Calendar of upcoming programs at Living Water Spiritual Center

Each Monday
during the months of
August-May, you will receive a quote, poem or wisdom passage for reflection.
We will also include information about upcoming programs at the Spiritual Center.

To receive Wisdom from the Well, please click on the "Wisdom from the Well" photo above to send us an e-mail.

well@retreatinmaine.com

Wisdom from the Well Archive

What is a sponsored program/retreat?
We welcome people from all faiths to our Center. Registration policies and information on registration deadlines can be found at the bottom of this page.
PRINT A ONE PAGE CALENDAR IN ORDER BY DATE PRINT A ONE PAGE CALENDAR IN ORDER *BY CATEGORY* PDF of upcoming drumming workshops	Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open printable documents
August 2009
Week-Long Guided Silent Retreat: Guests of God u August 6-13, Thursday 5:00 pm - Thursday 11:00 am
Presenter: Ann Harriman As guests of God we are meant to cultivate a deep awareness of God�s hospitality and living as responsible, faithful stewards. This Divine hospitality has far reaching implications in our relationships to God our Creator, one another and the rest of the world. During this retreat our focus will take two directions: an immense respect for God; and God�s creation. Guided Retreats are silent with a daily group presentation and the opportunity to meet with a spiritual director at least once during the week. The remainder of the time is spent alone in prayer and reflection. Guided Retreats begin with a buffet at 6:00 pm, opening session at 7:30 pm; end with brunch at 10:30 am on the last day of the retreat. Fee $360.00. Pre-register with fee by 7/23/09. Ann Harriman has completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from Maine Medical Center, and received a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Shalem Institute of Spiritual Formation. She is a Reiki practitioner and has a private practice for Reiki and Spiritual Direction.

Drumming Workshop u August 22, Saturday 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Presenter: Sr. Connie Caron Everything in life has a rhythm--a heart beat. For centuries the drum has helped people to become aligned with the sacred pulse of one another and the earth. Join us for an afternoon of joyful drumming. Bring your own drum or percussive instrument. Two drums may be borrowed. No experience necessary. Fee $ 10.00. Pre-register with fee by 8/14/09. Connie Caron, NDS drums and chants as part of her spiritual discipline, and to honor her Native American heritage. Sr. Connie, of Our Lady of Sion, has also taught bead working workshops, specializing in wall hangings and pendants. A Montessori teacher for over 20 years, Sr. Connie is also known as the clown "Bonne Nuit."

September 2009
Directed Silent Weekend "Lord, Let your Face Shine Upon Us" Psalm 4 September 25-27, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm with Sr. Jeannine Levasseur
Directed retreats are silent with an optional daily meeting with a spiritual director for about � hour. The remainder of the day is spent alone in prayer and reflection. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 9/18/09. Jeannine Levasseur, csj holds an M.A. from St. Rose College in Albany, N.Y., a Certificate of Biblical Studies, and a specialization in prophets from the Center of Biblical Studies in San Paulo, Brazil. She holds a certificate in spiritual direction and retreat ministry from the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA.

Living the Peace of Clare and Francis of Assisi September 25-27, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm with Megan Don
Our deepest nature is peaceful; however in our daily relationships we often experience the disturbance of this peace for seemingly small and unimportant reasons. During this weekend we delve into the wisdom of Clare and Francis of Assisi, and learn how to apply this wisdom in our everyday lives. Enter into exercises of self-compassion and self-forgiveness, and other meditation practices of Clare, learning how to become "lovers of our souls." We will learn how to gaze upon another through the holy and sacred vision of God, opening to a new and profound way of relating with ourselves and with others. Being true to the Franciscan spirit of delight, we will engage nature outdoors, and chant and dance our way into joy. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 9/18/09. Megan Don is a spiritual counselor and lectures and teaches workshops on the Mystical Pathway. She teaches at Esalen Institute, California, Kripalu Institute, Massachusetts, and Unity and Episcopalian Churches in the United States. Award winning author of Falling into the Arms of God: Meditations with Teresa of Avila and Sacred Companions Sacred Community: Reflections with Clare of Assisi, Megan explores the spiritual and transformational process through creativity and mystical experience.

Autumn Gathering September 27, 2009: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm with Muriel Fish
Autumn is the season of harvest: a fruitful season for reflection and integration. Observe the arrival of Autumn with a mindful walk and a creative activity that expresses what is ripening at this time in your life, and what might be put to rest. FREE. Pre-registration necessary. Call by 9/22/09. Muriel Fish earned her MFA in Creative Writing and Literature at Goddard College and teaches writing and communication courses at Thomas College. She writes, gardens, and rides a tandem bicycle with her husband in Smithfield, Maine.

