Gratefulness Gatherings
Join others as we explore the transformative possibilities of grateful living, and discover greater meaning, purpose, and joy in our lives. Grateful Gatherings will take place every month at Retreat House. We will gather every third Tuesday from 10:30 to noon.
Informed by spiritual wisdom, scholarship, and scientific research, the Gatherings provide community connection, invigorating reflection and conversation, and practical tools for living a meaningful and flourishing life.
Living gratefully helps you navigate the joys and difficulties that accompany life. This is not an exercise in avoiding the hard stuff you experience by pretending things are okay when they are not. Instead, living gratefully is being fully present to your life so that your perspective can be expanded, your compassion enhanced, and your purpose discovered in this moment. This is what makes every day more meaningful.
The Gatherings will be hosted by Richard Mickelson, a trained facilitator. We will utilize robust materials provided by the Grateful Living organization (grateful.org). The gathering is open to anyone seeking inspiration, resources, and fellowship for living life with purpose and joy.
The Grateful Living organization supports daily life during challenging and joyful times with programs, resources, and skills for being more fully alive. They have a revolutionary spirit like their founder, the internationally beloved “Grandfather of Gratitude,” Br. David Steindl-Rast. They are a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to live meaningful lives through the transformative practice of grateful living.
Contact Richard at 123ramick@gmail.com; or contact inquiry@retreathousecommunity.org
Consider making a donation to Retreat House to help us tend spaces for little to no cost.
SouperSoul Lunch
Each Wednesday soup’s on at RH as we gather lunch (12:30 pm) and a contemplative practice (check the calendar each week). If you have time to pre-plan, please sign up. If you come at the last minute, this is okay, too! We hope to see you soon at RH.
Volunteers bring a vegan soup with bread options including GF. Soup makers are always needed. You are welcome to cook at the house or bring it by Noon. To sign up for a day to make soup, please email us.
Wild Wander with Clay and Regina
Participants will meet at 10 am near Prairie Creek Park in Richardson. Gathering location is 301 Meadowcrest Drive.
Vedic Fire CEREMONY with Lavanga
The Vedic fire ceremony is an instrument that harnesses the sattvic (pure) quality of Agni (The Eternal Flame)
It is known as Homa, Puja or Yajna, and is considered sacred. This ancient ritual is performed at precise times depending on celestial events. Daily sunrises and sunsets, monthly lunation cycles or major planetary transits are used as guides for timing. In daily life they are used in celebration or as an auspicious offering to bring about peaceful change and abundance.
A “kunda,” a square pit that faces all four directions, is used to contain the fire. Practitioners offer into it gifts of grains, ghee, herbs and seeds as specific mantras are repeated.
The sacred fire coupled with prayerful intention removes fear, spreads joy, burns karma, purifies the environment and creates conditions for peace and prosperity.
The fire ceremony is among the most powerful of spiritual practices because it beckons the burning up of the ignorance, delusion and obstacles that keep us from the success of knowing our own divinity, our truest source of power and intelligence.
(we can adjust this part to suit the intention for this ceremony) In this particular ceremony we will be calling upon Divine Ancestors from all faith traditions to join us in offering up prayers.
Bio: Born and raised in Texas, Lavanga has lived a spiritual life since childhood and began exploring yoga and metaphysics in her teens. A Catholic school foundation led her to find her home in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a 5,000 year old Bhakti Yoga lineage, and has been a priestess in the tradition since 2005.
In 2011 she began offering classes in the Bhagavad Gita and other texts, leading group meditations (kirtan) and representing her Tradition in interfaith communities around the Dallas / Ft. Worth Metroplex. She is also currently a practising “jyotisha” (Astrologer) and loves sharing the wisdom from the ancient Vedic texts in ways that are applicable to modern practitioners of all faith traditions.
Register for Thursday Wild Week at RH (or the entire week!) here. Walk-ins welcome.
Come early for yoga stretch at 4 pm and a yummy vegan dinner.
Vedic Fire CEREMONY with Lavanga
The Vedic fire ceremony is an instrument that harnesses the sattvic (pure) quality of Agni (The Eternal Flame)
It is known as Homa, Puja or Yajna, and is considered sacred. This ancient ritual is performed at precise times depending on celestial events. Daily sunrises and sunsets, monthly lunation cycles or major planetary transits are used as guides for timing. In daily life they are used in celebration or as an auspicious offering to bring about peaceful change and abundance.
