Healing, Belonging and Kinning

Boundless in Motion is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a trauma-informed meditation community based in Boulder (Colorado). We are building a spiritually rooted movement towards climate action, racial equity and respect for all life on our planet. We host retreats that are at the interface of inner healing (through meditation and grief/rage sharing circles) and outer strategic actions for climate and social justice. This retreat “Healing, Belonging and Kinning” will be hosted by Kritee Kanko and Imtiaz Rangwala (the two co-founders of Boundless in Motion sangha who are also Zen Buddhist teachers and climate scientists) in deep collaboration with our dear friend Bianca Acosta.

If you feel burnt out and/or overwhelmed and need to recharge in an emotionally safe space in the mountains of Colorado where we gently witness and honor each other’s experience; if you feel silence, meditation, movement, empathetic emotional connection with others and extended solo time in “wilderness” can help release traumas lodged in our bodies; if you think everything in this world could be imbued with intelligence and sentience and we can belong to this intelligent web of life; if you care about your healing and that of all beings on this beautiful planet and want to support the climate and/or racial justice movement in these times of polycrisis, come join us by applying through this online form.

Yes, join us at the stunningly pristine and healing Rocky Mountain Ecodharma retreat center (RMERC) for a retreat designed for empowering anyone who cares about the healing and belonging in these wild times of polycrisis (climate, genocidal wars, xenophobia, pollution, rise of fascism and mental health crisis). You could be a community organizer, healer, educator, activist, artist, scientist, journalist, lawyer, author or storyteller working. Through silent meditation, movement/yoga, guided dialogue,  a deep grief and rage ceremony, an extended “Solo” time in nature, small affinity group work, and dharma talks by the teachers we will explore how we can deepen our love for each other and develop kinship with all beings. The two key aspects of this retreat that we will build up to and descend from are: grief/rage ceremony and an extended “Solo” practice time in nature.

Date & Venue

May 14-19, 2024
Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center (RMERC)

With Dharma teachers and guest facilitators

— Kritee (Kanko), Zen teacher, Grief-ritual leader, Climate Scientist, Co-founder of BIM and RMERC
— Bianca Acosta, Mixed-Indigenous ceremony leader, Somatic Qigong and permaculture teacher
— Imtiaz Rangwala (as dharma leader and chef)
Explore our (Eco)Dharma teachings and articles

Schedule

Each day will include healing, belonging and kinning practices, i.e., silent seated and walking meditation, outdoor walking, rituals/ceremonies and relational practices in small groups or dyads and dharma talks by the teachers.  These sessions will discuss how our bodies store and remember stresses, how can we express and release these stresses through movement, meditation, rituals, and group-work. We will also engage in ceremonial practices that tap into our gratitude, express grief, anger, despair, fear and inspire actions. Please see a draft schedule here. 

Testimonials

— Kritee made the retreat feel very safe and comfortable from the very beginning. Their down to Earth-ness made me feel safe to go down deeper into my grief and rage. Imtiaz is a great cook and gentle friend….. The grief ritual helped me access inexpressible frustration and rage in my being that I have helf because of incredibly difficult pain in my youth and my current everyday life. It gave me room to let go and indulge in and accept my humanity. (Zayd Omar, Young Palestinian student, Tennessee)

— This was an extremely healing, challenging, beautiful, transformative experience. You all have given such profound gift to all of us participants in this retreat. Your love will ripple out into the world through us. Grief ceremony gave me release like I have never experienced before. (Benjamin P. Finegan, Climate and Housing justice advocate, Montana)

— Having attended both silent and other Plum village retreats, I found the retreat to be particularly well suited to meet the needs of modern lay people facing polycrisis in a way that other retreats normally don’t. Weaving in of Buddhist practice with trauma care, nature spirit connections, ancestral energies in the very real context of polycrisis that disproportionately impacts people of color….. I found the SOLO in nature to be very profound. Rare it is to be alone in nature for long periods of time where we can really begin to connect with ourselves, land and ancestors (with Bianca), giving us a snippet on the Buddha’s journey to Enlightenment sitting alone under the Bodhi tree. The grief circle was also really powerful and necessary given all the unprocessed grief we hold in a world where our pain is denied and we are taught that if we are upset, it is because something is wrong with us and we need to handle it alone. Kritee is possibly one of the best facilitators and teacher for people of color grappling with the polycrisis that I have seen. The love, grace, skillfulness, and the Saturn (discipline) energy she led with was phenomenal. Imtiaz was delightful grounding (like a solid tree we can lean on) and nourishing energy.  (Sandra Kim, Korean Shaman-priest & Qi Gong practitioner, Colorado)

