Who We Are
We are Unitarian Universalists with a shared mission to invite and encourage deep spiritual engagement and practice
REV. DR. ARVID STRAUBE
SpiritRest's Lead Spiritual Director Arvid has been helping people grow spiritually for over 35 years, first as a parish minister, and now as a spiritual director. Arvid's daily spiritual practice is meditation in the Buddhist tradition. You can read about Arvid's spiritual coaching on his website and on his Facebook page. |
REV. SHARON WYLIE
SpiritRest's Coordinator Sharon is the called and settled minister at Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Escondido, CA. Her spiritual life is deeply informed by earth-centered theologies and practices. You can follow Sharon on her personal blog and on her public Facebook page. |
How SpiritRest Began
Sharon participated in her first substantial silent retreat in July 2014, a five day retreat offered at a Catholic retreat center. Finding the experience transformative, she began to think about designing and offering a similar experience specifically for Unitarian Universalists and other spiritual progressives.
Arvid has participated in week-long silent retreats as part of his Buddhist meditation practice for years. When Sharon approached Arvid about the possibility of leading a silent retreat together, he immediately said yes, and we sat down in April 2015 to begin planning. The first SpiritRest Silent Retreat was held in July 2016, with eight retreatants and five retreat leaders.
Arvid has participated in week-long silent retreats as part of his Buddhist meditation practice for years. When Sharon approached Arvid about the possibility of leading a silent retreat together, he immediately said yes, and we sat down in April 2015 to begin planning. The first SpiritRest Silent Retreat was held in July 2016, with eight retreatants and five retreat leaders.
The Particulars
Why silence? Silence is said to be the most basic spiritual practice. Generally speaking, Unitarian Universalists are people of discussion and debate, argument and articulation. Silence, then, invites us into a different way of being in the world, a different way of experiencing community. What are we doing and thinking if we are not preparing for what to say next? To be in silent retreat is to discover new parts of the self.
Why a five-day retreat? A weekend silent retreat offers less than two full days of silence, barely enough time to settle into the experience. Although any retreat is better than no retreat, we want to offer an experience that encourages significant self-examination.
Why the emphasis on spiritual practice? In general, Unitarian Universalists demonstrate more breadth of spiritual study than we do depth. We tend to think that if we want deep spiritual practice, we need to go outside Unitarian Universalism. The experience of an explicitly Unitarian Universalist retreat affirms that we are a faith tradition of commitment, practice, and exploration, spiritual seekers in the deepest sense, not just the broadest sense.
Is this an annual event? Yes! This in-person retreat is typically scheduled for July or August. Our next in-person retreat is scheduled for August 4-9, 2024.
Why a five-day retreat? A weekend silent retreat offers less than two full days of silence, barely enough time to settle into the experience. Although any retreat is better than no retreat, we want to offer an experience that encourages significant self-examination.
Why the emphasis on spiritual practice? In general, Unitarian Universalists demonstrate more breadth of spiritual study than we do depth. We tend to think that if we want deep spiritual practice, we need to go outside Unitarian Universalism. The experience of an explicitly Unitarian Universalist retreat affirms that we are a faith tradition of commitment, practice, and exploration, spiritual seekers in the deepest sense, not just the broadest sense.
Is this an annual event? Yes! This in-person retreat is typically scheduled for July or August. Our next in-person retreat is scheduled for August 4-9, 2024.