October 2009
Memories of a Roman Catholic Girlhood October 3, 2009: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Ann Conway*
"I can't help it," the writer Patricia Hampl notes in her memoir of pilgrimage, Virgin Time. She's referring to the continuing influence of a Catholic girlhood on her life. In this program, through discussion and writing exercises, we'll explore this influence, focusing in three areas: as sense of the sacred, mothers and sisters, and the Church and the world. No writing experience necessary, just bring your memories. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 9/25/09. Ann Conway, Ph.D. is a writer and sociologist who lives in central Maine. She has been published in Image and has been a columnist for Maine Times. In her work in Maine public health, Ann has created many programs for people with chronic disease and disabilities. Ann has also lived with a disability for sixteen years.

Ken Wilber's Integral Life Practice October 3, 2009: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with David Peloquin*
Explore philosopher Ken Wilber's theory as applied to physical health, emotional balance, mental clarity and spiritual awakening. This workshop focuses on the practical applications of an integral practice for individuals, with an emphasis on the spiritual life. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 9/25/09. David Peloquin has been a consciousness and meditation teacher for over 15 years. He is an author, illustrator, and internationally known folk musician and recording artist. He lectures on many subjects, including Ken Wilber, Eckhart Tolle, and Spiral Dynamics.

Drop-by Drum Circle October 4, 2009: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm *with Sr. Connie Caron*
This drop-by drum circle is open to anyone with an interest in drumming as music-making, spiritual practice, or entertainment. Bring a drum, percussive instrument, your voice and/or your ears to be part of this joyful happening. Fee: $10.00 Pre-register with fee by 10/2/09. Connie Caron, NDS drums and chants as part of her spiritual discipline, and to honor her Native American heritage. Sr. Connie, of Our Lady of Sion, has also taught bead working workshops, specializing in wall hangings and pendants. A Montessori teacher for over 20 years, Sr. Connie is also known as the clown "Bonne Nuit."

Into the Deep and Fertile Dark October 16-17, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Saturday 4:00 pm *with Rev. Karen Lewis Foley*
Between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere turns toward its darkest time. Some cultural traditions hold this as their new year. The time of darkness is a time of resting; of preparing for new growth. What is your heart's deepest desire for your life? How might you be invited to a time of fallowness or rooting? How might this movement of the natural world invite us into deeper relationship with the sacred? Fee: $85.00 Pre-register with fee by 10/9/09. Rev. Karen Lewis Foley is a Unitarian Universalist minister, spiritual director and retreat leader who served congregations for eighteen years in Massachusetts before moving to Maine, where she focuses on spiritual direction, retreats and writing poetry and prose. She completed the Shalem Institute's spiritual guidance program and is currently enrolled in Shalem's program for retreat and group leaders. Her reflective writing has appeared in the Portland Press Herald's Religion and Values section, various denominational publications and the journal of Spiritual Directors International.

Learning Circle: Menu for a New World October 19-December 7, 2009: Mondays 10:00 - 11:30 am or 6:30 - 8:00 pm *with Susan MacKenzie*
Using the highly successful resources from the Northwest Earth Institute, we will explore food systems and their impacts on culture, society, and ecology. Our goal, through six reading and sharing sessions, will be to gain insight about eating habits in modern industrial society, answers to questions surrounding genetically modified organisms, information about the future of farming, issues of justice and food systems, and the benefits of local foods. We will relate our discussions to Maine's sustainable foods movement, sharing resources and projects about local foods. Fee: $50.00 (includes book). Pre-register with fee by 9/25/09 so we can order books. Susan MacKenzie, Ph.D. is program director at Living Water Spiritual Center. She earned her doctorate in natural sciences at the University of Michigan and created EarthWorks, a ministry of ecology and spirituality for youth of all ages. An ecumenical retreat leader and spiritual director, she is also a registered Maine Guide and leads indoor and outdoor retreats throughout New England.

Women's 11th Step Retreat "Entering the Sacred Room" October 23-25, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 11:00 am *with Gail Hasey*
Gail will explore the deep meaning of seeking "conscious contact" and listening for God's will. Using story, guided meditation, music, and group intentional prayer, Gail will lead the gathering to the quiet interior place within the Sacred Room and to the ongoing conversation with our Higher Power. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 10/9/09. Gail Hasey, RN, LADC has facilitated 11th step retreats for men and women in New England since 1989. Besides her own recovery, Gail has worked in the field of Chemical Dependency and family recovery since 1987. In 1990, she began her private practice in Bangor at the Center for Holistic Recovery treating persons suffering from the family disease of Chemical Dependency. She practices through the filter of the 11th Step believing "Bidden or unbidden, God is present."