A “kunda,” a square pit that faces all four directions, is used to contain the fire. Practitioners offer into it gifts of grains, ghee, herbs and seeds as specific mantras are repeated.
The sacred fire coupled with prayerful intention removes fear, spreads joy, burns karma, purifies the environment and creates conditions for peace and prosperity.
The fire ceremony is among the most powerful of spiritual practices because it beckons the burning up of the ignorance, delusion and obstacles that keep us from the success of knowing our own divinity, our truest source of power and intelligence.
(we can adjust this part to suit the intention for this ceremony) In this particular ceremony we will be calling upon Divine Ancestors from all faith traditions to join us in offering up prayers.
Bio: Born and raised in Texas, Lavanga has lived a spiritual life since childhood and began exploring yoga and metaphysics in her teens. A Catholic school foundation led her to find her home in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a 5,000 year old Bhakti Yoga lineage, and has been a priestess in the tradition since 2005.
In 2011 she began offering classes in the Bhagavad Gita and other texts, leading group meditations (kirtan) and representing her Tradition in interfaith communities around the Dallas / Ft. Worth Metroplex. She is also currently a practising “jyotisha” (Astrologer) and loves sharing the wisdom from the ancient Vedic texts in ways that are applicable to modern practitioners of all faith traditions.
Register for Thursday Wild Week at RH (or the entire week!) here. Walk-ins welcome.
Stay for yoga stretch at 4 pm and a yummy vegan dinner.
Wild Week Bread Baking with Ruth
Wild Week Bread Making
I’m excited to share the joy of making bread once again! Join me as we make two kinds of bread and have time for visiting together!
Bread making is a spiritual experience for me as I consider how the yeast is kneaded through the bread and fills every part of the dough, much like the Spirit of God fills our hearts and lives!
Making bread also reminds me of how bread has always been a staple of our lives. Women (and probably some men) are making bread all around the world with their own recipes.
Quoting from Extending the Table . . . A World Community Cookbook: “In their own way, recipes tell stories. They reflect the pace of life, the most important seasons and celebrations, and the resources available in the setting where the recipes originated.”
We’ll be making a bread that originated in Germany and another that comes from Armenia. Come join the fun!
Ruth Winkler
Drum Circle and TaKeTiNa Session
The first hour will be a TaKeTiNa Moving Rhythm Meditation and then a group drumming circle in the second hour. Join practitioner Michael Kenny for this special meditation. During the inductions and feedback Michael will draw on themes and the vision for healing and wholeness. It is an interactive experience and there will be time for reflection with the group and an invitation to new commitments to self.
Here is a short video about TaKeTiNa that gives a little sense of the experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb4J_C6V2r0
Register for Wednesday, April 23 and join us for one of the sessions (1 to 3 pm or 5 to 7 pm)
Drum Circle and TaKeTiNa Session
The first hour will be a TaKeTiNa Moving Rhythm Meditation and then a group drumming circle in the second hour. Join practitioner Michael Kenny for this special meditation. During the inductions and feedback Michael will draw on themes and the vision for healing and wholeness. It is an interactive experience and there will be time for reflection with the group and an invitation to new commitments to self.
Here is a short video about TaKeTiNa that gives a little sense of the experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb4J_C6V2r0
Register for Wednesday, April 23 and join us for one of the sessions (1 to 3 pm or 5 to 7 pm)
Healing with the Wild
Shazia Anwar has so much to teach us about natural products for our families.
Exotic Healing Herbs and Spices from the India- Pakistan- Mediterranean Culture
April 22nd , 11 am and 1pm
Enjoy herbal tea, Samples to take home
Registration required (select Tuesday or the whole week)! Walk-ins welcome.
Healing with the Wild
Shazia Anwar has so much to teach us about natural products for our families.
Exotic Healing Herbs and Spices from the India- Pakistan- Mediterranean Culture
April 22nd , 11 am and 1pm
Enjoy herbal tea, Samples to take home
Registration required (select Tuesday or the whole week)! Walk-ins welcome.
Morning Two-step Forest Bathing and Morning Altars with Karen and Tammy at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
Participants will meet at Oak Creek Park and Nature Preserve in Plano.
Wild Writing with Gretchen
Gretchen Martens offers give writing topics for you to explore nature and you “wild side.”
