2020 Program
"The Great Work is to carry out the transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth
to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner." ~Thomas Berry
to a period when humans would be present to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner." ~Thomas Berry
Participants must REGISTER or RSVP for the events.
Please make advance room reservations if you plan to stay overnight for any of the events below. Rockhaven does its best to ensure that no one is turned away for lack of funds. Partial scholarships or work exchange arrangements are available for most events; contact Rockhaven for more information. Program listing may change anytime. Please visit this site regularly for event updates.
Please make advance room reservations if you plan to stay overnight for any of the events below. Rockhaven does its best to ensure that no one is turned away for lack of funds. Partial scholarships or work exchange arrangements are available for most events; contact Rockhaven for more information. Program listing may change anytime. Please visit this site regularly for event updates.
Winter
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Season of Hibernation & Introspection
Imbolc: Celebrating the Onset of Spring and the Light of Brigid February 1, Saturday (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm) Imbolc is a time of light (the sun's light is visibly growing stronger, enduring longer). Nature is emerging; we celebrate these natural stirrings; now we can intuitively feel the potential creativity in all things as the light returns. Thus, this celebratory ritual will focus on the strengthening power of the Sun, which signifies the coming of Spring. We will light candles in honor of the "growing Sun," consider how we are adding our own (candle) light to the Divine Light and how our actions bring illumination and life-giving warmth to others. We will also honor St. Brigid - the Maiden goddess - and invite her into our households bringing warmth and inspiration as we get ready for Spring's imminent arrival. The feast that we shall partake in will include a version of "cakes and ale" - the offering ancient peoples shared on Imbolc morn. Bring candles that you want blessed and a dish to share for the potluck meal. More information Register here World Water Day February 2, Sunday World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 02, 2020. It marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands, called Ramsar Convention, on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular (source). More information Illuman Gathering We have discovered that men are at their best when they connect deeply with other men, engage in contemplative practice, and immerse themselves in wilderness. We should find all three and more together on the Big River. Prepare to enter with an open heart, ready to hold our brothers up and be surprised at what might take shape in you. An organization that is open to all men based on the simple belief that all men are brothers, Illuman supports men who are seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. While Illuman was founded in 2012, it emerged from the remarkable work of Men as Learners and Elders (M.A.L.Es) founded by Fr. Richard Rohr. For more information, please contact Jack Nobles. Gathering dates: February 9, April 13, June 8, August 10, October 12, December 14 (Saturdays 10:00 am - 3:00 pm) 12th Annual REC Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser February 28, Friday (5:30 pm - 8:30 pm) Grace Episcopal Church, 514 E. Argonne, Kirkwood, MO Ticket price: $20.00 ($25.00 at the door) It's time for the annual gathering of Rockhaven friends, supporters, benefactors. Enjoy a scrumptious buffet-style "red and green" meal - spaghetti marinara, organic salad greens - plus freshly baked bread, assorted dessert, and coffee and tea. Your presence, purchases, and contributions will directly impact Rockhaven's 2019 programming. Thank you! Buy tickets online ONLINE (register) or call (636) 575-5671 for ticket reservations. For those who cannot gather with us but would like to support this event, you may purchase "Virtual Dinner" tickets. Please indicate "virtual dinner" when registering or making reservations. Virtual dinner ticket purchases (donations) are tax-deducible. International Women's Day Gathering March 8, Sunday Each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The theme for this year is: Equal for Equal. International Women's Day 2020 is set to be the biggest IWD ever so make sure you're part of the IWD 2020 community to receive all the latest news and gain access to step-by-step resources and guidance to help plan the day. Let's all be #EachforEqual. |
Spring |
Spring: Season of Rebirth
Spring Sabbath Retreat March 20 - 21, Friday 7 pm to Saturday 4:00 pm More info coming. Spring Equinox: Honoring Earth Mother and Celebrating the Greening Earth March 21, Saturday (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm) Spring flowers, sprouting greens, and seeds take center attention as we mark the beginning of Spring - the time when days and nights are of equal length. We will bless the seeds (bring seeds for planting in your own garden) and plants that sustain our bodies, beautify the surroundings, and provide us shelter. This is also the time to consider what goals, desires or wishes you would like to achieve over the season of re-germination—a true celebration of re-birthing your life and nature itself. Bring a dish to share at the potluck table; feasting will be part of the ritual. More information Register here UN World Water Day March 22, Sunday The UN World Water Day is