Praying with the Saints: A Retreat for Women October 30-November 1, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm with Mary-Carol Griffin and Elaine Theriault
Prayer is "a conversation with God." When we think about the lives of the saints, we think of ordinary people living out an incredibly intimate experience and relationship with God - gifted with wisdom, grace and spiritual communion. In this retreat, we will learn how the saints' lives can both awaken us to God's invitation to draw closer and to help us find our voice for a conversation with God, who listens with infinite love. The reflections shared on the weekend will help us to discover that the extraordinary ways of the Divine can be experienced in all the ordinary aspects of our lives. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 10/23/09. Mary-Carol Griffin is an ordained Episcopal deacon active in the pastoral care needs of her parish family and the community. She is presently the Bereavement Services Coordinator for Hospice of Hancock County, training volunteers and facilitators in providing bereavement support for adults and children. Elaine Theriault lives in Somesville, Maine near Acadia National Park. Every season finds her outside enjoying the wonders of God's creation and her hobby of photography. She is one of the founders and facilitators of Sisters on Journey, a women's group at Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, Maine. She is active in lay Episcopal ministry.

Soul Friends: Spiritual Companioning with your Beloved October 30-November 1, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Pamella Beliveau*
Couples spiritual direction is a refreshing new field of work and study. This retreat program is designed for couples committed to contemplating their spiritual path as life partners. Reflect on the history of your shared sacred experience, appreciate the differences in your individual faith journeys, and journey onward as spiritual companions for one another. Fee: $325 per couple. Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 10/23/09. Pamella Beliveau offers workshops in meditation, finding the holy in the ordinary, and the discernment of spiritual gifts. She is presently engaged in graduate coursework in pastoral ministry and spirituality at Boston College and works as a spiritual director with individuals, couples, and groups. Pamella is co-founder of Movable Feast, a resource for Mainers who desire to seek, share, and encourage others on their spiritual journeys.

The Dynamics of the Spiritual/Mystical Journey October 31, 2009: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm with Jack Seery
Foster an open, non-judgmental exploration of spiritual development and growth. Through presentations, discussion, and personal reflection, we will engage issues such as: choosing your path, goals of the journey, dynamics of transformation, silence and service, mindfulness, and the presence of God. The workshop will draw on the works of Ken Wilber and Wayne Teasdale. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 10/23/09. Jack Seery is a member of Unity Church of Greater Portland. He has been a spiritual director and retreat leader for 35 years. While in Boston, he was part of the Catholic Worker community, serving the homeless and engaging in acts of non-violent resistance to weapons of mass destruction. He presently lives in Waterboro, Maine.

November 2009
Stepping Westward-Poetry as Cairns November 14, 2009: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm with Martin Steingesser and Judy Tierney
Traveling uncharted territory, we sometimes come upon a cairn that informs us that another person has passed the same way. Cairns provide reassurance of the certainty of the path. Aging-or more broadly, changing-is the journey, and life itself the path. In this workshop, poems serve as cairns, small monuments of comfort along the way. We will explore ways that some poems guide, celebrate, or pay tribute along life's path. We will stop at some of these poem cairns, to lift and touch the words, and discover what joy and light we might find in them. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 11/6/09. Martin Steingesser is Poet Laureate of Portland Maine. A poet and performer, Martin has presented programs of his poems throughout the state and taught poetry workshops for over 25 years. Judy Tierney is the creator and host of "Walking in the Air," celebrating poetry and its voices on WRFR, Rockland's community radio station

A Mindful Approach to Drawing November 14, 2009: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm with Jennifer Kiersted
We will try different drawing media throughout the day: graphite/pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, easing from black, gray and white into color. The workshop will include insights about the art of observation, coupled with some new drawing techniques. The aim is for people of all ages, abilities, and levels of experience to enjoy a peaceful drawing day together. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 11/6/09. Jennifer Kiersted is an artist, writer and business woman. She is a two-time Small Business Innovation Research award winner and mother of two daughters, who started developing her artistic skills more mindfully three years ago at the age of 51. Her undergraduate degree is in Science, Technology and Society: Program in Critical Thought, Vassar College. She wants to share her knowledge and excitement about what she is learning about the human brain, getting older and making art.

Dowsing as a tool for self knowledge and decision making November 15, 2009: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm with Paul Knoll
Many people are familiar with the ancient form of dowsing for water by using a Y-shaped hazel tree branch. Dowsing is enjoying resurgence in alternative medicine fields as a simple, powerful, and fun way to make decisions regarding your health, spirit, and emotions, for example. Anyone can dowse as long as they keep an open mind; appreciate listening to their inner spirit, and practice. We'll learn to dowse using L-rods, pendulums and everyday household items, and we'll learn how to use dowsing to aid in the decisions you make every day. You'll be amazed by how clear your answers become as you begin to learn and trust the ancient and fun art of dowsing. Fee: $10.00 Pre-register with fee by 11/6/09. Paul Knoll is a former educator with two decades of counseling and leadership experience. Seven years ago, he embarked on a remarkable journey of healing, learning, and spiritual rejuvenation. Paul gained a lot of knowledge and experience about geopathic and energy based stresses that influence our daily health. Paul has received training with Maine Geomancer, JJ Moller. It is from this training and Paul's personal experience that New England Dowsing emerged.

