August 2024 Gathering: Running Between the Raindrops

A TAT Foundation Retreat: Friday through Sunday, August 16 -18, 2024

How do we navigate the spiritual path when our usual tools and methods fail us? When we reach the end of the line and find no clear direction? Some suggest we turn to intuition, surrender, or something more subliminal . . .

Richard Rose once described the term “betweenness” by saying “I’ve heard fellows talk about ‘running between the raindrops’ – this is saying it rather crudely but it’s true: it is neither right or left; it is neither good nor bad; it is neither here nor there. It is neither nothing nor everything. It is both, but it’s neither.”

Join us in a space of Friendship while we explore this realm of subtlety and paradox, attempting to run between the raindrops, between nothing and everything.

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The registration deadline for TAT’s August Spiritual Retreat Weekend is Wednesday, August 14.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, August 16, 2024

• 5:00 to 7:30pm Setup and arrivals
• 7:45 to 9:00pm Welcome, interactive introductions
• 9pm to ? Free time/informal discussion

Saturday, August 17, 2024

• 7:30 to 8:00am Meditation
• 8:15 to 9:30am Potluck breakfast/open discussion
• 9:45 to 10:00am Welcome, introductions, splitting into groups                   
• 10:15 to 11:30am Workshop 1
• 11:30 to noon Break
• Noon to 1:30pm Potluck lunch/open discussion
• 1:45 to 3pm Workshop 2
• 3:00 to 3:30pm Break
• 3:30 to 5:00pm Seeker-led sessions with whole group
• 5:00 to 5:30pm Break
• 5:30 to 6:30pm Potluck dinner/open discussion
• 6:30 to 7pm Break
• 7:00 to 8:15pm Breakout groups for group inquiry
• 8:30 to 9:15pm Rapport sitting
• 9:15 to ? Free time/informal discussion

Sunday, August 18, 2024

• 7:30 to 8am Meditation
• 8:15 to 9:30am Potluck breakfast/open discussion
• 9:45 to 11am Workshop 3
• 11:00 to 11:30 Wrap-up and feedback
• 11:30 to noon – Check out of rooms
• Noon to 1:30 Potluck lunch/open discussion

Paul’s Workshop – “No Religion Greater Than Friendship”

Paul Constant’s fascinations and explorations are directed toward uncovering the mysteries of life and ourselves. Of late, his spiritual interests include balancing the natural intelligence of our body, the wisdom and resourcefulness of our mind, and the feeling-sense of our Heart. Listen to a September 2016 podcast interview of Paul Constant on SpiritualTeachers.org. For the past 30 years, Paul has expressed his love for Truth by facilitating retreats, leading rapport sittings, serving as a TAT Foundation member, and studying with Richard Rose during 1985-1995. Paul and his wife live in Pennsylvania.

Join Paul in his workshop, exploring the role of spiritual friendship when we become stuck or appear to have ‘run out of railroad tracks’. What does it mean to help others? All too often, we enthusiastically follow a spiritual path of self inquiry and embrace the rigors of self-discipline, yet we often side-step the need to work with fellow seekers, perhaps avoiding others who hold different opinions. Paul’s presentation will examine the ultimate friendship, its place in Richard Rose’s three-fold path, and the perils faced by the solitary seeker.

A Quote:
“A subtler but more powerful aspect of spiritual friendship manifests as the “x” factor.  The “x” factor is conditional on one criterion: a deep sincerity for wanting to know our true nature.  When seekers gather with such intentions, most feel a palpable something in the air or in themselves.  If the bonds run deep enough, we become less selfish by putting the wellbeing of others first.  The “x” factor then evolves into the “x2″ (x squared) factor—the palpability becomes exponential.  If only for a few moments, friends disappear through the vastness of their hearts into something much grander than all our sweat, tears, and confusion.  Our friendship becomes Love…”

Mike’s Workshop – “Death in the Mind’s Eye”

