Latest:
Events

August TAT Meeting 2025

Jim Gillespie

The Journey Back to Self

A TAT Foundation In-Person Gathering

August 22nd-24th 

Claymont Mansion, West Virginia

A TAT Foundation Retreat

“The journey back to Self is a loosening of the hypnotic spell with the life-play we’re watching. As we’re able to take in more and more of the mind movement, it’s as if we were backing up the projected ray of light. Eventually the hypnotic spell breaks entirely, and we find ourselves back in full recognition of what we truly are.”

-Art Ticknor, Sense of Self: The Source of All Existential Suffering?

Since its founding in 1973 by Richard Rose, the TAT Foundation has hosted events that offer a rare opportunity for deep spiritual exploration among fellow seekers.

Join us this August for a weekend of honest inquiry and shared presence as we explore The Journey Back to Self. This retreat invites us to see through the spell of everyday life, to become more aware of the mind’s subtle movements, and to turn inward toward the deeper truth of what we are.

Over the course of the weekend, we’ll be guided by both new and seasoned voices offering sessions grounded in meditation, self-inquiry, and direct experience. One extended offering will serve as a mini-retreat, encouraging deep presence and insight. Another session will invite us into a more surrendered, paradoxical way of seeing—pointing, beyond striving, to stillness. We’ll also hear from a longtime spiritual teacher whose creative work—through books, film, and dialogue—has helped illuminate the path of Self-realization for many.

The weekend will include group dialogue, walking meditation, quiet time for reflection, and moments of heartfelt connection with fellow seekers. Held at the peaceful, historic Claymont property, this is a chance to pause, look within, and remember what truly matters. Whether you are new to the spiritual search or returning to it with renewed sincerity, we welcome you.

Join us at the historic Claymont property for a weekend of honest looking, open sharing, and the chance to meet others walking the same path. 

Click the RSVP button below or HERE to register

The registration deadline for TAT’s June Spiritual Retreat Weekend is Wednesday, August 20.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, August 22, 2025

  • 5:00 to 7:30 pm Setup and arrivals
  • 7:30 to 7:45 Welcome / Opening Session
  • 7:45 to 8:45 Breakout Group
  • 8:45 to ? Free time

Saturday, August 23, 2025

  • 7:30 to 8:00 am Optional meditation session
  • 8:00 to 8:30 Break / breakfast setup
  • 8:30 to 9:00 Breakfast
  • 9:00 to 9:30 Clean up
  • 9:30 to 9:45 Welcome      
  • 9:45 to 11:15 Filo Sophie King (see bio)
  • 11:15 to 12:30 pm Breakout Group
  • 12:30 to 1:00 Break / lunch setup
  • 1:00 to 1:30 Lunch
  • 1:30 to 2:00 Clean up
  • 2:00 to 6:00 Jayaprabha Mare King (see bio)
  • 6:00 to 6:30 Break / dinner setup
  • 6:30 to 7:00 Dinner
  • 7:00 to 7:30 Clean up
  • 7:30 to 8:30 Dynamic Meditation
  • 8:30 to … Free time

Sunday, August 24, 2025

  • 7:30 to 8:00 am Optional meditation session
  • 8:00 to 8:30 Break / breakfast setup
  • 8:30 to 9:00 Breakfast
  • 9:00 to 9:30 Clean up
  • 9:30 to 10:30  Jayaprabha Mare King (see bio)
  • 10:30 to 11:30 Shawn Nevins (see bio)
  • 11:30 to 11:45 Weekend wrap-up
  • 11:45 to 12:00 noon Break / lunch setup
  • 12:00 to 12:30 Lunch
  • 12:30 to 1:00 … End

Meet our featured presenters:

Filo Sophie King

(a pseudonym), is one of many unpretentious, extraordinary people doing their part as friends along the path to spiritual awakening. He is the author of “Imaginary Conversations with Imaginary People: Awakening to the Unspeakable through Enlightened Dialogue.”
“What you think of as nothing is in truth, everything.”
“Remember it is all only a dream.”
“Realize that what you want is not up to you, and will never be achieved by you, even though it is what you are.”
“See that everything has already happened, and yet nothing has happened.”
“Accept your destiny, whatever it is and however long it takes.”
“Surrender, yet keep going, for love.”
-Filo Sophie King

Jayaprabha Mare King,

whose name means “Light of Victory,” who was given this title by her teacher Amritanandamayi (Amma) as both recognition and encouragement in her spiritual journey. Since 1995, she has dedicated herself to a meditative and yogic lifestyle, fostering deep self-inquiry, awareness, and transformation, which ultimately led to the founding of the Vital Life Center, a center of awakening consciousness in 2008.

