Wild Awakenings

Location icon
53 Mill Street, Westfield, MA, USA
Date
April 25 - 27, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

Immerse yourself in nature's sacred whispers and unlock your creative potential in this transformative eco-spirituality workshop. Discover the profound connection between Earth's wisdom and your artistic expression. Reconnect with the wild divine.

"Nature is filled with words of love." ~ Pope Francis

Have you felt it? That unspoken connection—the spark in the eyes of a deer gazing back at you from across the yard, the reverence in your heart as the sky melts into brilliant colors at sunset. Or the quiet whispers of imagination as you wander among ancient trees. In these sacred moments—whether in the heart of the woods or standing on the edge of the vast, breathing ocean—we find ourselves exhaling. Letting go. And in that breath, we remember: we are not separate, but deeply woven into the cosmic web of all living beings, including our beloved Earth.

"The divine communicates to us primarily through the language of the natural world. Not to hear the natural world is not to hear the divine." ~ Thomas Berry

In this workshop, we will explore how a deep reverence for Earth and her timeless wisdom can awaken new dimensions of creativity. Eco-spirituality offers us a portal to the divine presence within all creation, reminding us that we are never truly alone. Instead, we are intimately connected to a universal consciousness, a sacred mystery that pulses through every leaf, every wave, every star in the sky.

Nurturing this kinship with Earth is not only vital to our own souls but essential for the survival of our planet. As Baba Dioum, a Senegalese forester, wisely observed: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”

This workshop calls to those who seek not rigid rules, but a deeper, more intuitive way of living and creating. While we’ll discuss creative expression, the heart of this journey is to connect with the wild divine, expressed in whatever art form sings through you. Whether you're an established artist or just beginning to explore your creative voice, this workshop is for you. Together, we’ll awaken the wild within—both as artists and as human beings, remembering that we are part of a living, breathing eco-system, creating and being created in every moment.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

FRIDAY EVENING

6:00 -  Supper 

7:30pm - 9:00pm 

Welcome, grounding silence, opening intention 
Introductions - getting to know each other
Overview of the weekend with Q&A     
Takeaway questions for the weekend 

 

SATURDAY 

7:30am - “Welcome in the morning” on Genesis grounds (optional)

8:00am - breakfast

9:30am - 11:45am 

Morning reverie, with poetry, prayer, grounding silence 
What’s in your heart this morning - a brief roundtable sharing
How eco-spirituality and Earth’s rhythms can heighten our creativity - learning how to listen, feel, and be in the wild of ourselves and the natural world around us - 

Understanding the ethos of connection and kinship with all living beings
Earth’s wisdom - a refresher 
How to bring eco awareness into our creative work  
Indoor and outdoor exercises
Creative expression time
Group sharing



12:00pm - lunch 

1:30pm - 3:30pm

Afternoon reverie, with poetry, prayer, grounding silence 
What’s in your heart - group sharing
Creative expression workshop -  essential tools for flourishing as an artist 
Indoor and outdoor exercises
Creative expression time
Group sharing

3:30pm - 3:45pm - break

3:45pm - 5:45pm - 

Where are you starting to feel yourself rooting, branching out, blossoming? 
What’s in your heart - group sharing
Eco-spirituality and creative expression - divine connections 

6:00pm - supper 

7:30pm - 9:00pm  

Continue individual creative work
Deb available for questions 

SUNDAY 

7:30am - “Welcome in the morning” on Genesis grounds (optional)

8:00am - breakfast

9:30am - 11:45am 

Morning reverie, with poetry, prayer, grounding silence 
Sharing creative work with the group
Closing circle - poetry and prayer 

12:00pm - lunch 

 

Getting Here

Location icon Genesis Spiritual Center, 53 Mill Street, Westfield, MA, USA

Accommodation

Program Price

Customer Reviews

4.95 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Restore and Renew: new year yoga retreat
The retreat facilitator, is well versed in the subject and demonstrates excellent ability to guide participants through various yoga positions and types of yoga practices. The facility is great with a responsive and enthusiastic staff. Highly recommend!

5.0
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just what I needed and didn't know I needed.
This was definitely a unique experience. I knew Nancy Sheridan would be good but I didn't realize its deep impact on my soul. Thank you, not only to Nancy, but to all who made this weekend possible. The Genesis staff was outstanding.

5.0
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Lucy Abbott Tucker
My days at Genesis were days of going home for a reunion with friends and colleagues, embracing the learned wisdom of an excellent teacher, Lucy Abbott Tucker and resting in community in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace. My spirit was nourished and I was at peace.
Thank you Genesis
Chickie Amberg

5.0
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Wonderful experience
This was my first attendance at Genesis . The Experience Was so wonderful. I left feeling closer to God and I left with a great sense of community. The conference. I attended was wonderful. Lucy Abbott Tucker was so amazing. A must attend in your lifetime. It was more than I ever expected.
The facility itself is just beautiful. It’s like a time capsule. The carriage house meditation room upstairs was beautiful with a craft room and a space where You could sit and find peace and silence if you chose.
The staff was amazing. When you first arrive, they orient you to the environment and the different spaces in the house where you could go and find peace. Jean Risk, the massage therapist is magical. She was an amazing Masseuse. You can call and make an appointment and she will meet you there.
The food was absolutely delicious. Made with love and fresh ingredients every day. three delicious meals and snacks. Amazing.
This is a must try for rest, relaxation, renewal or any conference. I cannot say enough positivity about Genesis Spiritual center.

5.0
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Community for Spiritual Companions
Program and content and presentation fabulous.
Center and hospitality really wonderful.
A good time was had by all.Barbara B. Girard

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