Sustaining Pride and Nourishing Sanctuary During Threatening Times (Online Only)

Amid challenging times, this daylong retreat offers our sangha’s LGBTQIA+ practitioners and allies a supportive sanctuary of belonging to help each other stay resourced. Together, we’ll explore how to sustain compassion, clarity, and courage–not only within our practice but also across our relationships with the broader world.

Join NDF’s Inclusion and Equity Committee and LGBTQIA+ affinity group for NDF’s second retreat for the LGBTQIA+ community, designed to create a safe and supportive sanctuary for queer Sangha members within NDF and beyond. The current administration’s anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-DEI policies and actions have exacted a heavy emotional toll on our community. Many of us have been left bewildered about how to maintain our bodhicitta view and practice, and to engage in compassionate action amid a sociopolitical environment rife with vitriol, divisiveness, and hate.

Please join us to:

• Foster engagement and growth within the LGBTQIA+ Sangha.
• Build community among queer practitioners and allies.
• Explore how to maintain our view, practice, and compassionate action within the current climate.
• Strengthen resources for resistance and resilience.

This retreat invites us to gather as a community of queer practitioners and allies to reconnect with the heart of our practice, even in the face of adversity. Through meditation, reflection, and dialogue, we will explore how to stay grounded in bodhicitta while navigating the pain and uncertainty that come with a world increasingly marked by intolerance and division.

Together, we will honor both our individual and collective experiences as sources of wisdom and resilience. There will be space for sharing, silence, and mutual support as we learn from one another’s journeys and strengthen our commitment to compassionate action. 

The retreat will be facilitated Gwendolyn Reese, Alex Marie, Matt Fritts, Julia Simmons, Tom (Lauren) Farkas, and Amanda Lotz – members of NDF’s LGBTQIA+ Sangha – and will center queer voices, perspectives, and lived realities. Allies are warmly welcome to participate. 

Suitable for all levels.

Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern United States time zone)

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

These times are just for reference and may change slightly. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Zoom Link

The Zoom link will be sent several days before the retreat to all those registered. If you register after that date, you’ll receive the link with your confirmation email shortly after submitting your registration. If you don’t see an email from Natural Dharma Registrar or Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, it may have mistakenly gone to your spam folder or to Promotions or Updates in Gmail.

Important: Please put these this email address in your Contact or Safe-Send list to make sure you receive our emails:

• register@naturaldharma.org

Program Cost

Registration for this program is by donation. NDF would like all donations to be directed to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The link to donate is also on the registration page.

Access to Recordings

NDF offers unlimited access to recordings, which are available in your user dashboard (more information about user accounts provided in a pre-retreat letter). If you have a user account, please register with the same email you use to log into your dashboard. If not, an account will be created for you using your registration address.

Availability will vary depending on the type of event and the backlog for our precious resource volunteers. Thank you for your patience.

Natural Dharma Fellowship Full Calendar