The Breathing Life of All: Chant, Movement, & Meditation with Aramaic Jesus

2500 Grand Avenue,West Des Moines IA 50265

14 April, 2023

Description

This is a wonderful doorway into Jesus’ native spirituality and way of meditation, whether or not you have joined in an Aramaic Jesus retreats previously. This meditative art combines simple chanting with contemplative, body-based awareness, either sitting in silence and/or with gentle circle dance movement in the form of "Dances of Universal Peace." It can also be used in an individual retreat process of spiritual renewal, when various words or sayings are combined in particular ways. The leader will also offer some guidance in this area. Neil will also share insights from his new book Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus. There are two retreat parts. The first part is open to all. Begins on Friday night and concludes on Sunday morning. Generous breaks throughout. See detailed schedule below. The second retreat portion is optional and focused on support for leading the chanting and body movements. Read more below. Scheduled for Monday morning and afternoon. Folks attending Monday should attend the full weekend retreat. Retreat ScheduleFriday evening, April 14, 2023 7-9 p.m. - Session Saturday, April 15, 2023 10 a.m.-12 :30 p.m. - Session with 30 minute tea break in the middle12:30-3 p.m. - Lunch & Break3-6 p.m. - Session with 30 minute tea break in the middle6-7:30 p.m. - Dinner Break7:30-9 p.m. - Session Sunday, April 16, 2023 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Session with mid-morning tea break12:30-2 p.m. - End of retreat. Lunch provided Afternoon & evening is free time for those staying for MondayMonday, April 25, 2022 similar to Saturday's schedule from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Monday Leadership Workshop on the Aramaic Prayer of JesusOne need not be a Musician or Dance Leader to attend. This day is appropriate for: Those who want to deepen into the Aramaic Prayer and Teachings as a personal practiceThose who want to deepen in the teachings and practices with a small intimate group such as a prayer/meditation/study groupThose who want to host a small group with Neil’s Sounds True recordings of The Aramaic Prayer and/or The Beatitudes, or his other books and recordingsThose who want to lead an Abwoon Circle through the Prayer with chant and body prayersThose who want to learn to lead the Prayer Dance CycleRetreat leader: Since the publication of Neil Douglas-Klotz’s Prayers of the Cosmos in 1990, which Dr. Matthew Fox called the “seeds of a revolution,” chanting and meditating with the words of Jesus in his native Aramaic language has become one of the main contemplative prayer methods in various spiritual communities around the world.  Using Aramaic (either aloud or silently) offers one a direct connection through vibration, sound and breath to the spirituality of person who used the words, as well as to the indigenous Christianity of the Middle East, which predates the Western creeds and theologies based in “original sin.” In the same way that some Eastern mantra can, it bypasses the overly-busy, conceptual mind and allows prayer to enter deeply into one’s feeling and body. Registration Information: This retreat will be in-person and is limited to 75 participants. We are using a tiered registration schedule to prioritize registration for those attending the retreat plus Monday. We hope to open registration for the Retreat Plus Monday on Tuesday, December 27.On January 20, 2023, registration will open to all attending just the weekend. Scholarships are available. Please email [email protected] for consideration. Retreat Location: Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge, 2500 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines, IA, 50265 Meal Information: For the main retreat, two lunches (Saturday & Sunday) and one dinner (Saturday) is provided in registration. On Monday, lunch is also provided. Dietary preferences will be collected during registration. Please let us know us if you prefer vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free options. We will accommodate as best we can. Lodging Information: This is not a residential retreat. Lodging is on your own. Please visit this page for a list of lodging accommodations and make arrangements at your earliest convenience. If you would like to be matched for a homestay, please contact the coordinator at [email protected]. COVID Protocols: For the health and well-being of everyone coming to sing, dance, and pray together, we ask each of us to participate in these group agreements: Practice limited large group experiences the week before the retreatTake a home test before leaving for the retreat and each day of the retreat, attending only when you have a negative result.Don't come if you are not feeling well.We hope most are vaccinated and boosted and request unvaccinated folks to mask. You are encouraged to tend to your personal risk tolerance and sense of safety to the level of your comfort.The retreat space will have windows that can be opened and HVAC filters are changed regularly.Refunds (minus the Eventbrite fees) are available on request.