.
We’re delighted to announce that Amy May will be a co-facilitator with Nan and Scott, offering her unique gifts to facilitate connection to self, each other, and the land. She will also reprise the ceremony of tea of the land and once again orchestrate our beautiful meals.
The Seven Agreements of River Writing
1. Non-Judgment
We agree to practice for the sake of practice without criticism, praise, or apology. We commit not to comment, and especially not to praise. We grant ourselves permission to write wildly, poorly, and even to fail. We write to discover: not to craft, claim, or prove. We offer the inner-critic a break from vigilance. We take respite from the joy-stealing realm of comparison.
2. Shared Responsibility
We agree to take responsibility for the impact of our words, actions, and energy. Together, we will create a community defined by authentic inclusion. We agree that everyone matters, those within this circle, and those without. Everyone. We speak and act accordingly: without racism, sexism, nationalism, abilism, agism, fat phobia, homophobia, transphobia, or other forms of bias. If we stumble, we will acknowledge our mistakes and apologize. When we stumble, we will stumble toward each other.
3. Confidentiality & Consent
We agree not to retell other writer's stories. If we wish to speak with someone about their writing we will ask permission first, prepared to gracefully accept their decline. We will not ask during a session, even at the break or on the way out the door, which is often too soon. We agree not to offer unsolicited advice.
4. Self Care
We agree to take care of our own physical and emotional needs. While we a creating a brave space which is safer than most, we are still ultimately responsible for managing our own level of disclosure.
5. Honesty
We agree to say the truest thing we can say within our chosen level of disclosure. We agree to come as we are. We will do our best to ditch our scripts and worn-out stories.
6. Listening with the Heart
We agree to listen whole-heartedly, without judgement, and with attentive curiosity. When someone is reading or speaking, we will give ourselves over to luxury of listening without the worry of what to say next. We practice listening in a way that is as open and receptive as the face of an owl. On an inner level, we agree to actively pull for whomever is speaking.
7. Kindness
We agree to practice radical kindness with each other and with ourselves. We will practice including ourselves in the circle of kindness we will be helping to create.
Permission granted to copy and utilize these agreements anywhere and everywhere they may be of benefit! Please cite nanseymour.com as your source.
Pricing and Registration:
14 Guests Total
We have limited availability and choose to cap our attendance to keep the offering as personalized as possible.
Dates:
Labor Day Weekend—Thursday, August 29th through Monday, September 2nd, 2024
Price:
Double Occupancy $1,195 per person (limited to 8)
Single Occupancy $1,695 with private bathroom (limited to 6)
Full tuition is due no later than July 14.
Cancellation policy:
Your payment and/or deposit is non-refundable. If exposure to or symptoms of COVID-19, or other circumstances should require you to cancel, we’ll help you to recover the cost of lodging if we can. By registering you are signaling your commitment to the above 7 agreements and your commitment to cancel if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
Step 1: Register
Please fill out the form below.
Step 2: Payment
Make either your non-refundable deposit ($700) or full tuition payment using one of the buttons below. Your space is not confirmed until you’ve submitted your payment. If using Venmo, please indicate in the notes what you are paying for, e.g., “Deposit Caldera, single occupancy.”
