Action, Reflection and Celebration come together to nurture the spirit in those who
look inward for health in body and soul while reaching outward to foster positive change in the world.
“This place has brought me such peace and serenity.”
“I am thankful that I know there is a place of respite where I can come and find guidance for my life.”
“Unbelievable joy and goodness fill my soul when I am here. ARC is a true gem and anchors me, giving me hope and blessings.”
“The extravagant welcome and authentic spirit of all at the ARC restore and feed me on my journey.”
Inspire
Experience
Spiritual
Renewal
Inspire
Experience
Spiritual
Renewal
Purpose
Explore Your
Purpose
In The World
Purpose
Explore Your
Purpose
In The World
Experience
Enjoy the
Spiritual
Nature
of Life
Experience
Enjoy the
Spiritual
Nature
of Life
Sacred Space
Enter
Sacred
Space
Sacred Space
Enter
Sacred
Space
Hospitality
Be Welcomed With
Radical
Hospitality
Hospitality
Be Welcomed With
Radical
Hospitality
ARC Updates
ARC Updates
The Unruly Woman comes to ARC!
the Great Escape Retreat in October.
COMMUNITY REUNION Retreat:
THE HEART OF ARC
Sept 7 to 9, 2018
ARC Updates
Community Positions Open!
We're inviting new members into our residential intentional community. Community members live-on-site full time, provide radical hospitality for guests and contribute to all aspects of running ARC Retreat Center, while engaging in their own spiritual practice with the support of an amazing community.
Volunteers Needed to help with upcoming groups!
![I've always found that when asking the big questions (or even the little ones), the trees will guide us to the answer. They have so much wisdom, whether or not we choose to listen.
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We have an abundance of life that was given to keep the lodge cozy and warm this winter. Our volunteers who help split and haul wood contribute so vividly to our mission of inviting people to experience the spiritual nature of life.
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[image description: first image, a neatly stacked pile of logs. second image, a pile of logs by the woodshed waiting to be cut and stacked]
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#volunteerhere #volunteeropportunities #mn #natureisspiritual #spiritualretreat #retreatcenter](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5bb62384edce67687936e4c5/1538663308072/)
![The last harvest before the first hard frost included these little jalapenos 🌶️ Some had turned bright red already, and some were still green, yet they all needed to be picked. There's always talk of meeting others where they're at and letting them grow at their own pace. This is wonderful and necessary. Also, say the same to yourself. Allow yourself to ripen when you're ready. No sooner, no later.
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[image description: close up picture of a red jalapeno with a green one out of focus in the foreground]
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#meetpeoplewheretheyare #meetyourselfwhereyouare #spiritualgrowth #spiritualwork #retreatcenter](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5bb0d585a6525a8e5c086fb8/1538315659593/)
![autumn brings out the warm, colorful side in so many of us. which teas are you drinking and which books are you reading during this cozy season? 🍁
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[image description: close up of an eye-shaped, spiky leaf changing colors]
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#autumn #transformation #cozy #fallequinox #spiritualretreat #retreatcenter #reflection](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5ba518fc469ba00537319a47/1537546509086/)
![Folding the laundry and thinking about the changing of the seasons. Waiting for the crunchy, colorful leaves. The frost replacing the dew. The apple, pumpkin, squash and cinnamon scents wafting throughout the house. The cool, cozy weather. A time of turning inward. #thejoysofcontemplativelife
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[image description: the top of a top-loading washing machine covered in various folded rags, towels, and aprons in autumn colors]
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#contemplativelife #community #choresasmeditation #mariekondo #foldwithlove #meditation #behindthescenesatARC](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b9e812b5ebcd55836cf7838/1537114420397/)
![I came across this curious critter on a walk yesterday. Dragonflies symbolize renewal and transformative change. Is there anything transformational happening in your life right now?
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[image description: a reddish dragonfly on a stick in focus with the background out of focus. It's either a Sympetrum obtrusum, Sympetrum pallipes, or Sympetrum vicinum. I can't quite narrow it down just from the one picture. Any dragonfly experts out there?]
