Saturday, February 29, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Dreams arise from a larger field than our everyday consciousness inhabits, and often come to us in a language and landscape all their own. By engaging with our dreams, their meanings can reveal what we need to know for greater health and wholeness. Learn the unique symbolic language of dreams, why we should pay attention to them, and how to better recall dreams. We will also discuss willing participants’ dreams in an engaging, interactive group process to help reveal their deeper meaning.

Please come with a pad of paper and pen as well as a recent dream written out. If it’s long, perhaps write out only the part that has the most energy for you. Though we will not have time to work everyone’s dreams, all participants will leave with insight into their own dream worlds. 

The Ten Dharmas of Naropa

Friday, March 6, 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, March 8, 3:30 p.m.

Of all lineages of enlightenment training in Tibet, one of the most popular and powerful is that known as Naro Chodruk, "The Six Dharmas of Naropa," which was translated into English in the 1930s as "The Six Yogas of Naropa." In fact, the six are always taught in connection with four supplementary Dharmas, making ten in all. The most important of the ten is tummo, or "Inner Fire." In this retreat, Lama Glenn Mullin will provide teachings and guidance that will establish participants in the basics of this yogic training.

Lama Glenn Mullin trained in Tibetan Buddhism in the Himalayas for 15 years, and has published some 30 books on Tibetan Buddhism. He has taught Buddhist meditation for the past 30 years, often touring for six months of the year through North America, Asia, and Europe. He also leads pilgrimages through the sacred sites of Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan each year. For more visit www.glennmullin.com. 

As space is limited, early registration is encouraged.

Schedule

Retreat sessions, meals, private lodging—$350
Retreat sessions, meals, shared lodging—$250
Retreat sessions, meals—$175

Register here

Join Lama Glenn Mullin for his talk The Bodhisattva Ideal in Today's World on Thursday, March 5.

Friday, March 13, 7:00 p.m.

At the core of all healing, meditative, and spiritual pursuits is the goal to expand an individual’s awareness. Experience a uniquely layered, multi-dimensional tapestry of sounds designed to relax and invigorate you simultaneously. Permeate your mind and body in a colorful environment of ambient and ancestral sounds of five large gongs and other sound tools. This guided meditative and transformational musical journey will help you identify your limiting beliefs and transform them into limitless possibilities. 

Please bring a pillow and blanket and/or mat to lie on. 

Marian and Gabriela Kraus have studied gongs with renowned master teachers and bring a colorful life history with their European and Latin American origins. Their inherent musical abilities, years of studies in psychology, metaphysics, and life-coaching as reflected in health and wellness-related programs, work together to facilitate a uniquely illuminating and inspiring experience. For more, visit www.delamora.life. 

$30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here

Saturday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Immerse and deepen your connection to yourself, your essence, and spirit through shamanic practices that can become a part of your daily living. Through special ceremonies, journeys, rites, and rituals, we will deepen and expand the notion that shamanic living is indeed a testament to animism and a practice of direct revelation. With practice, this way of life will help you access your own inner guidance. We will experience and practice together with partners as well as in the larger group setting. 

Christina Pateros is a painter, spiritual guide, healer, teacher, and steward of spiritual journeys to sacred lands. She owns a healing practice and also creates fine collectible paintings available through galleries and by commission. Her shamanic practice offers cleansing and clearing of beings and spaces. For more information, visit christinapateros.com and whispering-stones.com.

TS Members: $65 • Nonmembers: $75 • $85 at the door

Register here

Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Upanishads are knowledge-based texts that unfold the true nature of ourselves, and in so defining this nature, also analyze and present the nature of the world as well as the ultimate source of it all. This knowledge is not ordinary in that these texts not only tell you that you are free from all limitations; they also prove it. We will discuss various verses in the tradition of first listening (sravana), then reflecting through questions and discussions (manana), and finally contemplating (nididhyasana). The workshop will also include some meditation practices (upasanas) that serve to sharpen and steady the mind. 

Janani Cleary began her pursuit in Vedanta as a yoga teacher in New York City. She then completed an intensive course in India to obtain her teaching certification and has shared knowledge and insights with students for several decades. She has been engaged with various Vedic cultural centers and other venues across the country, including participation in a White House conference. She also served as an advisor to the movie Gurukulam (2016), a documentary on what it is like to be a student in an ashram. Learn more at her website: www.optimummeditation.org.

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door

Register here

Join Janani for her talk Know Thyself: Ancient Techniques for Self-knowledge on Thursday, March 19.

Saturday, March 21, 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a special evening to renew and rejuvenate yourself for spring following the vernal equinox!  Contemplate the rhythms of nature and consciousness and your relationship to Light in mind, body, and spirit as you refocus, find clarity, and begin to emerge from winter. Enliven and welcome the energy of Spring with a selection of cleaning, gently energizing movements to enliven your body and mind. Experience third-eye opening breathwork to activate your intuition, followed by gentle, accessible movements to activate the energies of your chakras and your body, as well as mantra meditation and deep relaxation. 

