New Name for the Retreat Center: EarthRise

The IONS Board of Directors approved a new name for the retreat center at its recent February meeting: EarthRise Retreat Center at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. The vision for creating the Institute of Noetic Sciences came in 1971 when founder Edgar Mitchell landed on the Moon as one of the Apollo 14 astronauts. Space exploration symbolized for Dr Mitchell what it did for his nation as a whole—technological triumph of historical proportions, unprecedented mastery of the world in which we live, and extraordinary potentials for new discoveries. On the trip home Mitchell sat in the window seat of the cramped cabin of the space capsule, and as he saw planet Earth floating freely in the vastness of space he was engulfed by a profound sense of universal connectedness. He stated, "On the return trip home, gazing through 240,000 miles of space toward the stars and the planet from which I had come, I suddenly experienced the universe as intelligent, loving, harmonious. My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity. We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians."

In honor of IONS' founder, his historic trip to the Moon, his viewing the rising earth from standing on the Moon, and his epiphany about the interconnectedness of the universe while in space returning to earth, the Institute of Noetic Sciences Retreat Center has been named "EarthRise." This new name is fitting for our retreat center whose mission is to: 1) nurture unfolding consciousness;2) deepen engagement with the land; and 3) foster connection and collaboration.

Look for our new name and logo in the near future on our newsletter and on our new website.

Anodea Judith, PhD, founder of Sacred Centers, will be teaching a 7-day workshop at IONS March 29–April 4, The Psychology of the Chakras: A Journey into Core Awakening. This training integrates both mind and body within a spiritual context by exploring the inner psychology of the Chakra System as a model for transformational healing and personal growth. Designed for healers of all types who wish to learn new skills, as well as yoga teachers and laypeople in the process of their own healing journey. One full day is dedicated to each chakra level, making a total of 7 days of training, with an evening introduction and Sunday morning wrap-up. The Chakra System is an ancient map for personal development and collective evolution. As a template for transformation, it describes the portals between the inner and outer worlds, the meeting points of matter and spirit, and the architecture of the human soul. Anodea is the author of several best-selling books on the chakras, including the classic Wheels of Life and the award-winning DVD, The Illuminated Chakras. For more information or to register for the workshop go to www.SacredCenters.com.

Thank You to our February Retreat Center clients!

UCSF
Pathways Institute
Solar Circle
Veriditas
New Equations
Tara Firma Farm
IONS Board of Directors
Rockwood Leadership
Jean Houston
Women’s Initiative for Self Employment
David Spero

We host retreats, workshops and client events on an ongoing basis throughout the year at the Retreat Center. Please click here to see our detailed events schedule.

Monthly Dinner Series, from 5:30-7:00 pm on campus here in Petaluma for dinner, with guest speakers.

Tuesday, March 16: Dinner Salon with David Simon, MD

The evening reception will begin with a special appearance from the Southern California jazz trio Crepescule, featuring saxophonist Ken Kawamura, bassist Anthony Shadduck, and drummer Alan Cook.

Pre-registration Required
Early Registration
    Program and Dinner: $30
    Program, Dinner & Wine: $35
After 48 hours prior to the events
    Program and Dinner: $35
    Program, Dinner & Wine: $40
Register now

If you are struggling with emotional pain or illness, join mind-body healing pioneer and Chopra Center's co-founder, David Simon, MD for this special event, where he will share the unique five-step healing process that has helped thousands release their emotional pain from the past in order to reclaim their health and happiness.

Dr. Simon is a world-renowned holistic physician, board-certified neurologist, and popular author of many books about wellness. His new bestselling book, Free to Love, Free to Heal, is a complete guide to the emotional release process that he will discuss in depth during this special event.

Drawing upon the Eastern healing arts and modern science, Free to Love, Free to Heal provides a systematic approach to identifying, mobilizing, and releasing the life-damaging beliefs that contribute to anxiety, addictive behaviors, chronic pain, depression, obesity, chronic fatigue, heart disease, and many other emotional and physical health problems.

At this special event, David Simon will discuss the deep connection between stored emotional pain and physical illness, answer questions from the audience, and sign books. Learn how you can free yourself from the pain of the past and create a compelling new chapter in your life.

Wednesday, April 7: Dinner Salon featuring Kim Rosen

Pre-registration Required
Early Registration
    Program and Dinner: $30
    Program, Dinner & Wine: $35
After 48 hours prior to the events
    Program and Dinner: $35
    Program, Dinner & Wine: $40
Register now

Kim Rosen, MFA, author of Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words (Hay House, 2009), has touched listeners around the world with the spoken word's power to awaken, inspire and heal. She is the co-creator of four CDs of spoken poetry and music and has delivered poetry in a wide spectrum of venues from the crypt of Chartres Cathedral to the New Orleans Superdome. Combining her devotion to poetry with her background as a spiritual teacher and therapist, Kim has spent 30 years developing workshop environments that invite participants to discover new realms within—creatively, emotionally and spiritually. Kim has taught on the faculty of the Omega Institute, Wisdom University, Kripalu and the International Pathwork Foundation. An award winning poet and writer, her writing has been published in O Magazine, Huffington Post, Central Park, and The Texas Review, among other publications.

