GilChrist

08/19/2026

“Imagination is evidence of the divine,” wrote poet and visionary William Blake more than 200 years ago. Join this retreat (October 16-18) to explore an embodied experience of imagination and creativity, blending yoga and body movement with writing practices. Early-bird pricing ends September 30!

https://gilchristretreatcenter.org/events/writing-from-the-body/

07/16/2026

Thick haze from wildfires in Canada reminds us that we are all connected.

07/02/2026

Throwback Thursday! We found this note in the archives, describing the design of the front doors of WindHill that greet each guest who enters.
The message reads: "The design of the leaded glass in the front doors is a representation of the well lid from the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, England.
The two interlocking circles are ancient in origin. The Early Christian Church called the central oval the Vesica Piscis. In this design, the symbol of Christ holds in balance the Visible and the Invisible Worlds as they interlock with each other. The two circles also represent the meeting of the Conscious and the Unconscious, the Heart and the Mind, and the Feminine and Masculine Natures.
We hope that all who enter GilChrist will discover this eternal balance in their lives."

You can find out more about the Chalice Well here: https://chalicewell.org.uk/

06/22/2026

🌈 Reminder: One more week to submit your proposal to lead a group retreat in 2027! Requests submitted by June 30 get priority consideration as we begin to put together the calendar for next year.

Find more info here: https://gilchristretreatcenter.org/plan-your-visit/host-a-group/

06/17/2026

June blooms. 🏵

06/10/2026

This immersive experience from Emergence Magazine was shared by a Fetzer Institute colleague at a recent meeting, and we just had to share it here! Take a moment to breathe and remember our deep connection to trees, birds, insects, earth, and air.

An immersive experience of shared breath with the Amazon rainforest.

06/03/2026

Springtime friends.

05/31/2026

Everyone deserves rest… cats included!

05/27/2026

🌳Please excuse our dust: we're doing some tree work around a couple of cabins for safety during heavy storms, and to increase air flow around the buildings. We'll be planting native bushes and understory plants to fill in the open areas. Guests in Karuna and Jeremiah may see some evidence of machinery and get a little more sunshine! 🔆

05/25/2026

We have Mark Nepo's books of poetry in our library, and he has long been connected to GilChrist and The Fetzer Institute. Check out this reading event on May 28 if you're in the Kalamazoo area!

Hear Mark Nepo read passages from his new book, The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life, and participate in a discussion with the author.