What is Enlightenment?
Enlightenment is simply awakening to our natural state that our busy mind keeps veiled with story and ideas. Along the path to being permanently Enlightened, we can wake up on a more momentary basis. Intensives are designed specifically to support you to peer over the wall and glimpse the unforgettable truth of yourself in a few days.
Who can attend?
You do not need any previous experience in retreat or spiritual work to attend. The work is designed to be accessible for everyone. Many people come to the retreat on the road to self-realization and some are just beginning. Participants should be 18 years or older. If there are significant health concerns such as a life-threatening illness, a doctor’s note may be required to ensure you are ok to participate.
Do I need a partner to come?
The main exercise is done in dyads or pairs. You will have a new partner during every dyad exercise throughout the day. Most people come alone though couples, friends, parents/children, routinely attend retreats together. Contact Theresa for details about how this works with regards to retreat logistics.
What if I already have a practice or am part of a particular belief system?
Intensives are designed to accelerate you on your spiritual path and to not conflict with other belief systems. There is a great community of people attending Intensives around the world in support of their zen, yogic, and myriad personal growth practices. Many find after taking even one retreat their daily practice deepens significantly and becomes easier to maintain. After the retreat, participants are encouraged to develop a daily practice such as meditating or spending time in nature to maintain the open state they have created for themselves.
What will it be like?
Participants describe the character of the Salt Spring Intensive retreat space and staff as “incredibly supportive and loving”. The retreat space is beautiful and a running joke is that some people attend just for the food. Emotional safety is cultivated by professional staff who have years of background in this work; at least one trained counselor is on staff at every SSI retreat.
How common is it to have an Enlightenment experience?
All of us at sometime in our life have experienced the truth of ourselves directly. Perhaps it was a deep experience, the kind with lights and fireworks, or perhaps a subtle one that you likely skipped over due to the inherent simplicity and naturalness of the truth. During an Enlightenment Intensive about 1/3 of people have such an experience.
What is the food like?
The food is wholesome, lovely, and vegetarian; we feed you plenty. Please let us know ahead of time about any serious allergies to allow time to plan the meals around this. We will do our best to accommodate food sensitivities and special diets.
What if I can’t afford to take the retreat?
Find a way to come anyway - we will help. There are many ways in which we make the retreats available to those in need including bursaries, discounts, and work trades. Contact Theresa to inquire what is available.
Can I cancel once I have given my deposit?
A $150 deposit reserves your spot in the retreat. If there is a waitlist for the retreat you may cancel before the two-week mark and get a full refund. If you cancel within two-weeks of the retreat, your deposit may be applied to another retreat within the next year. It’s good to know as well, that when obstacles arise in the way of this work it is more often than not our ego or our Superego trying to lead us away from the truth in defense of our dependent relationship 
