Befriending Silence

Online Followup: May 28 - June 22, 2012.
Final Reflection Session: June 23, 2012 at Shepherdtown Presbyterian Church

Deepening one's relationship with silence entails a movement from exterior silence to interior silence. One often overlooked aspect of this movement is the practice of "simple presence." Simple presence is the practice of just being aware, just noticing, without interference. Practicing simple presence allows for a deep friendship with silence, where we come to silence just as we are without any agendas and allow silence to be itself.

Befriending Silence begins with an overnight retreat that introduces four themes: Kinds of Silence, Spiritual Transformation, What It Means To Go Inward, and The Role of Silence in Transformation. These themes will be grounded in practices of prayerful reading and simple presence with silence.

After the retreat, participants will engage in a four-week on-line component designed to deepen engagement with these themes. This component of the retreat will take place May 28 - June 22.  Quotes for prayerful reading related to the themes, further opportunity for practicing simple presence, and various ways of reflecting on the encounter with silence including sharing with others on-line will frame our four weeks of engaging silence. There will be a final gathering  to review and reflect on the experience as a whole.  This final reflection day will take place on June 23, 2012 from 9am - 12 noon at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church in Shepherdstown WV.

Retreat leaders are Gigi Ross and Phil Cover. Gigi Ross lives in the Washington DC area where she practices spiritual direction, writes a blog, and is involved in various aspects of contemplative Christian and interfaith spirituality. She leads prayer groups and retreats and designs spiritual formation programs. Phil Cover, a Catholic Priest and graduate of Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program, is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and pilgrim guide to the Sinai and New Mexico deserts, with spiritual roots in the contemplative Christian tradition, from which he tends to the transformative work of the heart. He is co-author of Journey with purpose and The Inner Work of Lent.

Cost of the retreat is $150, and includes 3 meals, lodging for one night, and enrollment in a four-week on-line class. To enroll, send check to Friends of Silence, 186 Tupelo Lane, Harpers Ferry WV 25425. For more information, contact Gigi Ross at 202-604-8896 or fulcrumfire@earthlink.net