Programs

Tree Stories is a time to creatively consider our natural, silent and gloriously beautiful green benefactors, the trees. We will use photographs of our trees ( both living and felled ) to create portraits of our arboreal companions. Words will accompany us in the form of tree poetry. Our materials will include printed photographs of trees, art papers, colored pencils, and paints. Our canvas will be re-purposed cardboard. Our inspiration will be the trees we know from home and those we see all around us at The Bishop’s Ranch. Our goal is to be creative in community and to leave with art that tells a Tree Story.

$15 materials fee paid to instructor on day of class. 

Registration closes April 7, 2025.

With Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz

During our days together, we will follow themes appropriate for Easter week. These include the origins of our embodied life and self in our large, eternal, breathing soul (ruha), the crucifixion felt by our small self (naphsha), and its healing and resurrection through re-discovering its purpose in life. This is a process done not once, but many times, in our lives.

The way of Yeshua, as seen through his Aramaic words, is not for the faint-hearted, even though he promises that the “burden is light” and offers “rest” (nyach) in the fullness of life and love that our ruha (soul) provides. Making the connection between small self and soul is what he taught and exemplified in his life here, even under the most extreme and challenging circumstances.

The experiential side of the retreat will focus on chant, body prayer, body awareness meditation, and contemplative prayer from the Aramaic Jesus tradition. These will harmonize in feeling to the days of Holy Week and, most importantly, provide inspiration for the difficult times we face. Neil will also be going into some of Yeshua’s teaching stories and his “words from the cross, “about which many people ask, as well as parables and sayings from his recently released (February 2025) book The Aramaic Jesus Book of Days as well as his book Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus.

Registration closes April 9, 2025.

with The Rev. Brendan Ellis Williams, CMR (Ngakpa Pälden Dorje)

Learn the simple, sacred ritual art of making tsa-tsas—molded clay icons of divine or enlightened beings—using traditional Tibetan tools and techniques, and offer your completed and consecrated tsa-tsas on the Land at The Bishop’s Ranch (and elsewhere if you wish) for the blessing of all sentient beings.

Participants will be guided in making their own tsa-tsas from locally harvested clay, crafting traditional images of both Indo-Tibetan and Western origin, focused especially on the divine feminine. Images will include several forms of Tārā, the Holy Mother María, Śakyamuni Buddha, and icons to honor the ancestors. Throughout and following the making of the sacred images, each one will be imbued with healing intention, blessing, and prayer. Father Brendan (Ngakpa-la) will then consecrate all the completed tsa-tsas using an ancient Tibetan ceremony. He will also give teachings throughout on Tārā and María as deified or enlightened beings and vessels of perfect compassion, offering some ancient prayers and rituals related to these important divine mother figures.

In conclusion, participants will be led on a hike around the beautiful Bishop’s Ranch to distribute tsa-tsas as they wish at various spots on the Land. Traditionally, it is said that all beings who encounter consecrated tsa-tsas will receive some of their blessing; and, as our sacred images naturally return over time to the Earth from which they were made, they will take our prayers and blessings with them back into the living landscape.

Particularly in a time of great upheaval, confusion, and polarization like the era in which we presently find ourselves, one of the most healing things we can do is generate real connection, loving-kindness, and compassion for other beings. Our intention for this day-long workshop will be to put healing and blessing into the world, in partnership with the Land, the ancestors, and the enlightened beings with which we will be working.

Make time for those unfinished projects or new endeavors at a four-night quilt retreat. With all meals provided and no chores in sight, beginning through advanced quilters can truly focus on their passion. You’ll have time to be with old friends and the opportunity to make new ones while working on your own projects or sharing your creativity with other participants. This retreat is intended to give you the time you need for yourself without formal instruction or sales pitches.