Beauty: A Fall Retreat

Beauty ~ A Fall Retreat

Beauty is everywhere:
~ In the petals of a flower and the vista over fall foliage at a distance;
~ In the dance of a honey bee and the sway of an African elephant;
~ In waves on the seashore and the ripples on a brook;
~ In the face of a friend and the muscle of an Olympic athlete;
~ In a view through a microscope or a telescope;
~ All around and within us.

The “Beauty” retreat is an opportunity to spend time away in the company of other pilgrims. This event, October 24-26 (Friday, 4:30 pm through Sunday 11:30 am) will include structured opportunities for
* Quiet prayer in the Presence;
* Sacred Reading of Scripture;
* Communal Sung Prayer;
* Communal meals; plus

There will be ample free time for
– Yoga,
– a Nature walk on the Prairiewood trails,
– walking an outdoor labyrinth,
– hand massage,
– journaling; and more

Registration: To register online, visit our Eventbrite listing for this event (on that site search for Beauty – Hiawatha); OR send an email to coneiowa@gmail.com with your intent, and we will send you a form to return with a check for the registration fee.
Fees:
Full Retreat with shared room: $175
Full Retreat with individual room: $215
Commuter: $145 (meals, no overnight room);
One day only (Saturday) $75 (with no overnight)

Prairiewoods is at 120 Boyson Rd, Hiawatha, IA. To view more photos and read more about Prairiewoods, visit https://prairiewoods.org/.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will there be food provided?
A: Yes, there will be fruit, drinks (coffee, tea and water) and other snacks available throughout the event. Meals will be served by Prairiewoods staff, with the option to accommodate people with special dietary needs.

Q2: Will silence be a part of the event?
A: Yes, much of the retreat will include internal and external silence. However, there will some time for conversation with other retreatants.

Q3: Can I attend only part of the retreat?
A: Yes. We encourage people to attend the whole event; however, if you can only come for one day, you are welcome to do so. The related costs are listed above

Q4: Will I be expected to share many details of my life?
A: No. There will be time for introductions with other group members, but not extensive sharing. If extended sharing is desired, there will be opportunities to meet one-on-one with one of the leaders.

Q5: Is Prairiewoods handicap accessible?
A: Yes. The Center has all facilities on one level. While there are two levels withing the building for sleeping rooms, you may request a room on the floor level. Retreatants will need to assess whether the outdoor grounds are safe for them.

Q6: Is there anything else I might want to know about Prairiewoods?
A: Yes. Indoors, there is an onsite bookstore, an area for meals and snacks, a quiet prayer room, our meeting room, etc. Outdoors, the wooded grounds provide a space to commune in nature; with an outdoor labyrinth available.

Q7: If I cannot attend this event, can my registration be refunded?
A: Refunds are possible until 9 am October 10 for paid registrations that have been received. However, thereafter we cannot provide refunds because of our contract with Prairiewoods. With this contract we guarantee the number of participants and associated fees. Refunds will be the full amount minus the Eventbrite processing fee if payment is made online.

Q8: Can I register for a half day on Saturday?
A: Yes. This is an option with the mail-in registration that you can request via Email to coneiowa@gmail.com. The fee for morning or afternoon, both including lunch, is $45

Q9: What if my personal finances are tight?
A: Scholarships are available upon request. To learn more, contact coneiowa@gmail.com

Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Northeast Iowa Chapter