Mike Gegenheimer met Richard Rose in Pittsburgh in the fall of 1972. A freshman science and engineering student, Mike was interested in “the unknown” and the nature of existence. He worked with Rose and other students in Pittsburgh during college and moved to the Rose farm following graduation. Rose’s teachings, insights from several rapport sessions, and a few TAT members were a lifeline during a 15 year hiatus from serious group work during which he married and had a family. Returning to TAT with renewed commitment in 2000, his search ended with an intense realization during a rapport session at the April 2019 TAT meeting. A brief description can be found at www.searchwithin.org/. Mike remains active in the TAT Foundation and recently co-authored with Shawn Nevins, Passages: An Introduction and Commentary on Richard Rose’s Albigen System.

Join Mike as we explore death as a block to going inward. The individual’s concern about death and motivation for survival are not far below the surface and are strongly felt if not acknowledged. Yet, we all look away as the band plays on while the ship sinks. Let us try, together, as friends in a lifeboat to accept the inevitability of death; to look with intensity and feel with our most sensitive feeling-sense, the invitation towards awareness.

A Poem:

Silence
 
If I could convey what I wish to share,
It would not be in words to convey a concept to the mind,
It would not be in a feeling to engender a reaction of the mind and body,
It would be in silence.
Beyond words, beyond feeling, beyond mind, beyond what you believe yourself to be,
Sharing what is always present, You, silently watching.
Simply ask for one thing, discern the false hope that something will survive of what you believe
yourself to be, which is as transient as the days witnessed
By You, silently watching.

Shawn’s Workshop – What is the Moment Telling you, Right Now?

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 by Mike Gegenheimer. Shawn and his wife live in the San Francisco Bay area.

Join Shawn as we experiment with ways to stop spinning the story of self, and as Rick Rubin says, “Look for what you notice but no one else sees.” 

A Poem:

Turn away my love.
I was with you from the beginning.
I was always behind you
And in front.
Yet you will only see me in the full light
Of the turning
Between this and that.

From: Where Once I Was Empty, Now I Am Full

 

Location, Facilities, and Lodging

The event is being held at the new TAT Center near Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, USA. The 5,500 square foot Center is situated on a beautiful 15-acre site. It is only 50 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

We ask that attendees respect the health of other attendees. If you think you’ve got something contagious, whether that be a cold, flu, or whatever, please use your common sense, think of others, and stay home. Refunds will be issued on request. Masks will be available at the TAT Center if needed.

There are a few (less than 15) on-site beds available. Sleeping accommodations include new, comfortable twin-size beds, linens, pillows, and blankets in bedrooms shared with 1 or 2 people. All bathrooms are shared and towels are provided. The capacity of the water system is suitable for the meeting and as there are three showers available during the weekend, we will schedule time slots for those at the TAT Center as you arrive.

If you are interested in on-site lodging, please select “lodging” when registering in addition to the retreat fee. Please understand there are a limited number of beds available on site. Contact us directly if there are no lodging spots available when you register and you would like one if possible, as there are occasionally spots that become available.

Costs

The fees per person for TAT members are as follows:

$90 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:

$130 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 14, 2024. 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 14th. Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a confirmation message with additional information. You may cancel your registration on or before August 12th and receive a refund minus processing fees. Cancellations after August 14th will not be refunded. Because ADA-compliant facilities are limited, persons with a disability should contact TAT Foundation events before registering.

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

The following overnight accommodations are a 20-to-30 minute drive from the TAT Center:

• Americas Best Value Inn Roxboro, 1006 N Madison Blvd, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-9276
• Budget Inn Roxboro, 1033 N Madison Blvd, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-3151
• Hampton Inn Roxboro, 920 Durham Road Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-8800
• Holiday Inn Express Hillsborough, 202 Cardinal Drive , Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 (919) 644-7997
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hillsborough, 120 Old Dogwood Street Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 (919) 245-3102
• Quality Inn Roxboro, 906 Durham Rd, Roxboro, NC 27573 (336) 599-3800

You may also try searching Airbnb or VRBO for accommodations in the Roxboro, Hillsborough, or Hurdle Mills areas.