Resilience Retreat - Lessons From the Stoics (1)

Stoicism is a rich philosophical tradition that emphasizes the  importance of cultivating four virtues – wisdom, temperance, courage,  and justice – to build our resilience, to live well and to live  authentically in the face of life’s challenges. The virtue of Justice  specifically acknowledges humanity’s interconnectedness and the  importance of action to advance the common good.

This retreat will  examine Stoic philosophy and practice to explore the relationship  between the four Stoic virtues, personal resilience, and transformative  action for social justice. We will reflect on Stoic thought to craft our  own strategies to promote resilience while engaging social contexts  where discrimination, anger, inequity, and exclusion manifest  themselves. Given the primacy of mind and reason in Stoic thought, we  will place Stoics in dialogue with thinkers from Eastern traditions who  acknowledge the importance of giving our minds a rest. In particular, we  will explore the potential of mindfulness practice to influence the  world beyond the “self”, insights from poets who explore the connection  between heart, mind, and emotions, and thinkers who have reflected on  Stoicism and its implications for self-cultivation and self-knowledge.  Our deep dives will explore the connection between mind, heart, and soul  through journaling, mindfulness work, and philosophical reflection on  what it means to attain inner peace, act justly, and to live  authentically, in accordance with our nature.

GilChrist Retreat  Center, located on 67 acres of rolling hills, meadows, and forest, is  intentionally designed to foster meditation and contemplative practice.  We will fully engage our surroundings to help us craft strategies for  creative engagement and personal resilience to embolden leadership,  strategic patience, and sustainable advocacy. No background in  philosophy or Stoicism is necessary.

Please complete this application form to  register. The cost for the retreat program is $200. Space is limited.  Please inquire about options for financial accessibility.

Once you  have completed your form and confirmed payment for the program, please  contact GilChrist to reserve your cabin using their online registration form or  by calling the main office at (269) 244-1130 with any questions.  Lodging is $60/night for an individual participant in addition to the  program fee. Participants will check into their cabins between 1:00 p.m.  and 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7 at a time you communicate via your  cabin reservation. Cabin check-out is at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9.

A  light continental breakfast will be provided Saturday and Sunday and a  communal dinner will take place on Saturday evening, so please let Kathy  know if you have any dietary restrictions. Other than Saturday evening,  individuals are responsible for their own meals. Each guest space at  GilChrist is equipped with a complete kitchen. See the complete GilChrist FAQ for more information about the facility.

About the Facilitator

Kathy  Purnell, Esq., Ph.D., has over two decades of professional experience  as a lawyer, professor, and nonprofit administrator. She is a graduate  of Harvard University (A.B.), Cornell University (Ph.D.) and the DePaul  University College of Law (J.D.). She is trained in philosophical  counseling techniques from the American Philosophical Practitioners  Association and is an affiliate of the organization. Dr. Purnell is a  licensed attorney in the State of Michigan and is a member of the  American Immigration Lawyers Association, where she served as the  Diversity Chair of AILA’s Michigan chapter. Her current practice is  focused on civil and human legal practice as well as mindfulness and  resilience for transformative justice. She has also used her advanced  training in political philosophy, law, and ethics to teach students at  seven different universities including Kalamazoo College, Western  Michigan University, and DePaul University, has led “Resilience  Retreats” at GilChrist, the public retreat center of the Fetzer  Institute, and is a member of both the Kalamazoo Truth Racial Healing  and Transformation’s (TRHT) Law Design Team and its Racial Healing  Circle Practitioner Cohort. She currently serves on the Advisory Board  for the Western Michigan University Center for the Study of Ethics in  Society and is a regular leader of their Ethics Book Clubs for  challenging public dialogues on topics such as immigration, racial  equity, hate speech in democratic community, and housing as a human  right.