women are "Entering the Quiet"

This year marks our 11th "Entering the Quiet" retreat at Hope Springs. Every winter, a group of women gather for a weekend to simply be silent, to rest, to renew in the midst of a mindful, loving community. Each year brings women new to retreat experience, as well as those of us for whom this particular retreat has become an essential part of our self-nourishment.

It is remarkable that even though we drop the activity of conversation for the weekend, the group quickly & naturally becomes a community ~ that being silent actually fosters a truly authentic connection amongst the group even as we individually move more deeply into our own being.

The freedom to BE however we wish during the weekend is a refreshing change from our busy (and often over-scheduled) lives. Of course, the beloved land and fabulous food that Hope Springs provides the perfect container for each of us to truly renew ourselves. And being in this retreat during the winter, when many of us find ourselves more introspective, feels deeply connected to the cycle of Nature herself.

We still have some space for a few more women to join us ~ February 19-21. Register at http://www.hopespringsinstitute.org/quiet.html.

Coming Home - A Winter Solstice Gift

As we appoach Winter Solstice, I'm receiving calls from people who want to reserve their space for one week of Coming Home. We still have room. You can go on line to sign up - http://www.hopespringsinstitute.org/cominghome.html

When Trish Bruxvoort Colligan saw this offering in our newsletter, she wrote:

"I am a musician and songwriter, and work in the realm of women's stories, healing, leadership, and retreats - all with the prayer and intention that it will create space for more "coming home-ness" for all the beings of our planet."

Trish then offered to share a song she wrote and recorded, called Coming Home. She generously offered us the right to share her song with you. Click here to see the words and hear her beautiful song: http://riversvoice.com/index.php?page=songs&display=235&category=Splash-exclaim-_-oparen-2003-cparen-

We hope you will give yourself a gift of quiet for this Winter Solstice. We send love to you and all of us who share this planet hoping for peace.

Hope Springs Woods

Thanks to a Clean Ohio Grant and the commitment of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System to create preserves for America's Eastern Deciduous Forest, our 100 acres of woods will now be saved for future generations.

On December 11th, we transferred ownership of these 100 acres to the Arc and it will be their 14th preserve. With this transfer comes the guarantee that this woods will be protected from logging and any other disruption of its natural evolution. We will work with the Arc to put in more trails so when you come to Hope Springs you can see even more of this beautiful land.

Over the last few years we have been in close collaboration with the leaders of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, learning from and supporting each other. To learn more about other preserves and the work of the Arc, visit their website: http://www.highlandssanctuary.org/.

New Septic Sytem

Those of you who have been to Hope Springs know that we have wanted to upgrade our septic system for a long time. As you can see, we are well on our way. Jeff Evans and his crew are installing a new system and will complete it before the end of the year.

Community Grant from GE

We are very grateful to our neighbor, The General Electric Engine Testing Facility, for awarding us a $1500 Community Grant this year.

We applied for this grant earlier in the year to support a scholarship for someone from Peebles to come to the October session of our new Hope Springs Women's Leadership Collaborative. We found out in September that we had received this grant.

Just before Thanksgiving, Sam Young and Aaron Irwin from the Peebles Test Site delivered the scholarship check and toured our facility. They appreciated seeing our land and buildings and hearing the story of Hope Springs. Aaron and Sam both said they enjoyed their visit and will tell people about us

Thanks again Sam, Aaron and all at GE who made this grant to Hope Springs possible. We look forward to continuing to build a good relationship with our business neighbor and to learning from each other how to reduce our impact on the environment.

Peace,

Suzanne

Planning for the New Year

Yes, we only have two months left in 2009. I find myself beginning to feel overwhelmed as I look at all that I've committed to before the end of the year. Knowing that I have set aside the whole month of January for a Silent Retreat helps me remember to breathe and do practices each day that bring me back to Center.

A whole month! I hear from some of you that this is impossible and yet you would like to give yourself some peaceful time, quiet time, reflective time, as you enter the New Year. We have decide to open the Coming Home Retreat, Januaray 1-28, 2010, to those of you who only have a week, or two or three to give to yourselves, to rest, to sit by the fire, to walk the land, to renew yourself.

We hope you decide to join us. For more information and to sign up, go to www.hopespringsinstitute.org/cominghome.html.

Good Morning!

I hope you will find some time to rest this weekend and enjoy the brilliant colors and cooler weather.

I find myself thinking about our Women's Winter Retreat this morning. The next several weeks are very busy here and the thought of spending an early winter weekend relaxing, learning ways to take care of myself and having fun with a group of women gives me a surge of energy to keep going now.

Think about joining us. This relaxing and very affordable retreat is scheduled for December 4-6, 2009. For more informations,email: suzanne@hopespringsinstitute.org or phone: 937-587-2602.

Enjoy your weekend and we'd love to hear from you.

Peace,
Suzanne

Register for Women's Winter Retreat at: http://www.hopespringsinstitute.org/womenswinter.html

Hi All,
Welcome to our new blog. We are excited about this opportunity to connect with all of you in this new way - to hear from you and to tell you what is happening at Hope Springs.

Often, when I walk to the office in the morning, I wish you were all here so I could let you know what I see and hear day in and day out. I feel a wave of gratitude each morning as I give thanks for this beautiful land and for the people who come here to teach, to learn, to rest, to restore their bodies, minds and spirits.

