An Online Retreat from the Midwest Diamond Approach 4
Open to Everyone
September 23-25, 2022
Taught by Diamond Approach teachers:
Kara Vangen, Jim Lockridge and Kathleen Graham
Why is it easy for some to relax into their spiritual unfoldment and more difficult for others? The Diamond Approach’s understanding of this question rests on the recognition of the intrinsic goodness of reality. Our early childhood deeply affects how we come to view and relate to this reality and whether we trust it. Through working with these early experiences, we can gain a better understanding of the barriers to embodying a basic confidence and trust in our daily lives and our spiritual development.
Basic trust is a non-conceptual confidence in the goodness of the universe, an unquestioned implicit trust that there is something about the universe and human nature and life that is inherently and fundamentally good, loving, and wishing us the best.- A.H. Almaas
Come join us on September 23-25, 2022 for this personal exploration of “Basic Trust” and what it means to us and to our inner journey.
Our Midwest Group – New Group Forming!
The Diamond Approach path was first introduced in the Midwest in 1996. This new group, MW4 is an open group, accepting new students for the next few years. The current teachers have been members of the school for over 25 years and live and practice in various places in the Midwest.
Retreat Structure:
Initially, retreats will be online by Zoom and will transition to a mix of in-person and zoom retreats in 2023.
The teaching will be in the form of weekend retreats, meeting 4 times a year, Friday evening thru Sunday Noon. Friday evening meetings are held at 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday meetings are held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, Sunday from 9 a.m. to Noon.
Weekend retreats will be composed of meditation, breath and movement practices, lectures and self -reflection exercises geared toward connecting with our True Nature, and facilitating the unfoldment of our souls.
In-person retreats will be held at the Christine Center in Willard WI. The Christine Center offers a serene, natural environment that enhances and supports inner exploration and integration.
Cost
Online weekend retreats are $175. The cost for in-person retreats is yet to be determined and will include lodging and all meals at the Christine Center (https://christinecenter.org).
To contact: If you are interested in the Diamond Approach path, or want more information, please contact us at DiamondApproachMidwest@gmail.com. Please include your name, daytime and evening phone numbers as well as your email address.
Future Midwest 4 retreat dates:
December 2-4, 2022 (online)
March 3-5, 2023 (Christine Center)
May 19-21, 2023 (Christine Center)
September 8-10, 2023 (online)
December 1-3, 2023 (online)
The Diamond Approach®, is a path of inner work with time-honored spiritual practices and modern psychological understanding.
For information on the Diamond Approach go to: www.diamondapproach.org.
Register for September 23-25 Retreat
Meet the Teachers
Jim Lockridge is an ordained teacher of the Diamond Approach where he has been a student since 1998 and began working with students in 2012. He is a lifelong investigator of both the physical and spiritual worlds. Jim began his spiritual quest at age 14 when he first discovered Catholicism and soon became an altar boy. He was a research scientist for 40 years, an auto-mechanic, a floor waxer, army reservist, meditator, school bus driver, gardener, teacher, father of 2 daughters, grandfather and lately, an expert popsicle developer. He currently lives in St. Paul with his lovely wife, Stephanie. Jim is passionate about teaching others how to investigate and reveal the truth of who they are.
Kathleen Graham, RN, MS, she/her, ordained Diamond Approach teacher (2016), and student member of the Ridhwan School (1996 – current). Her primary interest and passion is with health and wellness, and personal transformation, whether working as a hospice/ oncology nurse or Diamond Approach teacher. She continues to recognize and trust the alchemical process of transformation that can happen as one is engaged in the immediacy of one’s experience. She offers an open-hearted invitation to the inner journey that can open in ever-deepening ways to the preciousness of one’s truth.
Kara Vangen, MSW, CHTP, she/hers, is passionate about doing the, “deep inner work” required to show up authentically in life and community and believes that our value and happiness as human beings arises from our ability to illuminate our inner life. She has been a member of the Ridhwan school for 25 years and is an ordained Diamond Approach teacher.
Kara’s professional experience includes front line work as a social worker in community mental health and as a Mental Health Therapist where she combines traditional and complimentary health practices to address mental health. She is co-director of the Cauldron Studies program which centers spiritual practice in both the study of culture and the sacred feminine. She has been teaching and working with others for over 20 years.
