Newsletters

MONTHLY MUSINGS
March is an important month in my life. I was born on March 21st, and growing up my mother always told me, and everybody else, that I was born on the first day of spring. It seemed important to her, and so it was important to me. So we celebrated the first day of spring every year, but only as my birthday. In recent years I've done some research into other religious traditions and have discovered some ways in which I can honor this date as more than just my birthday. The Spring Equinox falls on or around March 21st each year. This is a celebration of the day that the light and dark are equal and balanced. It marks the time when the cold darkness of the autumn and winter months give way to the warmth and light of spring and summer. For me the shedding off of the heavy winter clothing feels so freeing. The lighter clothing lets me breathe and move. And I really do celebrate the first day I break out my flip-flops. This is also the time when the Goddess returns to her maiden aspect and the vital energy she brings with her. I always feel a renewed energy in the spring. It's a time for refreshing my goals and nourishing new thoughts and ideas. So I'll embrace her passion for life and celebrate joyfully as I did when I was young. And, like my mother 52 years ago, Earth Mother, the original "Fertile Myrtle", begins her labor, and we'll wait and watch in anticipation as she brings forth young shoots of bulbs and grass, and sprouting leaves from bulging buds of tree limbs, and I'll celebrate with my sisters of the earth; the grass, the flowers, the leaves, and all the things of nature that begin anew each spring.
~Karen Heath

COMING EVENTS

April 9th at 7:00 pm: MOVIE NIGHT
"Strangers in Good Company"
"This 'truly daring and unique film' (New York Daily News) tells the story of seven women who embark on a scenic bus trip through the countryside and soon find themselves stranded in a deserted farmhouse, miles from civilization. Although they don't have much food, or a decent place to sleep, or much in common, when faced with this crisis this group of strangers find themselves forming a bond that turns the situation into a magical time filled with humor and spirit." ~ from Amazon.com's Product Description
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000296R6?ie=UTF8&tag=gatheringinno-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000296R6

April 14th at 6:30 pm: POTLUCK/MEDITATION/DRUMMING CIRCLE
The March Potluck was followed by a drumming circle as a form of meditation. Those in attendance were so enthusiastic about the benefits and joys of drumming that we will continue to include drumming at least for the next few months. If you have drummed before, you know how wonderful it is. If you haven't, perhaps now is the time to give it a try. You don't need any experience, musical ability, or your own drum. Just come and connect to the wisdom and rhythm of the ancient time when women were the drummers.

April 25th at 9:30 am: APRIL BOOK DISCUSSION
"Winona's Web" by Priscilla Cogan
"Dr. Meggie O'Connor experiences a midlife crisis due to the failure of a long-term marriage and fear of her fortieth birthday. Although Meggie is the chief psychologist at a hospital in New York City, she relocates to her deceased grandmother's estate in northern Michigan and embarks upon a new life in private practice. Winona Pathfinder, a 69-year-old, pipe-smoking Native American medicine woman, becomes Meggie's client after her daughter despairs about Winona's unexplained desire to depart from the earthly realm. As Meggie attempts to learn the motivating factors behind Winona's death wish, their roles as therapist and patient reverse. Winona teaches Meggie about prayer, energy, and spirits during their soul-replenishing sessions. Winona's instruction and the healing traditions of the Lakota Sioux Indians facilitate Meggie's metamorphosis into a higher level of awareness regarding the purpose of her existence. First-novelist Cogan, a psychologist and pipe-carrier, guides the reader on an enjoyable and introspective journey of mysticism and enlightenment." - Liz Rifken of Booklist
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883953154?ie=UTF8&tag=gatheringinno-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1883953154

April 30th - May 2nd: ECKHART TOLLE STILLNESS RETREAT WEEKEND
"In the spring of 2004, Eckhart Tolle led an extraordinary weekend retreat at Findhorn, Scotland, a spiritual community on the leading edge of personal and global transformation. When Eckhart came to Findland, true magic happened. The whole retreat was captured on video and carefully edited to create two deeply moving two-hour DVD experiences..... every word has a unique vision and power... He gives us the tools to transform our lives and open to the stillness in each moment.... offering us serene sanity in a mad world", by Marc Allen, Publisher, New World Library, from the Forward to the book accompanying this amazing experience entitled Eckhart Tolle's Findhorn Retreat: Stillness Amidst The World.

Our weekend will consist of four hour-long sessions of watching this extraordinary DVD, each session followed by a brief time of discussion, from which we will then covenant to enter into the stillness until the next session. There will be opportunity for deep awareness and newly awakened consciousness as we practice the art of "being" rather than "doing", of perception rather than thought, of the "Presence in the Present".

Cost: $120 per person for 6:30 PM Friday through 5:00 PM Saturday (includes all workshop sessions, Friday dinner and overnight accommodations, Saturday breakfast and lunch. Limited to 10 people, all rooms are shared with shared baths.) Make a true weekend of it and stay overnight again on Saturday and enjoy the quiet serenity of The Gathering Inn on Sunday morning. Cost for the additional overnight with 2 meals (Saturday supper and Sunday breakfast) will be $60 per person. Registration due by April 15th.

