Embracing the Elements: A Journey of Sacred Connection at the Natural Spirituality Conference
As we stand on the precipice of the Natural Spirituality Conference in-person gathering, I am both humbled and exhilarated to share my role as one of the facilitators. My focus during this gathering of some forty dreamers from all corners of the country, will be on the profound and transformative practice of working with the elements—fire, earth, water, air, and the often-overlooked fifth element, sky or space. This quintessence, the etheric sphere, is the very canvas upon which the other elements dance and interplay, weaving the intricate tapestry of our existence.
Our retreat will be held at Camp Mikell, in Toccoa, Georgia, at the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, on the ancestral lands of the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) peoples.
Photos of an indoor mandala altar from another in-person retreat I recently co-facilitated at the Dharmakaya Retreat Center in Craigsmoor, New York
At the very beginning of our gathering, I have the honor of opening sacred space by acknowleding the land on which we are gathering, and welcoming in the elemental forces. This is a ritual of a deeply intentional invocation of the Elementals. By inviting the elements as sentient beings, and as our oldest ancestors, we seek their blessings and guidance. In this ritual, we will invoke fire's passion and the creative spark, earth's stability and trustworthiness, water's fluidity and ability flow through and around obstacles, and air's wisdom and unconstrained freedom. We will hold each of these blessings within space's boundless potential, where each element is free to bring its unique energy, while being moderated by, and interweaving with all the others, fostering a sanctuary where our dreams, both nocturnal and conscious, can be held with great reverence and tenderness.
One of my dear colleagues will be crafting a sacred altar, meticulously placing each element in alignment with the cardinal directions. This altar will serve as a focal point, a physical manifestation of our spiritual intention. As we gather, I will call upon the elements, inviting them into our circle, asking them to hold space for us as we delve into the realms of our dreams, our unconscious longings and desires, and our aspirations.
Our journey will culminate in a profound exercise on the final day of the retreat, where I will facilitate a deeper dive into our symbiotic relationship with the elemental world. Participants will be encouraged to step into nature, to seek communion with a natural being—a tree, a rock, a spot by the stream that runs through the property, or even a humble weed. This exercise is not just about observation, but about engaging in a dialogue with this being of nature. We will ask these beings to share their dreams, and consider our role in facilitating those dreams. What wisdom do they hold for us in this time of planetary transformation?
Photos of an outdoor Earth Mandala altar from another in-person retreat I recently co-facilitated at the Dharmakaya Retreat Center in Craigsmoor, New York
Upon returning, each participant will bring a token from their chosen natural companion, contributing to the creation of an earth mandala. This mandala, a sacred geometric configuration, will be crafted exclusively with elements found in the natural surroundings of Camp Mikell. It will be our gift to the land that would have hosted us during this retreat, and a symbolic honoring of the original inhabitants of this land. We will leave this mandala as our offering, allowing nature to reclaim and disperse the elements as she deems fit, and in her own time.
As our retreat draws to a close, my final role will be to release the elementals, closing the sacred space we have shared. This act is not a farewell but a transition, as we carry the blessings and wisdom of the elements back into our daily lives. We are reminded that these elemental forces are always with us, guiding us, and that our connection to nature is a source of endless insight and inspiration.
In embracing the elements, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of the world and our place within it. This conference is more than a gathering; it is a journey of reconnection, a celebration of the sacred bond between humanity and the natural world. And it is with great anticipation and humility that I step into this role, ready to facilitate and witness the transformative power of the elements in action.