Awakening into Spring

Avila Center for Community Leadership, Durham NC

We are excited to once again offer a 48-hour residential retreat with Lama Rod Owens. As the land around us awakens, we will settle into community practice, grounding ourselves in an awareness that helps us meet the world’s unraveling with clarity and compassion.

A retreat allows us to do the deep work and healing that our minds, bodies, spirits, ancestors, and the earth are calling for so strongly. It is a gift we can give ourselves which also affects all the lives we touch.

If you are new to practice with Lama Rod or new to meditation retreats, you are most welcome. Also most welcome are those who have formed community during last year’s retreat at Avila and previous retreats with Lama Rod.

We will meditate together and engage in movement, compassion, and earth-based ancestor practices and rituals. Both residential and commuter opportunities are available, and we have scholarship assistance. There is an application process and BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks will have priority.  

If you have any questions about the registration process or about the retreat center, email Elaina at elaina@peacehillavila.org.

If you have other questions about the retreat, email Karen at BhumiDurham@gmail.com. 

Learn more about Lama Rod Owens here.

Presented by Bhumi Durham in partnership with Peace Hill at Avila.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

There is an application process for this retreat. Please note, you must have an approved application in order to register. To apply, please fill out the form at this link:

We expect this retreat to be oversubscribed, so preference will be given to BIPOC, LGBTQ people, and those who have been studying with Lama Rod. Admissions will continue until the retreat is full, after which applicants will be added to a waiting list. Often, there are last-minute cancellations which allow those on the waiting list to be admitted.

TICKET PRICING:

• Residential retreat (includes single-room accommodations and meals): $500
• Pay-it-forward Residential retreat (help us provide support to other participants): $600
• Non-residential retreat (commuter ticket includes meals but not overnight accommodations): $350
• Pay-it-forward Non-residential retreat (help us provide support to other participants): $400

All ticket options include the March 7 evening talk.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The retreat container
After the opening program on the first night until the noon meal on the third day, everyone is invited to enter into silence throughout the buildings and grounds. At times, such as the Q&A sessions, silence will be lifted in the meditation hall.

This supportive silence invites all yogis to refrain from verbal and written communication with others, including telephone calls, texts, and emails. There will be an emergency number for emergencies.

Meals
Coffee and tea will be available during the retreat. Meals will be vegetarian. Please let us know allergies and food intolerances on your application form. We can usually accommodate dietary restrictions.

Lodging
All rooms are single, and some are more accessible than others.  Please let us know your accessibility needs on the application form.  Some of the rooms that require stairs are large double rooms, and a limited number of these can be shared at a lower cost upon request.

Accessibility
Please help us make this retreat as accessible as possible by telling us about your accessibility needs on the application.

Location of the retreat
The retreat venue is Avila Center for Community Leadership, a 20-minute drive from downtown Durham and a 35-minute drive from the Raleigh Durham (RDU) airport.

Avila is a nonprofit community center, where people and groups connect, deepen their work and rejuvenate.  The mission of the center is to support and connect community organizers and leaders working together for systemic change in the South and beyond.  The buildings are surrounded by 50 acres of green space and trails.

You can learn more about Avila at this link.

If you have questions about this retreat, please contact Karen at BhumiDurham@gmail.com