Gay Weekend Getaways Workshop - Happiness Workshop

Awaken to happiness – it’s here in each moment. Yet many of us search for happiness outside of ourselves, or expect others to make us happy. And what’s more, have you ever thought about what happiness really is? What are you looking for, anyway?  Search no more. Choose to see the joy of this moment. Re-attune your ways of thinking and being in the world towards joy – a deeper-felt, peace-inducing, long-lasting sense of aliveness. In essence, welcome happiness and joy into your life rather than try to find it. And take responsibility to look within for the thoughts and behaviors that block receiving happiness, and transform your life by creating habits of thought and action that support experiencing more joy. Why search for a succession of fleeting moments of “happy” when you can be connected all of the time to a sense of joy for being alive? This weekend experience will be filled with opportunity to truly step into experiential exploration - in body, mind and heart - of what it means to have a joyful life journey.

Happiness is available to us in each moment. Yet many of us search for happiness – thinking that if we get the “right” job, or partner, or home, or whatever – we’ll find the magical thing to make us happy. Movies and myths present stories of picture perfect happiness that we strive for. Yet how often do we actually explore our own individual definitions of happiness? 

We’ll look at the difference between fleeting moments of “happiness,” and a deeper, more long-lasting sense of “joy” of being alive, or vitality. We’ll start to re-attune our ways of thinking - and seeing and being in the world - toward joy, releasing stories and habits that no longer support a joyful life. And we’ll explore the issue of being happy with yourself as a foundation for experiencing life as a joyful journey.

This will be a truly experiential and embodied exploration, not just about our thinking! Come prepared to connect with joy, to breathe in the present moment, to appreciate the beauty of life – your own and the stunning nature of Kirkridge Retreat Center, and to laugh for no other reason than “we can.”  All this in a supportive community of joy-creators. Leave with practices to use in daily life, and a joyful-living action plan of your own.

Based on the work of Ekchart Tolle, Robert Holden (founder of The Happiness Project), and many other spiritual teachings and practices, we’ll consider questions like:

• Is happiness what I really want?
• What do I do that produces happiness?
• What if happiness is who I am, rather that something outside of me?

Could experiencing more joy be as simple as choosing it? Being it? Learning to see more of it? 

Join us this weekend and find out!

Your Guides

Bob Pileggi (pictured left) is an Interfaith minister, spiritual practice coach and counselor, facilitator, reiki and therapeutic touch practitioner, bodyworker and photographer. He has facilitated numerous workshops, rituals and retreats. He brings to his work 15 years of work and volunteer experience with LGBT, HIV/AIDS and women's civil rights organizing and public education at local and national organizations. His passion is to seek within a compassionate, loving presence that he can offer to others in ceremony, ritual, workshop and counseling situations, and his photography. He hopes to inspire others to seek within their own truth, passion and joy. You can learn more about Bob and his work at www.bobpileggi.info.

A quote from Bob:
"I searched for happiness most of my adult life, always feeling like there was something “more” than the malaise I experienced most of the time. I tried working hard for fulfillment, living in different places, and many spiritual practices. Now I practice happiness and joy – choosing to see and experience the joy of being alive, no matter what the outer circumstances. It is truly a practice – one that has made life a much more joy-filled journey, rather than a discontented search."

Howie Holben (pictured right) is owner and caretaker of Spirit Journeys. Since early childhood, he has been drawn to indigenous peoples and their spiritual teachings, traditions and practices.  This attraction has taken him on many adventures, exploring the countless ways of "being in the world". His personal journey through addiction and recovery has spawned in him a genuine interest in assisting others on their own spiritual path and he takes great pleasure in introducing people to practices, sacred ways and cultures to help them "step outside their box". A Reiki/Karuna Ki Master and Quantum Touch Practioner, his desire is to help others uncover their potential and set their hearts and minds free.

 

The Welcoming Happiness Workshop begins at 5:00pm on Friday, July 23. Please plan to arrive no later than 4:00pm so that you have time to settle in prior to the start of the workshop. If you are taking a bus to Stroudsberg, please inform us of your expected arrival time so that pick-up at the bus station can be arranged for you. The workshop ends after lunch (around 1:30pm) on Sunday, July 25.

