March 12-15, 2026
with Diamond Approach Teachers:
Kara Vangen | Jim Lockridge | Kathleen Graham
This retreat deepens our exploration of the Black Latifa—a subtle, luminous quality of OUR TRUE NATURE that is peaceful, still, and powerful.
In a world where ideas and expressions of power are often distorted by control, aggression, or hatred, opening to the Black Latifa reveals the luminous, quiet center of our being—where true power and stillness reside.
We all feel the power of our usual way of being in the world. In spite of our own wishes, we feel pulled into negative habits of tension, agitation, and at the core hatred. Our efforts to find inner peace and stillness seem to automatically turn into futile efforts to control our own experience, or control the world outside of us.
However, what’s most real in us, our essential nature, is also powerful. When we have access to it, the power of our being quiets down the agitation of our minds easily and effortlessly. By understanding and penetrating the barriers to our essential nature, we can learn to abide in the power of being itself.
New students:
At 6 PM on Thursday, there is an introduction to the retreat for new people and anyone interested in reviewing the retreat format and practices.
For those new to the Diamond Approach, this is a great opportunity to check out the Diamond Approach in person with an ongoing, open group.
Retreat Structure
This is an ongoing retreat group in the initial stages of the Diamond Approach work called Midwest Group 4. We are meeting 4 weekends a year, with a mix of in-person and online retreats. As the group gets established, additional sessions will be added which will extend the retreat.
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.
Youth Scholarship:
If there’s anyone you know who’s under 40 and on the fence about checking out the DA, a youth scholarship application can be found at this link: https://dayouthfund.org/. It can cover part of the costs for retreats, either online or residential/in-person, 1:1 session work and can also cover child care costs!
This retreat is a vital part of our exploration into the five Lataif; a group of essential aspects that not only enrich our lives but help us build the capacity for spiritual deepening in all aspects of our development.
Most of us spend our lives within a thin layer of reality, unaware of the deeper realms of our consciousness. What we call emotional reality—the layer where most people believe human richness lies—is onion-skin deep compared to the totality of reality. Beneath this thin layer of emotions and thoughts lie indescribable beauty and freedom. Many people wander in that onion-skin layer forever, but in the inquiry process, it’s a layer we need to go through and not get stuck in. To support us in this movement into and through our emotions, reactions, and beliefs, the White or Will Essence—plays an important role.
(A.H. Almaas, Spacecruiser Inquiry, p 285)
More Information about Midwest 4 Diamond Approach Retreats
The Diamond Approach is the core teaching of the Ridhwan School (www.diamondapproach.org) and has been in existence since 1977. The method has become well known through the many books published by A.H. Almaas and the multiple opportunities currently to participate in Diamond Approach retreats throughout the world.
The Diamond Approach path, DA Upper Midwest Group 1, was first introduced at the Christine Center in 1996 by Sr. Johanna Suebert. Since then Groups 2 and 3 were also formed. This new group, DA UMW Group 4, is an open group, accepting new students for the next few years. The current teachers have been active members of the school and the DA UMW Group 1 since 1996, were ordained in 2016-2017 and live and practice in various places in the Midwest.
Meet the Teachers
Kara Vangen, MSW, CHTP, she/hers
Diamond Approach Teacher
Kara 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
Diamond Approach Teacher
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, high-school summer 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
Diamond Approach Teacher
As a student of the Diamond Approach since 1996 and teacher of the Diamond Approach since 2016, I work with individual students and I am part of the teaching team for Midwest DA group 4. My career, prior to being a Diamond Approach teacher, was in Oncology as an advanced practice nurse. From the earliest days of attending Diamond Approach retreats I have been so impacted by the open hearted sensitivity of my teachers inviting all inner places that felt so untouchable. As a teacher, I bring this love and passion, and kind holding for every unfolding and deepening truth. I enjoy life itself very much, spending time in nature, hiking, swimming, intrepid world travel, and especially, spending time with my partner and family of the heart.
2026 Retreat Dates and Venue
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March 12-15 (online)
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May 28-31 (in-person)
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September 17-20 (in-person)
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December 3-6 (online)
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