Taize Contemplative Prayer November 19, 2009: Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Taize is a spirituality of hope, love, and unity. Through simple music, scripture, and silence, we experience the spirit of abundant joy, loving kindness and community fellowship. All are welcome. No registration required. Free will offering accepted.

Directed Silent Weekend November 20-22, 2009: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Janet Blakeley*
Directed retreats are silent with an optional daily meeting with a spiritual director for about � hour. The remainder of the day is spent alone in prayer and reflection. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 11/13/09. Janet Blakeley has been a staff member of Living Water Spiritual Center since its inception. Janet earned a certificate in spiritual direction from the Center for Religious Development, Cambridge, MA, and her Master's degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling from Emmanuel College, Boston.

December 2009
Labyrinth Day December 1, 2009: Tuesday 1:00 - 7:00 pm
On the first day of the last month of 2009, come and walk the indoor labyrinth. Where are the endings and beginnings in your life? Settle your heart, mind, and spirit for the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The labyrinth will be set up in the southwest room for your journey. Information about the labyrinth and reflective questions will be available for your use. Arrive and depart at your own pace. FREE.

Drop-by Drum Circle December 6, 2009: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm with Sr. Connie Caron
This drop-by drum circle is open to anyone with an interest in drumming as music-making, spiritual practice, or entertainment. Bring a drum, percussive instrument, your voice and/or your ears to be part of this joyful happening. Fee: $10.00 Pre-register with fee by 12/4/09. Connie Caron, NDS drums and chants as part of her spiritual discipline, and to honor her Native American heritage. Sr. Connie, of Our Lady of Sion, has also taught bead working workshops, specializing in wall hangings and pendants. A Montessori teacher for over 20 years, Sr. Connie is also known as the clown "Bonne Nuit."

Winter Gathering December 20, 2009: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm *with Muriel Fish*
Come celebrate the winter solstice and season with music, poetry, and shared reflections. FREE. Pre-registration necessary. Call by 12/11/10. Muriel Fish earned her MFA in Creative Writing and Literature at Goddard College and teaches writing and communication courses at Thomas College. She writes, gardens, and rides a tandem bicycle with her husband in Smithfield, Maine.

January 2010
Nonviolent Communication January 15-17, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm with Peggy Smith
Nonviolent Communication skills assist you in dealing with major blocks to communication, such as making demands and blaming. In this program, you will learn to express yourself honestly without attacking. Useful with family, friends, students, subordinates, supervisors, co-workers and clients, as well as with your own internal dialogues, these skills will help you to make clear requests, and to receive critical and hostile messages without taking them personally, giving in, or losing self-esteem. Fee: $185.00 Please register with $100.00 deposit by 1/8/10. Peggy Smith is a certified trainer with the Center For Nonviolent Communication. She has been a teacher in Maine for 32 years and now devotes herself professionally to sharing NVC. She is a co-founder of the Maine NVC Network, and NVC For ME. Peggy has a life long interest in compassion and has been a student of Zen teacher and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh since 1991. She is an active member of his Order of Interbeing. Peggy is mother and step-mother to four adults, and greets the day in Lincolnville.

Your Life is a Poem: Memoir and Poetry Writing January 16, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm with Rhoda Neshama Waller
Each of our lives is deeply valuable and unique. Writing our memoirs, in poetry or prose, is a way of recalling and preserving the rich memories of a lifetime, as we revisit our experiences from our present perspective. Writing from the heart, we find new paths of communication with family and friends; a place for the healing expression of grief; a field for the sharing of joys. This workshop benefits experienced writers as well as those who would like to begin. Writing freely, we use techniques and exercises that help us to trigger memories and to shape our ideas. As we share our writing in supportive non-judgmental community, we will enrich and inspire one another. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/8/10. Rhoda Neshama Waller, has a home in Freedom, Maine. A mother and grandmother, poet and storyteller, she has published widely and is listed with the Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers. She holds a master's degree in comparative literature and has taught creative writing through New York State Poets-in-the-Schools; as Central Park Poet-in-Residence; and at universities, libraries, senior centers and other public forums. A lifelong student of comparative spirituality, she has been practicing Hatha yoga and meditation for thirty years, first studying with Swami Satchidananda at the Integral Yoga Center in New York. An initiate in the Sufi Healing Order, she has studied with Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, has practiced zen meditation at the Zen Mountain Monastery, has taken retreats at the Himalayan Institute, and has studied with Twylah Nitsch, a Wolf Clan Elder at the Seneca Reservation in upstate New York. Rhoda is a Certified Seminar Leader of the Spiritual Eldering Institute, founded by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and has offered Spiritual Eldering presentations at Maryknoll Sisters Convent in Ossining, New York, at the Bronx YM-YWHA Senior Center, at New York City recreation centers, and at Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County. She is Founding President of Timelines Community, Inc., a not-for-profit organization celebrating the wisdom and creativity of elders. Timelines Community publishes Traces, a journal of elderwriting.