Shawn Nevins

“fell onto the spiritual path in 1990,” had an enlightenment experience in 1999, and since then has enjoyed making films, writing, and working with the TAT Foundation. His creative endeavors include the book The Celibate Seeker and the film Closer Than Close — an acclaimed documentary on Self-realization. Shawn is also the author of Images of Essence with photos by Bob Fergeson, Subtraction: The Simple Math of Enlightenment, Hydroglyphics: Reflections on the Sacred with photos by Phaedra Greenwood, and Passages: An Introduction and Commentary on Richard Rose’s Albigen System co-authored with Mike Gegenheimer. Shawn and his wife live in the San Francisco Bay area.

Location, Facilities, and Lodging

Claymont's great barn meeting room

The event is being held at the Claymont Mansion near Charles Town in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. The Mansion’s presence mixes perfectly with 350 private acres of forests and farmland. Sleeping accommodations include a mixture of single and double beds with dormitory style bathrooms. Claymont provides towels and bed linens for overnight guests (guests make and strip their own beds). During the registration process, we will do our best to accommodate room preferences, but all guests should expect to share sleeping quarters and bathrooms with other participants.

The Claymont Mansion is located at 577 Claymont Mansion Rd., Charles Town WV, 25414. Claymont is 50 miles/60 minutes from the Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C. Travel directions to Claymont Mansion.

Costs

The fees per person for TAT members are as follows:

$175 for members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in Claymont’s Mansion, or
$115 for members who arrange alternative lodging; this includes meeting registration and on-site camping if desired. Camping is informal—no hook-ups or restrooms.

The non-member fees per person are:

$235 for non-members, which includes meeting registration and overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday in Claymont’s Mansion, or
$165 for non-members who arrange alternative lodging; this includes meeting registration and on-site camping if desired. Camping is informal—no hook-ups or restrooms.

Full-time students should contact TAT Foundation events for information on discounted registration fees.

If cost is a serious issue that will make or break your attendance, please let us know. We do not want someone to refrain from attending for reasons of cost.

Event registration closes on Wednesday August 20, 2025. To Register:

To register for the event, please click the button below! This will take you to our membership platform where you can register for the event. If you have any trouble registering, please contact us directly so we can help!

If you would like to become a member prior to registering for the event, please visit our membership page where you can learn more and join as a member.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, August 20th. Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a confirmation message with additional information. You may cancel your registration on or before August 20th and receive a refund minus processing fees. Cancellations after August 20th will not be refunded. Because ADA-compliant facilities are limited, persons with a disability should contact TAT Foundation events before registering.

Click the RSVP button below or HERE to register

Meals

Meals are potluck style for Saturday and Sunday continental breakfasts, Saturday and Sunday lunches, and Saturday dinner.  If you are already a TAT member, please help our meal planning team by visiting our potluck contributions page at PerfectPotluck. We ask that each TAT member bring 2 items, totaling about $20. A good rule of thumb is to bring enough food to serve 7 people with each item. 

All meals are included for non-members, but non-members are also welcome to bring potluck contributions by using PerfectPotluck. Sorry, we cannot reduce fees for those who prefer to bring their own food. TAT will provide coffee and tea.

Off-Site Lodging

For those who register using the alternative (off-site) lodging option, the following overnight accommodations are located near the Claymont Society:

  • Americas Best Value Inn, 807 Willow Spring Dr, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-2041
  • Carriage Inn Bed & Breakfast, 417 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV (800) 867-9830
  • Hampton Inn and Suites, 157 Pimlico Drive, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-2200
  • Holiday Inn Express Hotel Ranson, 681 Flowing Springs Road, Ranson, WV (304) 725-1330
  • Northgate Inn, 106 Jefferson Terrace Rd, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-1402
  • The Inn at Charles, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV (304) 885-5800
  • Towne House Motor Lodge, 642 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-8441
  • Turf Motel, 741 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV (304) 725-2081

You may also try searching Airbnb or VRBO for accommodations in the Charles Town or Ranson areas.