Being Outdoors: Sensing the Sacred

Cost:
Supporter: $285
Regular: $230
Partial Scholarship: $105

The Program  

Exploration of monthly topics through a menu (the choices are yours) of:

• Individual experiencing through weekly invitations for deepening relationship with the Outdoors;

• Mindful awareness through frequent practice of “being” rather than “doing”;

• Creative expression through artwork, poetry, photography, music, and land art;

• Reflective writing through journaling;

• Ongoing inspiration through suggested resources, readings, films, and videos;

• Sharing in Community through bi-monthly Zoom video-conferencing

… all providing windows for entering, cultivating, and supporting a new relationship with Earth and Universe.

COURSE MATERIALS & RESOURCES:

Course information, materials and resources will be available through a special group on the Monterey Bay Meditation Studio's private online community platform. If you are not already a member of this online community, you will receive an invitation when you register.

INVITATIONS FOR DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OUTDOORS:

The deepest foundation of this program is a series of embodied practices that are sequenced to catalyze and cultivate a deep relationship with the Outdoors. At least 2 outdoor practices are offered with each Community Call; each focuses on a way of being that cultivates intersubjective consciousness and a deep sense of belonging with Earth and all beings. Whether you live in a city, town or rural environment, all you need is an Outside. These Invitations offer ways of being outdoors that are distinctly different from a hike, bike ride, or nature walk.

These practices are cumulative and change our way of being with, in, and of the world. Something deep inside opens when we come to recognize and live in the knowing that ocean, forest, river, mountain, and sky, including sun, moon, and stars, are not only our kin, but are also depositories of the wisdom of Life and Living for as long as they have existed. A sense of responsibility, reciprocity, and reverence arise, sourced in deep relationality, respect, and gratitude.

From this heart-sensing, we listen-to rather than do-to; we engage rather than look at; we commune rather than objectify. We come home to more of who we are as a particulate and participant in the vast ecosystem of Earth … and Universe. 

COMMUNITY CONFERENCE CALLS:

The schedule for the video-conference calls is below. Since community (especially in a world of Physical Distancing) is key to cultivating a sense of well-being and belonging, participants are encouraged to join as many calls as possible. 

These calls combine guided meditation, mindful sharing, reflective inquiry, relational practices, Emergent Dialogue, and creative inspiration with an intention of co-creating a community of support for exploration, insight, and connection.  

The Potentials

Research continues to show that spending time outdoors decreases anxiety and depression; strengthens the immune system; increases a sense of calm, connection and well-being; improves short term memory; increases happiness; improves sleep; reduces inflammation; deepens the sense of connection and spirituality.

When being outdoors is paired with intentional engagement of mindfulness, creativity, curiosity and caring, these benefits are amplified. We find ourselves feeling wonder, belonging and awe -- sensing the sacred in ourselves and the living Earth (of which we are part).

As minds and hearts open, we are changed— nervous systems calm, thoughts settle, and perspectives shift. We feel refreshed and recharged as we remember that we are part of this vast system of support, healing, and evolution.

Community Calls: Monthly Topics and Schedule

We gather twice a month on a Zoom video-conference call. Access details will be emailed to you after you register.

Because we are an online program and do not have any in-person group activities in the course, the video-conference calls are our primary way of establishing a sense of connection and community with each other.

Please participate in as many of the calls as you can— “the more ingredients, the better the gumbo.”

All calls: 2nd & 4th Sundays
10:30 am - 12:00 pm (Pacific)
April 14 & 28: “Opening the Door: At the Threshold”
May 12 & 26: “Stepping Outside: Spring Awakening”
June 9 & 23: “Finding Flow: Songs of Rivers and Creeks”
July 14 & 28: “Going Deeper: Mysteries of Soil and Sand”
August 11 & 25: “Branching Out: Teachings from the Trees”
September 8 & 22: “Transitioning: The Call of the Wild”
October 13 & 27: “Riding the Waves: Council with the Sea”
November 10 & 24: “Falling Up: Night Magic from the Cosmos”
December 3: “Sensing Interbeing: It's All About Relationship”

TESTIMONIALS

“As someone who has been an avid outdoor enthusiast - hiking, backpacking, skiing, and enjoying the wilderness - ‘Being Outdoors: Sensing the Sacred’ brought wonderfully new perspectives to my wilderness appreciation. I was able to slow down and immerse myself in ways I wasn’t aware of, and the sessions made significant and meaningful changes in my relationship to the Out of Doors. The lessons learned will not end with the course!” – B.K.

———

“I am in awe of the rich materials you bring to us and your ability/skill in sharing them with us in such stimulating, provocative ways.  I am extremely grateful and appreciative of how you have enriched my life in the last few challenging months." – N.B.

———

“I think the course is outstanding.” – A.K.

———

“I think all of us at the end felt a tremendous connection, not just with the Outdoors in terms of you laying out these Invitations for us, but also that connection with each other … I think having people take part in things like that where they come together with a community of people and share those experiences, it heightens our sense of connection and also responsibility.” – K.F.

———

“Being Outdoors: Sensing the Sacred is a phenomenal course. Marianne Rowe is a master teacher. She is incredibly prepared, informed and knowledgeable, as well as compassionate and relational. She has done her research and presents the material through a variety of ways and resources: lecture, meditation, poetry, art, media, facilitating group discussion, raising and exploring questions, and has compiled an incredibly extensive bibliography. The class is extremely well organized and Marianne ‘invites’ us to learn both intellectually and experientially.  Students can choose to do as much or as little as each wishes, but the opportunities for learning are extensive.

“The course has enriched my life so much as a ‘wake-up’ call to what is always all around us as well as inside of us. By fostering increased awareness and observation, it allows for greater connection with the senses and the intellect culminating in a visceral sense of knowing that all is interconnected.It is so rich and engaging that I could take it over and over again and continually keep growing and learning. I am an enthusiast of Marianne and this amazing course that she has created and is offering. I consider it a ‘not to miss’ opportunity. As you can tell, I highly endorse it.” - L.K.

“This is a transformational course created for these transformative times.” - M.R.

COURSE CREATOR & FACILITATOR:

Sample Practices to Try Outdoors