Preparing for Your Retreat
Set the Dates
A retreat is about intention. Of course, if the only time you can make a retreat is to squeeze in some retreat-like components when you can, do what you have to do. But SpiritRest has always encouraged setting aside a substantial amount of time for retreat. The suggested schedule we send you shows your retreat starting Sunday evening, before dinner, and concluding Friday just before lunch.
You are encouraged to set your retreat dates, put them on your calendar, and cancel/postpone all other meetings, events, and activities during that time. If you want to include spiritual direction as part of your retreat, you will need to schedule in coordination with your spiritual director.
Register and Pay in Advance of Your Scheduled Retreat
Your payment needs to be processed before retreat materials are sent, and it can take a week or more for your retreat materials to reach you through the U. S. Postal Service. Please time your registration and payment sufficiently in advance of when you want to have your retreat.
Consider Working with a Spiritual Director
You may contact Arvid Straube ([email protected]) or Stefanie Etzbach-Dale ([email protected]) to schedule spiritual direction for your retreat week. They are each offering a special rate for our SpiritRest retreatants: $150 for four 1/2 hour sessions over a one-week period. Their availability is not guaranteed, so please reach out early in your scheduling process to ensure that someone is available to work with you. You can read more about Arvid and Stefanie here.
Please note: If you schedule your at-home retreat for the same week as the in-person SpiritRest Retreat, Arvid and Stefanie will not be available to offer you spiritual direction due to their time commitments at the in-person retreat.
Plan Your Meals
One of the joys of going away for retreat is that meals are taken care of. On the other hand, one of the joys of staying home for retreat is that you get to ensure your food is exactly how you want it! And you don't have to share your half-and-half with anyone.
You are encouraged to plan your meals and snacks in advance in order to minimize the decisions you need to make during retreat. Consider:
Consider If Silence Will Be Part Of Your Retreat
Silence has been one of the defining practices of the SpiritRest Retreat. Depending on your personal situation at home, silence may seem difficult to achieve. If this is your situation, please consider if you might be able to create a day of silence, or a couple of days of silence. The materials you receive for your retreat will include a nametag that lets people know you are on silent retreat. We hope you'll be able to use it!
Assemble Your Reading Materials
You are encouraged to read for spiritual uplift during your retreat week, rather than reading for recreation or for news. You might also consider not reading at all!
Prepare Your Altar Space
As part of the your experience at the evening vespers service, you will be invited to place notes to yourself on your home altar. This can be any space in your home; all you need is a bowl and a place where that bowl can sit for the duration of your retreat.
A retreat is about intention. Of course, if the only time you can make a retreat is to squeeze in some retreat-like components when you can, do what you have to do. But SpiritRest has always encouraged setting aside a substantial amount of time for retreat. The suggested schedule we send you shows your retreat starting Sunday evening, before dinner, and concluding Friday just before lunch.
You are encouraged to set your retreat dates, put them on your calendar, and cancel/postpone all other meetings, events, and activities during that time. If you want to include spiritual direction as part of your retreat, you will need to schedule in coordination with your spiritual director.
Register and Pay in Advance of Your Scheduled Retreat
Your payment needs to be processed before retreat materials are sent, and it can take a week or more for your retreat materials to reach you through the U. S. Postal Service. Please time your registration and payment sufficiently in advance of when you want to have your retreat.
Consider Working with a Spiritual Director
You may contact Arvid Straube ([email protected]) or Stefanie Etzbach-Dale ([email protected]) to schedule spiritual direction for your retreat week. They are each offering a special rate for our SpiritRest retreatants: $150 for four 1/2 hour sessions over a one-week period. Their availability is not guaranteed, so please reach out early in your scheduling process to ensure that someone is available to work with you. You can read more about Arvid and Stefanie here.
Please note: If you schedule your at-home retreat for the same week as the in-person SpiritRest Retreat, Arvid and Stefanie will not be available to offer you spiritual direction due to their time commitments at the in-person retreat.
Plan Your Meals
One of the joys of going away for retreat is that meals are taken care of. On the other hand, one of the joys of staying home for retreat is that you get to ensure your food is exactly how you want it! And you don't have to share your half-and-half with anyone.
You are encouraged to plan your meals and snacks in advance in order to minimize the decisions you need to make during retreat. Consider:
- You might want to get take out (or delivery) in order to keep things simple.
- You might want to have some easy "throw together" meals planned, to minimize your time in the kitchen.
- If you like to cook, you might want to plan some special meals for yourself, and mindfully enjoy your time in the kitchen.
- Please be generous with yourself in planning for snacks. Retreat is not meant to be a time of self-deprivation. You would have snacks available to you all day long every day at our in-person retreat.
Consider If Silence Will Be Part Of Your Retreat
Silence has been one of the defining practices of the SpiritRest Retreat. Depending on your personal situation at home, silence may seem difficult to achieve. If this is your situation, please consider if you might be able to create a day of silence, or a couple of days of silence. The materials you receive for your retreat will include a nametag that lets people know you are on silent retreat. We hope you'll be able to use it!
Assemble Your Reading Materials
You are encouraged to read for spiritual uplift during your retreat week, rather than reading for recreation or for news. You might also consider not reading at all!
Prepare Your Altar Space
As part of the your experience at the evening vespers service, you will be invited to place notes to yourself on your home altar. This can be any space in your home; all you need is a bowl and a place where that bowl can sit for the duration of your retreat.