Giving Voice to the Heart: A Weekend Of Devotional Song, Expressive Arts, & Meditation
with Shara Claire
Friday, October 11th to Monday, October 14th
This retreat is an opportunity to be together in a heartful community space, using the practice of devotional song as an active meditation, and a path into silent meditation. Chanting in community can open and soften the heart, heighten our senses, engage our emotional selves, and help us to relax deeply into our own unique relationship with Divinity.
We will move through a variety of English & Sanskrit traditional and original chants which are simple, and easy-to-learn. No musical or meditation experience is required to participate. Supportive musical accompaniment will be present.
In addition to periods of song & meditation, this retreat will include gentle yoga-based movement and breathwork in the mornings. We will also explore the world of expressive arts as another way to give voice to our heart. Again, no artistic experience is necessary here: you will be gently led into activities that are accessible, friendly, and resource-oriented. The arts can provide ways to shape and hold that which we discover within ourselves in meditation, opening up new spaces inside us. There will be opportunities to ask questions and discuss what’s occurring in our meditation practice. So the weekend will be a gradual unfolding and deepening process, individually as well as collectively.
*This retreat will be in SILENCE: this means that we will have opportunities to sing and verbally share while in session. On breaks and lunch we will hold silence to preserve our container of meditative practice and maintain the sacredness of retreat at the Dharma Centre.
Shara Claire began training in the art of devotional song & meditation in 1997, at an ashram in the mountains of British Columbia. After moving to Toronto to train as an expressive arts therapist, she continued to develop her meditation and devotional music practices, studying and teaching percussion and living in other ashrams and spiritual Centres from 2004 through 2010. She is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), an MA candidate in Expressive Arts Therapy through Switzerland’s European Graduate School, and a certified meditation instructor with the Canada Yoga Alliance. She lives in East Toronto with her partner, stepdaughter, and cats, working part time in private practice and part time with the Child Development Institute, teaching meditation and stress management to children in the Toronto shelter system.
Important Details:
When: Friday, October 11th to Monday, October 14th. Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish after lunch on the final day.
Rates: Non-members: $330.00, Members: $285.00
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Shara is sharing her experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:
What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation policy: Refund 7 days before the commencement of the course 75% with 25% going towards a future course within 2019. Refund 2 days before the commencement of the course 50% with 35% going towards a future course within 2019.