Your EcoQuest Retreat
Participants will focus on the green section in their workbook during the following six hours (or a modified version) of your EcoQuest retreat.
However, with any programming like EcoQuest, spontaneity, variation, simplicity, and personal experience can awaken several ‘aha’ moments in individuals that create a ripple effect in others.
For creating your own unique retreat experience, it is vital to learn to ‘be still and know’ through the wisdom of your spiritual antennas and emotional composure.
Getting Started
The following timeline is a suggested format that details your six-hour EcoQuest. These details may vary depending on different locations, circumstances, timing, and individual or group awakenings. However, this doesn’t mean prolonging each quest beyond the expected finish time, but it may require changes in the format.
Due to personal circumstances before the start of a quest, this may mean a late start or the need to pull out early. If this is the case, it is advisable to postpone your involvement. It is the protocol of this programme that if an individual becomes unwell, they will be accompanied by two persons back to the arrival point. Each person will have a map containing their location and course outline.
Your EcoQuest Timeline
09:30 am
- Arrival at the designated location.
10:00 am
- Welcome and EcoQuest Overview.
- Introduce yourself and your reasons for undertaking this EcoQuest.
- Reflections on nature’s health benefits.
- Introduce the practice of mindfulness meditation from the website and/or workbook.
11:00 am
- Stepping over the gratitude threshold.
11:30 am
- Arrive at the first land feature and commence an eco-metaphor
12:00 pm
- Head to the second land feature
12:30 pm
- Commence the second eco-metaphor
01:00 pm
- Lunch
01:30 pm
- We head to the third land feature
02:00 pm
- We begin the eco-metaphor exercise
02:30 pm
- We head to the fourth land feature
03:00 pm
- We begin the eco-metaphor, the last exercise
03:30 pm
- We head back to our arrival point and pass through the gratitude threshold
04:00 pm
- Group evaluation activity, which concludes your EcoQuest retreat by 04:30 pm
Welcome and EcoQuest Overview
Participants are given a warm welcome including an overview of the EcoQuest retreat. This will update any last-minute changes, questions and a rain check on general well-being, weather and gear etc.
Introduce Yourself and Reasons for Undertaking This EcoQuest Retreat
Introducing yourself and reasons for undertaking this EcoQuest which is open to all individuals who identify with the core philosophy of nature’s influence in their lives.
Reflecting on Nature’s Health Benefits
The value of nature’s health benefits is a timely reminder of how connected and reliant we are on nature. As we discuss these life sustaining elements of nature from the workbook, challenge yourself by asking the question; What would life be like without them!
As you reflect on nature’s health benefits, let’s focus on two key elements that are important before introducing the practice of mindfulness meditation which are bodily exercise and connecting with nature’s symmetry.
Group Reflection
Of these elements listed, have each person reflect on which key element stands out as being more significant and why?
Bodily Exercise
Reflecting on Nature’s Health Benefits from the workbook, exercise helps to refresh oxygen levels, encourages blood flow and keeps the body moving while getting you in better shape.
As you consider the practicality of keeping fit, this part in the EcoQuest is a powerful reminder that without bodily exercise, you can subject your body, mind and soul to a range of unnecessary health conditions that include; joins can stiffen, shorting of breath, impact on mood and sleep, feel sluggish, high blood pressure and possible pre-diabetes, weaken back muscles, brings on hunger hormones and increases weight.
Group Reflection
What is your experience of bodily exercise, or the lack of it, and the effect on your body, mind and soul especially when your fitness means you can explore, appreciate and be invigorated by nature’s nurture?
Nature’s Symmetry
Before stepping over the gratitude threshold and moving out to the first land feature, allow your conscious awareness (e.g., your thoughts, reactions, feelings, sensations) to become immersed in nature’s ambience, vibrant colours, idyllic scenery, natural design and synergy. This conscious awareness will help inspire each eco-metaphor exercise in God’s natural cathedral.
Group Reflection
Before heading out to your first land feature allow each person to spend five minutes reviewing their personal thoughts on: What I want from this EcoQuest retreat?
Introduce the Practice of Mindfulness Meditation
It is advisable for participants to have read the section on the virtues of mindfulness meditation from the workbook.
From the start of each EcoQuest retreat, participants will have the opportunity to learn all three levels of mindfulness meditation. At this point, we will concentrate on level one and progress to level two and three during the retreat.
Group Exercise
Practicing the Entry Level to Mindfulness
Entry Level to Mindfulness
- Simplicity of body posture
- The rhythm of slow and deep breathing
- Resting in the presence of being
Timing: Five Minutes
What was each person’s response to their initial introduction to mindfulness?
Group Exercise
Nurturing the Practice of Mindfulness
Mindfulness Practice
- Simplicity of body posture
- The rhythm of slow and deep breathing
- Resting in the presence of being
- So-Matic body scanning
Timing: Ten Minutes
What was each person’s response to nurturing the practice of mindfulness?
Group Exercise
Maturing the Practice of Mindfulness
Mindfulness Practice Maturation
- Simplicity of body posture
- The rhythm of slow and deep breathing
- Resting in the presence of being
- So-Matic body scanning
- Practicing mindfulness meditation while starting with a gratitude meditation
Timing: Fifteen Minutes
What was each person’s response to maturing the practice of mindfulness?
Stepping Over a Gratitude Threshold
Stepping over a symbolic gratitude threshold represents a circle in the ground where all participants stand together from within the circle while facing inwards. This symbolizes our gratitude for one another by stating:
“I am grateful to God to share this EcoQuest experience with my fellow brothers and sisters, where there is unity and diversity, and appreciation for the collective truth that; None of us knowns as much as all of us together.”
At this point each participant will face outwards towards the open invitation of nature, by stating,
“I am grateful to God for the enrichment of nature’s nurture where the abundance of life awaits my embrace, where little becomes much, because God is in it.”
Being Inspired By Eco-Metaphors
The First Land-Based Eco-Metaphor
- Arrive at the first land feature
- Commence eco-metaphor exercise
- Individual mindfulness meditation and group reflection
Second Land-Based Eco-Metaphor
- Arrive at the second land feature
- Commence eco-metaphor exercise
- Individual mindfulness meditation and group reflection
Third Land-Based Eco-Metaphor
- Lunch
- Arrive at the third land feature
- Commence eco-metaphor exercise
- Individual mindfulness meditation and group reflection
Fourth Land-Based Eco-Metaphor
- Arrive at the fourth land feature
- Commence eco-metaphor exercise
- Individual mindfulness meditation and group reflection
- Back to the gratitude threshold and evaluate your EcoQuest experience
