Take a three day retreat with us at Montclair Unity in Northern New Jersey

David Whyte is a phenomenal thinker, writer, visionary. His book, Crossing the unknown sea: work as a pilgrimage of identity, inspires us to take a deeper look at the world of work. Just how does "work" encourage us to step up to the plate of Life in ways that we actually co-create a greater life for all? Here are four topics and related questions to ponder before you join us on our retreat:

• Which edges of our personality does our work stretch? (Whatever you dedicate eight hours or more per day to ...paid or volunteered... is your current work in the world.)
• How does this work, in contrast to our "off hours" home life, encourage us to develop dimensions that are bolder, braver, more organized, less abrasive, etc? (What are the characteristics called forth through your work and workplace?)
• If you did not have to get up each morning to put on your work face, your work disposition, and consistently use your work words ... which elements of your all too familiar personality might take over... even run rampant? (How does your work provide a safe haven for self respect, admiration by others, sense of contribution to the world around you?)
• If you did not have to practice operating outside your all too familiar comfort zone in order to build your work identity of competence and contribution, what would the world ultimately miss? (How does your work help to structure the better parts of you? How does it require you to "exercise muscles" that build self-esteem?)

Now take a moment. Pick a topic above that grabs your attention... meditate on this topic, or dialogue with a partner, or craft an affirmation honoring the characteristics you develop through your work, or observe someone you admire at work in order to contemplate exactly what you admire and why!

On retreat, we will explore David's book together while learning to practice four distinct pathways to deepened insight. We will emerge with greater appreciation of ourselves, others and the world around us. When we set sail on Sunday, our compasses will guide us on a future course of conscious co-creation in our own lives and in the world around us!