There’s a line my Teacher Shinzen Young uttered over twenty years ago that was seared into my mind’s eye: “Just the simplified, natural environment of a retreat can be profoundly Healing.” This teaching is one of the cornerstones of The Higher Haven. Shinzen went on to point out that combining said environment with hardcore Vipassana practice, like the 1.5 hour strong determination “Sits” of his own retreat, can lead one to astronomical transformation.

For this brand new, much needed but never-before-offered retreat weekend, we’re going to forget about the astronomical. We’ll downshift, leaving behind extraordinary and non-ordinary mind states and, instead, embrace the ordinary and more natural, purer states of existence. Considering many of our practices of Sitting Meditation and Sweatlodge Ceremoies appear challenging to so many, this is a chance for anyone hoping for healing and seeking greater peace to skip the hard, spiritual work and simply enjoy some downtime, as well as gently practice fresh, new mindfulness skills. We’ll consider the wisdom of Shinzen’s Do Nothing Technique and do our best to work for, or rather not work for its result, better acquainting ourselves with the simple, joyful pleasures of being more intensely immersed in nature as well as temporarily in a human body.  

We’ve been wanting to offer this simplified, more self-guided weekend for some time, an answer to the many hoping to escape the USA’s current chaos with a more private visit, as group activity this weekend will be limited, with private healing and meditation sessions also available. Our current, flexible schedule, to be guided by attendee experience, will begin with a Ceremony Friday night, June 20th to mark the exact Summer Solstice at 10:41 p.m. EST. Sunset in Southwest Michigan skies over the lake can go to 11 p.m., and so we’ll commence a light-filled weekend of all things “Breezy” — something quite easily accomplished. While mastering the spiritual path has been compared to pulling off something incredibly difficult, à la Riding an Ox Backward, this is a truly unique opportunity to gently turn away from the din and chaos of the outer world, and by doing so, rise above it, immersing oneself in nature, and acquiring immense physical, mental and emotional healing and preventive health benefits.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20th SCHEDULE

Arrival Welcome and Check-In 7 pm
Light, Healthy, Dinner 7pm - 8pm
Orientation Class 8pm – 9pm

Summer Solstice Ceremony 10:41 p.m.
Deep Rest and Relaxation 11pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 21st SCHEDULE

 Wake 8am
Light, Healthy Breakfast 8am-9am
Simple Meditation Class on “Do Nothing” Technique 9:30 am-Noon
Light, Healthy Lunch – Noon-2pm
Free Time for Hiking, Journaling, Yoga and Meditation
Dinner 5pm – 6pm
Free Time for Hiking, Journaling, Yoga and Meditation 6pm-9pm
Deep Rest and Relaxation 9pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 22nd SCHEDULE

Wake 8am
Light, Healthy Breakfast 8am-9am
Free Time for Hiking, Journaling, Yoga and Meditation 9am-12pm

Talking + Healing Circle - Noon

Light, Healthy Lunch 1-2pm

Wind Down and Close 3pm

PRICING

Couple’s Package: Retreat with Overnight stay in shared bed in private room – $1,200/couple
*If you’d like a private room you can book this option as an individual as well.

Individual: Retreat with Overnight stay in Dorm room – $595/person