Drop-by Drum Circle January 17, 2010: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm with Sr. Connie Caron
This drop-by drum circle is open to anyone with an interest in drumming as music-making, spiritual practice, or entertainment. Bring a drum, percussive instrument, your voice and/or your ears to be part of this joyful happening. Fee: $10.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/15/10. Connie Caron, NDS drums and chants as part of her spiritual discipline, and to honor her Native American heritage. Sr. Connie, of Our Lady of Sion, has also taught bead working workshops, specializing in wall hangings and pendants. A Montessori teacher for over 20 years, Sr. Connie is also known as the clown "Bonne Nuit."

Taize Contemplative Prayer January 21, 2010: Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Taize is a spirituality of hope, love, and unity. Through simple music, scripture, and silence, we experience the spirit of abundant joy, loving kindness and community fellowship. All are welcome. No registration required. Free will offering accepted.

Psyche and Wilderness: Journeying into the Depths January 22-24, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm with Teresa Arendell
Explore the universal theme and experience of wilderness; looking at landscape, wildlife, and the Maine milieu as home for the soul. Using approaches such as Jungian depth psychology and Abenaki myths, we will journey into both the interior and exterior life exploring wilderness in its many dimensions. Fee: $185.00 Please register with $100.00 deposit by 1/15/10. Teresa Arendell, Ph.D. is professor of sociology at Colby College. A diploma candidate in analytical psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute-Boston, she maintains a practice in Portland and Waterville. She earned her doctoral degree at UC Berkeley in 1984. Among her many interests are psyche and nature, eco-psychology, and reflections on sense of place. She thrives on hiking, kayaking, engaging with her grandchildren, and reading.

Scrapbooking January 22-24, 2010: Day, Overnight or Weekend with Kerri Oliver
Our daily lives (and photos) are brimming with "God moments." Faithbook photo albums help you to see God's work in your life through pictures and stories. Learn about crafting faith-themed albums and ways to introduce "faithbooking" into the albums you've already created. This weekend is designed for those who already enjoy scrapbooking and those who are interested in learning the craft. The majority of the time is spent independently scrapping while surrounded by others who share a passion for album making. The workshop leader will offer ideas and teach new techniques. There will be optional sharing time and "surprise" faithbooking gifts appear throughout the weekend. Bring your album project and all your supplies. Products will also be available for purchase. Weekend Option: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm $185.00 Overnight Option: Friday 7:00 pm - Saturday 4:00 pm $ 85.00 Day Option: Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm .$ 45.00 Pre-register with fee for the day option or overnight option. Preregister with $100.00 deposit for the weekend program. Registrations are due by 1/15/10. Kerri Oliver has been an independent consultant with Creative Memories for seven years. In 2002, the co-founder of Creative Memories personally introduced, trained, and inspired Kerri to teach the tradition of Faith Booking.

Ken Wilber Part II: Integrating the paths of wisdom and compassion - an integral vision for religion in the 21st century January 23, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm with David Peloquin
This program offers an advanced and in-depth look at the cutting edge of spirituality today with emphasis on the dynamic role religion can play in the Post-modern world. The day will include a strong focus on Wilber's idea of the 'conveyor belt'... the challenge to clergy and spiritual directors to help move humanity from an 'ethnocentric' to a 'world-centric' stance. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/15/10. David Peloquin has been a consciousness and meditation teacher for over 15 years. He is an author, illustrator, and internationally known folk musician and recording artist. He lectures on many subjects, including Ken Wilber, Eckhart Tolle, and Spiral Dynamics.

Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to Knitting January 24, 2010: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm with Sherri Vigue and Susan Sargent
Explore the relationship between the work of the hands and the qualities of the mind. Mindful knitting will be encouraged by focusing on the rhythmic action of a stitch and its repetitive aspect. An atmosphere for "quiet" knitting will be created while working at our own pace on a simple garter stitch scarf. Bring size 10 or 11 needles and any skein of bulky or textured weight yarn to practice with. After experiencing mindful knitting we will share our thoughts and insights about the practice. Resources for continuing the practice will be given. Appropriate for any level knitter or aspiring knitter. Fee: $10.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/15/10. Sherri Vigue is a passionate knitter, library volunteer and grant writer, past social worker, and breast cancer survivor. Initially interested in knitting as creativity, she soon discovered meditative qualities within the fiber and needles. Now a fervent practitioner of mindful/spiritual knitting, she invites knitters and knitters-to-be to explore this age old craft and potential prayer form. Susan Sargent uses the relaxing, calming qualities of knitting to slow down in a fast-paced culture. Knitting connects her to her thoughts, feelings, the environment, and the world. Susan is a member of the Program Committee at Living Water. She lives in Chelsea.

