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Formation
Retreats
Seeking
the Intersection between Soul and Role
overview
Based
on the work of Dr. Parker Palmer and informed by practices in holistic health,
art therapy,
and
psychology; Formation retreats are designed as a place for the renewal of mind,
heart and spirit. Without abandoning the outer world, Formation is the process
of creating a quiet, focused, and disciplined space in which the noise within us
and around us can subside so that the inner voice of authenticity and integrity
might be heard. During the retreats, we join together to:
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connect
as a group with the traditional wisdom of poets, storytellers, and artists |
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collaborate
with others around personal experiences and insights
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contemplate
our inner beliefs through intervals of solitary reflection
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A
retreat is a time to uncover and perhaps recover our inner teacher.
Participants are invited to speak honestly about their lives while listening and
responding to each other - and to themselves - with encouragement and
compassion. With a focus on soul and role, the retreats strive to develop a
deeper understanding of how our chosen profession intersects with who we are as
a person.
In
drawing upon the collective and poetic parts of being human, participants are
left with a deeper and more integrated sense of self while understanding their
own place and connection within the Universe. Often times therapeutic, these
retreats are not therapy: often times spiritual, these retreats are not
religious. Participants are average, healthy adults seeking some time to pause
and reflect on their life within a community of others.
elements
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The
renewing of heart, mind, and spirit through the exploration of the inner
landscape of an individual’s life
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A
reconnecting to one's identity and integrity; identifying and honoring gifts
and strengths, and acknowledging limits
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The
focus of the curricula is on inner work. We recognize the "inner teacher" within each
individual, and the relationship between inner and outer work, as
fundamental to the program.
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Honest
and open listening without judgment is a crucial element. A fundamental
principle of the Formation process is: Don't
try to fix each other.
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The
use of a "third thing" -
such as a story, poem, or art - allows participants to work at a deeper
level via the gift of the poem or story or art. It is not about exploring
the artist or his/her historical moment, etc., but about exploring
ourselves, our own inner lives, at both a personal and archetypal level.
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The
Formation process maintains a retreat format, rather than taking a "workshop"
approach. Silence and solitude have an honored place in the program. Time
for reflection, journaling, and quiet meditation are part of the fabric of
each retreat.
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Deep
confidentiality and trust are strong hallmarks of this program. Holding
space for diverse voices, within recognized and respected boundaries,
contributes to the creation of a trustworthy space within which to do this work. |
information
Facilitated
by Frank Conner and Judy Jankowski, the structure of the retreats vary from one
to several days. Retreats can meet only once or be part of a series where the
same group meets several times over the course of one or more years.
For
further information contact Wanda Blanco at
wblanco@grcc.edu
or call her at 616.234.4547. If you have questions about Formation, feel free to
contact Frank Conner at fconner@grcc.edu
or 616.234.3612 or Judy Jankowski at jjankows@grcc.edu
or 616.234.4409.
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