SUMMER 2023 RETREAT
PLAYING WITH PARTS, PLAYING WITH POWER
Friday, Aug 18th - Saturday, Aug 26th, 2023
Rochester Folk Arts Guild, Upstate New York
Applications due by May 1st
Rochester Folk Arts Guild, Upstate New York
Applications due by May 1st
Join us for a rigorous, week-long relational mindfulness retreat. The goal of our work together will be to deepen our collective presence, curiosity, creativity, playfulness, and connection through edgy relational work in the here-and-now, as well as reflection about that work. The bulk of our time will be spent in experimental social mindfulness practice, with breaks in between for shared meals, and unstructured time for pond swimming, sauna-ing, hiking, playing, and resting.
The main task will be to explore inter-, intra-, and trans- personal dynamics in the here-and-now in small groups, large group, and as witnesses to the facilitators. Included in these explorations are the various parts of our selves, as well as those of others, including nonhuman elements such as atmosphere, histories, ghosts, wildlife, projections, etc. Just as we learn together through mindful relational techniques, we will also play with those very techniques, moving from immersion to examination to critique to affirmation to play to immersion and so on.
During this retreat a focus will be placed on playing with power and authority, and to that end there will be daily demos by your facilitators, exploring their experience of holding authority at the retreat through inventive here-and-now structures. These structures can be witnessed and intervened on by participants in the retreat, and are meant to serve as both creative fodder structurally, and contextual fodder for our collective understanding of how power is functioning at the retreat.
Our retreat will take place at the Rochester Folk Arts Guild, an intentional community of artisans over 50 years strong. The Guild is set on 350+ acres of rolling hills and farms, and our retreat will be set in and among its many hand-built structures including a swimming pond, a sauna, an incredible shared kitchen, and indoor workshop spaces. There is access to wifi throughout the property. Participants will also have opportunities to interact with the members of the Guild and surrounding community, who are artisans and practicers of the life-teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff, a philosopher and mystic of the early 20th century.
What is relational work in the here-and-now?
Here-and-now is an umbrella term for a variety of practices in which the focus is exploring what is emergently unfolding. Meditation is a here-and-now practice, as is yoga, as are many forms of therapy. Those are usually solo practices, though, and what we will do together will be a social collaboration in exploring the here and the now. If I were doing some here-and-now work right now, I might tune into my excited tension in my chest as I imagine facilitating this group, and a sense of fear in my belly that I might not have what it takes to describe this idea well. A part of me is imagining you there, reading these words, feeling confused or put off, and feels some small hopelessness. A part of me imagines you tempted, drawn in, and recognizing what I'm getting at, and that part feels some tremor of anticipatory pleasure and pride. These types of unfolding experiences, the way we are taking one another in, the way it feels in the room, the way we are relating to the group as a whole: these will be the focal point of our time together.
How will the retreat be structured?
The retreat will begin on Friday night as participants arrive, eat dinner, and get situated into their rooms. The first full day, Saturday, will be a time for participants to get to know each other, start playing together, go over safety agreements, and for participants to meet their small group members. Participants will be in the same small group for the entirety of the retreat. From Sunday until Thursday we will follow the same structure every day: 1) a morning, one-hour, large group here-and-now process 2) late morning until mid-afternoon for small groups to gather and to work together 3) mid afternoon, the facilitators will enact their interactive structure exploring power and authority 4) dinner together 5) evening, one-hour, large group here-and-now process. All structures will be optional though participation is strongly encouraged. On Friday, the final full day together, small groups will get a chance to present a structure of facilitation to the large group, and we will hold a large group closing circle. Saturday morning will be a chance for goodbyes and departures.
Who is this retreat for?
The main task will be to explore inter-, intra-, and trans- personal dynamics in the here-and-now in small groups, large group, and as witnesses to the facilitators. Included in these explorations are the various parts of our selves, as well as those of others, including nonhuman elements such as atmosphere, histories, ghosts, wildlife, projections, etc. Just as we learn together through mindful relational techniques, we will also play with those very techniques, moving from immersion to examination to critique to affirmation to play to immersion and so on.