about taking action to tackle the water crisis. Today, there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, spending countless hours queuing or trekking to distant sources, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water. "Do what you can, do it with others, and do it with passion." Visit World Water Day and Bless the Water to learn more about this global initiative towards cleaning and restoring the world's water. Take action here. Earth Hour: Turn Out & Take Action March 28 Saturday, 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (local time) Earth Hour is the single, largest, symbolic mass participation event in the world. Born out of a hope that we could mobilize people to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries and territories to switch lights off for an hour as a massive show of concern for the environment. Check out Earth Hour. Holy Week Triduum Gathering March 9, Holy Thursday; March 10, Good Friday; March 11, Easter Vigil Join us for the Holy Week services (Triduum) at Rockhaven. We share stories and faith experience, commemorate the 'Jesus Story', and celebrate the re-birthing of new life in all of creation. All are welcome at the table! Services start at 6:00 pm and end at 8:00 pm except for the Saturday gathering (9:00 pm), which includes a potluck dinner after the service. Cost: Donation More information Beltane - First of May Bonfire Ceremony May 1, Friday (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm) April's showers have given way to rich and fertile earth, and as the land greens, it is time to welcome the lushness of the fertile earth. On May Day, we light a "brilliant fire" (Beltane) - an indigenous tradition that goes back hundreds of years ensuring fulsomeness throughout the summer months. The ceremony will include burning healing herbs, fire leaping (what do you want to hurdle?), drumming, dancing and feasting. Bring food to share for the potluck feast. More information World Migratory Bird Day May 9, Saturday This special day celebrates the Year of the Bird and the actions you can take to help birds every day of the year. Since the Mississippi River is a flyway for over half of the migratory birds that travel through this country every year, our back yards and lands are very important stopovers for them. Visit this web site www. http://www.migratorybirdday.org/calendar/, and discover what to do to support migratory birds. UN World Environment Day (WED) June 5, Friday Celebrate the biggest day for positive environmental action! World Environment Day (WED) is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action. Over the years it has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something positive for the environment, galvanizing individual actions into a collective power that generates an exponential positive impact on the planet. World Environment Day activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere. Click here for more information and/or to share your WED event/gathering with the rest of the World. World Oceans Day (WED) June 8, Monday Let's honor the world's ocean and celebrate the gifts the ocean provides. World Oceans Day had been unofficially celebrated every 8 June since its original proposal in 1992 by Canada. At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2008 this day was officially recognized by the United Nations. Since then it has been coordinated internationally by The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network with greater success and global participation each year. Source More information here. |
Summer
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Season of Growth and Maturity
Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Sacred Fire and the Green Earth June 21, Sunday (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm) As the coolness of spring shifts to the brilliant heat of summer, we come together again to mark the longest day and the shortest night. We will celebrate the transformative power of the sun/fire that sustains us and Earth, our Mother. We show gratitude for the long days and warm weather which vital for the young animals to grow strong and for crops to begin to ripen. This celebration of midsummer will also honor the importance of the garden herbs - for their healing, savory, and fragrant properties. Make a summer herb bundle for yourself. And, as summer brings maturation in the garden, we consider our own season of fulfillment and ripening by taking stock how our goals and aims are greening and fruiting. Bring something to share for the summer potluck feast. More information Lammas Festival: Celebration of the First Harvest August 1, Saturday Lammas is a festival marking the beginning of the harvest season and the end of the period of summer growth. The name Lammas is from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘loaf mass.’ Central to the celebration is the first grain and first loaf. This festival is also known as Lughnasadh, named after the god Lugh (a Celtic god of many skills) and the Gaelic name for the month of August - Lúnasa. Thus, the celebration/ritual will include a sharing of skills/gifts (bring something that you are good at or enjoy doing to share with the others such as a song, poem, story, recipe, healing gift, or any other craft). We will have a bread ritual to honor the sun and the earth that have given their energy to the wheat. We shall end the evening with a "first-harvest" bonfire (depending on weather conditions). Please also bring a dish to share for the potluck feast. More information National Honey Bee Day (August 21, Wednesday) What's the buzz? Create awareness and protect this critical species! National Honey Bee Day also pays homage to beekeepers, whose labors ensure there are well-managed, healthy bees to pollinate crops. More info. |