This morning I'm reminded that "there is no such thing as bad weather". It's a dreary, rainy day and I look out my office window, appreciating the mystery of a woods in the mist. When I go out my door, I hear the water falling over the rocks and into the ravine. I give thanks for the blessing of water and remember how many people do not have access to fresh water every day.

We've had a bit of a rest these past couple of weeks and are looking forward to the second meeting of our Hope Springs Women's Leadership Collaborative, Celebration of Rage, Women's Winter Weekend and some annual retreats led by friends of Hope Springs.

I invite you to visit our blog and our website http://www.hopespringsinstitute.org/ often and to find a time to come to a workshop here and to bring your group for a retreat at Hope Springs.

Wishing you a peaceful day and rest of the year.
Suzanne

Buildings of Hope Springs

Hope Springs Institute is located 75 miles east of Cincinnati, Ohio off of Highway 32 and 100 miles south of Columbus. We are in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by 130 acres of peace and tranquility.

Besides the beauty of its secluded forested setting, what makes Hope Springs special are its outstanding facilities.

The Studio is an octagonal 1500 sq. ft. building with exquisitely finished maple hardwood floors, high skylights and spacious ceilings - evoking a reverent and tranquil response from guests and inviting yoga dance and conversation circles.

A second facility, Spirit House, is a round meditation and meeting space with a central sunken fire pit with supporting contemplative art at the outer edge of open space.

Lodging is offered to guests in three locations, serving groups of 12-30 people in size, with single, double and queen size beds available. King size beds made up for couples upon request. Four beautiful suites, with the option of three beds in each, encircle the outer perimeter of the Studio. Each suite includes a bathroom. In addition, seven semi-private rooms are offered in a warm and hospitable old farmhouse building also housing the dining room and a covered porch complete with rocking chairs. The large stone fireplace in the farmhouse living room offers a cozy and friendly warmth on cool nights. There are three shared bathrooms in this facility. A two bedroom cottage with small refrigerators, microwave ovens and a shared bath is ideal for staff. Lastly, guests may venture outside in tepees and tents enjoying the seasonal sounds of nature.

For Individuals, Couples or Groups 12 or less who wish to organize a self-service retreat near Hope Springs, please see the facilities offered by our sister organization, the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. Their 2000-acre Highlands Nature Sanctuary, the largest of their eleven preserves, offers suites and group lodges equipped with self-service kitchens and dining rooms. Preserve gives access to 14 miles of beautiful nature trails leading into the Rocky Fork Gorge. Located approximately 30 miles north of Hope Springs. For more information, click here.

Hope Springs has a warm, community feel and artistic ambience throughout its complex. Guests feel physically and emotionally supported by the memorable community meals, their personal set of slippers and bathrobes waiting for them in their rooms, and the pleasures of a warm hot tub.

Meditate -- as you walk the labyrinth, wander through the meadows or hike the woodland trails.

Come Together -- for home-cooked meals and share stories around the warmth of a campfire.

Workshop supplies and some audio visual equipment are available for you. An office on the premises has a phone, copier and fax machine.

Add extras to your stay -- with advance notice, we can recommend a massage therapist, a yoga teacher or someone to help you plan your stay. The additional fee is determined by your needs.

Vegetarian Food &
A Taste of Hope Springs Cookbook

From the beginning, our focus has been on providing food that brings joy and good health to all who come to Hope Springs.

Specializing in delicious, home cooked, vegetarian meals, we work closely with workshop leaders. Our goal is to provide a menu that supports the individuals who come and the work they are doing. Upon request from the leaders, we can include animal protein options at some meals. We have fun creating menus and meals just for you.

We are committed to providing an opportunity for people to experience food that is full of love, nutrition, beauty and satisfies body and soul.

A Taste of Hope Springs: Vegetarian Cookbook:

• Over 200 Scrumptious Recipes
• 32 Meal Plans
• Help to Convert to No Wheat, No Sugar, or No Dairy
• Full Menus Visible at a Glance
• Large Easy-to-Read Print
• Spiral Bound to Lay Flat
• Bibliography

The Land

We love this land and feel very supported and held here on Peach Mountain, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. We are dedicated to doing our part to appreciate and protect this segment of the Northeastern Deciduous Forest.

The beauty of the trees along the ridges and the rock formations in the ravines are only rivaled by the swaying meadow grasses and inviting, sloping fields. The sound of trickling water down the ravine's rocky walls provides a serene atmosphere that brings out the poet in us. Two ponds offer the opportunity to thoughtfully gaze and become lost in the quiet. Walking trails provide comfortable access to nature's wonder where deer and wild turkey are frequently sighted. The chirping and singing of the many species of birds are a vital part of the panorama of wild flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses.

A labyrinth, meditation circle and outdoor fire pit in the lower meadow as well as guided hikes into the ravine, offer many opportunities to learn from nature and to honor the land.

We are less than a half hour from Serpent Mount - the largest and finest serpent effigy in the United States. Nearly a quarter of a mile long, Serpent Mound represents an uncoiling serpent. Our connections to the ancient land dwellers from this area feel very strong. Many who come here build in a visit to this ancient mound.

Hope Springs has committed 100 of its 130 acres - with 99 acres of trees and two meadows - to the wild things. We will build no permanent human structure on this part of our land.