A half-day of guided silent meditation led by Laura Collins. The day will include simple ritual, visualizations, and movement to aid participants in the process of leaning into the silence. There will be time for solitary silent meditation with readings and questions for reflection. We will consider the images of summer as they connect us to the earth and to our spirits. Bring a journal. Snacks provided.
Laura Collins, Holy Ground Director, has served in ministries in the Presbyterian, Quaker and Catholic traditions and worked in interfaith organizations for social and ecological justice. She has her M.Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and studied contemplative spirituality at the Shalem Institute in Bethesda, MD. and Gestalt Pastoral Care in New York.

A Vision Quest is one of the oldest and most potent rituals still being practiced today. In the safety and beauty of the mountains just West of Asheville, near Max Patch, Tayria Ward, Ph.D. and Lynn English will lead a 3 1/2 day quest. The group will be provided with careful spiritual, psychological and physical preparation before spending one overnight in the wilderness questing for their vision. The final day will be spent in integrative follow-up. Weekend includes fresh-cooked gourmet vegetarian meals.
Tayria Ward has a Ph.D. in depth psychology, is a dreamworker, dialogue trainer, and works with oracular methods of communication. Formerly a minister, and then a professor for several years, her new book, Recovering the Indigenous Mind, is being readied for publication. She moved to North Carolina from Los Angeles in 2004 to start a retreat center in the mountains, in a location of wilderness and beauty conducive to the deep work of recovering indigenous sensibilities.Lynn English, LPC, worked for many years as a counselor, specializing in addictions and family therapy. Over the past three years she has focused on doing more "soul initiation" and nature-based work, receiving training in mirroring and dream-work, and going on numerous Vision Quests herself. She spent the past year traveling the world, from Australia to the Yukon territories as part of her personal questing.

Perhaps the greatest stumbling block on the spiritual path to happiness is truly to forgive the one who has hurt you. In every religion we are told to forgive our enemy, turn the other cheek, offer up our love. But HOW exactly to do it? And what if the person I need to forgive is myself? How do I forgive?

This workshop combines lecture, discussion, story-telling, and participatory exercises to explore the difficulties of forgiving and the tools to be acquired. It is designed for anyone, male or female, who wants to heal dark areas, no matter what level of spiritual practice, because we are all beginners in the practice.

Author of 12 books, Sophy Burnham is a mystic, Reiki Master, healer and seer. She has distinguished herself as a novelist, journalist, nonfiction writer, playwright, and spiritual teacher. Her works include three bestsellers, A Book of Angels, Angel Letters, and The Art Crowd.

A frequent public speaker and presenter, she has appeared often on TV and radio, both at home and abroad, including Oprah, Larry King Live, CBS morning news, To Tell the Truth, Good Morning America, the Today Show and scores of others. She has written award-winning stage and radio plays, as well as documentary films.

Holy Ground will not be open for art exhibits, use of the lending library, drop-in time or general office hours during the month of July. If you need to contact Holy Ground staff during the month, we will be checking email, voicemail and postal mail approximately once each week. See you in August!