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  Arrive on Friday evening after dinner and stay 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 walking meditation. 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. (NOTE FOR DAY GUESTS: If you would like to stay for dinner after the Spiral Walk, please bring a vegan potluck offering to contribute to the meal.)
• Day of Mindfulness – Sunday 9:30-2:00  This day of mindfulness is open for everyone. It will include sitting meditations, a Dharma teaching and sharing circle, outdoor walking meditation, and a simple vegan lunch.

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

• Dormitory Beds:  We have several rooms available in El Cielo (our retreat building) (beds for 10-14 people depending on whether folks are alone, or couples, or in a ‘pod’).  We also have a few dormitory beds available in our simple living yurt.
• Commute: You may also choose to commute in and out if you live locally. Please register for the program below (as a commuter), and also book your local accommodations separately (you need to do both).
  • A retreat guest space at MorningSun – the Ruby Yurt, is a rental hosted within the MorningSun community. You can check availability and details here: http://rubyyurt.com
  • You may also book at other hotels and rentals offered by airbnb, vrbo, etc in the area. Please note that you need to provide your own transportation to and from MorningSun during your program if you register as a commuter.

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 (vegan), 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.

Solstice Registration Form

1A 2024 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) *

$50

$80

$110

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

Program Contribution (Saturday Afternoon Only) *

$10

$25

$40

(sliding scale) If you would like to stay for dinner after the Spiral Walk, please bring a vegan potluck offering to contribute to the meal. Thank you.)

Program Contribution (Sunday Only) *

$20

$30

$50

(sliding scale) Includes a simple vegan lunch.

# of People: *

Program Total: $

Lodging Cost

Choice of Lodging *

Stay Onsite El Cielo Dorm (2 nights)

Stay Onsite Simple Living Yurt (2 nights)

Commuting (I will arrange my accommodation independently)

El Cielo Dorm

$

1-4 beds per room. Bathrooms are shared. Linens, blankets and pillows provided. Guests are responsible for bringing their own wash towels and toiletries.

Simple Living Yurt

$

4 beds per yurt. Access to bathrooms and laundry in El Cielo. Linens, blankets and pillows provided. Guests are responsible for bringing their own wash towels and toiletries.

# of Beds/sites: *

Lodging 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.