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#dragonfly #dragonflysymbolism #insectsofinstagram #retreatcenter #restandrenewal #transformation](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b993de8a8d7a5e38b2bf447/1536769536632/)
![We're so excited to welcome home former community members for a reunion retreat this weekend, and they get to be the first group with the new flooring in!
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First picture is from this afternoon. Second picture is from this morning. Third picture is from two days ago. Fourth picture is the old carpet that so many of us were excited about tearing out. We sure can accomplish a lot when we work as a team.
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[image description: 1. ARC living room with furniture and cozy lighting, 2. Newly finished flooring in ARC living room 3. Reflooring in progress in ARC living room (shot from third floor) 4. Old carpet]
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#growth #change #renewal #arcretreatcenter #spiritualretreat #newfloorsfinally](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b9316493fde6a64ab709b5c/1536366160930/)
![We always leave little bits and pieces of ourselves wherever we go. Even if one's presence isn't directly seen, it's felt in the cracked and muddied earth we walk on.
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[image description: first image is approximately 8 deer tracks in the cracked mud, second image is a close up of one of the deer tracks]
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#deertracking #animaltracks #decolonizenatureconnection #nature #spiritualretreat #retreatcenter #livehere #workexchange](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b8fef15ee37e013ff8c43e4/1536159514364/)
![The wildflowers we planted in the labyrinth under the full moon this spring are finally blooming!
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[image description: 3 photos of wildflowers with grass and labyrinth stones in the background. the first is purple, the second is pink, and the third is yellow and maroon]
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#wildflowers #savethebees #retreatcenter #labyrinth #growth](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b8ab430577270d729119545/1535816758120/)
![Last night was another beautiful full moon, and it reminded me that us humans aren't alone in our experience of creation and being. We all experience change and transformation. 🌛
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[image description: light painting / long exposure photo using the moon as a light source]
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#fullmoon #themoon #ilovethemoon #longexposure #spiritualretreatcenter #spiritualretreat #retreatcenter](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b83fe0ed535547628fa977a/1535376919796/)
![A little spider friend has been protecting the lodge for a couple weeks now. I always find there's so much more beauty when I just look a little closer.
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[image description: close up shot of the underside of a gray, brown, and black fuzzy spider hanging out on their web]
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#spider #protector #payattention #getcloser #spiritualretreatcenter](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b8035087f09c6b86a43e334/1535128846048/)
![We got to meet the chickens who lay our eggs! 🐓
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As mundane as it might seem, where you buy eggs (or anything really!) can be so magickal and rooted in spirit.
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First is the power of choice. Everyone has a choice who they support, although some have more choice than others, which is certainly a privilege that not everyone has access to.
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Second is the relationships formed. We know the person we're financially supporting; we know some of the chickens' names (my favorite was Copper); and we have incredible conversations with our guests over mealtimes where we often serve eggs in various forms.
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Third is the act of simplifying. When we decide that all the extra steps between when a chicken lays their egg and when we hold the egg in our hands aren't necessary (being washed, packaged in styrofoam, and shipped halfway across the country), there's a beautiful peace of mind. We get our eggs from 4 miles away (also farm eggs are usually beautiful colors!)
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Anything else you can think of that making buying eggs a spiritual experience?
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PS - if you're in the Grandy/Stanchfield area and want local eggs, send us a dm and we can hook you up with our egg lady!
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[image description: first image is 17 chickens and roosters hanging out near the bush by their coop. second image is the barn with a tractor and a trailer of hay bales in front. third image is one of the roosters with a few hens nearby.]
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#buylocal #supportsmallbusiness #farmeggs #fresheggs #themagickalandthemundane #everythingisspiritual #retreatcenter #prayhere](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b7d7845010685a893bd3fba/1534949460506/)
![I'm trying to bring the vibrancy I find out in nature into my life (just like these tomatoes fresh from our garden!) I'm especially working on engaging my body to feel more genuine when interacting with others (and myself!) [image description: first image is many small red tomatoes that have been picked. second image is a couple tomatoes still in the vine]
#nature #tomatoes #gardening #spiritualretreatcenter #bodywork #spiritualnourishmentstartswithourbodies #spiritualawakening](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5841a6373e00be8bcf7a7d5a/59b2bda5a8b2b050d1cc10b4/5b797fe25772704782700419/1534689259294/)