Death and the Meaning of Life: A Conversation

This retreat invites you to an explore this hefty and often-avoided topic of death in a nurturing environment. It promises no answers but offers gentle and open  conversation around a variety of questions, including: why do we die? how can  we reconcile our sense of being a mortal body with our sense of being an  unbounded spirit? how can we expand our language and discussion around this  scary topic to make it less scary? 

We will look at death through  anthropological, mythological, philosophical, and personal lenses, exploring how  humans in various times and places have grappled with this big mystery and  constructed practices to soothe the pain of loss. Our journey through the day will lead us to also ask of ourselves, “what gives my life deep meaning? how can  embracing my mortality (and impermanence generally) lead to a richer  experience of being alive?”

Our explorations will take the form of discussion; journaling with prompts; solo and shared reflective activities; exploring myths, folktales, and traditions; guided  meditation; gentle movement; and  Nature immersion. The day includes two nutritious homemade meals - lunch and dinner.  

My hope is that you will leave this retreat feeling supported in the difficult human task Mary Oliver poetically described, “To live in this world you must be able to do  three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your  own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.”