Retreats

Blues Pilgrimage

February 18-20, 2015

Join The Hearth founder Mark Yaconelli for a unique exploration of grief and loss through blues music, storytelling, travel, and shared conversation.

The retreat begins with an award-winning barbecue and a private blues concert by some of Portland’s finest musicians on February 18th (Ash Wednesday) and ends with lunch at the Power Station Pub on Friday, February 20th.

Lodging will be at McMenamins historic Edgefield Hotel (originally build in 1911 as the county poor farm) with onsite brewery, outside heated soaking tubs, award winning gardens, and original turn-of-the-century hand-painted rooms.

Retreat sessions Wednesday night, Thursday, and Friday morning will take place at a beautiful retreat center right on the edge of the Columbia Gorge and will be led by veteran retreat leader Mark Yaconelli who will help participants explore and share stories around personal experiences of grief and loss.

Thursday night the group will head into Portland and seek a bit of transformation through some soul-moving, foot-stomping, hot blues music by Lloyd Jones and the Struggle.

Cost of the retreat is $300 per person, $500 per couple– which includes all retreat gatherings, all music performances, and all meals (two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners.). This fee does not include drinks, travel, and housing.

Lodging at Edgefield McMenamins: Edgefield is located on 74 acres at the mouth of the Columbia River. It is a one of a kind, historic hotel with vintage furniture, comfy beds, and whimsical hand-painted rooms. Rooms are European style–no televisions nor phones, conveniently located common bathrooms are located down the hallway.

Lodging fees:
Hostel, bunkbed: $60 for two nights.
Single occupancy, twin: $100 for two nights
Double occupancy, queen: $140 for two nights
Up to four occupants, two queens: $180 for two nights

Travel: All participants are responsible for their own transportation. We will help connect people for carpooling. There will be a shuttle van available from Ashland to retreat site in Portland and return for $50, each way, per person. The shuttle will only be available to the first six people who sign-up.

Retreat Reservations: Space is limited to twenty participants. To reserve a space please email mark@thehearthcommunity.com. Please enter subject line: “Blues Pilgrimage”

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The Power and Practice of Personal Storytelling: A Workshop for Community Transformation

This workshop is for communities seeking to develop a personal storytelling series for social transformation. Based on the storytelling series The Hearth: Real Stories by Regular Folks will focus on practices and strategies for creating a local, personal storytelling series that strengthens community, heals shame, cultivates compassion, and builds inter-generational relationships. Through presentation, ritual, contemplative processes, and narrative exercises participants will develop the skills and practices for creating their own community storytelling series. For more information contact Mark Yaconelli at yaconelli@msn.com.

A Lifestory Retreat

“Every life has a story”

MAY 2013

Join a diverse group of community members from Southern Oregon for a day of exploring, shaping, and sharing life stories. Set in Ashland’s Green Springs mountains, the retreat will offer participants a chance to explore life experiences in a restful and contemplative setting. The retreat will include:

• Creative exercises to help you recall and reflect on your own life experiences
• A process to encourage compassionate listening
• Instruction to help you shape and communicate your story
• Interesting people whose rich stories will deepen your connection to others
• Good coffee and baked goods
• A delicious lunch
• A beautiful setting among ponderosa pines and fields of wild flowers

The retreat is an extension of The Hearth’s true storytelling series and offers a chance for community members to appreciate the variety of life experiences that exist within our community.  The day will be facilitated by Hearth founder Mark Yaconelli. For more information go to “retreat.” All proceeds will support The Hearth: Reals Stories by Regular Folks, a true storytelling series that raises money for non-profits in Southern Oregon through seasonal, communal storytelling events.

To register email Mark Yaconelli at yaconelli@msn.com.

*Scholarships are available.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds.