"Of our many identities, our cosmological identity is a natural fact. Learning to become this identity is the primary purpose of living."

~ Thomas Berry

A workshop inspired by the work of Thomas Berry to explore the nature of the cosmic self. Geologian and orienteer of "The Great Work," Thomas Berry has said that the existential challenge of our time is to "reinvent the human" beyond the arrestment of our current technological contractions and our personal identity constructions to recover our "ecological self." Our existence – and that of Earth – depends on our willingness to become the Greater Self – indeed, to become the cosmic self.

This workshop is a daring exploration of how we might take up Berry's challenge guided by dialogue partners who work to serve this evolutionary mandate: an eco-psychologist and an eco-spiritual teacher, both committed to developing skillful means to evoke and explore our cosmic senses and restore our capacity to be deeply present to and engaged with the "communion of subjects" with whom we make our common home.

We invite those who desire to break-through to this "cosmic self" to join us for a day of adventuresome experimentation withi Earth intimacy practices intended to heal our human estrangement and return us into kinship with all our relations in our one cosmic home.

Date/Time: Sunday September 17, 2023 from 10am to 3pm.

Presenters: Scott Thompson, MDiv, MS, LMHC, NCC and Kathleen Deignan, CND, PhD

Fee: $35 (includes program and lunch)

Weekend Retreat Special Offer*

Weekend Fee* (Friday, September 15th to 17th): $250 (Includes the Fostering New Relationships on Turtle Island, Friday, Sept. 15 & Saturday, Sept. 16,Becoming Cosmo: Experiential Workshop to Explore the Cosmic Selfon Sunday, with Friday and Saturday night accommodations and all meals through Sunday lunch.

*Please note that we offer a combined Special Weekend Retreat Offer fee of $250 if you attend this program, in addition to Fostering New Relationships on Turtle Island, starting Friday, Sept. 15 through Saturday, Sept. 16 at 4pm. Here's a link to the event on our website: https://centeratmariandale.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/calendar/event/1214

About the Presenters:

Scott Thompson, MDiv, MS, LMHC, NCC during his 35-year career, he has maintained a private psychotherapy practice and directed mental health training programs in Manhattan. Scott has presented at local, national, and international workshops and spent his professional career integrating psychological and spiritual approaches to helping others. Scott has also served as the Co-Chair for the Board of the Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis and board member of The Center for Spirituality and Psychotherapy of The National Institute for the Psychotherapies. In addition to state licensure, he holds Master's Degrees in Science and Divinity. He founded and directs Hudson Valley Psychosynthesis, which offers training to professionals and ongoing workshops for the public. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kathleen Deignan, CND, PhD a sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame, joined the faculty of the Religious Studies Department at Iona in 1981, where she founded the Iona Peace and Justice Studies Program and the Iona Peace Institute in Ireland (1988-1995). She is also the founding director of the Iona Spirituality Institute, which sponsors a variety of programs for spiritual development. Dr. Deignan received her master's degree in the History of Christian Spirituality and her doctorate in Historical Theology from Fordham University in New York, where she studied with her mentor, the late geologian, Father Thomas Berry, one of the great inspirations of her life and ministry. After his death, she and The Conveners founded The Thomas Berry Forum for Ecologic/al Dialogue at Iona.