ReWild – Wilderness Meditation Retreat
New Dates
with
Jaime Howell & Juliana Griese
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
A guided 5-day meditation retreat with emphasis on Nature connection and human wholeness.
New Dates: 9th – 14th November 2022
We shortened this retreat to make it more accessible for anyone that wants to have more of a community retreat guided by Jaime and Ju. It will run from the 9th-14th. 5 days to be supported to develop a meditation practice in community. Daily guided meditations, community meals, evening chanting. A time for all to be nourished.
Why come to this Retreat?
This retreat will guide and support you into the art of meditation, the natural state of belonging with all of life. It is interesting how as adults of all ages we can become distanced from the happiness and creativity of wonder and innocence. Meditation is about learning how to put down the parts of the mind that continually seek to solve problems, in favour of learning to rest in being.
Two things we need: a passion for inquiry and a vast spacious heart
The Nectar of Naturalness by Tarchin Hearn
Our intention is to guide our group to deepening the meditation practice inspired by the teachings of Tarchin. We are entering the heart of clear seeing and love.
Beyond this, Jaime and Ju are finding that it is not enough to meditate, we need to integrate the gifts of meditation into the hot messy creativity of our relational lives. We also believe we need to resource ourselves back into nature, we are calling this a process of Re-Wilding.
We are offering this retreat as a question, "what might it mean to be a true adult? And, "how can meditation help us?" It is ongoing work but it has something to do with living fully with the inheritance of a wild animal body/mind, while cultivating through deepening familiarization a feeling for the one taste of pure beingness.
This retreat is a continuation and a whole in itself, you can come just for this part, especially if you want to learn meditation in a supportive group or deepen your practice with people who are interested in the work of Joanna Macy and to participate in the Great Turning. The first part of the ReWild retreat takes place in the Tui Events park, it is more active, offering conscious dance, circling work and an initiation. More information can be found here: https://www.centreforthegreatturning.org/rewild-retreat-2022
Jaime Howell is a musician, a lover of mythological stories, a poet emerging, rite of passage guide and Meditation/Open Floor teacher. He is a graduate of a three year school of mindfulness/meditation who went on to spend another three years as the resident practitioner at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre. He meditates everyday and has done for 22 years. He is a volunteer Director of the Rites of Passage Foundation. Jaime has a Masters in Education.
I have been exploring and sharing progressively since 2007, contemplative practices/meditation moved by a passion in the area of ecology and community care. I worked for more than 15 years in Brazil with NGOs, the environmental movement and research projects focused on wild animal ecology. I am beginning to explore more deeply and delivering The Work that Reconnects for communities and in retreats. I am a NVC passionate and do my best to put it into practice. I am an enthusiastic supporter of community building.
The Wangapeka Retreat Experience
Whenua Land
The retreat takes place on the beautiful Wangapeka whenua nestled in stunning native forests with expansive views down the Wangapeka valley. The land itself provides a healing sanctuary surrounded by mature trees and offering the perfect environment for reflection and reconnection with nature.
Kainga Accommodation
Accommodation is included in the price of the retreat, with all rooms being comfortable and well-appointed with single beds and electric heating. Shared bathroom facilities are conveniently located close to all rooms.
Kai Food
All meals are included in this retreat to support the your well-being and focus. Our kitchen team prepares nourishing vegetarian food to sustain and delight you throughout your stay. Specific dietary requirements can be accommodated and self-catering is also possible if you prefer to bring and prepare your own food.
Whare Wānanga Teaching Space
This teaching room is beautifully crafted and has been used for a wide variety of teaching for over 20 years. It has a wooden parquet floor and a pot belly stove to keep away winter chills. Set amongst beautiful mature trees, it offers a charming view looking down the Wangapeka valley, creating an inspiring environment for movement and meditation practices.
Whare kai Main Hall
The original building at Wangapeka, the Main Hall serves as the heart of community life with its combined living and dining room, library, and welcoming wood burner. Tea, coffee, and snacks are freely available here throughout your stay. Whether you choose to relax in the cosy interior or step out onto the porch to enjoy the expansive views, this space invites connection and contemplation. The hall also houses the kitchen, bathroom facilities, and laundry for your convenience.
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