Spiritual retreat is one of the most powerful processes for spiritual growth and transformation; however, because we tend to have very busy lives, it is often difficult for us to leave work and family responsibilities behind for several days to go into seclusion for an individually guided retreat.

In order to make the benefits of retreat more available for everyone, particularly for those who find it difficult to get away, Wahhab and Batina are offering a retreat process during their time at the Abode that can be easily integrated into one’s everyday life routines and responsibilities.

The purposes are the same: awakening, renewal, and transformation; but instead of doing practices in seclusion, one uses the activities and experiences of one’s everyday life as teachers and guides for one’s journey of Self-discovery and transformation.

The retreat takes place over three weeks, beginning Saturday, August 4th, and ending on Saturday August 25th, and each of the three weeks is focused on one of the three stages of the retreat: Week 1 – Purification of the Heart, Week 2 – Self-Realization; and Week 3 – Living Our Truth.

Each morning will begin with practices, an attunement and a reading related to the theme of the day. A practice is given to hold in one’s consciousness throughout the day for the purpose of stimulating awareness, insight, and personal and spiritual growth. The evening is a time to revisit the morning’s practices and to use journaling or other creative media to reflect upon what has been gained through one’s experiences during the day.

Retreatants will be encouraged to conclude each weekly stage of the retreat with some creative expression of their retreat experience that can be shared with fellow retreatants in respectful and heart-centered conversation (sohbet) at the week’s end gatherings on Saturdays.

To get the full benefit of the process, retreatants are encouraged to participate in all three stages of the retreat. However, if this is not possible, retreatants could participate in one or two of the weekly stages. Participation means (1) attending the Saturday morning session to begin the retreat stage, (2) making a commitment to follow the daily retreat schedules, and (3) attending the Saturday morning session to conclude the retreat stage.