Dreams and the Dark Time

Oct. 26-27, Fri. 3:00 p.m. to Sat. 3:00 p.m. (Freestone Retreat, Sebastopol)
Led by: Rev. Cat Cox www.revcat.net
Location: UUCB Freestone Retreat, Freestone, CA
Suggested fee: Sliding Scale $125 - $195
For information: email or call (707) 853-0009
To register: email or call (415) 519-9482

Nightfall. Winter. “Dark” dreams. Difficult passages in our lives. Each can feel like a threat or loss best resisted or ignored. Ancient wisdom teaches otherwise. Rumi writes: “The dark thought, the shame, the malice, greet them at the door laughing and invite them in! / They may be clearing you out for some new delight! / Each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” Through our nightly dreams, we can enter into a creative dance with the energy of these vital and transforming forces of the Life/Death/Life cycle which are crucial to the balance of nature - and our lives. Join us for this 2 day / 1 night dreamwork retreat. Participation will be limited: 6 to 12 adults. We’ll share simple potluck meals and gather round the fire to enter into Dreams and the Dark Time - together.

Rev. Cat is a Unitarian Universalist spiritual director. Her ministry encompasses both a private practice serving individuals and life partners and an outreach ministry exploring “best practices” for spiritually grounded growth and development in community. She leads retreats, classes, workshops and worship services aimed towards the development of vibrant, functional, visionary communities facing up to the challenges of this world and this age. This facet of her ministry serves UU congregations, districts, conferences, and UUMA chapters as well as other service oriented organizations. Rev. Cat serves as Good Officer on the Board of the UU Society for Community Ministries.

Oct. 26-27, Fri. 3:00 p.m. to Sat. 3:00 p.m. (Freestone Retreat, Sebastopol)
Led by: Rev. Cat Cox www.revcat.net
Location: UUCB Freestone Retreat, Freestone, CA
Suggested fee: Sliding Scale $125 - $195
For information: email or call (707) 853-0009
To register: email or call (415) 519-9482

Nightfall. Winter. “Dark” dreams. Difficult passages in our lives. Each can feel like a threat or loss best resisted or ignored. Ancient wisdom teaches otherwise. Rumi writes: “The dark thought, the shame, the malice, greet them at the door laughing and invite them in! / They may be clearing you out for some new delight! / Each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” Through our nightly dreams, we can enter into a creative dance with the energy of these vital and transforming forces of the Life/Death/Life cycle which are crucial to the balance of nature - and our lives. Join us for this 2 day / 1 night dreamwork retreat. Participation will be limited: 6 to 12 adults. We’ll share simple potluck meals and gather round the fire to enter into Dreams and the Dark Time - together.

Rev. Cat is a Unitarian Universalist spiritual director. Her ministry encompasses both a private practice serving individuals and life partners and an outreach ministry exploring “best practices” for spiritually grounded growth and development in community. She leads retreats, classes, workshops and worship services aimed towards the development of vibrant, functional, visionary communities facing up to the challenges of this world and this age. This facet of her ministry serves UU congregations, districts, conferences, and UUMA chapters as well as other service oriented organizations. Rev. Cat serves as Good Officer on the Board of the UU Society for Community Ministries.

24 Patterns of Wisdom: Deciphering the Designs of Spiritual Awakening

Saturday, October 27, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Meditation Room)
Led by:  Anthony Lawlor
Suggested fee:  $40.00
To register:  email Anthony@anthonylawlor.com or phone (415) 686-9427.

The terrain of spiritual experience is subtle and elusive. A visual map of the archetypal landmarks is a powerful guide in finding meaning, purpose and insight. In this workshop, we will learn a sequence of 24 visual patterns that provide tangible signposts for navigating the challenges and awakenings of our soul’s journey.