Finding Peace with the Wild Mother: Monday, April 21, 7–8 pm CT, on Zoom
Writing from the Land: Tuesday, April 22, 7:00–8:30 pm CT, on Zoom
Journey to Your Spirit Animal: Wednesday, April 23, 7:00–8:30 pm CT, on Zoom
Eco-Poetics: Thursday, April 24, 7:00–8:30 pm CT, on Zoom
A River Runs Through You an eco-theological exploration of social justice: Friday, April 25, 7:00–8:30 pm CT, on Zoom
Sound Healing with Elise
Register for the full day here. RH Wild Week Swag bags are given to daily and weekly participants.
Walk-ins welcome.
Sound Healing with Elise
Register for the full day here. RH Wild Week Swag bags are given to daily and weekly participants.
Walk-ins welcome.
Wild Wander with Clay and Regina
Participants will meet at 10 am near Prairie Creek Park in Richardson. Gathering location is 301 Meadowcrest Drive.
Retreat House Wild Week
Join five days of writing workshops, guided meditations, book discussions, and more as we explore the invitation to set down our domesticated selves and return to our wild, creative selves.
Choose how you wish to attend the week: By the day, by the week in person, by the week via zoom, or hybrid.
Register by the day or register for the whole week. Weekly registration includes one off-site event (Monday or Saturday Wild Wander with Clay and Regina or Morning Two-Step Forest Bathing and Morning Altars with Karen and Tammy) Register for this exciting Wild Week opportunity here.
Common Ground: Interfaith Conversation and Lunch
Mark your calendar for Third Thursdays each month where we gather over a delicious lunch and share stories, insights and traditions around a theme - through the lived experiences and teachings of various faiths. In March, we will be discussing how fasting is part of many religious practices and cultures. We will explore stories, experiences and questions. As one of our regular programs, Common Ground speaks to our Core Values of Brave Vulnerability, Cultivation, Chesed, Cross Pollination and the sharing of Sacred Stories.
No Cost - Please let us know you’re joining us with your RSVP .here.
Souper Soul Lunch
Each Wednesday soup’s on at RH as we gather lunch (12:30 pm) and a contemplative practice (check the calendar each week). If you have time to pre-plan, please sign up. If you come at the last minute, this is okay, too! We hope to see you soon at RH.
Volunteers bring a vegan soup with bread options including GF. Soup makers are always needed. You are welcome to cook at the house or bring it by Noon. To sign up for a day to make soup, please email us.
Harp and Prayerful Meditation
Join us on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, as we welcome Patsy to lead us in harp meditation and prayer at noon.
We gather at Noon, share poetic and prayerful readings and sit in the splendor of Patsy’s harp. Reserve a seat.
Settle into a mid-week break as we come together on THIRD Wednesdays at Noon, for a delightful harp-meditation-prayer gathering at RH. We are thrilled to have Patsy Sadowski join us in person each month, setting a contemplative tone at noon. When we finish, stay a while and enjoy the delicious Souper Soul soup and conversation that happens every Wednesday.
Meditation with Sandy
Join our Retreat House Intern, Sandy Centeno, for a special meditation at 11:00 a.m.
Contact Sandy for more information here.
Grateful Gathering with Richard Mickelson
Retreat House is thrilled to begin offering Grateful Gatherings, facilitated by Richard Mickelson. We will gather on Tuesday mornings, from 10:30 until Noon, in person at Retreat House. Sharing and discussion will take place in a sacred circle of community.
What are Grateful Gatherings?
Grateful Gatherings are an opportunity to join others as we explore the transformative possibilities of grateful living, and discover greater meaning, purpose, and joy in our lives. Informed by spiritual wisdom, scholarship, and scientific research, the Gatherings provide community connection, invigorating reflection and conversation, and practical tools for living a meaningful and flourishing life.
When Will They Take Place?
Grateful Gatherings will take place every month on the third Tuesday or the month, from 10:30 - noon, at Retreat House.
Why Grateful Gatherings?
Living gratefully helps you navigate the joys and difficulties that accompany life. This is not an exercise in avoiding the hard stuff you experience by pretending things are okay when they are not. Instead, living gratefully is being fully present to your life so that your perspective can be expanded, your compassion enhanced, and your purpose discovered in this moment. This is what makes every day more meaningful.
Tell Me More:
The Gatherings will be hosted by Richard Mickelson, a trained facilitator in Grateful Gatherings, by Grateful Living organization. We will utilize robust materials provided by the Grateful Living organization (grateful.org). The gathering is open to anyone seeking inspiration, resources, and fellowship for living life with purpose and joy.
