Colorado's Celestial Sangre de Cristo Mountains - 11 Day Sacred Passage Quest Retreat
Colorado ( 5/21/2010 - 5/31/2010 )
Sacred Passage

Journey to one of North America's most powerful and ancient sacred places, Crestone and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Our alpine skies are vast, clear and spacious. No pollution mars the mountains or our lungs. The Sacred Passage group training and solo sites are very easy to access with a short walk at 8500 feet. Towering above our solo camps are five 14,000-foot summits that lift above the land here - a dramatic mountain panorama rivaling the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Lovely groves of large ponderosas, aspen and cottonwood line the mountain streams; open savannahs of juniper and pinyon pine wash right up to the base of the mountains. Higher up, forests of bristlecone pine, spruce and fir clothe the slopes below the rugged, cliffy peaks. During your Awareness Training and solo you share the land with mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn antelope and beautiful black fox squirrels. Bird life abounds and Eagles circle above. A large, beautiful stream flows for more than a mile across our private, protected land where we do Sacred Passage. The stream flows crystal clear and provides superb, revitalizing drinking water for all of us.

In the late 1970's, John P. Milton moved to Crestone and was the intitial discoverer of the ancient stone meditation seats that fill the land here. An estimated two thousand such sacred stone meditation seats cluster on the Sacred Land Trust area, the largest aggregation of such sacred sites in the world. Working with Threshold's Sacred Land Trust Project, The Way of Nature is fund-raising to preserve these extraordinary sites in perpetuity. Meanwhile, those of you who choose to do Sacred Passage Awareness Training and Nature Solo here are the beneficiaries; beneficiaries of deep immersion in the Sacred View that is profoundly supported by this amazing land and its stone seats. These special sites have been used for millenia of vision questing, ceremony and prayer. Your pilgrimage here to do Sacred Passage is part of that great lineage of the Land.

Native peoples trace back their vision quests and sacred ceremonies here for over 15,000 years. Our Sacred Land Trust land is also trying to preserve the majority of these ancient and sacred vision quest sites, as well as a large kiva and courtyard complex. As mentioned above, when you do your Sacred Passage here, you join with those who have entered the Sacred Way on this land over many thousands of years. Almost everyone who comes to do a Sacred Passage feels the powerful joy and opening of Spirit that this place offers. Give your good heart to Mother Earth and Great Spirit; receive an incalculable blessing.

$1188 fee.
Teacher and Guide:
John P. Milton or Senior Way of Nature Guide

Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado - Long Mountain Retreats: 28 Day Intermediate Awareness Training or 44 Day Advanced Awareness Training
Colorado ( 8/01/2010 - 8/29/2010 )
Advanced Awareness Training
GaiaFlow
Intermediate Awareness Training

This summer's Intermediate and Advanced Awareness Trainings include powerful, Heart-opening 28 or 44 Day deep solos and personalized Awareness Trainings. Because these Trainings are such profound transformational processes, John recommends that only those consider doing the 44 Day Advanced Training who have completed most of last five years of Advanced Training Sessions with him. Those who have completed the earlier two cycles of Advanced Awareness Trainings with him are also welcome to apply. These two programs are essential components of The Way of Nature's Guide Training, certification and licensing for both NatureQuests (the 28 day solo) and Sacred Passages (the 44 Day solo).

John's Awareness Training time is integrated into both the 28 and 44 day mountain retreats. John will include weekly personalized training with each individual doing either mountain retreat.

Preparation for the powerful 44 Day retreat should include deep cultivation of all the practices taught during the five years of prior Advanced Awareness Training. This spiritual training and practice should include our past work done in Dzogchen, Bon, Buddhism, Taoism, Tantra, Native American Way, Shamanism, Vedanta - and the special training given to open the deeper levels of the Twelve Principles of Natural Liberation.

This 44 Day Mountain Retreat is an essential part of the Advanced Awareness Training.

Those interested in doing either the 28 Day Intermediate Training, or 44 Day Advanced Training Solos this year, (both are normally held in Crestone during mid-summer), should contact John directly to make special arrangements this year. The 28 Day Retreat is open to all who have done at least one full Sacred Passage with John. The 44 Day Mountain Retreat is open to all who have previously done the 28 Day Solo Retreat or the equivalent, and completed a substantial amount of the Advanced Awawreness Training Programs. John reserves the right to determine whether you are properly prepared for the deep transformational processes of either Program.

Allocating ideal space for the long mountain retreats, solos and vision quests are challenging since good long-term sites are limited, and we will be offering both 28 Day and 44 Day Awareness Training Retreat Programs. Therefore, be sure to contact us as soon as possible if you want to do either the 28 Day or 44 Day Retreat this year.