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Introduction to Enneagram February 6, 2010: Saturday 9:00 - 4:00 pm *with Michael Naylor* Have you ever wondered why you get caught up in the same old behaviors in spite of your self-knowledge and understanding? The Enneagram, with roots in ancient spiritual wisdom and modern psychology, is a profound psychological and spiritual system for identifying our core personality type and dealing with the dynamics of personality that inhibit preferred behaviors. This workshop will provide you with clarity regarding your personality type, and pathways to growth particular to your personality type. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/29/10. The Sacred Art of Healing Through Laughter: Become a Clown! February 6, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Sr. Connie Caron* Allow your "inner child" some play time. Give yourself a new name and create a character that speaks to your inner dreams or outer fancies. Clowning can be amusing, transforming, and healing too. The basics of balloon sculpturing and a bit of magic will be included for fun. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/29/10. Journal Quilting Seminar February 7, 2010: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm *with Sarah Smith* Journal quilts can tell the story of your life, a memorable experience, or capture elements of your spiritual journey in fabric. Journal quilts are for everyone, not just art quilters! Journal quilts are also a great way to try out new techniques in fiber and art without a large commitment of time and materials. Sarah will share her journey making art quilts, show a digital slide presentation on other journal quilts, and explain how to incorporate a sketchbook or journal into your creative process. There will be time for questions and answers as well as a display of Sarah's journal quilts. You don't need to be an artist, just willing to come, see, and learn! Fee: $15.00 Pre-register with fee by 1/29/10. Men's 11th Step Retreat Weekend "Improving our Conscious Contact with God" February 12-14, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 11:00 am *with Fr. Brian Clary* This weekend will give the recovering man an opportunity to explore the following questions: How are the steps working in my life? What's my membership in 12-Step Program like? Am I spiritually sober? Father Brian will address these and other topics based on the 12-Steps and other spiritual resources along with his own experience, strength and hope. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 2/5/10. Men's 11th Step Retreat Weekend "Utilizing the Enneagram as a Spiritual Tool of Transformation and Change" February 19-21, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 11:00 am *with Michael Naylor* The Enneagram system of personality types is a profound tool that enables individuals to understand the subtle and powerful ways they can be directed towards change, happiness, and self-awareness, or the ways in which an individual unwittingly moves towards sorrow, repetitious suffering, and relapse, regardless of how long they have been sober. Utilizing the Enneagram, as well as meditation and spiritual practices, this weekend will provide new and interesting ways to work the 11th step. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 2/12/10. Monday Morning Book and Coffee Club II February 22-March 15, 2010: Mondays 10:00 - 11:30 am *with Susan MacKenzie* Together we will read and discuss Mitch Albom's best seller, The Five People You Meet in Heaven looking for the nuggets of wisdom in this contemporary tale about hope, death, resilience and meaning. Fee: $35.00 Pre-register with fee by 2/12/10. Gratefulness: Praying our way to Wholeness February 27, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Rev. Karen Lewis Foley* The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart said if the only prayer you ever say is thank you, it is enough. Gratitude may come more easily and naturally in times of comfort, plenitude, and security, but it's even more crucial in times of pain and loss, insecurity, and anxiety. We need to touch into our capacity for gratefulness in order to be whole. We will spend time in both individual and group prayer and reflection. We will be informed in part, by David Steindhl-Rast's Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer. Please bring writing materials. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 2/19/10. Claiming Your Spiritual Identity February 27, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Jack Seery* Fostering open and non-judgmental sharing, we will reflect on our spiritual history, highlighting key turning points and how they have formed our spiritual identity. We will also become more conscious and intentional regarding our present spiritual desires and practices. The format will be self-reflective and sharing in community. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 2/12/10. A Field Guide to Conscious Loving Presence March 13, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Paul Weiss* Whether we are present with ourselves, another, or with God, the capacity for conscious loving presence is our essential spiritual faculty. It is a faculty at the emergent edge of our own evolution and arises within the field of our own being. Today we will work with individual, partnered and group exercises that enable us to discover and deepen our own capacity for conscious loving presence - both as a chosen behavior and as a state of being. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 3/5/10. Russian Icons: Art & Spirituality in the Russian Orthodox Church March 14, 2010: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm *with Sheila McCarthy* It is said that in 988 Grand Prince Vladimir, searching for a unifying religion for his disparate Slavic tribes, chose eastern Christianity from Byzantium because he preferred the other worldly mysticism of the eastern liturgy with its music and art. The realism of western (Roman) Christianity struck Vladimir as too mundane, too worldly. As we view the masterpieces of the anonymous Russian iconographers, we surely think "mystical" and "other worldly." What explains the deliberate visual distortion which we associate with icons? We will look together at the theories of iconography as well as the startling permanence of icon images in Russian culture. Fee $15.00 Pre-register with fee by 3/5/10. Taize Contemplative Prayer March 18, 2010: Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 pm Taize is a spirituality of hope, love, and unity. Through simple music, scripture, and silence, we experience the spirit of abundant joy, loving kindness and community fellowship. All are welcome. No registration required. Free will offering accepted. Directed Silent Retreat "Brave Emptiness: Journeying through the Desert of Lent" March 18-21, 2010: Thursday 5:30 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Susan MacKenzie* Scripture, wisdom literature, and reflections will guide you into contemplating the quiet and oft-hidden blessings of the desert experience in the journey of faith. This retreat will begin with dinner on Thursday at 5:30 pm. Taize worship at 7 pm will usher us into silence. Fee: $250.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 3/12/10. Directed Silent Retreat March 18-21, 2010: Thursday 5:30 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Janet Blakeley* Directed retreats are silent with an optional daily meeting with a spiritual director for about � hour. The remainder of the day is spent alone in prayer and reflection. Fee: $250.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 3/12/10. Directed Silent Retreat "Forever I will Sing the Goodness of the Lord" Psalm 89 March 19-21, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Sr. Jeannine Levasseur* Directed retreats are silent with an optional daily meeting with a spiritual director for about � hour. The remainder of the day is spent alone in prayer and reflection. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 3/12/10. Befriending Our Losses March 20, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Rev. James Gill* Judith Viorst writes of "Necessary Losses" in life, and that we have the power to choose how we meet them. In contrast to a world that often asks us to deny the darker emotions in our lives, such as grief, fear, anger and despair, we will explore ways in which to befriend and even to surrender to them as our teachers. In a quiet and supportive setting, mindfulness and meditation exercises, along with centering prayer, will help us to gain inner peace. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 3/12/10. Christian/Buddhist Dialogue March 20, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Margaret Barragato* Reading sacred text from both traditions, we see how the two religions complement and inform each other. We will also experience meditation and chanting from both traditions. The intent is to broaden our understanding of both traditions and to deepen the experiences of our own faith. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 3/12/10. Spring Gathering March 21, 2010: Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 pm Spring is the season when dreams and hopes are seeded in mind, body, and spirit. We will spend our time in an expansive frame of being, creatively conjuring the imagination with what could be coming to life in our beings. FREE. Pre-register by 3/12/10. Earth Stations March 31, 2010: Wednesday 3:00 - 4:30 pm, and 6:00 - 7:30 pm Join us as we journey in prayer with pictures, poetry, chants, and wisdom from many cultures to bring us into the spirit of solemn reflection on behalf of a wounded earth. Outdoors 3-4:30 pm unless it is raining (dress warmly), and indoors in the chapel 6-7:30 pm. Bring a drum, rainstick, or sound maker if you want. Walk the Earth Stations on your own anytime this week (call ahead to arrange). FREE. The Art of Making Life Changes April 9-11, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Jennifer Kierstead* Explore the fruitful shift that can occur at any age. With photographs and images of our own choosing, we'll use a variety of media and art techniques, as well as mind/body knowledge, to better understand and open the door to making a change in our lives. Art techniques will be used as tools for transformation and will include simple directed exercises in sketching, collage and watercolor. We'll share our own stories as comfort levels allow, and draw from a deep well of ancient and contemporary inspiration including the lives and works of artist Georgia O'Keeffe and architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, Native American and other wisdom sources. Optional gentle Yoga stretches will be incorporated throughout the weekend. The latest findings of brain research and human aging will be discussed, with opportunities for inner exploration, new learning, creative expression, and personal reflection and rest. Women and men of all ages and life stages are welcome. Established artists and still-hatching artists are also equally welcome. A recommended reading list with resources will be provided to all registrants, together with a list of recommended art supplies to bring with you. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 3/26/10. Early registration encouraged. Different Drummers Joyful Hearts Club Band April 11, 2010: 2:00 - 4:00 pm *with Rick Cormier and Martin Steingesser* Celebrate spring with this open, freestyle drum community. The group will offer drumming with Native American flute, vocalizations, and performance poetry with Martin Steingesser, first poet laureate of Portland. In the second hour you are welcome to join the drum circle. No experience necessary. Fee: $15.00 Pre-register with fee by 4/2/10. Monday Morning Book and Coffee Club III April 12-May 24, 2010: Mondays 10:00 - 11:30 am *with Susan MacKenzie* The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully by Joan Chittister has 40 brief reflections on such topics as fear, meaning, adjustment, limitations, nostalgia, wisdom, and mystery. Joan Chittister has written this book for women of all ages who want to live a spiritually centered and balanced life. Come share in the wisdom that accompanies aging and life experience. Fee: $50.00. Pre-register with fee by 4/2/10. The Dynamics of the Spiritual/Mystical Journey April 17, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Jack Seery* We will foster an open, non-judgmental exploration of issues affecting our spiritual growth and development. The format will consist of presentations, discussion and personal reflection to facilitate a greater awareness of our spiritual development in a context of contemporary spiritual consciousness. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 4/9/10. Spirituality and World Religions April 17, May 1, May 15, 2010: Saturdays, 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Sr. Jeannine Levasseur* A concise study of some of the major world religions will be presented. After looking at the primal religions, we will delve into Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. We will conclude with a look at the major tenets of religion presented in The Shack by William P. Young in the light of some of the religions we have studied. Fee: $120.00 Pre-register with fee by 4/9/10. Contemplative Dance April 24, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with Kay Mann* This day of improvisational movement was pioneered by Mary Whitehouse, a student of Carl S. Jung. It requires no previous dance experience, only a desire and willingness to explore the body's natural impulse to move and be moved by the spirit. Moving with sound, images, and memories, we will become attuned to the mind, body and spirit. Opportunities to ground and amplify the discoveries of the day through reflection, writing, sharing, and the arts will be available. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 4/16/10. Eckhart Tolle: Deepening the Power of Now April 24, 2010: Saturday 9:30 - 3:30 pm *with David Peloquin* Many readers of Eckhart Tolle's books The Power of Now and A New Earth have had a glimpse of awareness in the "Now" and may wish to deepen their daily practice of presence. This seminar will offer insights to strengthen and maintain a daily practice. Beginners and experienced practitioners alike are welcome. Fee: $45.00 Pre-register with fee by 4/16/10. Into the Lengthening Light April 30-May 1, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Saturday 4:00 pm *with Rev. Karen Lewis Foley* As sunlight grows and days lengthen, as the earth seems to stir and come alive, we too may feel a stirring within. Come and explore whether, where, and how light may be emerging in your life. What is your heart's deepest desire and how might the lengthening light illumine your way? In what ways might this movement of the natural world invite us into deeper relationship with the Sacred? Fee: $85.00 Pre-register with fee by 4/16/10. Picturing Prayer April 30-May 2, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 1:00 pm *with Sr. Claudette Darisse* "Pray always," we have been told. This weekend retreat is an invitation to "Pray all ways." The movement will be gentle. From moments of tranquility born of centering prayer, we will 'pray' the Presence of God as captured through the eyes of a digital camera. The rhythm will be from inner stillness to outer awareness and back to our Center. Participants should come equipped with a digital camera. If you have no camera, come with a sketch pad and pencil in order to 'picture your prayer.' Come. Pray always. Pray all ways. Fee: $185.00 Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 4/23/10. Spring Trail and GROUNDS Maintenance Day May 1, 2010: Saturday 8:30 - 1:00 pm We'll be clearing twigs from trails, maintaining the labyrinth and mulching our perennial gardens. Sometimes we have perennials to share. Bring your boots and work gloves. We will provide tools and a hearty lunch followed by a concert featuring Harry Vayo on hammered dulcimer. This is a great volunteer opportunity for youth and service groups. Come when you can, leave when you must! Free. Pre-register by for free lunch. Women's 11th Step retreat: The Journey of Recovery May 7-9, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Sunday 11:00 am with Lee White Working Step 11 is a part of a recovery journey that involves surrender and a relationship with a Higher Power. This retreat will offer a place and time to rest and sit with others on that journey. We will share our paths of prayer and meditation with the intention of strengthening our relationship with a Power Greater than Ourselves. Music, guided meditation, sharing and a safe space will be some of the ways we will seek to connect and reconnect. We will feed our souls through free time and with others and healing 12 step fellowship. Bring whatever reminds you of your journey to grace our table and remind us of our Miracle. Please join us! Fee $ 185.00. Pre-register with $100.00 deposit by 4/22/10. Awakening Your Divine Self Utilizing the Enneagram May 14-15, 2010: Friday 7:00 pm - Saturday 4:00 pm *with Michael Naylor* The Enneagram is a profound psychological and spiritual tool focused on the Nine Personality Types that provide a pathway to the Genuine Self. Through awareness practices and spiritual inquiry, this workshop will deepen your understanding of your own True Nature and inspire deeper connection with your

Registration Policy:
Deposits are non-refundable unless the program is cancelled by Living Water Spiritual Center.
We require a minimum of 10 participants to hold a retreat.
We reserve the right to cancel programs that have not met this minimum.

About registration deadlines: The "pre-register by" date is used to determine if the program will be held.
If we have the minimum number needed to hold a program we will continue to accept registrations beyond this date. If not, the program will be cancelled. Please register early so that we have an accurate count by the deadline. If you are interested in a program and the pre-register date has passed, please call or e-mail to ask if the program is being held before sending in your registration. Thank you. info@retreatinmaine.com 207-872-2370

Scholarships: We have a limited number of partial scholarships for weekend programs. Please call or e-mail to inquire. info@retreatinmaine.com 207-872-2370.

Wisdom from the Well is a weekly email for people who are interested in spirituality and programs offered through Living Water Spiritual Center.

Wisdom from the Well
is a weekly email for people who are interested in spirituality and programs offered through Living Water Spiritual Center.