Yolanda Lozano has over 20 years of extensive bicultural training in the healing arts from master teachers in India, China, and the United States. She integrates breathing techniques, toning and chanting, meditation, movement, vibrational energy healing, and self-care while listening to the True Self within. For more, visit www.yolandahealinghearts.com. 

Bring a meditation cushion and/or yoga mat for floor seating and relaxation, if desired. Chairs are also available. 

TS Members: $15 • Nonmembers: $20 • $25 at the door

Register here

Friday, March 27, 7:00 p.m.

Become immersed in the rich tonal vibrations of three harmonious gongs as you detach from the pressure and content of the mind. Evoking physical, emotional, and spiritual responses, the vibrations of the gongs work on multiple levels to stimulate, heal and transform. After a gentle, seated yogic warm-up and meditation to prepare the mind and body, relax and be embraced by sound.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a mat and/or blanket. In the communal spirit, we'll share a cup of homemade Yogi Tea afterward.

Jenny Bergold (Jagatjeet Kaur) received her Kundalini Yoga instructor and gong training through the Kundalini Research Institute and Spirit Rising Yoga. Maureen Milliken (Haripal Kaur) is a yoga instructor, sound practitioner, Reiki Master Teacher, and shamanic facilitator. Ela Geske received her Kundalini Yoga instructor and gong training through the 3HO Foundation (KRI).

$30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here

Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

On this daylong retreat, we will explore Remembrance (Zikr or Dhikr), the most significant practice in Sufism, in both theory and practice. The day will begin with an exploration into the spiritual and cultural contexts that are embedded in famed Sufi poet Rumi’s work. These include symbols, metaphors, analogies, stories from the sacred texts, and, most importantly, Rumi’s own life and longings. We will then explore embodiment practices to turn Rumi's sacred poetry and teachings into portals for spiritual awakening and transformation, including:

• Sacred remembrance practices (singing and movement)
• Guided heart-centered meditations and movements
• Sacred reading practices, journaling, and offerings
• Exploring the spiritual and cultural context and idioms in Rumi's work

 Pouria Montazeri grew up with Rumi’s poetry and teachings and is fluent in Persian. He draws from his 28 years of experience with Sufism, Advaita Vedanta, and other mystical and contemplative practices as well as his experiences as a teacher, spiritual director/coach, speaker, poet, mindfulness instructor, sangha guide, mentor, and filmmaker to support himself and others to live more creative, peaceful, and meaningful lives. He wrote, directed, and filmed Shams & Rumi: The Fragrance of Axis Mundi, which won many international film awards. For more, visit www.footprintsofrumi.com.

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door

Register here

Join Pouria for his talk Seeing Beyond Forms: Cultivating Spiritual Maturity on Thursday, March 26.

Saturday, April 4, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Go deeper into the nine universal personality types and learn what the Enneagram can show you about your emotional health and spiritual connection. Rosemary Hurwitz will help you discern your own personality type through both the information shared and a short quiz. You will also learn what Rosemary calls the Seven Mainstays of the Enneagram as well as insights into the nine personality types, including their strengths and challenges, emotional passion, blind spots, wellness map, and more.

At the end of the workshop, participants will have an option to do a more in-depth personal Enneagram profile that will give even more insights into the personality and spirit consciousness. You will receive in-depth written results and a personal reading of your Enneagram at a follow-up workshop, Diving Deeper: The Enneagram A Window to Your Soul, on Saturday, May 2.

Rosemary Hurwitz, MA, PS, received her Enneagram Certification in a Pastoral Studies program at Loyola University in 2001. An accredited professional member of the International Enneagram Association, she is on the faculty at Common Ground in Chicago and has been published in five inspirational compilation books, including No Mistakes: How You Can Change Adversity into Abundance. Rosemary has certifications in intuitive counseling and angel card reading. She coaches with and teaches the Enneagram internationally.

TS members: $35 • Nonmembers: $40 • $45 at the door

Register here

Friday, April 3, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

William Meader will be available for hour-long sessions throughout the day. Please call 630-668-1571 for pricing and scheduling information.

William Meader is one of the most influential and respected international teachers of esoteric philosophy. With his gentle humor, sensitivity, and deep understanding of the spiritual path, he provides a diverse array of workshops and lectures. Author of Shine Forth: The Soul's Magical Destiny, William has also published numerous articles on all aspects of spirituality. Visit www.meader.org for more.

$180 per reading

Please call 630-668-1571 for pricing and scheduling information. Very Limited Availability

Saturday, April 4, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Seekers often don’t realize the soul has an eternal companion that provides divine assistance every step along the Path. Sometimes called the Solar Angel, this great being seeks to illuminate our thoughts with profound wisdom. We will take a profound look at the nature of the causal body—the vehicle used by the soul to express the Solar Angel’s wise guidance. We will also consider the various states of consciousness that emerge at each step in the soul’s unfoldment. In this way, participants will gain a deeper understanding as to where they are upon the path of evolution, and what soulful qualities are seeking to be developed within their individual lives.

