Held at The Octagon in Brooks Maine
Our hearts close off from feeling so easily. It takes work to create the conditions for them to open up, especially when there is so much pain in the world. The more our hearts open, the more we feel, and the more we can act with love.
Why?
Loving Kindness is an important capacity of the heart that can be developed intentionally through specific meditations. This retreat will center Loving Kindness while creating supportive conditions through a variety of grounding meditations.
Loving Kindness is the first in a series of four heart capacities that is central to traditional Buddhist practice with the others being Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity.
Cultivating these capacities has been my core meditation practice over the past 5+ years. I’ve found so much freedom and ease in my life through these practices and wish for others to benefit from them as well.
This approach to cultivating Loving Kindness uses the body’s experiences directly and non-conceptually although the more common phrases and imagery will be offered as well. The lineage of the teachings comes from my teachers Michele McDonald, Jesse Vega Frey, and Steven Smith. Read more about lineage here.
Sometimes it may be hard to prioritize retreats given the times we are living in. How could being still for an entire weekend be the most important thing to do? For me, meditating supports acting in ways that are aligned with my inner compass. Ethics and justice are the direct result of my meditation practice. My belief is that by attending this retreat it will support you, those around you, and that as you walk your life with more love that beneficial ripples will be felt beyond your circles. To me meditation is an important part of activism.
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
July 18, 19, 20 2025
Friday 6pm to 8:30pm
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 $80 to Register, Campers
Cabin options in future!
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:
($30 for Commuters, $80 for Campers)
Reach out below if you have any questions about the retreat. I’m touched by your interest.