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What's
New?
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We
are continually looking at ways to improve our facilities and
enhance the experience of our visitors—and we take your
feedback seriously! One of many new initiatives is our commitment
to making the Retreat Center as green and sustainable as possible,
and for those values to inform our purchasing, upgrade, and
other choices. Most recently, our two lovely chalets have received
a fresh coat of paint—Wilderness
Green. One now has a red door and one a black door, making
it easier for you to distinguish between the different chalets.
We've also improved the interiors of each dormitory by repainting
each of the rooms and hallways and upgrading all sleeping rooms
with new, organic, 100% cotton bedding, including natural-toned
sheets, blanket, and duvet cover. Each bed now has two pillows
plus an additional elegant accent pillow. We are also in the
process of replacing mattresses, and so far have added 20 new
ones from the Green Fusion Design Center. These are
coil innerspring mattresses wrapped with organic cotton and
pure wool. |
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What's
Cooking?
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The
feedback we consistently receive is how much you enjoy and appreciate
the Center's cuisine, and we often get requests for Chef Shannon's
recipes (stay tuned!). Here are some of her favorite things
to cook and the common ingredients she uses in her kitchen:
Her staple ingredients are olive oil, garlic, leeks, olives,
lemon, and salt (she believes that salt has healing properties).
Her favorite breakfast consists of braised greens with poached
eggs, lemon/saffron aioli, and roasted potatoes. A popular lunchtime
choice is an eggplant sandwich with pickled beets, radishes,
and a special marinara sauce. One of her favored dinner entrees
is duck confit—a
French dish made with the leg of the duck. These dishes epitomize
the philosophy of "slow food," as Shannon has to begin
preparing them the day before. This long but beautiful process
results in a sumptuous and satisfying meal. Good quality ingredients
have their own language; they can be so simple but can create
the most delicious experiences!
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Events
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In March, the first of the Institute's new weekend workshops
is launching with The
Healer’s Journey, presented by Lee
Lipsenthal, M.D., and Cassandra Vieten, Ph.D. Lee is the founder
of Finding Balance in a Medical Life. He has served as medical
director of Lifestyle Advantage and HeartMath LLC as well
as being vice president and medical director of The Preventive
Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito California along
with Dr. Dean Ornish. Cassandra is a licensed clinical psychologist,
Associate Director of Research at the Institute of Noetic
Sciences, an associate scientist and co-director of the Mind-Body
Medicine Research Group at California Pacific Medical Center
Research Institute in San Francisco, and vice president of
the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology. This program
is designed to enhance the life and capacity of all people
in the healing arts. This would include massage therapists,
yoga teachers, psychologists, physicians, naturopaths, social
workers, nutritionists, teachers, and nurses, as well as anyone
interested in personal growth.
This
and upcoming weekend workshops
focusing on consciousness & transformation, integral health
& healing, and wisdom teachings will also offer continuing
education credits. |
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Please
join us on Thursday, March 12, from 6-8 pm on campus here
in Petaluma
for the Retreat Center's Dinner Series, featuring dinner
and guest speaker Dr. Lee Lipsenthal, who will talk about
"The Healer's Journey." Dinner is $25, or $35 with wine. If
you would like to attend, email lisavanderboom@noetic.org
with "Lipsenthal IONS dinner reservation request" in
the subject line. (You will then receive a reservation link.)
Please make your reservation early if possible, and no later
than Monday, March 9. We look forward to seeing you!
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Art,
Culture
& Consciousness
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The
Lucid Art Foundation, in
collaboration with IONS and the Retreat Center,
will be co-sponsoring
art programs and showings at the Center and will curate several
gallery showings each year. The first co-sponsorship
is the
current
show, Realms of Being, featuring
artist Jeremy Morgan, which can be seen in our gallery
in
the community building through March 31st. Our next show,
featuring painter Fritz Rauh, will be up April 1
- May 31. |
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Community
News
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Here
at the Retreat Center we feel fortunate to be the stewards of
200 beautiful acres of rolling hills in Marin County. As such,
our sense of community extends beyond the staff, volunteers,
interns, and thousands of visitors we host each year to the
indigenous flora and fauna that grace us with their beauty.
This winter we welcome a new addition to our community of friends
and visitors—a
residential staff of approximately 300 hungry sheep and goats,
including some babies and pregnant moms, along with their Peruvian
shepherd and sheep dogs! These environmentally-friendly grazers
munch on weeds and brush surrounding our facilities, specifically
the areas near buildings and roads. Such managed grazing provides
much-needed natural firebreaks and sustainable fire protection.
The hungry herd will also reduce invasive plants by eating their
way through thick star thistle growth. This increasingly popular
green approach eliminates the need for CO2-producing machines,
expensive manual labor, planned burning, and pesticides—all
the while supporting the Institute of Noetic Sciences' ecological
sustainability goals. Initially funded by Board member Betsy
Gordon, the service is provided by San Francisco-based
Living Systems Land Management. |
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What
You Say
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"We
have been bringing groups from 10 to 40 people to the IONS
Retreat Center in Petaluma, every few months for the past
two years and have found it to be a beautiful, inspiring experience.
The staff are very competent and helpful, the food is always
delicious and healthy, and the facilities clean and well-kept.
Our members always have nice things to say about the retreats
there, and we are looking forward to having them even more
frequently in the future."
Jeff
Rice, Director
Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education
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Contact
Us
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Lisa
VanderBoom 707.779.8224
lvanderboom@noetic.org
The Retreat Center at the Institute of Noetic Sciences
Located on 200 acres of beautiful rolling hills just 25 miles north of
the Golden Gate Bridge, we offer meeting facilities, cuisine, and accommodations
for 5-120. Our clients offer educational programs, workshops, and retreats,
with a broad focus on health, personal growth, and transformation.
We also welcome weekend workshops and retreats for small groups (fewer
than 25). Many programs are open to the public.
The Institute of Noetic Sciences is a nonprofit
membership organization located in Northern California that
conducts and sponsors leading-edge research into the potentials
and powers of consciousness—including perceptions, beliefs,
attention, intention, and intuition. The Institute explores
phenomena that do not necessarily fit conventional scientific
models, while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor.
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