About Grateful Living
The Grateful Living organization supports daily life during challenging and joyful time with programs, resources, and skills for being more fully alive. They have a revolutionary spirit like their founder, the internationally beloved “Grandfather of Gratitude,” Br. David Steindl-Rast. They are a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to live meaningful lives through the transformative practice of grateful living.
For additional information, contact Richard at 123ramick@gmail.com on inquiry@retreathousecommunity.org
InterSpiritual Meditation | A Monthly Gathering
Jackie Linden Schade, pastor, spiritual director and trained ISM facilitator joins Fran Shelton, author, pastor and spiritual director, bringing InterSpiritual Meditation to our Retreat House community monthly.
ISM brings ancient teachings to modern day, allowing individuals space for personal practice.
Open to all. There is no cost to participate, though we do suggest a donation which can be made when you attend; your generosity allows us to continue offering programs like these.
We will gather in person at Retreat House, 2nd Sunday of each month, 5-7 p.m.
Our next gathering is Sunday, December 7. Questions or RSVP here.
Writers' Gathering - (Online - Open to All)
Have you been wondering what it feels like to be a published author? Have you wondered how to tap into your own writing super powers? Do you have something you’ve written that you’d like to share in a special supportive and beautiful community of writers just like you? Join us for this month’s Writer’s Gathering. We are preparing for our April 20 due date for submissions to House of Kindness, our next book. We’d love you to be part of it!
We all have a story to share. As writers of stories, we enjoy sharing our journeys, thoughts, ideas, struggles, and “aha"s. Writers often compose in solitude but get energy, inspiration, and insight when we meet in community with other writers. In this special gathering, we have the opportunity to discuss what we are writing, why we are writing, where our hopes and struggles are, and who we are when we write. No experience is necessary to join us. This Writers’ Gathering is for all writers in all genres - beginner, novice, experienced. It is not the intent of this gathering to offer criticism but a holy space of giving and receiving. Contact Gretchen Martens, our facilitator, for more information.
Souper Soul Lunch
Each Wednesday soup’s on at RH as we gather lunch (12:30 pm) and a contemplative practice (check the calendar each week). If you have time to pre-plan, please sign up. If you come at the last minute, this is okay, too! We hope to see you soon at RH.
Volunteers bring a vegan soup with bread options including GF. Soup makers are always needed. You are welcome to cook at the house or bring it by Noon. To sign up for a day to make soup, please email us.
The Art of Memoir: A Six-Session Series
Do you have a story that you’d like to share as a memoir? Are you curious about what it takes to bring a memoir to life? If you’re at all curious about writing a memoir, you won’t want to miss this exciting 6-part opportunity with our in-house Editor and Publisher, Gretchen Martens. Gretchen has been a RH Covenant Partner and the editor of our House of book series. Now it’s your opportunity to learn with her, beginning April 7 (through May 19. Details below.
Full details and registration here.
Pause-Pray-Ponder
In these times when so many of us are feeling overwhelmed, Retreat House wants to be a place of peace, tranquility and community for all.
On Saturday, April 5, you are invited to join us from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 - come for any or all of the time. Find a space for yourself to pause, pray, ponder and reflect. We will have both guided activities and compassionate listening opportunities, as well as the labyrinth, art studio, and any personal space you’d like to use for yourself.
A catered lunch will be served at 12:15, with advanced registration only.
Cost for the day is $30 (including lunch)
If cost is a factor, please let us know here for confidential assistance.
Creating in Stillness with Sandy Centeno
Join us Wednesday, April 2, from 1:00-3:00, for an afternoon of creating art, as RH Intern, Sandy Centeno, brings her education background to our spiritual practices. We will create with unique tools and color, setting an intention as we create in The Artist Within. There is no charge for this program, but we do request registration. Reserve your space for this special
Souper Soul Lunch
Each Wednesday soup’s on at RH as we gather lunch (12:30 pm) and a contemplative practice (check the calendar each week). If you have time to pre-plan, please sign up. If you come at the last minute, this is okay, too! We hope to see you soon at RH.
Volunteers bring a vegan soup with bread options including GF. Soup makers are always needed. You are welcome to cook at the house or bring it by Noon. To sign up for a day to make soup, please email us.
Flute Meditation and Prayer (at Noon)
At noon on the first Wednesday of the month, Judy Annis brings flutes and an assortment of other beautiful instruments to Retreat House. Together we share special time in prayerful meditation, with poetry, other writings, and music that accompanies the contemplative themes of the day. After, we join together for Souper Soul lunch. No cost.
