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• WEEKEND RETREAT May 28–30, 2027
• FULL RETREAT & PILGRIMAGE May 28–June 3

Friday arrival begins at 3:00 PM Opening Gathering at 5:00 PM • Dinner follows Rooted in timeless wisdom. Awake to the living world.What happens when we truly awaken to the Divine Presence—and then choose to remain fully engaged in the joys, sorrows, beauty, creativity, and transformation of the world? The Engaged Mystic is an immersive contemplative retreat for those who long not simply to learn about mysticism, but to live from the mystical heart. Drawing upon the lives and teachings of Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, and Teilhard de Chardin, we will explore a spirituality that moves inward toward profound union with the Divine—and outward into love, service, creativity, justice, relationship, and participation in an unfinished world. These mystics remind us that contemplation and engagement are not opposites. The deeper we enter the Divine, the more intimately we encounter the world.
THE JOURNEY Over the course of our time together, we will move through five movements of the mystical life:

I. THE LONGING  Every Mystic Begins with Desire  The spiritual journey begins not with certainty, but with longing. What is the restlessness beneath our restlessness? What does the soul seek beneath all the things we think we seek? Through the wisdom of Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, and Thomas Merton, we begin by listening for the sacred desire already moving within us. Centering Prayer • Lectio Divina  • Soul Journaling What has my soul been seeking throughout my life?

II. ENTERING THE INTERIOR CASTLE   The Journey WithinTeresa of Avila described the soul as a magnificent interior castle, with the Divine dwelling at its radiant center.Thomas Merton spoke of the movement from the constructed false self toward the freedom of the true self.Together, we enter the contemplative path of silence, awareness, surrender, prayer, and presence. Not to escape life—but to become awake enough to truly meet it. Silent Meditation • Walking Contemplation • Sacred Companion Dialogue

III. AWAKENING TO THE LIVING BUDDHA, LIVING CHRIST   Discovering the Divine in EverythingFor Hildegard of Bingen, the whole Earth shimmered with viriditas—the greening, life-giving vitality of the Divine. For Teilhard de Chardin, the universe itself was sacred: creation still unfolding, matter alive with Spirit, humanity invited to consciously participate in the movement toward greater love and wholeness. And Julian of Norwich discovered beneath the uncertainty of existence a radical trust: “All shall be well.” Mysticism is not about escaping the world. It is about learning to see. Nature Contemplation • Sacred Music • Listening Prayer • Embodied Practice

IV. RETURNING TO THE WORLD   Becoming an Engaged Mystic  What happens after the mystical experience? We return. To our relationships. To our communities. To our work. To suffering. To injustice. To the Earth. To the unfinished places within ourselves and our world. Thomas Merton, Meister Eckhart, and Teilhard de Chardin each understood that authentic spiritual awakening asks something of us. Union becomes compassion.Contemplation becomes participation. Love becomes embodied. Together we will ask: Where is Love asking to move through me? Discernment • Compassion Practice • Calling & Vocation Reflection

V. LIVING THE MYSTICAL LIFE   A Rule of Life for the Engaged Mystic Mysticism is more than an extraordinary experience.It becomes a way of living. As our retreat draws toward its conclusion, you will be invited to create your own personal Rule of Life for the Engaged Mystic—a sustainable rhythm integrating:Silence • Prayer • Beauty • Community • Service • Creativity • Rest • Justice • Wonder • Joy
Not a rigid set of rules, but a living rhythm that helps you carry what you have discovered home.

FOR THOSE WHO STAY FOR THE FULL WEEK
The Retreat Becomes a Pilgrimage After our weekend together, those choosing the full May 28–June 3 experience will take the retreat out into the sacred landscape of northern New Mexico. Our classroom becomes desert, mountain, water, monastery, art, pilgrimage, and place. We will carry the teachings of the mystics with us as we travel to three extraordinary locations:

ABIQUIÚ  Where creativity becomes contemplationIn the stark beauty of Abiquiú, we encounter mysticism expressed through Georgia O’Keeffe’s radical seeing—her capacity to behold the ordinary until it revealed something more. We will also enter the contemplative silence of the Benedictine tradition, allowing desert, prayer, beauty, and spaciousness to become our teachers. Here we explore: What happens when we learn to see the world with the eyes of a mystic?

CHIMAYÓ  The Holy in Earth, Body & the Divine Feminine At Chimayó, spirituality becomes earthy and embodied. Here, generations of pilgrims have come seeking healing, prayer, and encounter with the sacred. We will spend time with the traditions surrounding the holy earth and the presence of Mary, opening ourselves to the Divine Feminine and to a spirituality that meets us through matter, body, place, and devotion.Here we ask: What if the Divine meets us not beyond the physical world—but through it?

OJO SANTA FE Healing Waters • Rest • Integration And finally, we enter the waters. At Ojo Santa Fe, our practice becomes receiving. After days of contemplation, discovery, conversation, and pilgrimage, we allow the healing waters of the hot springs to cleanse, soften, restore, and refresh.This becomes a day of embodiment and integration—a reminder that the mystical life includes not only awakening and service, but rest, pleasure, beauty, and receiving.

SIX MYSTICS • ONE LIVING INVITATION   Teresa of Avila The inward journey into the Divine. Prayer as friendship. The Interior Castle. Thomas Merton The movement from false self to true self. Contemplation as the ground of compassionate action. Hildegard of Bingen Creation alive with Divine energy. Beauty, music, healing, and viriditas—the greening power of life. Julian of Norwich Radical hope, tenderness, trust, and the conviction that Love is the deepest reality. Meister Eckhart  The ground of the soul. Detachment and releasement. Becoming inwardly free and spacious enough for the Divine to be born within us—and expressed through the life we live. Teilhard de Chardin An evolving cosmos alive with Divine Presence—and humanity consciously participating in creation’s movement toward love and wholeness.

THE BREATH OF THE ENGAGED MYSTIC
INHALE Enter the silence.
RECEIVE Awaken to union.
SEE Recognize the Divine shimmering through creation.
PARTICIPATE Become a conscious partner in Love’s unfolding.
EXHALE Return to the world as blessing.
REPEAT. The contemplative life is not an escape from the world.It is learning to breathe with the Divine for the sake of the world.
THE SENDING
We will conclude our journey not simply by saying goodbye, but with a sending. A time of blessing, anointing, and commissioning. Go into the world as one who has seen.Go into the world as one who listens.Go into the world as one who creates. Go into the world as one who loves. Become an Engaged Mystic.

THE ENGAGED MYSTIC Options: 
• Weekend Retreat May 28–June 3
• Full Retreat & Pilgrimage with Rev. Kimberly Braun & Rev. Roger Wolsey May 28–30, 2027
• Friday arrival from 3:00 PM Opening Gathering 5:00 PM
• Dinner follows

CONTEMPLATE • DISCERN • LOVE • SERVE • TRANSFORM

What is included: Teachings, practices, facilitated sessions, pilgrimage-day spiritual programming, one private session with either Roger or Kimberly, and recordings. What is your choice to reserve: Lodging, transportation, entrance fees and hot springs admission. Excursion costs will be minimal and will be outlined by late-September. More About Kimberly & About Roger.

You can reserve your spot for just $150.00 fully refundable up to April 28, 2027. Balance due April 28.
This deposit can also be used towards a session with either Roger or Kimberly.
Space is limited so reserve today! How you ask?
Weekend: May 28–30 Early Bird $325   Regular Tuition $395
Full Week: May 28–June 3  Early Bird $795  Regular Tuition $850
Click to Register