Below are some of the additional topics that will be presented and discussed:

• The Angelic Kingdom – its role in support of the evolution of life
• Christos and the emergence of the solarized mind
• A deep examination of the causal body and the light it conveys
• Meditation designed to increase one’s rapport with the Solar Angel

William Meader is one of the most influential and respected international teachers of esoteric philosophy. With his gentle humor, sensitivity, and deep understanding of the spiritual path, he provides a diverse array of workshops and lectures. Author of Shine Forth: The Soul's Magical Destiny, William has also published numerous articles on all aspects of spirituality. Visit www.meader.org for more.

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door

Register here

You can also join William for his talk “The Dark Night of the Soul” on Thursday, April 2.     

Sunday, April 5, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

At the core of all healing, meditative, and spiritual pursuits is the goal to expand an individual’s awareness. Experience a uniquely layered, multi-dimensional tapestry of sounds designed to relax and invigorate you simultaneously. Permeate your mind and body in a colorful environment of ambient and ancestral sounds of five large gongs and other sound tools. This guided meditative and transformational musical journey will help you identify your limiting beliefs and transform them into limitless possibilities.

Please bring a pillow and blanket and/or mat to lie on. 

Marian and Gabriela Kraus have studied gongs with renowned master teachers and bring a colorful life history with their European and Latin American origins. Their inherent musical abilities, years of studies in psychology, metaphysics, and life-coaching as reflected in health and wellness-related programs, work together to facilitate a uniquely illuminating and inspiring experience. For more, visit www.delamora.life.

 $30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here

You can also join Marian and Gabriela on July 10 and August 21

Saturday, April 11, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

By popular demand, Mitch returns for a serious, hands-on, and all-new workshop to explore methods in mind power and mental causation. Based on Mitch’s popular book—and in homage to the original group of pre-Theosophical experimenters called the Miracle Club—this powerful day explores topics including:

• Why and how your thoughts shape reality
• Metaphysical steps that can help with depression and anxiety
• The “10-Day Miracle Challenge”
• Using mantras to strengthen your psyche
• Exploring the energies of historical deities in prayer and petition
• Guided meditations to visualize and attain your fullest potential
• Karma, reciprocity, and ethics on the path of spiritual attainment 

Please bring your own vegetarian lunch.

Mitch Horowitz is the PEN Award-winning author of books including Occult America, One Simple Idea, Mind as Builder, and The Miracle Club. Mitch has discussed alternative spirituality on Dateline NBC, CBS Sunday Morning, and NPR’s All Things Considered, and written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and many other national publications. The Washington Post says Mitch “treats esoteric ideas and movements with an even-handed intellectual studiousness that is too often lost in today’s raised-voice discussions.”

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door

Register here 

You can also join Mitch for his talk “Hermes Resurrected: Occult Wisdom as a Path for Modern Seekers” on Thursday, April 9.

Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Venerable Ajahn Chah was one of the most influential and highly respected Thai meditation masters of the 20th century. The teachings of Ajahn Chah were simple, direct, and profoundly insightful, inspiring several generations of disciples. We invite you to join two such teachers, Ajahn Pasanno and Joseph Kappel, for this daylong exploration of the spiritual path. The program includes teachings and reflections, periods of sitting and walking meditation, and time for Q&A. This is an extraordinary opportunity to deepen your understanding and practice of the Dharma. 

Please bring your own vegetarian lunch.

Ajahn Pasanno (Reed Perry) was raised in Canada. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1974 and shortly after went to live with Venerable Ajahn Chah as one of his first Western disciples. In 1982, Ajahn Pasanno became abbot of Wat Nanachat in Thailand, where he was responsible for training monks and novices and became a very well-known and highly respected Dharma teacher. In 1997 he moved to California, joining Ajahn Amaro in establishing the Abhayagiri Monastery. 

Joseph Kappel lived as Pabhakaro Bhikkhu with Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho in Thailand and Great Britain from 1971 to 1991. He was among the first to assist in establishing the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England. In 1991, two years after he left the robe of a monk, Joseph attended the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course and completed that training with Jon Kabat-Zinn. He continues to offer courses and retreats based on Buddhist principles in numerous settings.

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door 

Register here

You can also join Ajahn Pasanno for his talk “Cultivating a Peaceful Heart: A Buddhist Perspective” on Thursday, April 16.

Friday, April 24, 7:00 p.m.

Celebrate the vitality of spring! As the frequency and vibrations of crystal bowls bring harmony to the etheric, emotional, and physical bodies, the brain shifts into higher states of consciousness, thoughts are slowed down, and the heart opens to healing. Deeksha, or the Oneness Blessing, creates balance in the hemispheres of the brain, releases fear, and invites the higher frequency of love to enter, allowing us to reconnect with our spiritual essence.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a mat and/or blanket.              

