SOFT ANIMAL: is a 3 day, 2 night retreat
Monday, October 17 - Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Sometimes silent but not always, this gathering offers movement informed by stillness and a long exhale into the last landings of this year. Soft Animal is an invitation to come together, collect our echoes, and tend a moment.
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contemplative practice, ceremony and circle, stillness, “almost silence”, guided + intuitive movement offerings
We get quiet, go inward, so that we can orient toward our true nature, our true self, our inner wisdom. Listen to it, nourish it, nurture it. And from this place authentic action is born, how to move in this world with passion and compassion. Strength and sustainability. The knowing and the acknowledgment of when to move, rest, reorient, resist, relinquish, come home again.
This is:
transformational space for contemplative discovery, for liberated expression, for ritual, remembrance, and reclamation. A Temple of Belonging.
“Almost Silence” is an invitation, a container to come together with intention of quietude, but without rigidity. No pretense, no small talk, no expectations. The space and grace for what arises within the Pause, emergent from a place within us that we long to touch into.
This time together serves as a personal journey to self - who we are when there is nothing to be done, no one to be - and somehow, at the same time, a renewal of our place within the greater web. The unspoken connections formed between us, and beyond us.
An offering of intention and great care,
can we remember what it feels like to be deeply ourselves?
Offering a sacred pause, together we weave:
▲ a journey within, a refinement of meaning
▲ meditation & almost silence, a dreamy paradise for the introvert (or any human seeking a quieter way to be with themselves + others)
▲ contemplative moments to stoke curiosity & inspiration
▲ seasonal and elemental blessings. forest medicine, starry sky medicine.
▲ rest and ritual, practices of deep restoration
▲ endless nourishment in all the ways. surprise delights. sweet tokens.
▲ creative play and craft
△ guided movement with guest facilitator Hope Hamling, founder of Abide Yoga *
△ intuitive dance led by guest facilitator Tasha Brandt *
▲ unscripted and explorative opportunities for connection and expression
▲ a sacred & intentionally held container
* The invitation for somatic movement and the embodiment it explores, the movement of energy it elicits, is a powerful one and you don’t need to identify as a yogi or a dancer to take part. Both practices require no previous experience and carry no expectations or judgments.
As facilitators we are committed to reducing harm in wellness spaces through ongoing learning and the integration of anti-ableist, anti-racist, and trauma informed practices in our spaces.
All offerings are optional to encourage the tending of the self spaciousness - to be, to explore, to not-do is paramount, and woven into all aspects of our time together.
also, the photo is a crop from body object series #5 • sagebrush, 1986-88 by Ann Hamilton (American, b. 1956)
Soft Animal is vision of intentional stillness and intuitive movement. The type of quiet that rattles laughter loose, births heart talk. The type of wandering that leads us to wonder.
Slow, simple, and kind practices will create the scaffolding of our care: expansive silence, gentle reflection, contemplative ceremony, and deep rest woven between nourishing meals.
Time to sit on a porch, be held on sacred land, watch the trees change color, walk in the woods, read a book by the fire. Sink down into a hot tub, lay a blanket onto the grass.
And, as we dance with our stillness, as we commune with our true nature, we’ll be invited to move, too.
Expressions and gestures of what has no language but a body of feeling.
Can we allow whatever wants to move, to move? Whatever needs to be still to be still.
There are so many ways to be: in this life, in these bodies, in a moment.
Is this calling to you? Does your heart quicken a beat?
Do you long for some time to reflect, some silence, and some deep remembering? Deep connection?
Let’s meet in the woods and see what happens when we give space for it.
“Gwen’s retreat changed me. It wasn’t in a jarring way where I felt like I didn’t know who I was when I returned from the retreat. It was as if Gwen’s facilitation led me home to myself. From the moment I arrived, I felt held by the container and energy of the space and experience. I felt safe, and uncomfortable in the best stretchy ways when meeting new people and walking in a semi-silent way. I experienced deep sisterhood that felt healing and enlivening. I felt energy in ways that I had been craving for quite some time. Every time I heard Gwen’s voice throughout the retreat, it was as if she channeled exactly what I needed at that moment. Her voice and energy held the space in such a brave and vulnerable way. The way each table was dressed, each book was chosen, each poem was read, each communal event, everything felt so intentional and so deeply safe. I felt so held all weekend. I will remain changed by this experience. I will remain impacted. Do yourself a divine favor and go where Gwen goes. Go towards her offerings. Gwen is a divine vessel and her offerings are sure to promote wild laughter, tranquil release, and maybe even howling at the moon with other wild ones. ”
Soft Animal is a 3 day, 2 night retreat lovingly held in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, on the land of Hope Springs Institute.