Visual symbols such as Self and Other, Healing Womb, Belief Grid, Flood and Ever Deepening give us tools for detecting the patterns of consciousness that shape relationships and events in daily life. It helps us gain freedom from their limiting effects while opening the way to finding clarity in confusion, harmony in conflict and comfort in chaos. In the process, these 24 patterns of wisdom become allies for making every step of our way a homecoming to the peace, joy and creativity of our luminous spirit. See a flip-book showing samples of the 24 Patterns of Wisdom, by visiting http://bit.ly/sCzUP0

Topics include:

• Seeing the Designs of Wisdom
• Detecting Patterns of Knowledge in Thoughts, Words and Actions
• Sensing Patterns in Relationships and Society
• Gaining Freedom from the Limits of Unconscious Patterns
• Using Patterns as Gateways to the Soul and Spiritual Awakening

Anthony Lawlor is an architect, author and teacher who focuses on the relationship between spirituality and design. His books A Home for the Soul and The Temple in the House show readers how design and art can become allies in deepening spiritual experience. Anthony’s recent book 24 Patterns of Wisdom, in turn, explores the design of spiritual experience and is the basis for the workshop described above. During 30 years of architectural practice Anthony has received awards for excellence in design from the American Institute of Architects and Interior Design Magazine. His work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, National Public Radio and numerous other national media. Learn more about him and his work at www.anthonylawlor.com.

Theater Together: Little Women and Unitarian Values

Sunday, November 11, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Masquers Playhouse, Pt. Richmond
Led by:  Lynn Hammond, Ph.D.
Suggested fee:  $15 (does not include theater ticket)
Register by email.

We will gather at the Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond to watch a musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Afterwards, we’ll rendezvous at my nearby home to discuss these much-loved stories of Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth. We will examine their struggles with such issues as selfishness and generosity, individual integrity and one's place in the world against the backdrop of our Unitarian principles. On a more personal note, we will look at which character we most identify with and how that has shaped our spiritual development and sense of self. Refreshments will be served.

Please mail your check (payable to UUCB) to Lynn Hammond at Box 6146, Albany, CA 94706 for led discussion and refreshments.  Limited to 10 people.

Buy your own ticket(s) for the Sunday, November 11 performance of Little Women at the Masquers Playhouse, (510) 232-4031) or online at http://www.masquers.org/?page_id=258. Meet at theater at 1:30 to sit together (open seating).

Death and Dying From a Unitarian Universalist Perspective

Six week course beginning in September. Dates TBA.
Led online by:  Rev. Jane Ramsey as part of her Doctoral thesis
Suggested fee:  $5
If interested email Rev. Jane Ramsey  or  call (510) 499-5204

Topics include:  Unitarian Universalist Theology, Fear of Death/Afterlife, Meaning of Life and Death, Forgiveness and Reconciliation and Ethical Wills. As this is part of a doctoral thesis, participants will be asked to sign a consent form. The course is designed for seminarians and other interested parties.

Rev. Jane Ramsey has worked as a hospice nurse and now works as a hospice chaplain. She has received her Certification in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement and is Certified in Grief and Loss through the U.C. Berkeley Extension Program. She has taught a class about Death and Dying online for the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship.

Oct. 26-27, Fri. 3:00 p.m. to Sat. 3:00 p.m. (Freestone Retreat, Sebastopol)
Led by: Rev. Cat Cox www.revcat.net
Location: UUCB Freestone Retreat, Freestone, CA
Suggested fee: Sliding Scale $125 - $195
For information: email or call (707) 853-0009
To register: email or call (415) 519-9482

Nightfall. Winter. “Dark” dreams. Difficult passages in our lives. Each can feel like a threat or loss best resisted or ignored. Ancient wisdom teaches otherwise. Rumi writes: “The dark thought, the shame, the malice, greet them at the door laughing and invite them in! / They may be clearing you out for some new delight! / Each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” Through our nightly dreams, we can enter into a creative dance with the energy of these vital and transforming forces of the Life/Death/Life cycle which are crucial to the balance of nature - and our lives. Join us for this 2 day / 1 night dreamwork retreat. Participation will be limited: 6 to 12 adults. We’ll share simple potluck meals and gather round the fire to enter into Dreams and the Dark Time - together.

Rev. Cat is a Unitarian Universalist spiritual director. Her ministry encompasses both a private practice serving individuals and life partners and an outreach ministry exploring “best practices” for spiritually grounded growth and development in community. She leads retreats, classes, workshops and worship services aimed towards the development of vibrant, functional, visionary communities facing up to the challenges of this world and this age. This facet of her ministry serves UU congregations, districts, conferences, and UUMA chapters as well as other service oriented organizations. Rev. Cat serves as Good Officer on the Board of the UU Society for Community Ministries.