Yolanda Lozano has over 20 years of extensive bi-cultural training in the healing arts from master teachers in India, China, and the United States. She integrates breathing techniques, toning and chanting, meditation, movement, vibrational energy healing, and self-care while listening to the True Self within. For more, visit www.yolandahealinghearts.com.

$30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here

You can also join Yolanda for Crystal Bowl Sound Healings on May 31 and July 26.

Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Come together to be a healing part of history as we change the world! Qigong teachers Reneé Ryan, John Robertson, and Mark Weaver will lead participants in their respective styles, creating a continuous global wave of qi, or life energy. In over 80 nations, people will come together, breathe together, and focus on healing and hope for our world. 

Gather outside (indoors, if inclement weather) at 9 a.m. for instruction, 10 a.m. silent group practice, and 11 a.m. an instructor meet-and-greet. To learn more about World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events, visit www.worldtaichiday.org.

All are welcome to attend this free event! No experience is required.

Saturday, April 25, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Restore your vitality, refine your will power, and rest into a deeper sense of You. Learn about the powerfully healing and transformational technique of yoga nidra, a Sanskrit term meaning yogic sleep. This workshop includes conscious movement, deep breathing exercises, and a long yoga nidra session practiced lying on the back in a supported restorative yoga posture that will lead you into deeper states of relaxation by systematically quieting the nervous system. Yoga nidra is safe for all practitioners and no experience is necessary. Please wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely, and bring a yoga mat and one or more blankets. 

Mia Park has thousands of hours of training in traditions that include tantra yoga, yoga therapy, trauma informed yoga, yoga for children and seniors, meditation, alignment, and more. She is a YACEP, E-RYT 500 and 200 CYT, 500 hour Viniyoga teacher, domestic violence advocate, Rest and Renew restorative yoga teacher, iRest Level 1 teacher, and a Certified Integrated Ayurvedic Practitioner and Advanced Yoga Teacher. For more information visit miapark.com.

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door

Register here

Sunday, April 26, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Please join us for this free family-friendly community event in celebration of Arbor Day! Bring your own vegetarian picnic and enjoy music, games, a treasure hunt, and tree planting ceremony. You are also invited to participate in a labyrinth walk and tour our sustainable gardens maintained by Sustain DuPage. A limited number of picnic benches will be available, so please bring your own blanket or lawn chairs. This is an outdoor event rain or shine, so make sure to dress for the weather!

Saturday, May 2, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Ayurveda is India’s ancient holistic medicine system. Its focus is to create harmony within our own unique being and with the world around us. Learn how to view your health and self-care in completely new, profound, and simple ways. Join Ayurveda doctor and clinical researcher Swati Mhaske to learn the essentials of Ayurveda, easy self-care practices, and healthy routine adjustments for radical healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

Topics include:

• Basics of Ayurveda
• History of Ayurveda and its significance
• The five elements, the doshas, and their role in self-care
• Discovering your unique dosha constitution and how to keep them in balance
• Daily life Ayurveda practices for self-care to practice every day

Handouts on Ayurveda lifestyle and healthy recipes will be provided with the lecture.

Swati Mhaske, BA, MS, MSc, Pharm, is an Ayurveda physician and has had extensive hands-on training in Panchakarma (detoxification and body cleanse procedures). She offers one-on-one Ayurvedic and Panchakarma consultations in treating lifestyle disorders, hormonal imbalances, fertility issues and other health imbalances in adults and children at her company HemaVeda in Crystal Lake, IL.

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $45 at the door

Register here

Saturday, May 9, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

“To love is to know Me: thus one shares in my glory and enters into my boundless being. All his acts are performed in my service, and through my grace he wins eternal life.” Bhagavad Gita 18:55-56

What is Divine cannot be conveyed or known through words or concepts, and the realization of Oneness is possible as we open up to what is already within us, in the center of our being. During this meditation retreat inspired by the sacred text The Bhagavad Gita, Juliana Cesano will lead a series of guided and silent practices, as well as direction for daily living.   

Please bring your own vegetarian lunch. 

Juliana Cesano is a second generation Theosophist and has been actively involved with the Society’s work for over twenty years. She volunteered for two years at the international headquarters in Chennai, India, and has been part of the staff at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in America for the last ten years. She is a certified yoga teacher, 200 CYT, and is currently the manager of the Quest Book Shop.

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door

 Register here

You can also join Juliana for her talk “The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living” on May 7.

Friday, May 15, 7:00 p.m.

