Connecting with the Source of Compassion
With Caverly Morgan and Dr. Kristin Neff
December 10 - 15, 2024
A Transformative Residential Meditation Retreat
Join us for a profound journey into the heart of compassion.
Guided by Caverly Morgan and special guest Dr. Kristin Neff, this five-day experiential retreat is designed to help you access and embody your unlimited, Big Self, where natural wisdom and compassion reside.
Connect with your compassionate nature.
Many of us struggle to offer ourselves compassion because we are identified with a limited, separate sense of self. This smaller self often feels inadequate, unworthy, or lacking the resources and knowledge to truly care for itself. This is the self that suffers.
Opening our hearts transforms our lives, granting us greater peace and resilience in the face of emotional challenges. We become happier and more satisfied. But when we cling to the notion of a limited self that must control everything, we amplify our suffering. We may even criticize ourselves for not being self-compassionate enough, creating a vicious cycle of judgment and inadequacy.
However, when we connect with our Big Self—the aspect of our being that is inherently wise, loving, and not separate from the whole—compassion flows effortlessly. It’s from this deep wellspring within our true nature that we can genuinely open our hearts to ourselves and others.
This retreat invites you to explore these profound questions: Who is the self in self-compassion? What is the heart that opens to ourselves, others, and life itself? Is there an “I” doing anything at all, or are we simply resting in our true nature?
What You’ll Learn:
- How to respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with kindness and care.
- How to relate to difficult emotions with greater ease.
- How to take the effort out of self-compassion practice.
- How to access your true nature, which is naturally compassionate.
- How to rest in Being, the heart of who we are.
What You Can Expect:
- Teachings and Guided Meditations: Engage in insightful teachings and guided meditations to deepen your understanding and experience of compassion.
- Dyads and Group Discussions: Connect with fellow participants through structured dyads and open group discussions, fostering a supportive community.
- Q&A Sessions: Gain clarity and personal insights during interactive Q&A sessions with Caverly Morgan and Dr. Kristin Neff.
- Journaling: Reflect on your experiences and insights through guided journaling exercises.
- Restorative Time: Explore Whidbey Institute’s scenic trail system, wander the tranquil labyrinth and gardens, or simply rest. Rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.
- Nourishing Organic Meals: Enjoy delicious meals crafted by Whidbey Institute’s chef specially prepared for our group.
About Whidbey Institute
Our time together will be held in the container of the Whidbey Institute, replete with farm houses and cabins dotting a serene meadow and woodlands. Nestled amongst a 106-acre conservation forest on South Whidbey Island, WA, the Whidbey Institute is dedicated to nurturing the conditions for transformational learning and growth.
Scholarships
We are offering a limited number of partial scholarships: people who identify as BIPOC and/or part of a marginalized community, and those experiencing financial hardship. You can learn more and apply HERE. Interested in contributing to the scholarship fund? Thank you! You can do so HERE.
Join Us: Immerse yourself in a space of loving, connected presence, where intellect steps aside for direct experience. Together, we’ll explore the limitless source of compassion within us all, transforming how we relate to ourselves and the world around us.
Step into a journey of self-discovery and compassionate living. We look forward to welcoming you.
Faculty
Caverly Morgan is a spiritual teacher, non-profit founder, speaker and writer who blends the original spirit of Zen with a modern nondual approach. She is the author of The Heart of Who We Are: Realizing Freedom Together as well as A Kids Book About Mindfulness. Caverly is the founder of Peace in Schools, a nonprofit that created the nation’s first for-credit mindfulness class in public high schools. Her practice began in 1995 and has included eight years of training in a silent Zen monastery. She has been teaching contemplative practice since 2001. Caverly leads meditation retreats, workshops and online classes…
Learn more about Caverly Morgan
Dr. Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion more than twenty years ago. She has been recognized as one of the most influential researchers in psychology worldwide. She is author of the bestselling books Self-Compassion and Fierce Self-Compassion. Along with her colleague Chris Germer, she co-developed the empirically-supported Mindful Self-Compassion program and co-founded the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. They co-wrote the best-selling The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. For more info see self-compassion.org.
Learn more about Dr. Kristin Neff