June 4th, 5th & 6th: MOON CIRCLE BIKING ADVENTURE
A guided outdoor biking adventure along with a workshop about the cycles of the moon, the cycles of the seasons, and how they relate to women's life cycles. Workshop 7:00 PM Friday night, biking Saturday (novice level). Optional: Saturday afternoon massage, dinner and overnight, with gentle Yoga Sunday morning. Go to our website for pricing and to register. The last Moon Circle Adventure sold out quickly so don't wait.
http://gatheringinn.org/moon.html

June 11st/13th: THE INTENSIVE JOURNAL WORKSHOP:
Do you know where you are in the movement of your life? The Intensive Journal Workshop will provide the tools to answer that question. The Intensive Journal helps to enter the inner movement of your whole life history and connect to it from within. All we have to work with is the gift of our own lives and the experiences that shape them. The Intensive Journal gets us in touch with our lives from many different aspects such as Life History Log, Dream Log, Dialogue with the Body, and Steppingstones. These are just a few of the areas you will work in. It is like breaking up the soil of your life and running your fingers through it. It will reveal patterns of behavior that you may want to keep or not. The Intensive Journal is an instrument for life.

Workshop hours - Friday 7:30-9:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM - 12 noon.
Cost: $150 per person includes all workshop sessions, all materials, and Saturday lunch.

Optional overnight rates are: Plan A: Friday dinner, overnight, and Saturday breakfast - add $60. Plan B: Saturday dinner, overnight, and Sunday breakfast - add $60. Plan C: Both nights and all meals - add $100. Registration and a $75 deposit are due by June 4, 2010.

June 21st: ANNUAL SOLSTICE SING FOR PEACE 7:00-8:30 PM at The Studio at the Inn. Global, grassroots movement to insure that someone, somewhere will be singing songs of world peace during the whole 24 hours of the longest day of the year. Musicians, singers (even if you only sing in the shower or the car!), poets, and lovers of peace are welcome. A donation will be taken for Pennies for Peace.

August 13th, 14th, & 15th: MOON CIRCLE KAYAKING ADVENTURE
The same format as the June Biking Adventure. See the web site for details.

FULL CALENDAR:
http://gatheringinn.org/events%20calendar.html

THE STUDIO AT THE INN
NEW CLASS:
Yoga & The Chakras
Wednesdays 4:30-5:30 pm
In April & May we will focus on the Chakras and the poses associated with them. Work in these energy centers helps to bring balance, health, and well-being physically, emotionally and spiritually. Join us as we enliven ourselves this spring! Namaste.

THE STUDIO AT THE INN OFFERS YOGA CLASSES MONDAY NIGHT, TUESDAY MORNING, AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
With the smell of Spring in the air, it is time to get your body, mind and spirit ready for new growth! Our classes at The Studio at the Inn are beneficial for all levels of fitness. Class changes include: Wednesday's class will change for the next few months from JumpStart! to Yoga & The Chakras with Anne Goewey. In addition to group classes, Anne also works privately with students by appointment to focus on individual needs.

More information and to see our schedule online
http://gatheringinn.org/specialsaugust.html

KAIROS SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER
The Kairos Spiritual Life Center is a ministry of All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester and offers many wonderful programs to further spiritual exploration. Some upcoming events include:
"Becoming Messengers and Ministers of Reconciliation: The Spirituality of Peacemaking", Saturday, April 10th
And a five part series, "Common Thread: Seeking the Holy in Mystical Traditions" starting April 28th.

See their website for more details: http://www.allsaintschurchworc.org/kairosCenter.html

**HELP!** VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We've scheduled two work days to get the lawn and gardens ready this Spring: Sunday, April 25th after the Book Discussion, and Saturday, May 15th, 9:30 am - 2 pm. Bring rakes, wheelbarrows, other gardening tools.

We're looking for a good used (or new) vacuum cleaner for the Studio. Can you help? Give us a call or send an email if you can.

OUR AFFILIATE PRACTITIONERS
Each of these affiliated businesses are independent of The Gathering Inn, however they also offer their practices and programs at and through the Inn. Their missions and purposes are in alignment with the mission and purpose of The Gathering Inn, to promote total health and wellness through various modalities, particularly for women.

Anne Goewey, Registered Yoga Teacher, JumpStart!
js2health@gmail.com or 978-928-4844

Expressions Unlimited, Phyllis Pomerleau & Chris Bergquist
Offering: Therapeutic Yoga; Grief Recovery; Wholistic Health Coaching; Stress Reduction; Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster(c); Private Voice, Piano and Guitar Instruction; and much more! expressionsunlimited@princeton-ma.us or 978-464-2433

Anne M. Porcella, RMT, IARP, Reiki Practitioner, The Reiki Room
508-615-3149 or anneporcella@gmail.com

FACEBOOK
In a quest to utilize all the communication tools available to us, the Inn is now on Facebook. Become a fan of the Gathering Inn!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gathering-Inn/454479795397?ref=nf

Please feel free to forward this email to any persons or businesses who may be interested.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please send an email to thegatheringinn@charterinternet.com with the subject line: add to mailing list.
If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, send an email to thegatheringinn@charterinternet.com with the subject line: remove from mailing list.

The Gathering Inn at Daydream Farm
http://gatheringinn.org/
thegatheringinn@charterinternet.com
82 Healdville Rd, Hubbardston, MA 01452
978-820-1139