Join us for an immersive healing experience! A Gong Bath™ is a powerful vibrational journey that positively affects emotional balance, cellular healing, and spiritual awareness. An alchemy of eastern philosophy, bio-energetics, and quantum science, it is a powerful healing modality. During the Gong Bath, participants are bathed with rhythms and multi-tonal octaves that are naturally revitalizing, stress reducing, and profoundly healing – physically, mentally, and spiritually. This gong bath will focus on the Divine Feminine, the aspect of the Self associated with the seven chakras: earth consciences (root), sensuality (sacral), creation (solar plexus), intuition (heart), community (throat), self-insight (brow) and collaboration (crown).                            

Bring a pillow and a mat or blanket to lie on. 

Richard Rudis (Sonam Dorje) is a published writer, musician, and lecturer on the subject of vibrational sound healing as it is reflected within Tibetan Buddhism. An American practitioner of the Vajrayana path and a sound pioneer, he has studied sacred instruments and their playing techniques across Asia, conducting transformational sound mandala concerts internationally. For more, visit www.sacredsoundgongbath.com.

$30 in advance, $35 at the door Registration is limited to 60 people

Register here

Saturday, May 16, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This unique retreat focuses on the needs of those who are caring for the chronically ill or dying. Caregivers will have the opportunity to learn, relax, and rejuvenate through a series of talks interspersed with activities designed to inspire, empower, and revitalize. Professional providers will offer free services for relaxation, such as Therapeutic Touch™, hand massage, reflexology, yoga for stress relief, and mindfulness. The day will conclude with the opportunity to participate in sound healing and relaxation. A continental breakfast and vegetarian lunch will be provided. Participants will leave the day with a plan for continued revitalization and self-care.

Space is limited. You must be a current primary caregiver to someone chronically or terminally ill to attend.

Facilitators: Marilyn Johnston-Svoboda, EdD, RN, QTTP, QTTT; Janet Wehr, RN, QTTP; Lisa Leamy, BSN, RN, QTTP; Ananya S Rajan, MS, LPC; Barbara B. Hebert, Ph.D., LPC-S

Keynote Speaker: Chaplain Linnea Winquist, MDIV/BCC, Director of Spiritual Care and Education, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

$10 includes continental breakfast and vegetarian lunch

Register here

Saturday, May 30, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Experience a very unique retreat filled with important and empowering wisdom training from the tradition of the Medicine Woman. The Medicine Woman is in harmony with the breath of life which is at the center of our point of peace, grace, tranquility, healing, stillness, beauty, and life-changing happiness. Sometimes we forget this wonderful energy resides within our energy field and spirit.

The essence of the Medicine Woman training is refreshing, timeless and connects us with the Woman Spirit in all of us.

Topics include:

• Medicine Woman sage kit and teaching circle instruction
• The Woman Shaman instruction and energy training
• Apache Feather Blessings for your energy field
• How to set sacred energetic boundaries in wisdom filled ways
• Aura enhancements to receive happiness
• What divine timing is and how to use it

Billie Topa Tate’ is the founder of MSI Wellness Center. She is Mescalero Apache and is dedicated to “Creating a Sacred Place One Person at a Time” through the indigenous native teachings of her teachers. Topa Tate’ has lectured and taught at Northwestern University, The Cancer Treatment Center of America, and more. Her work has been published by several magazines, and she is the author of several meditation recordings. She is dedicated to being of service to anyone who is seeking wellness, mindfulness training, and spiritual growth. 

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door
includes books, handouts, and the Medicine Woman retreat tool kit. Register with a fellow Wisdom Keeper for good karma!

Register here

You can also join Billie for her talk “The Shaman’s Life Lessons” on Thursday, May 28.

Sunday, May 31, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Enjoy the experience of sound healing to deepen our meditation practice as we enter the spring renewal season. Relax and bathe in the sounds and high frequency of crystal and Tibetan bowls. Their vibration brings harmony and balance to the etheric, emotional, and physical bodies; shifting the brain into higher states of consciousness, slowing down thoughts, and opening the heart for healing. 

Bring a pillow and a mat or blanket to lie on.

Yolanda Lozano has over 20 years of extensive bi-cultural training in the healing arts from master teachers in India, China, and the United States. She integrates breathing techniques, toning and chanting, meditation, movement, vibrational energy healing, and self-care while listening to the True Self within.  For more information, visit: yolandahealinghearts.com.

$30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here

You can also join Yolanda for Crystal Bowl Sound Healings on April 24 and July 26.

Saturday, June 6, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Chakra balancing uses special breathing, chanting, visualizations, and concentration techniques to help clear out the nadis (subtle energy channels), calm the mind, and balance and stimulate the chakras so you can experience the inner peace that is your birthright. Yoga nidra, also known as psychic sleep, is an active, lying down meditation that purifies, rejuvenates, and energizes all of the body’s systems, bolstering its natural healing capacities. It also calms the mind and relieves depression, anxiety, headaches, cravings, and desires.

This sitting and lying down program is open to all levels. The practices were learned directly from instructor Kali Om’s guru Sri Dharma Mittra. Please bring two pillows, a blanket and a yoga mat (if you have one).

