You're invited to join us in refreshing the screen, pulling away the veil, and waking up in the wild… in service of being aware and being kind to yourself, all beings, and the world.
When we spend a mindful, timeless day in nature meditation at the beach or in the woods, we somehow feel more energized, open and refreshed… because in this space, a part of us remembers all that we have forgotten, and a sense of belonging, peace, and inspiration arises.
A wellness retreat in our great outdoors offers the opportunity to engage our consciousness, which in turn, awakens essential aspects of our being. We sense that we are part of a web of life, a system of interdependency embodied in every breath as the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the plants and trees of the world. We have a much larger view of the world, and we can cultivate compassion for ourselves and others in the field of shared humanity. We recognize that, in this larger view, everything and everyone has a purpose and a role to play, including our own unique self. We connect with our ability to be astounded, humbled by something we did not expect or create, and surprised and awed by the beauty and power of the natural world.
This summer and fall, join us for any or all of this series of nature meditation retreats celebrating and cultivating our connection to nature, to ourselves, and to each other:
four half-day nature meditation retreats on the monterey Peninsula
&
one weekend Meditation retreat at IONS Earthrise in PetalumA, California
Four Half-Day Meditation Retreats
Full Moon
July 15 with Jennifer Farley
Join us as we explore how the power of the moon influences us by its nature, and how through this understanding, we can build a conscious relationship with the moon as a support and faithful guide. In this nature meditation retreat, connect deeply with the moon, yourself, and each other.
Mountains & Rivers
August 24 With Patricia Wolff
Join us as we come together by the river in Carmel Valley for meditation, celebration, nourishment and community. In this mindfulness retreat, we explore our limited notions of self and our connection to the infinite Self.
Ocean
September 14 with Marianne Rowe
Join us for this half-day nature meditation retreat, a time to explore and experience: bringing full presence of open senses, heart and mind, surrendering to the awe of the Ocean’s teachings of Waking-Up in the Wild.
Forest
October 5 With Katie Dutcher
Join us for a wellness retreat in the forest! The forest beckons you to a half-day retreat to explore your inner landscape, the external natural world, and the connections between.
Weekend Nature Retreat
at IONS Earthrise
November 8-10 With Marianne Rowe, Katie Dutcher, Jennifer Farley, and Patricia Wolff
This nature meditation retreat offers an opportunity to open your heart, cultivate spaciousness in your mind, and nourish your soul by stepping outside of routine and familiar into a world of beauty and state of wonder.
Marianne shares information, energy, and an invitation about a unique meditation practice inspired by her love of All-Things-Ocean.
Marianne Rowe and Katie Dutcher, founding teachers of MBMS, share how awareness of the world around us grounds us and connects us to what really matters.
Katie Dutcher, founding teacher of Monterey Bay Meditation Studio, shares a meditation to awaken the senses and connect with what is within and around you.
Patricia Wolff shares how nature meditation connects us with what supports us.
Katie Dutcher, founding teacher of Monterey Bay Meditation Studio, shares a gentle practice of qigong.
Marianne Rowe, founding teacher at Monterey Bay Meditation Studio and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, gives an introduction to the practice of Forest Bathing and how it inspires her.
Jennifer Farley gives an introduction to the phases of the moon and explains how to cultivate your relationship to the moon.
From Past Participants…
"This was one of the best retreats I have attended. It was not only well planned out, it was a warm and inviting atmosphere, too. I loved every moment! "
"I wish I could stay in a cradle of the woods and silence like that more often. I have noticed that I am much more "plugged in" to myself and energy around me."
"I was expecting to just meditate and connect deeper within but it was so much more than that. I discovered things about myself that I was unaware of."
"It would be lovely for everyone to have an experience like this, with such experienced and gentle teachers. The world would be a different place."
Why Nature Meditation?
When we engage our consciousness in nature, we awaken essential aspects of our being:
Connection: We sense that we're part of a web of life, a system of interdependency that is embodied in every breath as the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the plants and trees of the world.
Perspective: We have a much larger view of the world – one that is beyond our immediate circumstances and known experiences – and we can cultivate compassion for ourselves and others in the field of shared humanity.
Sense of Beauty, Awe, & Reverence: We connect with our ability to be astounded, surprised and humbled by something we did not expect or create; we re-recognize and appreciate the mystery of not-knowing; and we experience the expansion and transformation of what we thought possible.
Meaning: We recognize that, in this larger view, everything and everyone has a purpose and a role to play, including our own unique self.
Consciousness: We realize that we have the capacity to engage and interact through our senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell…and – here’s the real miracle – be aware of the awareness of sensing, feeling, and thinking.
These experiences and pleasant surprises come to us when we dare to go beyond the familiar and “known," to listen deeply to the teachings of nature, to see things as they really are, and to feel into our connection with the sacred and profound mystery of being.
Read more about nature meditation.
Retreat Teachers
Marianne Rowe, MA, LMFT
Marianne is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, meditation teacher, and Lifelong Lover of the Ocean. She is the founder of Mindful Education Project and a founding teacher of Monterey Bay Meditation Studio.
Katie Dutcher, MA
Katie has studied meditation and mindfulness since 2009 and is a teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Since she was a small child, she has been enthralled and inspired by the natural world. Katie is a founding teacher of Monterey Bay Meditation Studio and the host of Flourish and Bloom, a community platform offering resources and events for mindfulness and self-discovery.
Jennifer Farley, MA, LPCC,BC-DMT
Jennifer is a dance/movement therapist, shamanic healer, and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who draws much of her intuition from the wisdom of nature. Jennifer has a private body-based psychotherapy practice, and she is the founder of Shaman Healing Monterey.
Patricia Wolff, DC, LMFT
Patricia is a chiropractic and homeopathic physician, a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and is on the teaching council of the Monterey Bay Zen Center. In addition to her love of the outdoors, she brings curiosity, humor and meditation to this exploration of being human.