Diamond Approach Midwest Group IV Weekend Retreat
Taught by Diamond Approach teachers:
Kara Vangen, Kathleen Graham, Jim Lockridge and Timothy Bernhard
Our Midwest Group
The Diamond Approach path was first introduced in the Midwest in 1996. This new group, MW4 will be 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.
Upcoming Retreat Date: The group begins!
May 20-22, 2022 Zoom Retreat
Love and the Inner Journey
Love is the expression of spirit that most profoundly connects our human life with our depth. All the ways we need love are simply reflections of our need for spiritual growth. – A. H. Almaas
What is love? We have lots of ideas about what love is and the word love is often misused and misunderstood. Our need for love is universal and very human. We all want it and need it, not just for our spiritual development but for our very survival. Love is so essential and yet so full of mystery. Come join us in this exploration of love; what it means to us and to our spiritual journey.
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). Yearly membership dues for the Ridhwan Foundation are $130
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.
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 May 20-22 Retreat
Meet the Teachers
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.
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.
Timothy Berhard LAc, he/him, has had a lifelong interest in healing and spiritual traditions. In his 20’s his interest led him to investigate and study various approaches to healing and spiritual practices. Trying to understand his place in this world. His journey began more earnestly when he moved to the Christine Center for Unitive Spirituality in Willard Wisconsin to become a member of their community of seekers. His journey included herbal medicines, Taoist Qigong and Fourth way traditions. At the center he was introduced to and began his spiritual journey with the Diamond Approach. He has been a student of the Diamond Approach for 25 years and began to share his love for the work as a teacher-minister since 2015. His work experience includes Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Oriental medicine.