Both the 28 Day and 44 Day Mountain Retreats will be carried out in dramatically beautiful higher elevation mountain areas, between 10,000 and 12,000 feet. Surrounding peaks often lift to over 14,000 feet. Native peoples trace back their vision questing and sacred ceremony in these same places for over 15,000 years. Doing our longer Intermediate and Advanced Awareness Trainings here will join you with those who have entered the Sacred Way on this land over many thousands of years. This sacred land offers profound communion with Mother Earth, birthing of powerful joy and a deep, opening realization of Source Awareness itself.

$2250 fee for the 44 Day Program.
$1800 fee for the 28 Day Program
Teacher and Guide: John P. Milton

16 Day Advanced Awareness Training Meditation Retreat
Colorado ( 8/07/2010 - 8/22/2010 )
Advanced Awareness Training
GaiaFlow
Intermediate Awareness Training
NatureQuest
Sacred Passage

This Advanced Awareness Training meditation Retreat will focus on training in the following subjects:

1) Mahamudra & Dzogchen - Practical applications for recognition of the Natural State during this retreat's 8 Day solo; an emphasis on how to stabilize this recognition in everyday life.

2) Taoist Internal Alchemy, T'ai Chi and its applications in Sensing Hands.

3) GaiaFlow, levels One and Two

4) Working with Pan, The Nature Spirits, Devas and the Elements, Part 2 (the first part was taught at this year's Spring Retreat in the Chiricahua Mountains).

5) Advanced Two-person Dyadic Practices to help simltaneous recognition of Source Awareness in Oneself and One's Partner.

6) an interfaith immersion in the devotional paths of the Goddess, emphasizing Kali, Durga, Tara and Bagala Ma.

This meditation and energy cultivation retreat is part of our powerful, heart-opening Advanced Awareness Training. As is apparent from the above outline, this Training focuses deeply on spiritual and energy principles and practices from Dzogchen, Mahamudra, Taoist, Hindu Tantric and Western Shamanic traditions. It also introduces, for the first time, a deeper immersion in GaiaFlow - a liberating Sacred Movement system that is unique to the Way of Nature Fellowship. We will continue to deepen the GaiaFlow Training through its third, fourth and fifth levels in later retreats.

We will also go deeper with Teachings on GaiaFlow, and refining how the principles of T'ai Chi and Qi Gong Training apply to deepening GaiaFlow practice. John will also share his series of dyadic (two-person) practices that he designed to realize Source in each other, as well as in Oneself, in close relationship. This series of practices could be described as interpersonal Dzogchen, with an applied continuing view of Source as the basis for all relationships and their changes.

Eight Days in the middle of this Advanced Training will be devoted to solo Mountain Retreat to practice John's teachings at a deep level.

Our summer 2010, 16 Day session of John's Advanced Awareness Training will be held in one of North America's most powerful and ancient sacred places: Crestone and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Southern Colorado. This Advanced Training will be open to anyone who has done at least one Sacred Passage with John before, or equivalent nature-based meditation retreat work with another teacher. Both current Advanced Awareness Training Cycles 3 and 4 are encouraged to attend this AAT Summer Retreat.

Five 14,000-foot summits lift above the land here - a dramatic mountain panorama rivaling the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. For deepening our study and training together, this protected land is ideal: lovely groves of aspen and cottonwood line the mountain streams; juniper and pinyon pine meadows wash right up to the mountains. Higher, forests of bristlecone pine, spruce and fir clothe the rugged peaks. Eagles circle above. A large, clear stream flows more than a mile through the private, protected land of Gaia Sanctuary, where we do our solos and Advanced Training.

Native peoples trace back their vision questing and sacred ceremony here for over 15,000 years. An ancient name for this place is "The Corridor of Visions." Virtually all of the Advanced Training is done within the area of the "Sacred Land Trust" (also known locally as "Gaia Sanctuary") just north of Crestone - an area filled with literally 1000's of the Stone Meditation Seats first discovered by John in the early 1980's.

All those who have participated in any previous Sacred Passage or Advanced Awareness Training Retreats are welcome at this Retreat.

$1440 fee
Teacher:
John Milton

Colorado's Celestial Sangre de Cristo Mountains - 11 Day Sacred Passage Quest Retreat
Colorado ( 8/27/2010 - 9/06/2010 )
Sacred Passage

Journey to one of North America's most powerful and ancient sacred places, Crestone and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Our alpine skies are vast, clear and spacious. No pollution mars the mountains or our lungs. The Sacred Passage group training and solo sites are very easy to access with a short walk at 8500 feet. Towering above our solo camps are five 14,000-foot summits that lift above the land here - a dramatic mountain panorama rivaling the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Lovely groves of large ponderosas, aspen and cottonwood line the mountain streams; open savannahs of juniper and pinyon pine wash right up to the base of the mountains. Higher up, forests of bristlecone pine, spruce and fir clothe the slopes below the rugged, cliffy peaks. During your Awareness Training and solo you share the land with mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn antelope and beautiful black fox squirrels. Bird life abounds and Eagles circle above. A large, beautiful stream flows for more than a mile across our private, protected land where we do Sacred Passage. The stream flows crystal clear and provides superb, revitalizing drinking water for all of us.

