Restorative Frequently Asked Questions

Who Should Come to this Retreat?

Those who feel called!! If you are new to earth-based spirituality and magic, come with the open mind and heart of the Fool to learn the elements of magic, spell work and ritual. If you have been practicing for years, come and reconnect to the wisdom of the Fool in a gorgeous and restorative setting. If you want to simply rest and reflect around the swimming pool or make art in the art house, you are welcome to come and do that. A big part of the magic of this event is in who shows up. If you are called, you are part of the magic.

Who is putting it on?

We are a group of teachers and practitioners of earth-based spirituality and magic. The majority of us have been involved with a feminist spirituality tradition called Reclaiming which started in the early 1980's. We have taught classes in the Bay Area for many years on a variety of spiritual and magical topics. Many of us have also taught nationally, and internationally, at Reclaiming "witchcamps"; week-long intensives teaching earth-based spirituality, magic and ritual.

Besides being involved in Reclaiming, we also include priestesses of the Feri and Gardnerian traditions and those whose spiritual practices are informed and enhanced by Buddhism, Hinduism, and other traditions.

We work collectively by consensus process and are committed to structural and financial transparency, believing that openness about whom and what we are is part of the magic of creating a culture of beauty, balance, and delight.

How did it come to be?

After years of teaching spiritual intensives, we are interested in what it would be like to teach magic with the intent of deepening our practice within the spirit of restoration. Finding Four Springs, with its library, art house, meditation room, meadow, woodlands, and swimming pool, we knew we had found a place where restoration and reflection could occur. A magical intent we have is for participants to take that spirit back out into a world that desperately needs less human intensity and more restoration, reflection and balance.

What can I expect?

Dropping expectations is part of being a Fool. We know there will be plenty of offerings to delight in a setting alive with magic. There will be ritual, spell making, art, and relaxation. There will be good food, woods to hike in, and sacred lounging around a big pool.

Sex, Drugs and ....... ?

We believe that we are all our own spiritual authority and as such, we all make our own decisions about what we do with our bodies. We also want to create a space that is respectful to those in recovery and where we honor our ability to create a powerful change in consciousness with magic alone. We know from experience that doing ritual with people who are drunk or stoned is annoying. We suggest that for the short time of the retreat you abstain from any intoxicants other than the life-changing, mind blowing, heart opening art of magic. As the Wiccan rede advises, "Do what you will, but harm none." Whatever you do, be respectful to others, to yourself, and to the magic we are creating.

We like sex. You could even say its part of our religion. We know that creating a space where we name our bodies as divine, we open to experiencing sexuality as sacred. We know that when we do magic out in nature, Eros always shows up. We know that for every person who is learning to say yes, another person is learning to say no. Some of us have history where sex and power have been tangled up in hurtful ways. The Pagan spiritual community has not been immune to abuses of power in the sexual arena. There's an exception to every rule, and we don't really like rules, being happier with guidelines. We don't have rules about sex, but we do have the guideline that our actions strive to be in alignment with our values, and we, as teachers and organizers, value creating a climate of fun, openness, and respect around sex, where abuses of power are challenged and named.

So, after all these answers to potential questions, we have a question for you. We believe in magic and we trust it. We know that there is magic in who is called to follow the Fool and come to this retreat. Is it you?