My first Retreat was at:

(click on title to the left to visit Breitenbush)

The 1998 Breitenbush retreat was a brand new experience for me, and quite a stretch for me.  A year earlier, my life got turned upside down, and I was looking for an anchor.   I read Conversations with God, Book 2, while on vacation in Colorado in December, then read Book 1 over Christmas.  The material in the books felt perfect to me, but I could not find too many people to share this with.  I began getting the CWG Newsletter, and the retreat schedule showed up.  I quietly began formulating a plan to attend a retreat.  Never before had I gone on a vacation without family or friends attending as well.  This time, I was headed for Oregon, all by myself, to attend something I had never done before, and had no idea what it was to be about.

On the retreat, we did a lot of what I anticipated we would do, go over the material, in depth, with the Author and others who had read the material.  What I did not expect was the number of personal experiences that would be shared by the participants.  I was not, it seemed, the only person there who had experienced some turmoil in their life.  Not being a person who easily shared my deepest fears and issues, I was surrounded by those brave enough to express what they wish to heal.  These people showed me that it was very OK to share your troubles, and to receive help.  And help was there.  For every issue has a resolution, every problem has an answer.  Others received answers to the same questions I had. We all formed a community in the discussions and in the hot tubs, a shared joy that warmed our hearts and let us know we are not alone on our path, there are others on the same path worldwide.  Even after the retreat ended, many of us continued to communicate through letters and email, reminding each other of Who We Are when the compass began to spin a bit back in our hometowns. 

At the end of the retreat, we chose to leave behind something, and something I chose to take with me.  Below is what I wrote in my journal:

"I choose to leave behind the feeling that I am alone and isolated in my journey to become who & what I choose to be.  I choose to take with me a warm feeling that I am Love and can live the life I choose to.  I can also be what I choose to be in any situation at any time."

 

I have since attended two follow-up retreats in 1999 and 2000.  These are places where I go to reconnect with like spirit, and work to push my own personal development a bit farther and faster.  The energy of the retreats is amazing!  I am on such a high being with such a high energy group.  I have reconnected with people from prior trips, and met many new people to share a brief time with.  Each time I attend, I stretch myself a little farther, be it hike in the woods, dance like "no one is watching," participate and help with a Sweat Lodge, and be more of myself I ever felt comfortable expressing before.  Each time, more of this new Me comes home with me, and I welcome it all with open arms.  (Select Gathering 2000 by clicking the highlighted words to read more about my experiences at The Gathering)

David Treharne