Now Forming! Retreat Guide Training Program for 2020-2022

Jamiat Am
1

Dear Companions on the Path,

A new cohort for Retreat Guide Training in the Esoteric School of the Inayati Order is forming!

We are accepting applications for the program which will begin in the fall of 2020. The program runs for two years. It includes monthly group online meetings with practice, small group work, and time for questions and answers, individual mentorship with a senior Retreat Guide, connection with a cluster of students and guides, a wealth of online resources, and the opportunity to attend specialized retreats oriented toward training for guiding individual and group retreats.

Bawa’s silent retreat on Mustang Island brought a new dispensation to the Inayati retreat. Held on the liminal edge of sea, sky and land, ancient perspectives on Alchemy and elaborated meditations on the Elements informed the profound experience of transformation.

These new offerings from Bawa will be included in our lessons for Retreat Guide Training. It is an exciting time to revisit our retreat heritage and to bring it forward as retreat guides, even as Bawa unfolds further perspectives and practices. This study of the process of transformation will reveal the rich correspondences of the perspectives and practices of Pir o Murshid, Pir Vilayat and Pir Zia.

If you are interested in training to become a retreat guide, please confer with your Inayati Order spiritual guide and obtain a recommendation. Then contact us for description of the program and an application. We advise that applicants hold at least the 4th level of initiation, have had experience with both group and individual retreats, and have completed the Coordinator in Training program. Representative training can be taken before or concurrently with Retreat Guide training, for the goal for the Retreat Guide, as for the Representative, is to hold the 7th level of initiation before beginning to guide others on this subtle and powerful path. Although the ways of guiding differ (ongoingly for the Representative, during the retreat for the Retreat Guide) the skill and responsibility are commensurate.

If you have questions, please contact either Risala Laird at risalalaird@gmail.com or Amida Cary at retreats@inayatiorder.org

We heartily welcome those who have found the retreat to be central to their spiritual practice and who wish, now, to join in to bring the beauty of the retreat to others.

With love and remembrance,

Amida Cary
Director, Retreat Guide Training

Risala Laird
Facilitator, Retreat Guide Training

2

Thankyou for sending this again. With all that’s going on, I
needed a reminder.
I just forwarded your e-mail to my Spritual Guide, Telema Hess. We
have already discussed this and I’ll talk with her again in the
next few days as well.

Thanks for all you do,
Stay safe and well,
Fattah!

3

Dear Fattah,

Wonderful! I am so happy we will journey together in this realm.

Alas, I can’t figure out how to attach the application form to you via the JA list! (ah, technology!) If you would write to me at retreats@inayatiorder.org I will send the program description and application. Thank you!

My heartfelt regards to Telema.

With love and blessings of health and well being,
Amida

4

Dear Amida and Risula,
I have the blessings of both Alia Yaeger and Mahdiah to apply for this training. Life has been very busy and full at hospital, which in turn leaves me tired at the end of the day.

I hope to fill the application within the next two weeks. Is there a hard deadline?

I appreciate all that you do for our order.

Gratefully,

Alia Nur

5

Dear Alia Nur,

Oh, I am so sympathetic to your work load. Do take care of yourself first and foremost!

I am delighted that you will be journeying with us in the realm of retreat. What a blessing.

There is no hard deadline for the application (or rather the hard deadline, such as it is, is somewhere around July and can be extended as needed.

I will send you the program outline and application separately, so you have them.

With much love, and gratitude for all you do,
Amida

6

Dear Amida and Risula,
I have the blessings of both Alia Yaeger and Mahdiah to apply for this training. Life has been very busy and full at hospital, which in turn leaves me tired at the end of the day.

I hope to fill the application within the next two weeks. Is there a hard deadline?

I appreciate all that you do for our order.

Gratefully,

Alia Nur

7

Dear Amida and Risula,

Yes I want to do the training. I’ll check with my guide but I know he will say yes.

Love

Zebunissa Paméla

8

Dear Zebunissa,

Wonderful! We welcome you heartily! If you email me at retreats@inayatiorder.org I will email the program description and the application form. (The JA form does not share your email address and I have not worked out how to attach a document to the groups!) Please let us know if there is any way we can support you as you apply. We look forward to sharing the journey in retreat with you!

With love and blessings,
Amida and Risala