Family Retreat | Child Registration | Ages 4-11
With Jennifer Warren, Nikita Gayle Romanzov and Becca Prolman
July 11 - 17, 2019
“Survival of humanity depends on educating the hearts of children.”
– His Holiness the Dalai Lama
This year’s family retreat will explore the mandala principle, a universal map for inner and outer balance and wholeness. The mandala has as its basic structure the center and four directions, represented by five families of elements, colors, seed syllables, emotions, psychological types, and wisdoms. This retreat will include family activities, young people’s groups, a parent program, and free time. Dharma activities include songs, stories, skits, yoga, games, art, time on the land, a campfire, council practice, an optional solo wilderness fast for teens, parent discussions, meditation for all, and dharma talks.
The teens will be guided to dive deeper into their own relationship with themselves and each other during an optional 24-hour solo wilderness fast, with several preparatory and integration days. Teens will spend most of the retreat together with their guides in the Secret Meadow being sent off and received back by their families. Teens will need camping equipment and other items for their time in the Secret Meadow. A packing list will be sent out upon registration.
In addition to learning about the mandala principle, parents will have the opportunity to learn the meditation practice of the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Dakinis, developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione, to bring emotional transformation into alignment with the spiritual path. The Wisdom Dakinis are female deities in Tantric Buddhism who embody profound wisdom and the empowered feminine. Lama Tsultrim writes, “They are luminous, subtle spiritual energy—the gatekeepers and the guardians of the unconditioned wisdom and sacred earth.”
The following personal practices may also be incorporated into the program according to age:
- The 5-step practice of Feeding Your Demons®
- Guided journey with the Dakini
- Mandala work through handmade art
- Integration with the elements through meditation (outdoors if weather permits)
The Family Retreat is a true retreat experience that brings us face-to-face with our own experience and gives us the time and space to slow down and renew our personal practice.
This age group (4-11) will be split up into two groups 4-8 years and 9-11 years. In the first days of the retreat there will be a chance to switch your child into the teen group (12-17 years) if that feels like a better fit for them.
Open to all ages, four and up. Parents may bring children younger than four years old, but they must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver at all times.
Payment plans are available and scholarships are awarded as funds become available. Information and application can be found on our website.
Suggested Dana: $280 – $350
Important Note on Yurt Accommodation option
If choosing the ‘Co-ed yurt (all ages)‘ accommodation option please enter ‘female identify‘ as the gender option for all people registering despite their actual gender.
This is due to a limitation in our software :-/
About the Teachers
Jennifer Warren
Jennifer Warren spent her formative years in Norway, playing in primordial forests. She’s taught elementary school for over 20 years, including 7 in Waldorf schools. Jen is a Certified Master Gardener and Wilderness First Responder. She first became a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner when she lived in Nepal in the 1980’s. Jen is thrilled to be helping out with the Family […]
Learn more about Jennifer WarrenNikita Gayle Romanzov
Nikita remembers spending much of her childhood at Tara Mandala with her mom, Robin Gayle (authorized Tara Mandala teacher and Feeding Your Demons Therapist). She took refuge with Lama Tsultrim at just one year of age, given the name Shewa Osel. She then returned to Tara Mandala for the summer of 2012 as a Living […]
Learn more about Nikita Gayle RomanzovBecca Prolman
Becca Prolman is a graduate student at the California Institute of Integral Studies in the Integral Counseling Psychology program. She has been working with kids since she was 12 years old, and started working at summer camps at age 17. Becca has four years experience as a summer camp counselor, and has worked with kids […]
Learn more about Becca ProlmanCategories : Introductory Retreats, Tara Mandala Colorado