During this retreat a focus will be placed on playing with power and authority, and to that end there will be daily demos by your facilitators, exploring their experience of holding authority at the retreat through inventive here-and-now structures. These structures can be witnessed and intervened on by participants in the retreat, and are meant to serve as both creative fodder structurally, and contextual fodder for our collective understanding of how power is functioning at the retreat.
Our retreat will take place at the Rochester Folk Arts Guild, an intentional community of artisans over 50 years strong. The Guild is set on 350+ acres of rolling hills and farms, and our retreat will be set in and among its many hand-built structures including a swimming pond, a sauna, an incredible shared kitchen, and indoor workshop spaces. There is access to wifi throughout the property. Participants will also have opportunities to interact with the members of the Guild and surrounding community, who are artisans and practicers of the life-teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff, a philosopher and mystic of the early 20th century.
What is relational work in the here-and-now?
Here-and-now is an umbrella term for a variety of practices in which the focus is exploring what is emergently unfolding. Meditation is a here-and-now practice, as is yoga, as are many forms of therapy. Those are usually solo practices, though, and what we will do together will be a social collaboration in exploring the here and the now. If I were doing some here-and-now work right now, I might tune into my excited tension in my chest as I imagine facilitating this group, and a sense of fear in my belly that I might not have what it takes to describe this idea well. A part of me is imagining you there, reading these words, feeling confused or put off, and feels some small hopelessness. A part of me imagines you tempted, drawn in, and recognizing what I'm getting at, and that part feels some tremor of anticipatory pleasure and pride. These types of unfolding experiences, the way we are taking one another in, the way it feels in the room, the way we are relating to the group as a whole: these will be the focal point of our time together.
How will the retreat be structured?
The retreat will begin on Friday night as participants arrive, eat dinner, and get situated into their rooms. The first full day, Saturday, will be a time for participants to get to know each other, start playing together, go over safety agreements, and for participants to meet their small group members. Participants will be in the same small group for the entirety of the retreat. From Sunday until Thursday we will follow the same structure every day: 1) a morning, one-hour, large group here-and-now process 2) late morning until mid-afternoon for small groups to gather and to work together 3) mid afternoon, the facilitators will enact their interactive structure exploring power and authority 4) dinner together 5) evening, one-hour, large group here-and-now process. All structures will be optional though participation is strongly encouraged. On Friday, the final full day together, small groups will get a chance to present a structure of facilitation to the large group, and we will hold a large group closing circle. Saturday morning will be a chance for goodbyes and departures.
Who is this retreat for?
- Facilitators, therapists, leaders, counselors, coaches, artists, healers, relational practitioners, group organizers, meditators, and any individuals who are drawn to do this work
- People who have some experience with doing relational work in groups, and who are able to set personal boundaries, and who are invested in a core value of learning and growth via listening to others
- People interested in exploring power and authority within groups
- People interested in developing creative tools for analyzing and playing with group dynamics
- People interesting in investigating relational, group, organizational or systemic problems that they consistently encounter – to approach these problems creatively and seek help from others to explore new approaches to them
- A chance for people experienced in transformative healing arts practices to deepen into those practices and play with them with others who share in these interests. Some of these practices might include: Gestalt therapy, Process Work, Psychodrama, Internal Family Systems therapy, Tavistock Group Relations, Authentic Relating, Nonviolent Communication, Core Energetics, Circling, clowning, Fooling, Voice Dialogue, Somatic Experiencing, contact improvisation, etc.
Applications for the retreat are due by May 1st. Our program will be limited to 15 participants to ensure a workable sized group. We will be accepting applicants who display capacity working within intense and emotionally risky containers, and who have a moderate level of experience in their relational practice. In other words, this is a retreat for people familiar with the demands of relational work, and will require some level of learnt skills in this regard. In addition, this retreat will demand that we all take on a certain level of interpersonal and emotional risk. Because we will be experimenting with relational practices, there is a good chance for unexpected emotional fallout. We ask that applicants consider whether they are up for advanced relational practice and the self care and mutual care that comes with it. While staff are trained in emotional regulation and grounding tools and will have some availability for emotional caretaking, there will be limited staff capacity to attend to emotional needs. All applicants will undergo a brief interview process to inquire about these aspects of the retreat. The point of this application is not to judge applicants based on the merit of their work and experience, but rather to assess one’s capacity to be in this container.
