"Feel the profound awakening and peace in a moment of silence." -- from Opening the Lotus

		Upcoming Meditation Events Dharma and Writing Retreat, March 2012 in Seattle, WA Meditation and the Spirit of Creativity, April 2012 in Woodacre, CA
		Contact Sandy at sandbou@sandyboucher.net for more information on retreats, how to organize retreats in your area, and upcoming events.
			Joy in Mindfulness The "Joy in Mindfulness" retreat, co-led with Martha Boesing, Buddhist theatre artist, offers an opportunity to work with the insecurities in our lives.
		Within a framework of Vipassana meditation, watched over by the Goddess of Compassion Kwan Yin, we will strive to turn toward the fears and expectations that come with transitions. Moving, new loves, job changes, fresh projects, graduations, divorce, illness, the death of loved ones: these can be difficult passages. This retreat kindles joy in mindfulness through simple dance movements, song, elementary theatre exercises, and writing designed to help us let go of the experiences of the past, so that we may discover our deepest intentions for the time to come. Our interactive experiences will be interspersed with mindful silence and meditation.

		Dharma and Writing Retreat for Women This retreat offers writing inspiration within the matrix of meditation, in an atmosphere of compassionate energy and our own self-nurturing. We will alternate meditation practice with writing practice.
		Sandy will guide writing exercises to connect you to your powerful autobiographical/memoir/personal-essay material; there will be time for your own writing project also, whether arising out of the exercises or brought from home; and Sandy will see each of you in short private sessions about your writing, if desired. Beginners and experienced writers are all welcome.

			Discovering Kwan Yin Spend a day with Sandy Boucher in a retreat setting. We will do sitting and walking meditation, be introduced to the goddess Kwan Yin, chant to evoke our deeper nature, and share our own stories of compassion in the world.
		This day can be a healing, deeply nurturing experience. If you feel that in your life you are asked to give and give, without getting much back, come and open yourself to the compassionate energy of the goddess Kwan Yin. This retreat can happen in a two-or-more-day residential context also.

		Upcoming Meditation Event Details
		Seattle, WA, Dharma and Writing Saturday, March 24, 2012 through Sunday, March 25, 2012 Dharma and Writing Retreat This retreat is for women interested in meditation who want to experience the power of penetrating the dharma through writing. Address to be announced. Saturday 9:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For information and registration, contact Janet Pliske, jpliske@seawell.net.
		Woodacre, CA, Meditation and Creativity Retreat Wednesday, April 18, 2012 through Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Meditation and the Spirit of Creativity A seven-night retreat with Anna Douglas, Wes Nisker, Barbara Kaufman (painting), Sandy Boucher (writing), Anne Cushman. This is a silent retreat for writers, painters and anyone wanting to deepen their contact with the creative spirit. Alternating between stillness and creative activity provides fertile ground for the flowering of one’s unique expression. In addition to the usual schedule of sitting and walking meditation, we will offer two tracks of creative pursuit – one for painters with master teacher Barbara Kaufman and one for writers with Sandy Boucher, a writer and dharma teacher. There will be two hours of “studio time” in the morning and two hours in the evening. Meditation instructions, daily yoga/movement, dharma talks, and interviews will be offered. Wednesday, April 18 to Wednesday, April 25 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, upper Retreat Hall. To register for this retreat, please visit www.spiritrock.org and go to the Calendar section.