Retreat 1 Hope’s Hold on the Heart
February 13 @ 4:00 pm - February 14 @ 4:00 pm
Possibilities for Wholeness in Life’s Press:
Spiritual Practices Engaging the Heart, Mind, & Body
with Debra Paxton-Buursma, Phd 
Spiritual Companion for Individuals & Gathering Souls, Retreats, & Consultations
Feeling the press of life’s distractions and divisions? Join Debra for 1, 2 or 3 retreats exploring wholeness and integration of heart, mind, and body in the soulful context of The Hermitage (Three Rivers, Michigan). We will nurture spiritual awakening and deepening through contemplative conversations, silence and gentle practices using scripture, nature and the creative arts (story, poetry, visual arts, & music). Come as you are (with or without art experience) and be welcomed into this grace-filled slow space for hearing, healing and wholeness. Each retreat begins Friday with supper at 5:30 and concludes Saturday at 4:00. Feel free to come as early as 4:00 and leave by Sunday morning (see below for Saturday evening stay). 
We will be joined by Jo-Ann VanReeuwyk, my good friend, fellow colleague and artist. Jo-Ann wil gallery some of her work at the Hermitage over the months of our retreats and support gentle exploration of creative spiritual practices. As a former art education professor, Jo-Ann brings gentle wisdom and soulful care into every space she enters.
Feeling prompted?
Read on…
Retreat 1: Hope’s Hold on the Heart
February 13 & 14
Come, discover deep heart space.
Your heart offers a powerful place for becoming more spiritually awake, aware and responsive. Experiences of division, loss or sheer busyness can cause us to shield our heart. Story maps, centers and simple Sgraffito* invite spiritual practices of “heart-listening” that scratch beneath the surface of life stories revealing intertwined experience, emotion and Sacred Presence.
*The Italian art technique Sgraffito invites you to scratch the surface as color and designs emerge. If you’ve used crayons, you can do this!!
(Dates and information for Retreat 2 Mindful Spiritual Imagination with Word and Watercolor)
(Dates and information for Retreat 3 Embodied Pathways for Deepening Spiritual Senses)
Cost: $200.00 Includes:
- 1 Overnight stay at The Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center
- Meals: Friday supper, Saturday breakfast, lunch & snacks
- Retreat facilitation, materials, guided & independent experiences
- Additional Saturday Night Possibility: Supper, breakfast & lodging — an additional $75 (leave by or before noon on Sunday)
Want to speak with Debra about the retreat, please reach out: debrapaxbuursma@gmail.com
To register, please fill in the registration request form and note in the comments that you are registering for Debra’s retreat. (please pay once you receive confirmation since space is limited to 15)