Dear friends on the path,

We are so happy to be able to celebrate this season together. Our practices throughout the weekend will invite us to find space and warmth inside ourselves, to touch the healing and deep quiet of this time of year, and to feel the light of our love and compassion.

The heart of the weekend is a Celebration of Light on Saturday afternoon – 3:30-6pm.

• It will include a Tea Meditation and Offering (a tea meditation in which we enjoy mindfully drinking our tea and listening to offerings from the community)  The offering could be a poem, song, musical piece or short story with the theme of the season of inner light, the Winter Solstice.  You can also share a meaningful or joyful personal story from the winter/holiday season, recently or reaching back into childhood memories.
• The Celebration will culminate with a Spiral Walk and Candle Lighting Ceremony. We will meditate on the Solstice, being embraced by the quiet dark and awakening our inner light of compassion. Then, with music and silent prayers, we will each walk the spiral, light our candle and place it as an offering in the spiral.

You can attend the Celebration of Light on Saturday, OR come only for the Day of Mindfulness on Sunday, OR come for the whole weekend, (arriving Friday evening and helping to prepare for the Celebration during the day an Saturday as well as attending the practice on Sunday).

(Scroll Down to Register)

We have set up a registration form that allows for attending all or part of the weekend program:

• Solstice Weekend – Friday 7pm-Sunday 2pm  Early arrival on Friday evening after dinner through to the end of the Day of Mindfulness of Sunday.  On Saturday, the morning will have a light schedule of meditation and relaxation, a BYO bagged lunch, and then some simple working meditation to prepare for the evening Solstice Celebration. Dinner will be provided after the Celebration for those staying overnight. Then wake for breakfast on Sunday before attending the Day of Mindfulness. Please note that Morning Sun will prepare your meals while you are here, with the exception of Saturday lunch (bagged vegetarian BYO) (more accommodation and meal details are on the registration form).
• Celebration of Light – Saturday 3:30-6:00  We will gather in the meditation hall to share tea, cookies, singing and stories from all traditions (you are welcome to bring a story, song or poem!) culminating with a winter spiral walk. With quiet song and reverence, the room moves from complete darkness to radiant light as, one by one, each of us (adults and children) adds our candle to the evergreen spiral in the center of the room, placing a prayer of virtue and peace.
• Day of Mindfulness – Sunday 9:30-2:00  This day of mindfulness is open for everyone. It will include sitting meditations, a Dharma sharing circle, outdoor walking meditation, and vegetarian BYO bagged lunch (if you are staying overnight from Saturday your lunch is included in your program and will be prepared by MorningSun).

Accommodations: Depending on the time of year we have several types of accommodations.

• We have several rooms available in El Cielo (formerly “The Barn”) (beds for 10-14 people depending on whether folks are alone, or couples, or in a ‘pod’).
• You may also choose to commute in and out if you live locally (or book a hotel/airbnb).

Retreat Conduct: There will be periods of silence and periods to enjoy conversations with others. To create a gentle and quiet retreat atmosphere, we practice with the Five Mindfulness Trainings. Meals will be plant-based (vegetarian), and we do not drink alcohol, ingest intoxicants or any recreational drugs. Firearms and other weapons are not permitted in the Mindfulness Center. In order for everyone to feel respected and safe during their retreat MorningSun will not support or tolerate any act of bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment or assault. On arrival each participant must affirm these practices by signing a commitment to maintain retreat conduct.

Dear friends, our onsite accommodations in El Cielo are full for this gathering. Please email us at morningsunoffice@gmail.com to join the waitlist for accommodations. Thank you so much.

2023 Solstice Weekend Registration Form

2023 Solstice Weekend Registration Form

Program

Please select your Program *

Solstice Weekend (Sat AND Sun)

Celebration of Light (Sat evening only)

Day of Mindfulness (Sun only)

Program & Meals Contribution

Program Contribution (Whole Weekend) *

$30

$60

$90

(sliding scale) Includes Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and Sunday lunch. (Sat lunch is BYO bagged )

Program Contribution (Saturday only) *

$10

$25

$40

(sliding scale) Does not include any meals.

Program Contribution (Sunday only) *

$10

$25

$40

(sliding scale) Does not include any meals. Please bring your own vegetarian bagged lunch lunch.

# of People: *

Program Total: $

Accommodation Cost

Choice of Accommodation *

Staying Onsite (in a dormitory style bed)

Commuting (I will arrange my accommodation independently)

Cost of Bed for Friday and Saturday nights *

$70

$100

$130

(sliding scale) There are 2-4 beds per dorm with shared bathrooms, linens provided. Please bring your own toiletries and towels.

# of Beds/sites: *

Accommodation Total: $

Total Cost

Adjust your Program and Accommodations selections. If the total is too much for you to afford, please apply for financial assistance by checking the Financial Assistance Request box below. If you have already completed a Financial Assistance Application and received confirmation of your award please check the Financial Assistance Award box below.

Total cost: $

Financial Assistance Request

If you wish to make a request for financial assistance, please check this box.

(Select the lowest sliding scale options for program and accommodation before making a Financial Aid Request.)

Request Morning Sun Mindfulness Center would like to make it possible for you to attend our program. Please choose the level of assistance that you need below. This is a self-selecting process that draws on our limited scholarship fund. We ask that you only select the assistance you truly require (remembering that others may also be in need). Be sure to select the lowest options on the sliding scale. If you are still unable to afford the program, choose the level of assistance that you need below.

What level of assistance are you requesting?

20% reduction

40% reduction

If you require more than a 40% reduction, please email us with your request. (Do not continue with this registration form.)

New cost with Financial Assistance applied: $

Continue registration with financial assistance applied? *

Yes!

(You must check this box to confirm your request and receive the Financial Assistance you requested.)

If you are human, leave this field blank.