Freedom and Ease of Being: A Meditation Retreat for Our LGBTQAI Community

We’ll create a space of ease and support for QTBLGAI people to cultivate mindfulness, kindness and wisdom through insight meditation. Sharing silence and meditative space with community allows us to make greater peace with ourselves and our lives, one moment at a time. While listening to the teachings of wisdom and compassion and mindfully sitting, walking, eating and resting, liberating insights arise, and clarity and freedom are gained. We can learn to find an ever-deepening sense of well-being, touching joy and fostering the heart’s release. We practice in this way both for our own benefit and for the benefit of others.

This retreat is open to both experienced and beginner meditators who self-identify as queer, questioning, trans, bisexual, lesbian, gay, agender, intersex or two-spirit.

A limited number of You Choose fee spaces are available for ages 18 – 26. This means you can establish your own retreat fee, based on your financial means. A minimum of $20 per day is required (i.e. a minimum of $100 for the entire retreat).

Co-Teacher: Jean Esther

Assisting: Shelly Graf

Shelly Graf started their meditation practice in 2004 at Common Ground Meditation Center. Since 2010, they’ve taught this practice to young adults, in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction classes, and at meditation retreats. They are a participant in the 2017-2021 IMS Teacher Training Program.