Becoming Your Own Authority

A TAT Foundation In-Person Gathering

June 27 – 29, 2025

A TAT Foundation Seeker-Led Retreat

Becoming Your Own Authority

Since its founding in 1973 by Richard Rose, TAT has sponsored numerous events that offer a remarkable gathering of seekers, finders, and friends.

 Please join us for TAT’s annual June event for a weekend of exploration, sharing, and questioning. Together, we will look at…
 
Becoming One’s Own Spiritual Authority
1.    Seeing the Actual Versus the Conceptual, and
2: Working with Fellow Seekers on the Path
 
TAT Founder Richard Rose advised seekers to work with others in order to expedite their progress. The benefit of helping others and being helped by others who are on a level similar to our own – Mr. Rose called, “the Law of the Ladder.” Becoming your own authority means looking for yourself; no one can do that for you. Yet our peers on the path are a great resource in overcoming whatever might stand in the way of such looking. This journey involves developing self-awareness, trust in intuition, and increasing reliance on our direct personal experiences. In this seeker-led weekend, we explore approaches that have helped others clear obstacles to seeing within to a direct knowing for ourselves. Join us at the beautiful, historic Claymont property for a weekend of meditation, rapport, group inquiry and presentations from seekers sharing from their own experience.

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The registration deadline for TAT’s June Spiritual Retreat Weekend is Wednesday, June 25.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, June 27, 2025

• 5:00 – 7:30 PM — Arrival, Check-in & Community Setup
• 7:30 – 9:30 PM — Breakout Group: “What does ‘Becoming Your Own Authority’ mean to you?”

Saturday, June 28, 2025

• 7:30 – 8:00 AM — Awakening the Body: Gentle Movement or Walking Meditation
• 8:00 – 8:30 AM — Silent Meditation
• 8:30 – 9:30 AM — Shared Breakfast & Open Dialogue
• 9:30 – 09:45 AM — Opening Remarks & Welcome
• 9:45 – 11:00 AM — “Spiritual Awakening and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)” -Eric B.
• 11:00 – 11:15 AM — Journaling Prompt: “What have I been unwilling to face within myself?”
• 11:15 – 12:15 PM — Breakout Group: “What Do I Want Out of Life?”
• 12:30 – 1:30 PM — Potluck Lunch
• 1:30 – 1:45 PM — Silent Re-entry / Personal Journaling
• 1:45 – 3:15 PM — “Mace Energy Method” -Eric M.
• 3:15 – 3:30 PM — Break
• 3:30 – 5:00 PM — “How Intuitive Are You?” -Jane F.
• 5:00 – 5:30 PM — Break
• 5:45 – 7:00 PM — Potluck Dinner
• 7:00 – 7:15 PM — Reconvene
• 7:15 – 8:00 PM — Healing Music & Movement
• 8:00 — Free time

Sunday, June 29, 2025

• 7:30 – 8:00 AM — Movement or Walking Meditation
• 8:00 – 8:30 AM — Silent Meditation
• 8:30 – 9:30 AM — Light Breakfast & Morning Check-in
• 9:30 – 10:45 AM — “We are not what we think. What’s beneath words and thinking?” -Hardy M.
• 10:45 – 11:00 AM — Journaling Prompt: “What practice or principle from this weekend do I want to live out?”
• 11:00 – 11:45 PM — “Becoming My Own Authority” -Mark W.
• 11:45 – 12:00 PM — Retreat Closing Circle & Feedback Sharing
• 12:15 – 2:00 PM — Farewell Potluck Lunch & Open Dialogue 

 

Location, Facilities, and Lodging

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 June 25, 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, June 25^th. Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a confirmation message with additional information. You may cancel your registration on or before June 25^th and receive a refund minus processing fees. Cancellations after November 6th 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.