The purpose of this page is to describe Dan's toolbox of retreats, workshops,
and other activities designed for individuals and groups. If interested in any of these offerings, please contact Dan using this website's Contact Page.
GROUP RETREATS:
Over the years, I have facilitated retreats on focused themes for congregations and other non-profit organizations. Here are a few examples:
- Advent and Lent with Thomas Merton
- Spiritual practices from the monastic toolbox (lectio divina, centering prayer and meditation, developing a rule of life, the Jesus Prayer, the Examen, etc.)
- Living with HIV/AIDS
- Discerning God's call
- Growing Old in Christ
INDIVIDUAL RETREATS:
With virtual technologies, it is now possible for me to "accompany" clients and others on individual retreats to various locations. The way this works is that an individual goes on a retreat to a center or nature location. At the end of each day or at another stipulated time, we meet via Zoom or FaceTime for a contemplative debriefing and spiritual direction around thoughts and feelings that bubble up during the retreat. I recently provided this accompaniment to a client on retreat in Europe who wanted to reflect on some of the great sacred art they had seen.
WORKSHOPS:
- Intro to Non-Violent Communications
- The O Antiphons (Advent)
- The Magnificat and Benedictus (Advent)
- The Seven Last Days (Lent)
- Leaving a Spiritual Will or Legacy Letter
- Visio Media (contemplative use of current affairs visual imagery)
- Intro to Lives of Great Twentieth Century Christians: Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Merton (using Martin Doblmeier DVDs)
- Meditation for Busy Christians
- Discerning God's Call: Quaker Clearness Committees
- Designing an Individual, Customized Rule of Life
- Intro to Spiritual Direction (and Its Relation to Therapy and Pastoral Counseling)
- What's Your Personal Peace Index?
- An Interspiritual Meditation Process
In addition to the workshops I have offered previously, I collaborate with clergy and leaders of congregations and non-profits to design workshops that meet specific group needs.
GROUP SPIRITUAL DIRECTION & QUAKER CLEARNESS COMMITTEES:
I offer group spiritual direction based on the approaches of Diane Millis and Roslyn G Weiner. Providing group spiritual direction during stand-alone or multiple sessions is possible. At least three persons need to commit to the process. It is possible to engage in both group and individual spiritual direction simultaneously.
Individuals grappling with a single question may wish to explore forming a one-time session with a "Quaker Clearness Committee" whose job is to assist in discerning an answer to a sharply focused concern such as: Should I forgive someone? Should I change my job? Should I move? Should I marry now? These are only a few questions these meetings explore.
"We're all just walking each other home."--Ram Dass