Twenty two folks from the Hearth community headed up to the Greensprings for a day of sharing life stories.  The retreat began with sharing sacred objects from childhood then moved into some exercises to help recall various details of our lives.  We practiced some listening exercises then gathered in small, random groups, where people were given thirty minutes each to share their life story without interruption. The day was warm and beautiful up in the Cascade mountains with lunch provided by the Greensprings Inn. We’ll hold a second Life Story retreat next spring.  Here is the closing poem that was created by the group as they were asked to spontaneously give one word that described their experience:

Mountaintop Metamorphosis

 Metamorphosis

Fulfillment

Dance

Play

Green

Mystery

Love

Connected radiance

Mountaintop discovery

Beauty

Gratitude

Vulnerability

Presence

Availability

Embodied courage

Hope

Grace

Inspired

It happened.