Join CMP's Co-Founders for a Half Day Fall Retreat
When: Saturday September 19 8:15am - 12:45pm
Where: St Paul's on the Green, 60 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851
This is an opportunity to deepen our practice and explore some of the techniques that can foster concentration, compassion, and resiliency. Will Heins, Michelle Seaver and Erika Long, CMP co-founders, will help us explore the value of sitting in silence for longer periods of time.
Participants will begin by getting to know each other a bit, and then will engage in a variety of standing, seated and walking practices together before ending with a period of sharing and reflection.
Once the practices begin, participants and facilitators (when not guiding) will observe what’s known as “noble silence” until sharing and reflection at the end.
Noble silence typically means that together we’re creating a deliberate, respectful container by quieting external communication. Specifically, we refrain from speaking, looking at phones and some people even choose to refrain from eye contact. While silence can feel awkward when we’re out in our engaged lives, when we practice it together, it can be a sort of relief. It can help us focus on our inner experience by reducing the mental weight of normal social interaction — performing, small-talking, reading facial expressions, worrying about what people think. People have said it feels like taking off a heavy backpack they didn't know they were wearing. Of course, necessary communication (safety, logistics) is always allowed. It's not a vow of absolute silence — it's more like an agreement to keep the space quiet and inward-facing.
Limited attendance: This event is for 35 people maximum.
Please bring your own water bottle, and a mat or cushion. There are a few chairs, but not enough to accommodate everyone.
Suggested donation: $100 (All proceeds go to support CMP's work in greater Fairfield County.)