In the late 1970's, John P. Milton moved to Crestone and was the intitial discoverer of the ancient stone meditation seats that fill the land here. An estimated two thousand such sacred stone meditation seats cluster on the Sacred Land Trust area, the largest aggregation of such sacred sites in the world. Working with Threshold's Sacred Land Trust Project, The Way of Nature is fund-raising to preserve these extraordinary sites in perpetuity. Meanwhile, those of you who choose to do Sacred Passage Awareness Training and Nature Solo here are the beneficiaries; beneficiaries of deep immersion in the Sacred View that is profoundly supported by this amazing land and its stone seats. These special sites have been used for millenia of vision questing, ceremony and prayer. Your pilgrimage here to do Sacred Passage is part of that great lineage of the Land.

Native peoples trace back their vision quests and sacred ceremonies here for over 15,000 years. Our Sacred Land Trust land is also trying to preserve the majority of these ancient and sacred vision quest sites, as well as a large kiva and courtyard complex. As mentioned above, when you do your Sacred Passage here, you join with those who have entered the Sacred Way on this land over many thousands of years. Almost everyone who comes to do a Sacred Passage feels the powerful joy and opening of Spirit that this place offers. Give your good heart to Mother Earth and Great Spirit; receive an incalculable blessing.

$1188 fee
Guide: John P. Milton

Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado, Gaia Sanctuary - 9 Day Advanced Awareness Training - Open to All of John's Students
Colorado ( 7/30/2011 - 8/07/2011 )
Advanced Awareness Training

Our summer 2011, 9 Day session of John's Advanced Awareness Training will be held in one of North America's most powerful and ancient sacred places: Crestone and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Southern Colorado. This Advanced Training will be open to anyone who has done at least one Sacred Passage with John before, or equivalent nature-based meditation retreat work with another teacher. Both current Advanced Awareness Training Cycles 3 and 4 are encouraged to attend this AAT Summer Retreat.

Five 14,000-foot summits lift above the land here - a dramatic mountain panorama rivaling the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. For deepening our study and training together, this protected land is ideal: lovely groves of aspen and cottonwood line the mountain streams; juniper and pinyon pine meadows wash right up to the mountains. Higher, forests of bristlecone pine, spruce and fir clothe the rugged peaks. Eagles circle above. A large, clear stream flows more than a mile through the private, protected land of Gaia Sanctuary, where we do our solos and Advanced Training.

Native peoples trace back their vision questing and sacred ceremony here for over 15,000 years. An ancient name for this place is "The Corridor of Visions." Virtually all of the Advanced Training is done within the area of the "Sacred Land Trust" (also known locally as "Gaia Sanctuary") just north of Crestone - an area filled with literally 1000's of the Stone Meditation Seats first discovered by John in the early 1980's.

This summer we will emphasize:
* Learning highly developed shamanic dreaming practices;
* A unique form of North American Geomancy based on the ancient meditation seats and "power places" of the Crestone area; we will also learn how to cultivate universal energy and spiritual insight with the support of these extraordinary sacred sites:
* Superior Taoist energy cultivation and inner alchemy practices for physical longevity and spiritual realization;
* Advanced meditation practices from Dzogchen, Taoism and Vedanta to realize Primordial Awareness, the unchanging Natural State that is the very root of our Being.

$999 fee.
Teacher: John P. Milton

Colorado's Celestial Sangre de Cristo Mountains - 11 Day Sacred Passage Quest Retreat
Colorado ( 8/25/2011 - 9/06/2011 )
Sacred Passage

Journey to one of North America's most powerful and ancient sacred places, Crestone and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Our alpine skies are vast, clear and spacious. No pollution mars the mountains or our lungs. The Sacred Passage group training and solo sites are very easy to access with a short walk at 8500 feet. Towering above our solo camps are five 14,000-foot summits that lift above the land here - a dramatic mountain panorama rivaling the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Lovely groves of large ponderosas, aspen and cottonwood line the mountain streams; open savannahs of juniper and pinyon pine wash right up to the base of the mountains. Higher up, forests of bristlecone pine, spruce and fir clothe the slopes below the rugged, cliffy peaks. During your Awareness Training and solo you share the land with mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn antelope and beautiful black fox squirrels. Bird life abounds and Eagles circle above. A large, beautiful stream flows for more than a mile across our private, protected land where we do Sacred Passage. The stream flows crystal clear and provides superb, revitalizing drinking water for all of us.