Adams County is situated in what is known as the Serpent Mound Crater, where an asteroid or comet impacted Earth between 256 and 330 million years ago. Nearby are the earthworks of Serpent Mound, a prehistoric indigenous effigy.
Hope Springs has been tended as sacred gathering space for almost three decades and is a powerful container for our time together. In mid-October the leaves should be changing, beginning to fall, and highlighting the natural, cyclical process of return as we lay ourselves down into the wintering months ahead.
The name of this retreat, Soft Animal, is inspired by Mary Oliver’s poem, Wild Geese, which offers the lines, “you only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”
and
“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
-over and over announcing your placein the family of things.”
❀ Register for Fall Temple Retreat Here ❀
SOFT ANIMAL takes place in Peebles, Ohio from Monday, October 17th - Wednesday, October 19th, 2022. Payment plans are available.
Single Room, $1100
Shared Room, total price for 2 human hearts booking together, $1800
There is currently one room still open for booking. Follow the link below for more information.
Hope to see you in October!
Intentional space for you to connect with your guidance system and yourself, to feel that catalyzed in a space that is tended, that offers opportunities for vision and belonging, healing, growth, perspective, and inner wisdom to be emergent, is transformational.
Not from who you are to something else, but a return to a piece so deep and so ever present within you.
“A magical weekend that offered pause, connection and silence. Time to breathe, wander and listen were the reasons I signed up but also found peace, joy and a connection to things I thought were lost. This weekend was not only an experience of love and trust but self care and discovery in a way that was so needed. The ability to just be and to just be together. Putting my fork down and really tasting the nourishing food provided. Looking into my cup of tea as the sun rose over the trees.There was space to heal and grow and I could feel that from everyone who I shared a home with for a few days.”
“Deeply therapeutic. This weekend was filled with love and comfort. It was exactly what I needed to remember how to rest and care for myself while getting in touch with my creative self. It was beautiful to connect with so many women in silence. I left feeling inspired and whole.”
MEET YOUR FACILITATORS
Gwendolyn Ren offers instruments of pause that nurture a beautiful and sustainable life. A curator of experiences and guardian of stillness she serves as a catalyst for healing and connection, one breath at a time.
Gwendolyn (she/they) has spent a lifetime as a vision keeper in heartfelt preparation for this work and over a decade professionally designing, planning and executing complex events around the country. Logistically and creatively, this work led her to curating intentional spaces that inspire rest, contemplation, curiosity and deep connection.
She has been sculpting the container of “Almost Silence” since 2018 and shares this offering as some of the most transformational and clarifying work that she offers.
You can view photos from past retreats here.
Hope Hamling will be joining us to offer a movement practice on Tuesday morning, grounded in teachings from both Yoga and Jane Clapp’s Movement for Trauma, as well as a good amount of her own creativity and curiosity. You can learn about her and her work here.
Tasha Brandt will be joining us to offer an intuitive dance class on Tuesday evening. You can learn more about them & their work here.
FAQ
Where will this retreat be held?
This retreat will be held at the Hope Springs Institute in Peebles, Ohio. The Hope Springs Institute is a non-profit retreat center that maintains and cultivates sacred space. Situated on 130 acres with hiking and walking trails, a labyrinth, fire pit, hot tub, and special gathering places for our group work it was chosen with intention, intuition, and after much consideration.
There is ample shared space to spread out, from covered porches to cozy living room spaces, to library nooks, and a vast, wooded landscape.
When do I arrive and depart?
Please plan to arrive between 3:30pm and 5:30pm on Monday, October 17th. This will ensure that you arrive while it’s light out and give you time to find your room and get settled before our retreat begins that evening. Our first gathering will be for dinner at 6:00pm.