Kali Om, E-RYT 500, is author of the 2018 book Beyond the Mat: Don’t Just Do Yoga—Live It and is adjunct professor of yoga at DePaul University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. She has been teaching yoga since 1998 and is a disciple of Sri Dharma Mittra, with whom she completed three teacher trainings. She is a regular contributor to Yoga Chicago and leads workshops, teacher training, and retreats in the US and abroad.  For more information, visit yogikaliom.com.

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door 

Register here

You can also join Kali for her talk “A Yogic Approach to Facing Fear” on Thursday, June 4.

Saturday, June 6, 11:30 a.m.

Join us for an event devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Our speakers come from the ecumenical community to offer prayers and blessings of peace. With an open heart and mind, reach out and share your expertise and ideas in this global effort.

Discussion over a light lunch follows. If you plan to attend or would like to represent your tradition by speaking, please RSVP to hmahmed@hotmail.com.

Mazher Ahmed, born and educated in India, is involved in a number of interfaith endeavors. She is vice president of the Batavia Islamic Center in Illinois, an emeritus trustee for the Council for the Parliament of World’s Religions, and founder of Interfaith Prayers for Peace.

Donations are appreciated.

Saturday, June 13, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Develop a personal practice to enhance your ability to experience—and live in—love!

When we recognize that love is a vibrational field, not an acquisition, our world expands exponentially. When we practice self-love, we are continually naming and claiming all of who we are—even the scariest and least attractive parts of ourselves. Discover what it is like to feel the richness, beauty, and joyfulness of your own company in the true nature of love. When you act in ways that expand self-love, you become more centered in your life purpose and values.

This workshop includes mindful centering techniques, guided meditation, and an introduction to the use of the Tara Technique (based on Jin Shin Jyutsu), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mantra meditation.

Ellen Katz, MS, LMFT, has been in private practice as a psychotherapist since 1983, and before that she worked as a music therapist. Educated at the University of Michigan, UCLA, and Vassar College, she received advanced training at Columbia University and California State University at Fullerton. Ellen has spent most of her career investigating how recovery, spirituality, and creative expression are integrally related.

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door

Register here

Saturday, June 13, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Learn how to communicate with, see, and photograph life forms of other realms who co-exist with us on earth. Find out how trees communicate with each other, and connect to Earth’s energy grid and the local devas who work with them. Become attuned to how trees express their feelings through the images they generate on their personal canvas—their trunks. It truly is a remarkable experience to connect with nature spirits and it will forever change how you take a walk in nature.

We will explore the Theosophical Grounds, where a wide variety of nature spirits are in residence. Bring a camera or a cell phone and dress for hiking as we will be traveling off-trail. In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 14, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Atala Toy is a savant whose talent is the ability to communicate with nature; she states that in all other ways she is quite ordinary. Atala has written several books on communication with nature, is a professional photographer of nature spirits, and is president of Crystal Life Technology in Geneva, IL, a store that specializes in natural living products and stones. 

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door

Register here

Saturday, June 13, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Kirtan is a musical form of meditation – a devotional practice that combines breath, mind-focusing, and sacred vibrations that are created by Sanskrit chants set to lively rhythms and soulful melodies. Playing, singing, and deeply listening to Kirtan can lift us into the higher aspects of who we are as human beings. This can help us to develop the spiritual qualities we seek to embody, such as forgiveness, acceptance, gratitude, compassion, and humility. Many believe that chanting is one of the most powerful known ways to elevate our spirit and transform our energy. 

This musical genre can take us on an inner journey to a state of incredible joy and mental clarity. People from all walks of life discover Kirtan and fall in love with it. Join us. It is our sheer joy to share Kirtan with you. For more information about Rhada and The Bhakti Caravan, please visit their "The Bhakti Caravan Kirtan Band" Facebook page.

$10 in advance, $15 at the door

Register here

Friday, June 19, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Embrace the light within and around you in this unique meditation event! Radiate your truth with sun-inspired, energetic meditations that allow you to feel your inner strength, gather your potential, and honor your highest Self. Mudras (meditation gestures), mantra (chanting), and accessible movement will enhance your experience, helping you feel positively charged, deeply relaxed, and alive at every level. 

Bring a meditation pad for comfortable seating (chairs provided if needed).

Yolanda Lozano has over 20 years of extensive bi-cultural training in the healing arts from master teachers in India, China, and the United States. She integrates breathing techniques, toning and chanting, meditation, movement, vibrational energy healing, and self-care while listening to the True Self within. For more, visit www.yolandahealinghearts.com.

TS members: $20 • Nonmembers: $25 • $30 at the door

Register here

Saturday, June 20, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Join us for a retreat immersed in sacred space, connected to spirit in a serene sacred community, and infused with experiential shamanic wisdom teachings, art making, and ceremony! 

