Day
One: Travel to San Jose, CA from your location.
You will be met at the airport and as a group travel to Big Sur, nestled in
the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean! When the Esselen Indians arrived
at the Coast, they called the Pacific the “Big Waters,” thus the name Big
Sur! We will travel along the Western Edge of the North American Continent
and explore this amazing area, like no other. Big Sur has been known as a
place of inspiration to writers and artists and those seeking solitude. Our
resting place will be the Big Sur Lodge with wonderful cottages, amidst the
majestic coastal redwoods with the Big Sur River a short walk away. If time
allows and we’re not too tired from all our travels, we will catch Sunset at
the Beach!
Day
Two: Travel to the Tassajara Zen Center & Native American Hot Springs
in the Carmel Valley to bathe in the Ancient Native American Hot
Springs, now surrounded by a new Japanese style bath house. Includes a
delicious Vegetarian Lunch and Zazen Meditation (Optional) Zazen is a
traditional Japanese Buddhist meditation that emphasizes the Oneness of all
Beings. (All Meditations on the Retreat are optional).
Day
Three: Visit the New Camoldoli Hermitage of the Benedictine Monks,
perched high on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. We will learn of the
Catholic monks communal and cloistered lives, some in seclusion for many
years. We will share in their Evening Vespers and silent meditation
afterwards in the Rotunda.
Day
Four: Nepenthes’ Restaurant for Lunch where
condors soar on the hills beside us, and view the Pacific Ocean waves
through the trees far below. Visit their Beautiful Gallery for handmade
gifts from around the world and some of the famous Big Sur artwork.
Day
Five: Hike the Redwoods, and Walk to Pfeiffer Waterfalls. Go the Beach
with its amazing rock formations, visit the Big Sur Lighthouse or more Art
Galleries.
Day
Six: Visit Esalen Conference Center
for a famous Esalen Massage & Hot Baths on the Pacific’s edge,
(optional) or Rest and Rejuvenate in the Lodge Swimming Pool.
Day
Seven: As a Group, We Have Choices to Make:
Explore
the Carmel Mission and the world renown Monterey Aquarium, or Lunch on Steinbeck’s
Cannery Row, and
Paddle
the Gentle Coastal Wetlands of the Tidal Channels of
Elkhorn Slough to see Otters
and other Marine Wildlife Up close! (Instruction Provided)
Then go to Santa Cruz and stay overnight at The Land of Medicine Buddha to
visit its’ amazing, colorful, traditionally painted Tibetan Buddhist
Temples. (Incredible works of art, by Tibetan Artists as in the temples of
Tibet!) Stand in the Ancient, Majestic Redwoods for their unbelievable
silence in the State Park bordering the Land.
Day
Eight: Morning meditation in the Medicine Buddha Temple,
or on your own,
breakfast, then a traditional healing Medicine Buddha Ceremony, (optional).
Retreat’s Closing Ceremony, then leave for the San Jose Airport for your
final destination home.
A
COMPLETE DAILY SCHEDULE WILL BE PROVIDED WITH RETREAT REGISTRATION
CONFIRMATION
Amidst this Magical Environment, Our Group Interaction will Explore:
ØØØ
Each
Day a new Theme will lead us through personal experiences of Healing.
Group Processes will be shared for Deeper Learning.
Go
to
BIGSURCALIFORNIA.ORG for views of this
spectacular area.
Logistics for the Big Sur Healing Retreat
Retreat
Overview
Retreat Package
Includes:
Morning Movement
and Guided Imagery Meditations
The Healing Retreat and Group Facilitation Processes
All Planned Retreat Activities except where noted as Optional.
All Visits to Sacred Sites
All Nature Adventures including Aquarium or Kayaking
Process Work with a Credentialed Group Facilitator
Supervised Group Energetic Bodywork Sessions
Creative Activities
Lodging (Cost will vary. See Lodging in DETAILS and REGISTRATION FEES)
Ground Transportation to and from San Jose Airport
8 days of Ground Transportation to Sacred Sites and All Scheduled
Activities.
All Available Outdoor Activities on location within the extensive State Park
System
(Optional personal
donations may be offered at the Sacred Sites and are not included in
Registration Fees.)
Retreat Details
AIRFARE: We
will make your reservations for you at the lowest available fare. Call or
Email Shirley to arrange. Airfares to San Jose on Southwest Airlines are
very reasonable if bought NOW! As in the past, people have come from various
parts of the country (even Australia), AIRFARE IS AT YOUR EXPENSE. Most
international airlines fly into San Jose, CA. (Call Shirley for further
information on how to find least expensive flights.) (If your flight time
will vary from this time frame, please contact Shirley before booking
reservation.)
GROUND
TRANSPORTATION: Ground Transportation for 8 days is included in Retreat
Registration Fee and includes scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs, to and from
San Jose Airport, on the designated dates and times. All transportation to
scheduled activities including Sacred Sites, restaurants, galleries, Esalen
Institute and Nature Adventures is included.
LODGING:
(Lodging rates include admission to 5 State Parks within the Big Sur area.)
Spacious, newly renovated Cottages have been reserved at the Big Sur Lodge,
part of the Big Sur State Park System. Although a State Park with 810 acres
of hiking trails, waterfalls, river and swimming pool, the cottages are like
nice spacious hotel room with modern bathrooms and amenities. Some cottages
have second bedrooms and many include kitchens or fireplaces. Each cottage
has a deck or porch, a great place to sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet
of the redwood forest. Fireplace rooms are stocked with firewood each day,
and kitchens contain pans, dishes and utensils for cooking. Cottages with
kitchens have a propane stove, refrigerator and coffee maker. Rooms have no
TVs, phones, alarms, air conditioning (which isn’t needed) or alarm clocks.