In the late 1970's, John P. Milton moved to Crestone and was the intitial discoverer of the ancient stone meditation seats that fill the land here. An estimated two thousand such sacred stone meditation seats cluster on the Sacred Land Trust area, the largest aggregation of such sacred sites in the world. Working with Threshold's Sacred Land Trust Project, The Way of Nature is fund-raising to preserve these extraordinary sites in perpetuity. Meanwhile, those of you who choose to do Sacred Passage Awareness Training and Nature Solo here are the beneficiaries; beneficiaries of deep immersion in the Sacred View that is profoundly supported by this amazing land and its stone seats. These special sites have been used for millenia of vision questing, ceremony and prayer. Your pilgrimage here to do Sacred Passage is part of that great lineage of the Land.

Native peoples trace back their vision quests and sacred ceremonies here for over 15,000 years. Our Sacred Land Trust land is also trying to preserve the majority of these ancient and sacred vision quest sites, as well as a large kiva and courtyard complex. As mentioned above, when you do your Sacred Passage here, you join with those who have entered the Sacred Way on this land over many thousands of years. Almost everyone who comes to do a Sacred Passage feels the powerful joy and opening of Spirit that this place offers. Give your good heart to Mother Earth and Great Spirit; receive an incalculable blessing..

$1188 fee.
Guide: John P. Milton

Sacred Earth Conference - Historical Calender Document
Colorado ( 5/19/2012 - 5/21/2012 )
Workshops and Custom Retreats

THIS HISTORICAL DOCUMENT IS INCLUDED HERE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN OUR MAY 2008 SACRED EARTH CONFERENCE - WE HOPE TO HOLD ADDITIONAL GATHERINGS OF THE SACRED EARTH CONFERENCE IN THE FUTURE.

This Inaugural Gathering in Crestone, Colorado is sponsored by our Way of Nature Fellowship, Crestone-A Sacred Earth Journal, Native American Research and Preservation, Inc. and Manitou Institute as well as Floracopea and Native Landscape Solutions. The Conference will be held at the main auditorium, Colorado College Campus in Crestone. Beginning monday morning (May 19) at 8 am, this unique three day gathering will include a special concert presentation by Paul Winter and members of his Consort of their new, 2008 Grammy-Award winning album: "Crestone." The Conference will unfold over the three days (ending after an evening presentation on shamanic sound healing by John P. Milton on wednesday, May 21) in Crestone and will focus on how to identify, commune with, and preserve our Planet's Sacred Lands. We will explore how differing cultures have each found ways to relate to the Earth as Sacred. Our Gathering will give special focus on Sacred Places and Sacred Sites in Nature. Particular emphasis at this initial sacred Earth Conference will be on the Sacred Sites of the upper Rio Grande BioRegion. At future conferences, we hope to host similar gatherings focussing on other critical bioregions of this Sacred Earth. In this spirit, we are fortunate to have Martin Gray, who will present a showing of his extraordinary visual journey through the world's sacred places.

Other presenters include: Hanne Strong's overview of the planet-wide status of sacred lands, Maria Valdez Mondragon on the sacred view of the Earth within the Hispanic Community of the Upper Rio Grande BioRegion, Lorain-Fox Davis' Native American prayers and ceremonies, Nick Standing Bear's presentation on protecting sacred sites - particularly in the Upper Rio Grande area, Peter May's sharing on home rule as a powerful way to protect sacred lands, Earth Café sessions led by Paul Shippee on how to protect the Earth as Sacred, Margaret and Ernie Wilkinson's views on grassroots education in wild Nature as a means to protect wild sacred land, and Kenny Frye's presentation on Rock Art in the San Luis Valley. We will also have presentations by Leigh Ann Phillips, Susan Pierce, Zita Xavier, Mike Snovak, Naomi Lake, Peter May, John P. Milton and David Crow - who will share on ways to work with meditation, energy cultivation, prayer, sacred sound, ceremony, natural oils and flower essences to deepen communion with the sacredness of Mother Earth. We will also be inviting contributions of ways of prayer, ceremony, and meditation to commune with Nature's sacredness from the Native American, Christian, Hindu, Tibetan Buddhist, Tibetan Bon, Taoist and Way of Nature interfaith traditions.

John P. Milton will present on The Way of Nature's approaches to meditating and cultivating universal energy with Nature as partner, teacher and Loving Mother. The role of our local Sacred Land Trust initiative will be shared as a powerful model for communities elsewhere to safeguard and honor local sacred lands as community "churches, temples and synagogues of the Earth." John will also give a presentation on his discoveries of stone meditation seats from around the world, and reveal their role in bring humanity back into greater harmony, balance and spiritual communion with Gaia and local BioRegions

The registration fee is $50 for each day of attendance.