Mettā/Lovingkindness Retreat
Teacher
Kate Johnson
Assisted by Michelle Nicholls
When
February 13-16, 2025
Where
Loyola House
Guelph, ON
Mettā is the quality of love that blossoms when we turn our attention toward what is inherently lovely, worthy and good – within us and all around us. It’s an unconditional and infinitely renewable resource, rooted in love of self and love of community.
In these times of anxiety, loneliness, and toxic romance culture, metta can help fortify our hearts and minds with a love that is more powerful than fear. By centering what we care about, we find the energy to keep moving steadily toward individual and collective liberation.
In this Lovingkindness retreat, we will explore Metta practice as a way of cultivating a warm and courageous heart, as well as a practice of purifying everything that gets in the way of love. Our practices will include guided meditation, movement practices, chanting, and connecting with nature, in a container of noble silence.
Teacher
Kate Johnson is a meditation teacher, facilitator, writer and mother. She has practiced Buddhist meditation in the Insight lineage since her early 20’s, and was authorized as an independent dharma teacher through Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s four-year retreat teacher training. Kate began facilitating organizational training and retreats after co-founding the Meditation Working Group at Occupy Wall Street. She later joined the faculty of MIT’s Presencing Institute, and served as DEIA consultant with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s online Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training. Currently, Kate is the co-director of Buddhist Peace Fellowship. She is the author of the book Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World. In her off hours, she can be found exploring Philly with her kid, sipping tea with friends, and looking for all manner of good trouble.
Website: https://www.katejohnson.com/
Assisted by
Michelle Nicholls (she/her) is an Afro-Caribbean Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist based in Tkaronto (Toronto). She specializes in working with individuals and communities. She is a Community Dharma Teacher with True North Insight. In this capacity, Michelle supports the BIPOC Sangha and co-facilitates inclusive community programs with her peers. She is a devoted mom to a vibrant, creative teen who inspires her to embrace creativity as a way to cultivate balance. Michelle is also passionate about writing on topics such as mindfulness, curiosity, vulnerability, and healing practices, sharing her insights about navigating and exploring the complexities of life.
Registration Information
LOCATION: Loyola House, 5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, Ontario.
Loyola House is an Ignatian Spirituality Centre that welcomes retreats accomodating the needs of a wide audience, including Dharma organizations. Please note there are Christian symbols on the site.
All of the rooms at Loyola House are single rooms with a sink. Washrooms are shared.
ARRIVAL TIME: 3:30-5:00 pm, Thursday, February 13. The retreat will conclude by lunch on Sunday, February 16. Everyone is welcome to stay for lunch. The teacher requests that you plan to attend the entire retreat – please arrive on time and stay through the closing talk.
COST: TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. TNI retreat fees are on a sliding scale basis that allows participants to pay according to individual means. Fees do not include compensation for the teachings, and teachers rely on the generosity of retreatants for a sustainable income. There is an opportunity to offer dana (donations) to the teachers at the end of each retreat.
A deposit of 50% of the base rate is required to register to the retreat. The deposit is included in all of our fees.
- Benefactor: $1 200
- Sustaining: $780
- Base: $630
- Reduced: $540
- Scholarship: upon request
◆ Deposit : $315
Benefactor
The Benefactor rate provides the opportunity to offer more substantial support for TNI.
Sustaining
The Sustaining rate represents the actual cost to TNI to operate our programs. If you can afford this level or higher, you assist our efforts to offer lower sliding-scale rates and ongoing financial subsidies.
Base
The Base rate covers 82 % of what is needed to run our organization. To balance our budget and to wisely steward our resources, donations must supplement our registration income.
Reduced
Payment at the Reduced rate covers only 71 % of what is needed to run our organization. To balance our budget and to wisely steward our resources, donations must supplement our registration income.
Scholarship
TNI offers scholarships of up to a 50% reduction of the base rate on our sliding scale to those who request it. A limited number of scholarships are available.