–🌾— PRACTICALS DETAILS —🌾–
Food & Rooms All food will be provided by DPI. Breakfast and Lunch will be self-serve. And dinners will be prepared communally, as all participants share in either cheffing, sous-cheffing, or cleaning. We will take account of dietary restrictions and needs and provide reasonable accommodations. Rooms will be a mixture of shared and individual bedrooms. We will try our best to meet participants' needs and requests regarding rooms and food preferences.
Costs Tuition covers food and program costs. Price is tiered based on 3 income levels. Please see chart. Tier 1 $750. Tier 2 $550. Tier 3 $350. BIPOC Tier 3. All prices are in USD. Participants have 3 lodging options to choose from, each at a different price point. These include: Single Room $600, Dorm Room $400, or Tent $240 (participants must bring their own tent).
Partial Attendance All participants are required to attend the Opening Circle on Day 1 of the Retreat. Given the intimacy and trust building inherent to the program, we ask that all participants plan to stay for the entire time.
Arrivals and Departures Participants will need to arrive on Friday August 18th prior to 7pm. And departure will be on Saturday August 26th between 12pm-3pm. We recommend that participants drive or ride share to/from The Rochester Folk Arts Guild. We will share a google doc for ride sharing / rental car sharing if folks are interested in that.
Cancellation Policy Refunds are available up to 30 days before the event - minus a $20 processing fee. After this time we are unable to a refund for the event. We understand sometimes emergencies arise that are not Covid-related, and people change their minds, and we wish we could give refunds to accommodate these types of situations. We unfortunately do not have the budget to accommodate these types of refunds, so please plan accordingly.
COVID Precautions and Testing No specific requirements on vaccination status are needed to attend the retreat. However, ALL registrants are required to take an antigen test on the evening prior to arrival. Participants with a positive test will not be able to attend the retreat (If a participant gets Covid more than 10 days before the event, and they are still testing positive, then in line with CDC guidelines they will be able to attend the event, but with a mask). If a participant becomes ill during the retreat, they will be required to wear a mask, and test on a daily basis. If a resident tests positive during the retreat, they will need to quarantine, and be required to leave the retreat as soon as possible. Please take adequate measures to limit your exposure in the days before arriving. If you are feeling sick, or have a known close exposure to someone with COVID in the past 5 days, please sit this one out to keep the community well.
NOTE: We are only able to provide a full covid-related refund if a participant is unable to attend because they get covid in the 10 days to the retreat.
Kitchen Lead Staff Position: We are seeking staff position to help with meal cooking and preparation. This will be a part-time position during the retreat, which will allow for participation in most (but not all) of the programming of the retreat. The Kitchen Lead Staff person will receive free tuition, and a complimentary dorm room. Please note: those applying for this position still need to fill out an application for the retreat above. APPLY
Food & Rooms All food will be provided by DPI. Breakfast and Lunch will be self-serve. And dinners will be prepared communally, as all participants share in either cheffing, sous-cheffing, or cleaning. We will take account of dietary restrictions and needs and provide reasonable accommodations. Rooms will be a mixture of shared and individual bedrooms. We will try our best to meet participants' needs and requests regarding rooms and food preferences.
Costs Tuition covers food and program costs. Price is tiered based on 3 income levels. Please see chart. Tier 1 $750. Tier 2 $550. Tier 3 $350. BIPOC Tier 3. All prices are in USD. Participants have 3 lodging options to choose from, each at a different price point. These include: Single Room $600, Dorm Room $400, or Tent $240 (participants must bring their own tent).
Partial Attendance All participants are required to attend the Opening Circle on Day 1 of the Retreat. Given the intimacy and trust building inherent to the program, we ask that all participants plan to stay for the entire time.
