let's talk retreat (erin jean warde)
As I have tried to discern the question — What is holy rest? My soul seemed to offer a real answer — Retreat. So, now I have an awareness of the new question — What does it mean to retreat?
let’s talk retreat
As I have tried to discern the question — What is holy rest?
My soul seemed to offer a real answer — Retreat.
The answer offered a quick feeling of security, a sense of having figured it out, before it became a trap door. The slip of the trap door, the loss of the security, the gateway into the next set of questions. (The question “What is holy rest?” came out of the original question, “What does my soul need?” It’s trap doors all the way down apparently.)
So, now I have an awareness of the new question, born out of falling — What does it mean to retreat?
Recently I crowd sourced retreat ideas with a small community I love. The responses were inspiring; I’ve read through them a few times and will read through them a few more times.
This week, I posit these questions to you, in hopes you’ll share your thoughts below, in the comments. I wonder if this might be helpful for all of us.
What is retreat to you?
What are some ways you have carved out rest & retreat time?
Where are places you have gone on retreat, that you love? (Recommendations for places generally, like cities or towns you’ve visited, as well as retreat centers, spas, pilgrimages, etc.)
Where are places you have gone on retreat, that you love, that are fairly affordable?
If you were to construct your own retreat, what activities would you include?
Is there anything that feels like retreat to you in your daily life? Do you have practices of retreat that you engage in while you are at home?
Thank you for entertaining this communal exploration of retreat. I love crowd sourcing because it helps me so much and hopefully helps someone else too! I’m praying someone else is able to go to the comment section and get inspired in their own pursuit of rest.
Thank you in advance for sharing some of your favorite places & practices with us,
EJW
podcasts & articles
Sober Spirituality with Erin Jean Warde (Soberful Podcast)
Enjoy my conversation with Veronica Valli, in which we explore the role of alcohol in religion and how it has been misrepresented, what spirituality means, faith-based recovery, and more. Take some time to explore the full podcast, an incredible resource from Veronica & Chip.
A Few Minutes With… The Rev. Erin Jean Warde (Matt Rhodes)
I was delighted to be a guest on Matt Rhodes’ podcast to talk about Sober Spirituality and more. There was a bit of an audio/volume issue, so please note you can watch the episode with captions on YouTube. Enjoy!
Erin Jean Warde on How to Have a More Mindful Relationship with Alcohol (The Learner’s Corner with Caleb Mason)
It was such a joy to chat with Caleb about the intricacies of sobriety and spirituality. I hope you enjoy this deep dive on his podcast. I’m partial to the title, as an avid lifelong learner!
Sober books for Autumn 2023 (Club Soda)
I’m so honored to see Sober Spirituality make the list of sober books for Autumn 2023, from Club Soda! Club Soda is an amazing group in the UK that encourages mindfulness around our relationships with alcohol. Enjoy the article and browse the site for more wisdom!
october events
Discerning Sobriety Retreat — October 27 & 28 (Bellwether Farm in Wakeman, OH)
Join us for a 24-hour retreat exploring tools to help you dig into your relationship with addictive choices, coping, joy, and more. Erin Jean Warde, ordained Episcopal priest and author of Sober Spirituality, will share the personal journey which led her to quit alcohol. She will provide additional tools to help each participant explore a more mindful relationship with our substance misuse and dependencies and the richer sobrieties we might seek or experience.
learn with me
Sober Spirituality: Discerning Our Relationship with Alcohol Online Course — November 8-January 31 (Stevenson School for Ministry)
Join the Rev. Erin Jean Warde in a 10-week discernment of how we are in relationship with alcohol. In this course, the discernment will be both interior and exterior, as you learn more about alcohol in the global and cultural context, and are given tools to look inward spiritually. You'll explore how alcohol affects us in mind, body, and soul, such that you will be encouraged to get prayerfully curious about how drinking shows up in your life, while trusting how the Spirit leads you into answering the question: How do I want to be in relationship with alcohol? This course will engage spiritual reflection and practical theology, as it covers how alcohol affects a variety of aspects of life and faith, such as: cultural norms, its use in religious spaces, hospitality, embodiment, trauma, social justice, releasing judgment around substances, and caring for those who struggle in their relationship with alcohol.
This course will be offered via Zoom on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 pm EST, beginning November 8, 2023 and ending January 31, 2024 (with breaks for holidays). The course can be taken for credit as a part of the Stevenson School for Ministry for $300. It can also be taken as a continuing education class that allows you to sit in on classes, participate in conversations, and no assignment submission is needed for $150.
My favorite retreats - Gethsemene, KY and Mepkin Abbey, SC - and the Monks of New Skete in NY.
MiiAmo Spa was my favorite indulgent retreat (so grateful for sabbatical grants ;) A good retreat is one where I feel supported by a schedule that provides a simple and easy daily structure (good worship primarily) in a surrounding that is quiet, spacious and with places for meandering walks. To have good accomodations and food is always the icing on the cake! I'm sorry to miss you at Bellweather Farm! I'll be there a bit before you for a CREDO. Blessings on your retreats! - Arianne
For me a retreat is solo. "Retreats" with others, led by others (heck I lead them myself) are lovely but to me those are spiritual conferences or something not a retreat.
The other component I need is "big water." I grew up on the Great Lakes and I need water I cannot see across, preferably water that becomes very deep. There is something about spending time alone with a body of water that is deeper than I can fathom and where what is on the other side is further than I can see sets my soul right.
Affordable is so contextual. I will say if someone needs something very cheap St Gregory's Abbey in Three Rivers Michigan is the place to be. No one ever talks about them but the brothers there are an Episcopal order, therefore any Christian is encouraged to take part in communion (something a lot of us don't get to do at RC monasteries/convents) and the location is quiet with woods to wander in.
I prefer renting a cabin on the Olympic Peninsula now that I'm out in the Seattle area. It gets me the solitude I need, and the Pacific ocean too, but it is a good sight more expensive than a donation based monastery stay.
Also books, I always bring lots of books, art supplies, and a journal. I don't bring music, videos, etc. NOTHING that creates the constant visual/audio stimulation we're used to. <3