The retreat will introduce the concept of resilience and offer some accessible tools to help us cope – and even flourish – in the face of individual or collective stress or trauma. Woven into those practical teachings will be opportunities for us to reflect on our own lives, in particular what gives us joy, strength, and hope, and to consider how we might build more resilience into our day to day lives.
We will take time each day for spacious quiet, personal and group sharing, music and silence, private and collective prayer, writing and creative expression, rejuvenating walks and opportunities for stillness. It will be a time of respite and refreshment as we build a community of support with one another and explore resources for wellbeing and resilience so that we can feel empowered, sustained, and revitalized for whatever lies ahead.
Kiran Young Wimberly is an American Presbyterian minister, spiritual director and musician living on the north coast of Ireland. She is a retreat and pilgrimage leader, and is founder of the nonprofit Celtic Pilgrims which is dedicated to bringing people together across community divides through music.
She is the creator of the music project Celtic Psalms and has joined with the McGrath family of N. Ireland to record four albums in Belfast. Kiran is a broadcaster for BBC Ulster’s Thought for the Day, facilitates trainings in the Community Resiliency Model (CRM®) developed by the Trauma Resource Institute, and writes a newsletter called “Bless My Feet.” Find out more at www.kiranyoungwimberly.com
For an idea of what to expect, here is a draft timetable for the retreat:
Thursday
4.00 onwards Arrivals
6.30 Supper and Welcome
8.00 Introductory session… then evening chapel
Friday
8.00 Rising Bell
8.30 Breakfast
9.10 Seedtime (in chapel)
10.00-1 Session I: What is Resilience, Anyway? An introduction to the concept of resilience, the biology of resilience, how our bodies respond to stress, and how we might find balance when encountering daily challenges. Teaching will be based on the Community Resiliency Model (CRM®) framework.
(11.15 Morning drinks)
1.00 Lunch
2-4:30 Session II: Resilience Skills for Daily Wellbeing: practical skills/tools that we can use to experience wellbeing on a daily basis and bring our bodies back into regulation during stressful situations. These skills come out of the Community Resiliency Model (CRM®) framework.
(4.30 Afternoon drinks)
6.30 Supper
8.00 Evening Gathering and Harvest (in chapel)
Saturday
8.00 Rising Bell
8.30 Breakfast
9.10 Seedtime (in chapel)
10.00-1 Session III: Building Resilience into our Lives: how we incorporate resilience skills/tools to bring strength, hope, and joy into our day-to-day lives.
(11.15 Morning drinks)
1.00 Lunch
2-4:30 Session IV: Spiritual Practices for Resilience: a Retreat Space with options for creative expression, a meditative walk, or reflection stations.
(4.30 Afternoon drinks)
6.30 Supper
8.00 Evening Gathering and Harvest (in chapel)
Sunday
8.00 Rising Bell
8.30 Breakfast
9.10 Seedtime (in chapel) followed by personal reflection time
(11.15 Morning drinks)
11.45 Session V: Final session/closing circle: Going Forward with Resilience: gathering graces, naming learnings, setting intentions
1.00 Lunch
2.30 Departures