This Life as Sacred Ground
Braiding image, sound, and word on the labyrinth path
october 14-17, 2024
St. ANthony Retreat
Three Rivers, California
A Veriditas Qualifying Workshop with Laura Esculcas, Catherine Abbey Hodges, and Rob Hodges
Nature Immersion
Join us at St. Anthony Retreat in Three Rivers, California for a pilgrimage into the sacred ground of our own lives through music, poetry, SoulCollage®, and immersion in the beauty of the natural world of the Sierra Nevada foothills – the gateway to Sequoia National Park.
The Labyrinth Path
The labyrinth at St Anthony Retreat, created on native Yokuts land and surrounded by majestic blue oak trees, will provide our gathering place and central metaphor.
Each day will begin with meditative music and unfold with opportunities to experiment with images, words, sound, and movement through the landscape in a series of sessions led by experienced facilitators.
The Gift of Your Creative Presence
Just as the labyrinth is a container for both community ritual and private contemplation, our retreat will offer both time with others and opportunities for solitude, silence, and reflection. Songs, pictures, poems, stories, dreams, stars, stones: come experience the braid, contribute your unique presence and gifts, and make the discoveries that are yours to make upon the sacred ground of this life and on the labyrinth path.
Experiences & Activities
Nature immersion
Story and poem writing to discover what we didn’t know we knew
Labyrinth walks
Meditative music
SoulCollage® card-making
Using your SoulCollage® cards to listen to your inner wisdom
Time for solitude in nature
Meditative movement
Community ritual
Evenings by the fire with music, poetry, storytelling, and more
.
You will receive
- A copy of Instead of Sadness: Poems, an award-winning book by Catherine Abbey Hodges
- An abundance of images and supplies to make your SoulCollage® cards
- a list of resources for further exploration
Retreat Cost
The cost of this four-day, three-night retreat is $925, and includes accommodation in a single room with private bathroom, all meals and snacks, collage supplies, and a copy of Instead of Sadness. If you would prefer to share a room with a friend, the cost is $800 per person. Please let Laura know the name of your roommate.
Save Your Spot
Or contact Laura at lauraesculcas@gmail.com
Early Bird Cost
Register and pay by June 10, 2024, and receive an early bird discount!
Early Bird Single Occupancy: $875
Early Bird Double Occupancy: $750
Retreat Location
Cradled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, St. Anthony Retreat Center is located off Hwy 198 in Three Rivers, California, just three miles before the entrance to Sequoia National Park. The nearest airport is Fresno, CA. St. Anthony’s is about 45 minutes from Visalia, and an hour and a half from Fresno, CA.
Elevation: Approx. 1500 ft
F.Y.I. The only cell phone company that offers service in this area is AT&T.
Dates
Start: Monday, October 14th at 4pm
End: Thursday, October 17th at 1pm
This retreat is designed to precede The Labyrinth Society Gathering , which will be held in California from October 18th to 20th.
Meet Your Facilitators
Brought together by the labyrinth path, Catherine, Rob, and Laura join together for the first time to offer This Life as Sacred Ground: Braiding Image, Sound, and Word on the Labyrinth Path.
Catherine Abbey Hodges
Catherine Abbey Hodges is an award-winning educator and author of three poetry collections, most recently In a Rind of Light (Stephen F. Austin State University Press, 2020). Her first book, Instead of Sadness, won the 2015 Barry Spacks Poetry prize from Gunpowder Press. Professor of English Emeritus at Porterville College and co-founder of Canyon Wren Writing Workshops, she writes and teaches in the foothills of California’s Southern Sierra Nevada.
Laura
Esculcas
Laura Esculcas is a life-long learner, coach, and Veriditas faculty member and Advanced-trained Labyrinth Facilitator. With passion for myth and metaphor, Laura curates wisdom journeys and immersion experiences in Portugal’s mystical landscape. Laura is co-founder of EarthShamans, a SoulCollage® facilitator, and taught Energetics of Art with Ubiquity University Wisdom School. She is trained in Sacred Landscapes, Intuitive Feng Shui, and the Personessence™ System of Understanding People. Laura holds both an M.A. in Wisdom Studies and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.
Rob
Hodges
Rob Hodges is a cellist and singer with extensive performance experience in the United States and
abroad. He earned his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from UCSB following several years of living and
teaching in Sumatra, Indonesia. Rob is a Veriditas-trained labyrinth designer, builder and walk
facilitator, having completed his Advanced Facilitator Training in 2022. From his home in the Sequoia
foothills above the Central Valley, Rob pursues a range of nature-focused arts and crafts and continues
exploration with the cello and voice.
Questions?
Get in touch-
Send your inquiries to Laura Esculcas at
lauraesculcas@gmail.com
WhatsApp: (+351)912282676
See you in October!