Learn and practice new ways of being guided and supported by Spirit through energetic practices, indigenous wisdom, shamanic journeying, sound healing, playing with paint on paper and canvas, connecting with animal and plant allies, immersion in nature, and ceremony honoring Mother Earth. If you've never picked up a paintbrush or glue stick, you will find nurturing comfort in the sacred space as well as in the connection fostered by the essential beauty of nature. And if you are a seasoned maker of art, come access deeper portals of your creative soul. 

Supplies Provided. Bring your own art making materials in addition if you wish.  Dress in clothes that can get messy (and or bring paint apron) and dress for the weather as there will be outside time in nature.

Christina Pateros is a painter, spiritual guide, healer, teacher, and steward of spiritual journeys to sacred lands. She owns a healing practice and also creates fine collectible paintings available through galleries and by commission. Her shamanic practice offers cleansing and clearing of beings and spaces. For more information, visit christinapateros.com. 

TS members: $100 • Nonmembers: $110 • $120 at the door
includes all art supplies and materials

Register here

You can also join Christina for her talk “Shamanic Experiences: Art, Healing, and Encounters with the Soul”on Thursday, June 18.

Saturday, June 27, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Supporting a loved one through end-of-life care means creating a healing journey filled with loving-kindness, compassion, and friendship with the ultimate destination. This jointly conducted workshop will include a talk on fostering compassionate presence, a guided meditation on gratitude and loving-kindness, an exploration of how the healing modality of Therapeutic Touch (TT) can be used to relieve emotional distress, a TT demonstration session, real-life stories of transition and more. Participants will leave feeling supported, inspired, and equipped with compassionate spiritual resources to provide care to those on an end-of-life journey as well as their families.

Anagarika Jyotipala (Dhananjay Joshi) has vast experience in traditional Hindu and Buddhist meditation practice and is the author of Making Friends with Death. Marilyn Johnston-Svoboda, RN, EdD, QTTT, is a retired professor of nursing and member and educational trustee of the Therapeutic Touch International Association. Janet Dean, RN, QTTP, a registered nurse and a Qualified Therapeutic Touch Practitioner, is author of Peaceful Passages: A Hospice Nurse's Stories of Dying Well. 

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door

Register here

Sunday, June 28, 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Nurture your spirit through rhythm and meditation. Based on a blend of traditions, this Spirit Circle draws on our most ancient roots to creatively raise group energy. Astrological influences will be included.

Each round will begin with a chant or Native American style flute song. Rhythm instruments will gradually come in until the drumming reaches its natural conclusion. There will be a few moments of silent meditation, taking in the energy that was raised and then sending it out as prayers and blessings. The energy will then be grounded. This is a safe place to connect with your deepest wisdom, honor your inner guidance and create more love and light for yourself and for the universe. You are welcome to bring your own drums, rattles, or rhythm instruments as a limited number of shared instruments will be available.

Karen Tlusty-Rissman is a musician, astrologer, artist, and celebrant of Spirit. She currently leads a variety of meditation classes in the western suburbs and has facilitated sacred circles for over 35 years. She weaves the common threads from many Earth-centered traditions as well as astrology, aromatherapy, and energy work to provide participants with a direct connection to their inner Source. Karen plays the Native American flute, concert flute, bass guitar, Tibetan singing bowls, and gong. She is available for private consultation, meditation classes, musical performances, and lessons. Visit songoftheplanets.com.

$15 in advance, $20 at the door

Register here

Friday, July 10, 7:00 p.m.

At the core of all healing, meditative, and spiritual pursuits is the goal to expand an individual’s awareness. Experience a uniquely layered, multi-dimensional tapestry of sounds designed to relax and invigorate you simultaneously. Permeate your mind and body in a colorful environment of ambient and ancestral sounds of five large gongs and other sound tools. This guided meditative and transformational musical journey will help you identify your limiting beliefs and transform them into limitless possibilities.

Please bring a pillow and blanket and/or mat to lie on. 

Marian and Gabriela Kraus have studied gongs with renowned master teachers and bring a colorful life history with their European and Latin American origins. Their inherent musical abilities, years of studies in psychology, metaphysics, and life-coaching as reflected in health and wellness-related programs, work together to facilitate a uniquely illuminating and inspiring experience. For more, visit www.delamora.life.

$30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here

You can also join Marian and Gabriela on April 5 and August 21.

Sunday, July 26, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

During these hot Summer days, cool down and quiet the mind with this soothing sound healing meditation. Relax and bathe in the sounds and high frequency of crystal and Tibetan bowls. Their vibration brings harmony and balance to the etheric, emotional, and physical bodies; shifting the brain into higher states of consciousness, slowing down thoughts, and opening the heart for healing. 

Bring a pillow and a mat or blanket to lie on.

Yolanda Lozano has over 20 years of extensive bi-cultural training in the healing arts from master teachers in India, China, and the United States. She integrates breathing techniques, toning and chanting, meditation, movement, vibrational energy healing, and self-care while listening to the True Self within. For more information, visit: yolandahealinghearts.com.