— I felt well cared for, very safe. I could drop walls around the heart, sharing and receiving vulnerability with others.  Grief ritual allowed me to feel safe and keep my heart open. Drop the mask. No recoil. Love endured. We took risks with others. I could be my god-damn authentic self and work through all the fear, shame and “activation” that accompanied the experience of vulnerability. I feel hopeful there are strong capable ambitious individuals working as a collection towards a similar awakening in the moment of the climate crisis (Nikayla Jefferson, Climate Activist & Writer, California)

— Among the most transformational practices was Solo practice in nature that helped me connect with trees. I talked to them for the first time aloud! For grief ceremony, I felt ready, attuned, grounded and present. It was so impactful both in deep listening (without spiraling into anxiety or despair) and being able to share my rage at the very end. (Kristina Chu, Engineer & Environmental justice organizer, Seattle)

— The grief ritual felt like a vital component of the entire retreat to me. It felt so revolutionary, and I feel I was able to witness cycles and generations of trauma breaking right in front of me. All of the music, dance, and movement practices were wonderful in that they allowed me to freely play in a way that I haven’t in many years. (Daniela Silva, Yoga teacher + Social justice advocate, Texas)

— Most transformational aspect of the retreat was grief circle, the increased feelings of connection, camaraderie and compassion that followed. Ramon’s movement and dance session, being outdoors, restfulness, bathing in the river and FOOD!  (Erica Lee, Restorative Justice Circle Leader, Colorado)

—Most transformational aspect of this retreat would have to be the grief circle. Hearing so many other people’s stories created so much space for me to be vulnerable, understanding and allowed me to practice empathy and compassion. After the grief circle was over, I felt completely raw and brand new. I was no longer burdened by my story because I was now carrying the group’s story. To honor the group, it was my duty to hear it, feel it and then ultimately wash it away. That way we could be born again and start anew.   (A.W., Farmer and Entrepreneur, North Carolina)

— The grief ritual was incredibly profound. I was heard and seen and emotionally held in a way I have never experienced. It solidified my soul’s deep need for connection. Some of my deepest fears and traumas were echoed by others and it was eye opening to realize that my perceptions of people didn’t change for the worse — vulnerability actually brought us so much closer together. (Rande Patterson, Renewable Energy leader, Houston)

— Most transformational aspects of the retreat were: Building a solid container of trust and safety, the elaborate and heartfelt rituals and ceremonies (especially the grief ceremony), the kind and thoughtful attention to somatic and metta (loving kindness) practices, amazing food and PLAY TIME (From Dr. Karthik Kashinath, Scientist, California)

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Is this retreat really right for you?

This might be for you if:
— You want to belong to your body, your mind, your human and more-than-human community. You care about ancestral energies and the intelligence and sentience of all life.
— You’ve become disenchanted with traditional silent retreats that do not include emotional connections with other participants. You no longer resonate with activism that shames people, but you deeply trust that we need inner trauma healing to build our collective power. 
— You’ve begun to encounter the direct relationship between your individual spiritual or psychological healing and efficacy of your work in this world.
— You’re ready to explore what is possible through deep relating, belonging and vulnerability.
— You want to face and transform your grief, fear and anger but not be controlled by them.
— You are not looking for completely silent retreat but you are willing to give silence and meditation a try.  Silent meditation is not always comfortable but you know that spiritual practice is not about being comfortable. 
— You are comfortable with being tested and following COVID protocols. You are also okay with silence and being away from internet and phone connection.

This might not be for you if:
— You are not ready to look at how climate crisis is related to racial injustice and inner trauma healing.
— You are not up for the discomfort and vulnerability of sharing some of your truth with others. Our goal is emotional safety and trust, but also emotional connection, and that takes a little bit of courage and willingness to be open and honest about your feelings.
— You’re looking for a completely silent retreat or a retreat which will not have any “silent” time. 
— You have a heart-lung condition such that you will have difficulty at high altitude. The retreat center is at ~8500 feet. 
— You need wheelchair access.
— You will be unconcomfortable by being out of contact with the world. (The staff will have the ability to make and receive emergency calls or emails on your behalf, but phone and internet are not available for personal use).