Nights are pleasantly cool and there are fans in the rooms. Pets are not
allowed and Quiet Time begins at 10:00 PM. Sharing a Cottage with others
(each with your own bed) is a great way to save on lodging expenses. Go to
www.BigSurLodge.com for a view of the
Accommodations. Individualized Payment Plans are available.
Room Reservations
are scarce in September (the BEST month in Big Sur!) and a sufficient number
of cottages for a small group of 12 have been booked already!
Lodging costs are dependent upon the number of people in your Cottage, and
you have options of being in a double, triple or quadruple. (All with your
own beds). A cottage with 4 persons in 2 rooms is comfortable & very cost
effective! At the Land of Medicine Buddha (Day 7 only), doubles and triples
are the norm. Some Single Rooms/Cottages may be available for a premium at
Big Sur Lodge only. Please Call Shirley for information & availability.
There is no
uniformity in the cottage features. Some Cottages at the Lodge have kitchens
or fireplaces. Rooms with both are available at a premium. Your Room
Preferences will be arranged on a first come/first served basis in the order
that Registration Deposits are received. If you want to room with a specific
person, please make that known at the time of your registration. On the
Registration Form, please select the number of persons in your room. This
will be accommodated unless we contact you. If we are unable to accommodate
you, you will be notified immediately. AGAIN: Requests will be filled in
the order of Registration Deposits received with your Registration Form.
(Please see Registration Fees for further details.)
MEALS:
There is a pleasant restaurant on site at the Lodge with quite good food,
however, there is no meal plan available. To meet varying dietary needs, the
cost of meals will be paid individually by you, except for one day’s meals
where included and noted.* (See Exception Below). For those wishing to keep
costs lower, there are kitchens in some of the Cottages, (for details, see
Lodging & Retreat Packages) and will be shared with those wanting to have
simple meals (ie, for breakfast, light dinners and snacks). For those
wishing to purchase supplies, one large grocery store stop en route to Big
Sur is planned. There is also a small grocery store at the Lodge.
Lunch will be our
main meal as a group, as we will be traveling during this time and away from
the Lodge. There are several restaurants in Big Sur that we will explore and
the cost of this meal be paid directly by you to the restaurants.
*(Exception: Lunch at Tassajara (Day 2) and a Light Dinner (Day 7) and
Breakfast at the Land of Medicine Buddha (Day 8) are included in the Retreat
Registration Fee.
Registration Fees Change Each Year
due
to changes in Lodging
Please Call for Most Recent Costs
Individualized Payment Plans are Available, Call or Email Shirley
to Arrange.
Because of the
variations in available lodging accommodations at the Big Sur Lodge, (as
explained in Lodging above), there is a range of costs for the retreat.
Your choice will be filled based on availability. The sooner you register,
the better chance you have of receiving your first choice. If your choice
is not available, you will be contacted by phone to learn your options and
to select a second choice. If you are not satisfied with the second choice,
your money will be refunded in full. This information will be provided to
you within 5 days of receipt of your Registration Deposit.
Retreat
Package Big Sur Lodge Options: Entire Retreat Package Cost
RETREAT PACKAGE 1:
Cottage for 4
1 Queen & 2 Twins in Main Room
1 Queen in Bedroom
Fireplace with Wood
RETREAT PACKAGE 2:
Cottage for 4
Kitchen*, 1 Queen & 2 Twins in Main Room
1 Queen in Bedroom
*(small propane stove, refrigerator and coffee maker)
(Continue)
RETREAT PACKAGE 3:
Cottage for 3
1 Queens & 1 Twin in Main Room
1 Queen in Bedroom
Fireplace and Wood
RETREAT PACKAGE 4:
Cottage for 2
2 Queens in 2 rooms
Bedroom & Main Room in a Cottage
Fireplace and Wood
RETREAT PACKAGE 5:
Cottage for 2
2 Queens (1 in Bedroom, 1 in Main Room)
Fireplace and Wood, AND
Full Kitchen
Early Registration
is Encouraged. Please contact Shirley at Integrated Health Care Systems
right away to reserve your space in the Big Sur Healing Retreat.
Contact Shirley at
Integrated Health Care Systems, Inc. to REGISTER
or with any QUESTIONS at 727-867-2666, Ext 1#. Fax: 727-867-8580 or
by Email at:
SSBegley@aol.com
If you send in
your first Registration Payment now,
your Room Selection will be processed IMMEDIATELY.
PLEASE NOTE: If
you are interested in a Massage Therapy Session at Esalen Institute, please
add $100 to your Registration Fees and send with the first payment, so that
a reservation may be secured for you.
IF PAYING BY
CREDIT CARD: Payment by Credit Card Available at no additional cost, go to
Registration Link below.
IF PAYING BY CHECK: Please make check or money order to the order of:
Integrated Health Care Systems, Inc. Please call Shirley Spear Begley at
727-867-2666 for mailing instructions, or email her at
SSBegley@aol.com.
CANCELLATION
POLICY: Due to the nature of small group retreats, the necessity for solid
commitments are important to all participants and the organizer to ensure
the viability of the Retreat. If the Retreat is cancelled for any reason by
Shirley Spear Begley of Integrated Health Care Systems, Inc., Full
Registration Refunds will be made, minus a 10% administrative fee. If a
participant cancels, your Registration Fee will be applied in full to a
future Healing Retreat.
Invite
Your Friends!!
The Healing Art of
Caring™ 