Departure will be following lunch on Wednesday afternoon, around 1:30pm. After leaving, you might consider visiting Serpent Mound. The Hope Springs Institute is located about 30 minutes from Serpent Mound, an ancient, indigenous earthwork and effigy dating back to 1070 AD.
Is this a women’s retreat?
This particular retreat centers the feminine, and is open to all women and non-binary humans that wish to co-create the intention of this space together.
Other small group retreat formats welcoming men are available, and you can look here or send me an email to begin planning.
Is Hope Springs an accessible space?
Though the buildings are spread out a bit, the terrain is even and flat, and we’ll all be moving slowly through our time together (no rush to get anywhere). The dining hall and main studio space are both wheelchair accessible and there is a seat in the shower in the Meadow Room (which may be booked as a private or a shared accommodation).
I’m not sure if a silent retreat is for me.
Does this feel a little uncomfortable? The idea of a(n almost) silent retreat? Many, many folks have come into this fold uncertain if the silence was for them, and who departed from our time having had a truly profound experience. Plus, I’ll note that our format of “almost silence” is permissive quietude with some ground rules of engagement, but you won’t feel lost at sea. If you ever have a question or a need, I’m there for you. Also - silence is never really silence. There is so much to listen to in our quietude!
Tell me about the Shared Rooms option.
Would you like to share a room with a loved one or a friend? Shared rooms are available with space for 2-3 people in separate beds. For those traveling with ones they know, curious about how silence will fit into an existing relationship: it is a beautiful gift to get to know someone all over again without words. A whole other layer to how we relate, and what it means to be in their presence.
If interested in being matched with a roommate please let me know. This may be an option.
How are you approaching in person gatherings in the time of COVID?
We’ll be adhering to CDC guidelines and will keep an eye on what this looks like as we get closer to our gathering. Expect clear communication as we move forward and fingers crossed for a healthy summer and fall. Please note: depending on case loads in our areas you may be asked to pass a test prior to attending the retreat.
What kind of food can I expect?
Hope Springs will provide nourishing, vegetarian meals with gluten free and vegan options. This will include dinner on Monday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Tuesday, and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday. You’ll also have 24 hour access to an incredible tea selection and snacks. You are also welcome to bring anything your heart (or digestive system) desires - kitchenette and refrigeration is available. Dietary requests will be accommodated for, please leave a note when booking.
How do I get there?
Columbus (CMH) and Cincinnati (CVG) are the two closest airports, at less than a 2 hour drive from either. It is a 4 hour drive from Cleveland, a 4.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh, or a 6 hour drive from Chicago. When booking, there will be an option to notify me if you are interested in carpooling, and I will connect you to others driving in from your city if applicable.
What’s the bathroom situation? Are they private? Shared?
There are ample shared bathrooms. In the studio there are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, but when we’re gathered in the main studio space as a group they become shared. In the farmhouse, there are two bathrooms on the main floor, and one bathroom on the second. There are two accessible restrooms (with shower) off the dining hall.
What do I need to supply or bring?
You’ll receive a suggested packing list down the line, but plan to bring clothing appropriate for the weather, an optional bathing suit if you’d like to take a dip in hot tub, shampoo and such for the shower, and a few personal items to create an altar space as we honor our time together. Hope Spring generously provides so much - from robes, to ear plugs, flip flops to muk luks. Even umbrellas and raincoats, if you happen to forget yours! (but go ahead and pack them if you have them).
Anything I shouldn’t bring?
Plan on taking a little technology break and leave any unnecessary devices at home. Cell service will be spotty at best, but wifi will be largely available if you need to touch base with family while you’re away.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you are paying in full: the total amount, minus a deposit fee (per person for shared rooms - see details on registration page), can be refunded before September 16, 2022. Beginning September 17th you will only be refunded if your spot can be filled.
If you have registered with a payment plan: all deposits and fee payments are non-refundable and are required to hold your reservation.
If you feel lingering hesitation, I highly recommend purchasing trip insurance. Make sure to do this within a couple of days of booking to ensure coverage.
You may also transfer your reservation to someone else by notifying me!
Also - shit happens. Let me know what’s going on, and we’ll do our best to figure it out together.
Have another question? Please send it to: hi@gwendolynren.com