$30 in advance, $35 at the door

Register here 

You can also join Yolanda for a Crystal Bowl Sound Healing on April 24 and May 31.

Saturday, July 25, 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

As more and more people become interested in meditation, the technology market has responded with phone apps, YouTube videos, podcasts, audiobooks, and more. While these can be helpful, the most time-honored, proven method is to study in person with a teacher. Bhikkhuni Vimala will work with students to help them develop a personal practice plan based on their unique lifestyles and intentions. Discover postures and styles of sitting and walking meditation that will work with your unique body temperament. Together, the group will sit for guided meditations, working with mindfulness of the breath and body, compassion, and loving-kindness. There will be time at the end for questions and discussion about specific needs or challenges. 

Bhikkhuni Vimala is an ordained Buddhist nun practicing in the Theravada tradition. She leads meditation and other classes at Blue Lotus Temple in Woodstock, IL, where she is the only female monk. In addition to weekly meditation groups in Wisconsin, Vimala travels regularly to Nevada and California for meditation workshops and classes.

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door

Register here

Saturday, August 15, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

There are many troubling problems in this country that persist as we inch closer to the 2020 Presidential Election on November 3. Will the President begin to address these issues, or will the country decide it’s time for a change in the Oval Office? We will take a closer look at the chart of the Democratic candidate and the transiting planetary cycles over his or her chart, as well as the planetary cycles over the President's chart at the time of the election. Maybe then we can gain significant insight into which candidate has the more favorable aspects to lead the nation. We will also look at the planetary cycles over the chart of the U.S. on November 3 to see what challenges the country will have to confront in 2021 and beyond, regardless of who wins the election.

Dave Gunning has been an astrological consultant, teacher, and lecturer for the past 38 years. He has also written articles for Dell Horoscope magazine. For the past nine years he has been lecturing and teaching astrology through the Stargazers astrology group at the Theosophical Society. His consultations come from a spiritual and psychological point of view. 

TS members: $20 • Nonmembers: $25 • $30 at the door

Register here

Friday, August 21, 7:00 p.m.

At the core of all healing, meditative, and spiritual pursuits is the goal to expand an individual’s awareness. Experience a uniquely layered, multi-dimensional tapestry of sounds designed to relax and invigorate you simultaneously. Permeate your mind and body in a colorful environment of ambient and ancestral sounds of five large gongs and other sound tools. This guided meditative and transformational musical journey will help you identify your limiting beliefs and transform them into limitless possibilities.

Please bring a pillow and blanket and/or mat to lie on. 

Marian and Gabriela Kraus have studied gongs with renowned master teachers and bring a colorful life history with their European and Latin American origins. Their inherent musical abilities, years of studies in psychology, metaphysics, and life-coaching as reflected in health and wellness-related programs, work together to facilitate a uniquely illuminating and inspiring experience. For more, visit www.delamora.life.

$30 in advance, $35 at the door 

Register here

You can also join Marian and Gabriela on April 5 and July 10.

Saturday, August 22, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

As long as our vital energy is available, our bodies know how to keep us vibrant and healthy. When the energy flow is blocked or limited, however, we feel "off," have symptoms, or even develop serious illness. Dr. Marilyn Mitchell will share some reliable practices that will allow you to experience a rich communication between body and vital energy that can improve health and well-being, and even be accessed to reverse illness and serious disease.

Dr. Marilyn Mitchell received her medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed her residency at the University of Chicago. She is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, and the EnergyTouch School of Advanced Healing. She is an educator, speaker, and health visionary and is a leader in the field of integrative medicine. Dr. Mitchell is also the founder of HealingSpace, an integrative medical and healing practice. She is the author of The True Nature of Healing: A Surgeon's Soul Journey.

TS members: $30 • Nonmembers: $35 • $40 at the door

Register here

Saturday, August 29, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

On this daylong silent retreat we mindfully take pause from busy lives and concerns in order to explore our capacity to be awake, grounded, and open to life's realities. Grounding practices include deep, mindful breathing with fully released exhalations, the enjoyment of gratitude, and gracefully bearing under the flow of uncertain conditions. The grounds and sacred space of the Theosophical Society invite us to slow down and be present with the inner spaces to which we have privileged access and for which we have most responsibility.

Please bring your own vegetarian lunch. 

Santikaro was a Buddhist monk for 19 years and a disciple of the renowned Thai meditation master Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. He has been practicing and teaching this path of meditation along with broader Buddhist teachings that inform it for more than three decades. He adapts his teacher’s meditation guidance to the needs of Americans today, especially here in the Midwest. With his wife Jo Marie, he looks after Kevala Retreat, a refuge for silence and contemplation in southwest Wisconsin (www.kevalaretreat.org).

TS members: $60 • Nonmembers: $70 • $80 at the door

Register here