Arrivals and Departures Participants will need to arrive on Friday August 18th prior to 7pm. And departure will be on Saturday August 26th between 12pm-3pm. We recommend that participants drive or ride share to/from The Rochester Folk Arts Guild. We will share a google doc for ride sharing / rental car sharing if folks are interested in that.
Cancellation Policy Refunds are available up to 30 days before the event - minus a $20 processing fee. After this time we are unable to a refund for the event. We understand sometimes emergencies arise that are not Covid-related, and people change their minds, and we wish we could give refunds to accommodate these types of situations. We unfortunately do not have the budget to accommodate these types of refunds, so please plan accordingly.
COVID Precautions and Testing No specific requirements on vaccination status are needed to attend the retreat. However, ALL registrants are required to take an antigen test on the evening prior to arrival. Participants with a positive test will not be able to attend the retreat (If a participant gets Covid more than 10 days before the event, and they are still testing positive, then in line with CDC guidelines they will be able to attend the event, but with a mask). If a participant becomes ill during the retreat, they will be required to wear a mask, and test on a daily basis. If a resident tests positive during the retreat, they will need to quarantine, and be required to leave the retreat as soon as possible. Please take adequate measures to limit your exposure in the days before arriving. If you are feeling sick, or have a known close exposure to someone with COVID in the past 5 days, please sit this one out to keep the community well.
NOTE: We are only able to provide a full covid-related refund if a participant is unable to attend because they get covid in the 10 days to the retreat.
Kitchen Lead Staff Position: We are seeking staff position to help with meal cooking and preparation. This will be a part-time position during the retreat, which will allow for participation in most (but not all) of the programming of the retreat. The Kitchen Lead Staff person will receive free tuition, and a complimentary dorm room. Please note: those applying for this position still need to fill out an application for the retreat above. APPLY
FACILITATORS
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Aaron Finbloom is a philosopher, artist and pedagogue. He is the co-founder of The School of Making Thinking (SMT) and the founder & director of The Deep Play Institute (DPI). His practice involves expanding transformative inquiry through games, performance art and structured play. With training in Circling, Authentic Relating, and Psychodrama, he also facilitates experimental individual and group sessions inspired by these practices. Finbloom has presented works internationally at venues which include: The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Gallery 151 (New York), Maschinenhaus Kulturbrauerei (Berlin), UNAM (Mexico City), and MainLine Theatre (Montreal). He holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities & Fine Arts from Concordia University in Montreal, and is currently teaching Philosophy at the City College of New York and The University of Portland. finblooming.com
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Netta Sadovsky, MFA, LSW (she/they) is an artist and therapist living in Philadelphia, PA, and the assistant director at The Deep Play Institute (DPI). They provide individual and relationship therapy specializing in Internal Family Systems (IFS), working with kink, polyamory, the hardships of artmaking, and healing from relational trauma at West Philly Therapy Center. They also provide Psychedelic Psychotherapy at Voyage Healing in Philadelphia, with a specialty in using IFS with Ketamine Assisted Therapy. Netta is level 1 trained in Internal Family Systems, small group consultancy trained in Tavistock Group Relations, and is a student of Relational Psychodynamic Therapy, Mindful Facilitation, Theater of the Oppressed, and Psychodrama. They make artwork that borrows from and experiments with these practices under the moniker Suso Phizer.
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TESTIMONIALS
FROM OUR 2022 RETREAT PARTICIPANTS
"I had a profoundly deep and invigorating experience on this retreat. I was blown away by the skill and variety of disciplines of each participant. It was a chance to experiment, play games, build meaningful connections, and grow myself personally and professionally. And it all took place in such a beautiful, serene, idyllic setting. I am so happy I attended and can’t wait to go back."
"I had one of the most profound experiences of my life at this retreat. I am deeply grateful to the facilitators and DPI for creating this space and bringing the group together."
"I had many experiences of overflowing love while on the retreat and learned so much from both the facilitators and the participants. I would absolutely do something like this again!"
"I had one of the most profound experiences of my life at this retreat. I am deeply grateful to the facilitators and DPI for creating this space and bringing the group together."
"I had many experiences of overflowing love while on the retreat and learned so much from both the facilitators and the participants. I would absolutely do something like this again!"