Transformative Learning Workshops

May 21-23 – The Six Life-paths of the Human Soul and the Imprints of Conception with Ralph Metzner, part of the six-part Alchemical Divination Series
June 4-6 – Secrets of Sound Heaing: Resonating with the Quantum Field with Steven Halpern
June 11-13 – Ready, Set, Transform: Define your future and make it your new reality! with Jean Meeks and Azim Khamisa
June 18-20 – Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World with Ed & Deb Shapiro and Edgar Mitchell
June 25-27 – Primordial Qigong: A Gem from the Treasure Chest of Taoist Mystical Qigong with Donald and Cheryl Lynne Rubbo
July 30-August 1 – Institute of Noetic Sciences Worldview Literacy Program—Training for Trainers with Marilyn Schlitz, PhD and Cassandra Vieten, PhD
July 30-August 1 – The Power of Integral Transformation Practice with Pam Kramer and Barry Robbins
September 17-19 – Your Personal Mythology: Discovering, Exploring, and Changing the Myths that Rule Your Life with Stanley Krippner, PhD
September 24-26 – Mindful Motherhood: A Mindfulness and Yoga Retreat for Pregnant Women and New Moms with Cassandra Vieten, PhD and Jnana Gowan
October 15-17 – An Autumn Retreat for Women with Judith Duerk
November 5-7 – Connecting with Roots—Unfolding the Tree of Our Life with Ralph Metzner
November 5-7 – The Monroe Institute Excursion Weekend with Karen Malik
December 10-12 – Getting the Love You Want: The Imago Process with Harville Hendrix

Innovative environmentalist farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms spoke to 120 people at our February dinner salon. Salatin, featured in the film Food, Inc. and profiled in Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, is a self-described environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer, or as the New York Times calls him, "the high priest of the pasture." His innovative farming system has gained attention from around the country. Salatin sets the bar for all of us who want to make healthy and sustainable food choices and this was an opportunity for people to hear about his work and vision. He is the author of a number of books including Holy Cows and Hog Heaven, Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal, You Can Farm, Pastured Poultry Profit$, and Family Friendly Farming. The evening was sponsored by Tara Firma Farms, a family-owned, working-toward-becoming organic farm founded by Tara and Craig Smith in 2009, located just around the corner from the IONS property at 3976 I Street in Petaluma. They are committed to offering healthy chemical-free, all-natural produce and raising grass-fed, pasture-raised and humanely-treated pigs, cows, and chickens. Tara Firma is committed to providing hands-on education about natural and environmentally friendly farming practices in hopes of creating a happier, healthier existence for all. All of the food enjoyed by our guests that evening was produced at Tara Firma Farms and prepared by the EarthRise Kitchen staff.

We want to extend a note of gratitude to all who have contributed to the creation of our beautiful campus.

Thank You to:
Pat Layton of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
For a zafu meditation cushion

If you would like to contribute as well you can enhance and support the Retreat Center by gifting us with some of our specific needs around the campus by visiting our Amazon.com "wish" list (click here). In small but significant ways, your help supports the Retreat Center, guests in their personal transformative journeys on the campus, and some of the animals that inhabit the land. We welcome your gift and invite you to make other suggestions.

Focus Project: Outdoor Furniture

Our focus project again this month is to fund furniture and awnings for our chalets. There are fabulous views of the Petaluma hills from the porches of our retreat center lodging. They call for furniture and awnings to give our guests comfortable spaces to hang out and relax. Click on the link to take you to the furniture and awnings we need. Zafus and cushions are still needed as well and remain on our wish list. If you prefer to donate money directly toward the purchase of one or more of these items (and save the shipping costs), there is a Lowe's store nearby. You can send a check directly to: EarthRise Retreat Center at IONS, 101 S. San Antonio Road, Petaluma, CA 94952, and we will purchase the item(s). We would welcome your contribution, and not only will we honor your donation in this newsletter we also will honor you on a framed list of donors at the retreat center.

Click here to see pictures of donated items and their placements around campus.

Donate now.

Translucent Beings
Paintings by Toni Littlejohn

Exhibition: January 2-April 15, 2010

"Influenced by the Diamond Approach of integrating spiritual development with western psychology, my artwork is an experience in the practice of ego surrendering itself to the realm of being and then returning to self. The paintings in this exhibition reflect the impact of my recent trip to the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. Masai warriors dance, chant their way around the fire. Their tall sinewy bodies transpose into streams of color and light, forms dissolving into wholeness, humans becoming luminosity." —Toni Littlejohn

Toni Littlejohn has exhibited her work widely in the Bay Area. She is a founding member of Gallery Route One and has been leading artist workshops "Wild Carrots" since 1992.

www.noetic.org/retreat.cfm
101 San Antonio Road, Petaluma, CA 94952