Winter Retreat
Fusion of the Five Elemental Forces
New Retreat Schedule:
On Tuesday morning breakfast will be served from 8:00am. Class begins promptly at 9:00am with an Orientation to Stillheart, followed by Opening Circle at 9:30am. Please be in the classroom promptly at 9:00am.
On the rest of the days we begin at 7:30 with Morning Chi-kung. Breakfast is served from 8:30 until 9:30, followed by Morning Class at 9:30. Lunch is served from 12:30 until 2pm. Afternoon Class is from 2 until 6. A light supper buffet with dessert will be available after 6 until 8pm.
On Thursday we will have an offsite group dinner and evening program until 9:30.
On the final day of retreat we close at 12:30pm. The only meal served on this day is breakfast.
Fusion of the Five Elemental Forces
& Faces of Your Soul Maskmaking
Stillheart Retreat Center
Gilles Marin & Kaleo Ching, Co-Instructors
The Fusion of the Five Elemental Forces of Nature is one of the highest forms of Taoist meditation. It was taught to Master Mantak Chia, one of Gilles Marin's principal teachers, by one of the last White Cloud Taoist monks from China. Adapted to our Western mind, it represents the quintessence of healing in Gilles’ teaching. Be prepared for deep introspection, emotional exploration, and spiritual stimulation.
During this retreat, you will learn:
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‣To summon the 5 Elemental Archetypal Forces and practice Fusion of the 5 Elemental Forces; to gain insight into your internal & external universal energies, empowering you to truly digest your life experiences and strengthen your inner being.
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‣To dismantle negative emotions as Gilles guides you through internal alchemy.
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‣To gain understanding through alchemizing emotional disturbances and to create harmony in yourself again and again, thus enhancing your creative energies.
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‣To reduce experiencing abstractly - what you expect to experience, see, feel - but rather to feel, experience and see what actually is: growth, change, evolution, health.
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‣Chi-Kung practices, including Dreaming Chi-Kung, Microcosmic Orbit, and 6 Healing Sounds meditations.
Maskmaking is an embrace, a connection to inner alchemy and healing. Kaleo’s teaching weaves seamlessly together with Gilles’ to bring you to a full exploration of the central themes of Fusion of the Five Elemental Forces.
With caring, you will give and receive a facial massage as you apply and sculpt plaster gauze facial molds with a partner. The maskmaking techniques used create realistic facial sculptures. Guided imagery leads you gently into the realms of the spirit world to connect with your inner guides (ancestor, totem animal, guardian angel, inner healer). Your guide then inspires you to paint, decorate, and transform your personal mask from the mold of your own face. Your mask can be a legacy, a life companion, a gauge of your personal growth, a guardian for your altar, and importantly, a touchstone to bring you forward in your daily life toward the experience of the Fusion Meditation.
Kaleo and Gilles have taught together previously and we are excited to welcome Kaleo back. For more information about Kaleo Ching you may go to his website here...
Key Points
Location:
Stillheart Retreat Center Woodside, CA
2012 Dates
Tuesday-Saturday
January 24-28
CNTI Certificate Hours
65
Pre-requisite: none
what’s included ?
You have two options ...
Residential: $1,495
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✓Four nights accommodation at Stillheart Lodge, per person, double occupancy. Check-in Monday January 23 after 3pm.
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✓Full breakfast and lunch onsite, Tuesday - Friday. Breakfast only on Saturday.
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✓Light supper buffet with dessert Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday.
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✓Onsite catering is appropriate to the season, organic, with options for vegetarians and most common dietary exclusions. We cannot offer vegan, sorry.
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✓Thursday evening offsite group dinner and program.
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✓Tuition and art supplies.
Non-Residential: $960
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✤Same as above, no lodging.
why stillheart?
It’s one of the most beautiful retreat centers in Northern California.
©2011 Chi Nei Tsang Institute. All rights reserved.
ABOUT READING
Gilles and Kaleo encourage you to do as much advance reading and preparation as you can, so that while you are at the Retreat you are able to do “less thinking” and “more experiencing.”
Our Winter Retreat this year is special:
Kaleo Ching and Gilles Marin are joining together to lead our annual Fusion Retreat with a curriculum that embraces chi-kung, meditation, and an extraordinary art workshop that is in perfect harmony with our exploration of the alchemy of inner healing. Read on for program details.
Faces of the Soul
by Kaleo Ching
Click below to purchase from Amazon
FAQ
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✓How does double occupancy work if I’m coming solo?
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We’ll matchmake you with a compatible roommate either before you arrive, or onsite at retreat. The rooms are spacious and each has its own comfortable bath.
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✓Is there a single-occupancy supplement offered?
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Add $450; please inquire for availability.
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✓If I choose Non-Residential how does that work?
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Stillheart is about an hour’s drive from SF or Oakland. If you prefer to stay with friends or family, or in your own home, choose “non-residential”.
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✓Why would I choose to stay at Stillheart if I don’t have to?
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Taking a break from our regular lives is at the core of the retreat concept.
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✓Are there any discounts available?
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Register and pay online in full before December 25th and receive 40% off any one non-retreat Institute class in 2012, for you or a friend.
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✓How do I do that?!
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Click here to go to online registration...
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✓How much is the deposit to hold my place?
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$500, non-refundable to cover our minimum costs.
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✓How do I do that?
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Call, email, or click here to register online....
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✓When is the absolute deadline to register?
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January 6th, balance due paid in full.
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✓What if I need to cancel?
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Through January 6th, fees are refundable less deposit and $100 cancellation fee if we can fill your spot from the waiting list. No refunds after January 6th.
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✓What if there’s no waiting list?
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Attendance is capped this year at 25, including staff. We anticipate a waiting list.
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✓What about public transit and parking?
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Parking is included onsite, but we encourage carpooling. There is no public transportation to Stillheart. For those of you flying in, please plan to arrive on Monday January 23, and we will arrange to pick you up at SFO.
Fusion of the Five Elements By Mantak Chia
Click below to purchase from Amazon
