Grounded to the Earth, Connected to the Sky: A Meditation & Astronomy Workshop with Andrea Schweitzer & Jim Tolstrup

Raise your gaze!

Throughout time, people have found peace, pleasure, and perspective by looking up at the stars. Come enjoy the beautiful dark skies at Shambhala Mountain Center and begin or deepen your meditation practice. You will become familiar with the constellations, discover how to find bright planets, and learn when to watch for meteor showers (falling stars). A few minutes each evening spent stargazing, in awareness of the moon's phase and the seasonal patterns of the stars, can be a wonderful addition to your contemplative practice! Astronomy will be taught in a hands-on, interactive way. There will also be time spent outdoors enjoying the night sky. Included will be meditation instruction and discussion about how to incorporate the sky into your evening (or early morning) routine and contemplative practice. No previous astronomy background is expected; you need only to appreciate looking up at the universe. You will take home not only basic astronomy knowledge but a personal connection to the night sky.

Andrea Schweitzer is an astronomer with the Little Thompson Observatory in Berthoud, Colorado and is director of training programs. She is also the U.S. Project Manager for the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Andrea grew up in Colorado and received her Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She participated in the Voyager flyby of Neptune, helped test one of the cameras for the Hubble Space Telescope, and her research has been written up in publications ranging from the New York Times to Sky & Telescope Magazine. Andrea works as a consultant for NASA and for astronomy education. Her clients have included NASA Headquarters, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the American Astronomical Society, the Southwest Research Institute, Boeing, and the Space Science Institute.

Jim Tolstrup is a director of Shambhala Training and has been a practitioner of indigenous wisdom traditions since 1977. He is currently the President of Cankatola Ti Ospaye, a non-profit that supports native elders. At the urging of Lakota Elders, Jim reaches out to his own people to promote justice for Native Americans and peace with the earth. As the Executive Director of the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, Colorado, Jim works with developers to "restore nature where we live, work and play."

Extend Your Stay. We are offering a 25% housing discount for additional nights. Come early and relax before your program starts or stay an extra day or more after this program to savor your retreat experience.

Please arrive between 2 and 5pm on Friday, March 26. Program ends with lunch at 12:30pm on Sunday, March 28. View Detailed Program Information.