​
This schedule is a WORK IN PROGRESS! It will be updated regularly as we fill in the program content.
We recommend that you arrive on Thursday at least by 4 pm and stay through at least lunch on Sunday. If you arrive earlier on Thursday, there is a nature walk and a tour of Unity Village for you to enjoy. We do not recommend leaving on Sunday morning because there are reflective and group activities planned that will complete your experience. If you stay after lunch on Sunday, there will be a communication workshop designed to making the retreat as meaningful as possible.
​
You are free to attend any of the programming you wish and take personal reflection time as you see fit. The retreat meal plan begins with dinner on Thursday and ends with Sunday lunch. All lunches and dinners will be plant-based. Since the hotel serves the general public, they will serve a breakfast buffet, you can find some plant-based options among the regular breakfast served at the hotel for guests OR the Fillmore Cafe across the street will have a vegan breakfast sandwich available for sale.
​
Each morning we will offer a body movement session starting at 7:30 am. Coffee will be available outside our meeting room throughout the day.
​
Thursday, October 16
​
1:00 - 5:00 Registration - Pick up name tag and retreat booklet at the Village Commons, across from the hotel. Meet and greet the retreat team.
​
1:30 - 3:00 pm - Mindfulness nature walk on Unity trails led by Kristin Cherry (meet in the hotel lobby)
​
3:00 - 3:45 pm - “Early Unity History & Forgotten Fillmore Teachings” by Rev. Carol Saunders in the Fillmore Chapel. Learn about the amazing teachings and works of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore on universal love, peace and non-harm as it relates to our animal brothers and sisters. At prior events, Rev. Carol has presented pieces of this as part of her introductory talk on Friday morning. She will share it here for those who are new or for those who want to learn more and engage more deeply. There will be time for discussion. Completely optional!
​
4:00 - 5:30 pm Walking tour of Unity Village grounds and archives. A representative from Unity Village will take you on a tour of the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Meet outside the Unity Commons (red awning across the street from the Unity hotel).
​
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner
​
6:45 -8:30 pm Orientation and introductions in the Fillmore Chapel
Friday, October 17
​
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
​
7:30 – 8:15 am Body movement session
​
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music
​
9:00 – 9:50 am Opening presentation by Rev. Carol Saunders
​entitled “A Vision for Homo Ahimsa: Spiritual Intelligence and the Power of the Few”
9:50 – 10:20 am Interactive Forum
​
10:20 – 10:35 am Break
​
10:35 - 11:15 am Group connection
​
11:15 - 11:45 am Setting Intentions
​
11:50 am – 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
​
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom
​
1:15 - 2:45 pm “The Foundation for Being Peaceful” with Featured Speaker, Timber Hawkeye. Timber will lead a circle discussion and Q&A about the non-judgmental benefits of recognizing and acknowledging both the ego and the divinity within us all. Struggle is not a requirement, so we will discuss loosening our grip instead of white-knuckling our way through life, navigating relationships without the traps of hierarchy, and making sure our core values include respecting others. Mindfulness doesn't make other people less irritating; it makes us less irritable. This conversation is not about living in a bubble where nobody pushes your buttons; it is about getting to a point where you don't have any buttons that can be pushed.
​
2:45 - 3:00 pm Break
​
3:00 - 3:45 pm Connecting to Earth Workshop
​
3:45– 4:45 pm Spiritual Walk
​
4:45 - 5:30 Group sharing/journaling
​
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room
​
6:30 – 7:30 pm Café hangout in Fillmore Chapel
​
7:30 – 9:00 pm Possible movie screening or panel discussion
Saturday, October 18
​
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
​
7:30 – 8:15 am Body movement session
​
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music
​
9:00 – 10:30 am “Implementation of Being Peaceful” with Timber Hawkeye: a circle discussion and Q&A to address our reactions to and reflections on the previous day's discussion
​
10:30 – 10:45 am Break
​
10:45 – 11:45 am Ahimsa Presentation by Dr Nayana Shah
​
11:15 - 11:50 am Group Connection
​
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
​
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
​
1:15 - 2:15 pm Sound Bath with Susan Harp
​
2:15 - 2:45 pm Spiritual Walk
​
2:45 - 3:15 pm Sharing
​
3:15 - 4:15 pm Panel Discussion on Homo Ahimsa
​
4:15 - 4:30 pm Break
​
4:30 - 5:30 pm Ceremony to Honor Animals and Habitats led by Rev. Carol Saunders
​
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room
​
6:30 - 8:30 pm Cafe hangout/Open mic to share your heart and talent in the Village Commons
​
Sunday, October 19
​
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
​
7:30 – 8:15 am Body movement session
​
8:45 - 9:00 am Meditation
​
9:00 – 10:00 am Debrief/reflect on the events of the weekend dialogue with Rev. Carol Saunders
​
10:00 - 10:15 am Break
​
10:15 - 11:00 am Group labyrinth Experience
​
11:00 – 11:45 am Group sharing - Who am I going forward?
​
11:45 – 11:50 am Closing words (for those who have to leave early)
​
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
​
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Banquet Room/goodbyes to those who are leaving
​
1:15 - 3:30 pm Afternoon Communication Workshop with Laura Aube
