Held at The Octagon in Brooks Maine
For the good of all beings everywhere, may we spend a weekend meditating in community.
Why Meditate at this Time?
There is so much pain in the world. There are multiple genocides unfolding, climate change is already creating multitudes of refugees, rampant inflation, and a profound lack of responsible political leadership is the backdrop to our personal lives which have their own challenges.
When we take time to slow down, we feel. Then we can’t help but to be moved to act decisively and with purpose.
Additionally, without caring for our own hearts, minds, and bodies we will eventually break down in one way or another.
About the Retreat
This will be an intensive traditional non-residential retreat while being radically flexible in terms of centering the participants personal journey.
Gabriel’s characteristic style is to meet people right where they are and offering what is needed most. He’d like to support people moving into a grounded, body-centered awareness, with increased capacities of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. If and when old patterns and stories arise we will meet them with kindness and support their resolution.
About the Teacher
Gabriel Baldwin has been attending retreats in the Insight/Vipassana tradition since 2002 and has been teaching meditation as his primary vocation since 2013. His training and practice includes Tibetan, secular mindfulness, and somatic psychotherapy influences.
To read more about lineage.
About The Octagon
Located on a homestead in Brooks, Maine the Octagon is a large one room building with an earthen floor and fire pit in the center. The roof has a louvered vent for smoke to exit when there is a fire lit and a window on each wall. My father, Peter Baldwin, built it about two decades ago and has hosted men’s groups in the space over the years. It wants to be used. The 16 principles of the Earth Charter are written on wooden panels around the space. The Earth Charter is a document created by representatives from around the world that seeks to inspire a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future generations. You can read more about the Earth Charter here.
The Details
March 7, 8, 9 2025
Friday 6pm to 8pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Sunday 9am to 5pm
There will be an hour break for lunch.
The Octagon will be open to meditation at all hours. These times are just when Gabriel will be facilitating.
Who is the retreat for? All bodied people. All gender & queer expressions. All racial groups. All class groups. Newer meditators all the way to experienced ones. Gabriel’s approach uses plain language and is oriented around being accessible. Gabriel is responsible for holding the space in a way that will minimize and prevent harm from occurring non-verbally or verbally.
Donation:
The retreat, like all of my meditation teaching, is offered freely with donations welcome from participants. At the end of the retreat there will be an opportunity to leave a donation. I often get the question, “what amount is appropriate?” To the degree that feels right and good for you given your financial situation and that you feel grateful and moved to give genuinely without shame or guilt.
Fee:
Fee $30 to Register, Commuters
Fee $100 to Register, Campers
This registration fee is used to care for the space and land. If this fee is beyond your means or prohibitive to you attending please reach out to request accommodation.
Food: Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch and eat together on Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, there are also several options in the village of Brooks to get something to eat: Wentworth Family Grocery (deli), the Marsh River Coop, Ralphs Cafe, and sometimes Cal’s food truck.
Campers: If you elect to camp on the property, this is a rustic, bring your own tent etc situation. There will be access to potable water and outhouses. You will be responsible for your own meals and any other needs you may have. There is room for a few small pop-up trailers, vans, or RVs. We are located on a windy hill so, sadly, campfires are unsafe to use. You’d need to have your own camping stove for cooking.
Accessibility: The Octagon is located at the top of a hill. Just outside the village of Brooks you drive up a 1/4 mile gravel road leading to a gravel parking area next to a couple houses. From there walking 200 feet on a mowed path across a field to reach the Octagon over somewhat uneven ground. If this walk is beyond the means of any participant it could be driven. There is a step over the threshold into the space as well. We ask that everyone refrains from wearing scented products to support people affected by strong scents.
COVID: If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms leading up to the retreat or over the weekend please do not attend and notify Gabriel to let everyone know about potential exposure. For reference, there are screened windows in each of the walls providing passive ventilation.
To Register for the Weekend Retreat:
($30 for Commuters, $100 for Campers)
Reach out below if you have any questions about the retreat. I’m touched by your interest.