Autumn
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Season of Harvest and Color
Autumn Equinox: Celebrating Harvest Home (September 19, Thursday)
Autumn Equinox celebrates the second harvest - the harvest of fruits. Also known as Mabon (pronounced 'may-bon) to the ancient Celts, it is the time to start harvesting our crops and preparing for winter, all the while giving thanks for that which we have. We gather to thank Earth for her bounty. World Rivers Day (September 27, Sunday) World Rivers Day is a celebration highlighting the many values of our rivers, increasing public awareness, and encouraging improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Here at Rockhaven, we are graced by the Big River - a 955 square-mile watershed. Unfortunately, the Big River is contaminated due to historic mining activities, which includes erosion from mine tailing piles and leaking mine dams. World Habitat Day (October 7, Monday) World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986. The purpose: to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter. Let us be reminded of our species' collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations. More info. International Day of Climate Action (October 24, Saturday) An "International Day of Climate Action" on October 24, 2009, was organized by 350.org to influence the delegates going to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in December, 2009 (COP15). The organization reported that over 5,200 synchronized demonstrations occurred in 181 countries on the day. Hallowed Be the Turning Into Darkness: A Samhain Celebration (October 31) Celebrate All Hollow's Eve and the Celtic summer's end. As the light declines and darkness increases in the northern hemisphere, we gather once again to mark the beginning of the new year (Wheel of the Seasons). Autumn Bonfire Gathering (November 9, Saturday) It’s time to gather before the cold fully sets in...enjoy the company of Rockhaven friends, good conversation, and a selection of Autumn-inspired soups by a roaring fire. An indoor fire will be roaring too, for those who prefer the warmth of Turtle Lodge. |
Winter
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Season of Hibernation & Introspection
Winter Solstice Retreat December 20, Friday (7:00 pm) - December 21, Saturday (4:00 pm) Winter Solstice is a sacred time of "presencing" darkness and light/death and rebirth. The veil continues to thin between the worlds as darkness enfolds us. With the season, we prepare to once again give birth to ourselves and this world anew as we draw strength from the sun's return. Join us for a 24-hour retreat incorporating ritual, reflection, and celebration to honor the Winter Solstice. Let us "presence" this sacred turn-of-year through earth-centered prayer, embodied contemplative practice, creative expression, personal reflection, and deep heart sharing. Together, let us consciously shed all that has died within us individually and collectively this past year, and open to the hope of the Light that is to come. Celebrating the Sacred Fire: A Winter Solstice Gathering December 21, Saturday (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm) Once again, the season turns... winter is here! Celebrate the longest night (for us living in the northern hemisphere). From now till the summer solstice, the sun reaches its rays for a few moments longer everyday. In this celebration, we will honor the SUN-source of energy and life-with the blessing of the Winter Fire. Bring a dish to share for potluck feast. More information |
Except for Donation-Only events, payment in full is required by the due date for programs/retreats unless otherwise noted.
In the event you need to cancel before the event date, a refund will be issued less a $20 registration fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made on or after the day of the event. Please make advance room reservations if you plan to stay overnight for any of the events above. Events and programs are subject to change anytime. Should Rockhaven deem it necessary to cancel an event, we will do our best to contact those who have registered for the said event in a timely manner and issue a full refund.
Rockhaven does its best to ensure that no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Partial scholarships or work exchange arrangements are available for most events; contact Rockhaven for more information.
In the event you need to cancel before the event date, a refund will be issued less a $20 registration fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made on or after the day of the event. Please make advance room reservations if you plan to stay overnight for any of the events above. Events and programs are subject to change anytime. Should Rockhaven deem it necessary to cancel an event, we will do our best to contact those who have registered for the said event in a timely manner and issue a full refund.
Rockhaven does its best to ensure that no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Partial scholarships or work exchange arrangements are available for most events; contact Rockhaven for more information.
Rockhaven Ecozoic Center is a non-smoking space. Pets are not allowed in any of the buildings.
Handicap accessible rooms are limited. Please check in advance for availability.
Handicap accessible rooms are limited. Please check in advance for availability.
7621 Rivermont Trail, House Springs, Missouri 63051 USA * www.rockhavencenter.org * (636) 575-5671