About the Kirkridge Retreat Center
Since 1942, Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center has been providing a place for rest and renewal to pilgrims along life’s journey. It is located on the beautiful Kittatinny Ridge of eastern Pennsylvania near the Delaware Water Gap and the Pocono Mountains region. Their retreats, hospitality, beautiful vistas and sacred ground have blessed and continue to bless countless lives.

Kirkridge’s emphasis from the beginning was the integration of contemplation and action for justice, or "Picket and Pray." Those early pilgrims and seekers who came to Kirkridge understood that the life of faith requires not only action to transform the world toward greater shalom, but also the cultivation of a deep spirituality to sustain that compassionate action. The legacy continues today.

With a wide variety of programming and a growing constituency of folks from many faith traditions, Kirkridge celebrates their presence as a Christian center with an ecumenical spirit and an inter-faith welcome. We hope to welcome you soon to this sacred space called Kirkridge.

Have questions?
Contact us at 800-754-1875 or info@spiritjourneys.com

A deposit of $200.00 is required to reserve space for this Workshop. To register, use the "Register for this Workshop" button at the top or bottom of this page. Payment in full is requested by May 24, 2010. Registrations are gladly accepted after May 24, 2010 based on availability.

Prefer not to register on-line?
Click here to download and print a registration form.
Simply fill out the form and then mail it to us.

Cancellations made prior to May 24, 2010 (60 days) are subject to $100 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled between May 25, 2010 and June 22, 2010 (31-59 days) are subject to a cancellation fee in the amount of 50% of the journey cost. Reservations cancelled on or after June 23, 2010 (30 days) are non-refundable. You may want to consider purchasing a commercial travel insurance policy that would include trip cancellation protection. Please contact Spirit Journeys for additional information about trip insurance or go to our Travel Insurance page.

Guaranteed Departures:
Departures are guaranteed, subject to a minimum number of participants to operate (excepting only in cases of major world events that adversely affects international travel patterns and other circumstances beyond our control). Should the minimum number of participants not be met we will offer two options:
1. Continuation of the Journey at an increased cost.
2. A full refund of all monies paid.

The Inimacy and Eros Workshop begins at 5:00pm on Friday, July 23. Please plan to arrive no later than 4:00pm so that you have time to settle in prior to the start of the workshop. If you are taking a bus to Stroudsberg, please inform us of your expected arrival time so that pick-up at the bus station can be arranged for you. The workshop ends after lunch (around 1:30pm) on Sunday, July 25.

Directions to Kirkridge:

Getting to Kirkridge
2495 Fox Gap Road
Bangor, PA  18013
610-588-1793

BY CAR:
From I-80: Take Pennsylvania exit number 307 (Old Exit 50) in Stroudsburg to Route 191 South. Take Route 191 South approximately 5 miles to the top of the ridge. The first Kirkridge sign will be for the Nelson Lodge, proceed to the second sign and turn left (Fox Gap Road) for the Turning Point, Hermitage, Farmhouse and Van der Bent facilities.

From I-78: From either the east or west, take the Route 22 exit and follow to Route 33 North. Take Route 33 North to the Route 191 exit at Stockertown. Take Route 191 North through Stockertown, Ackermanville and Bangor. Continue approximately 5 miles to the top of the ridge. Turn right at first Kirkridge sign (Fox Gap Road) for the Turning Point, Hermitage, Farmhouse and Vander Bent facilities. Turn right at the second Kirkridge sign for the Nelson Lodge.

BY BUS:
From New York City (port Authority) take Martz Trailways to Stroudsburg/Delaware Water Gap- DWG( not Bangor). There are several buses daily (http://www.martztrailways.com/from-nyc.asp). For information call Trailways @ 800-858-8555 or @ port authority: 212-564-8484. In New Jersey call 800-233-8604.

From Philadelphia. Greyhound goes to Stroudsburg twice a day(www.greyhound.com). Call 800-231-2222.