First Aid Kit for the Mind
Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviors
Weekend Retreat with
Dr. Valerie (Vimalsara) Mason-John, M.A.
June 13-15, 2025
at
WILLIAM J. KELLEY RETREAT CENTER
510 N 2nd St, Bay St Louis, MS 39520
Rates
Private Room ($580) 2 nights 6 meals & Book
Shared Room ($330) 2 nights 6 meals
& Book
Commuter ($265) (staying elsewhere attending all sessions and 6 meals.)
& Book
Scholarship ($285) SHARED ROOM 2 nights 5 meals (supported rate)
& Book
If you need a deeper scholarship and you are able to attend, please email:
About the Event
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A First Aid Kit For The Mind, a retreat to help us to stay equanimous during unsettling times. Statistics show that when people live under the reality and or the shadow of war, the fear of families being split up due to deportation, the fear of the woman's body under surveillance and the basic human rights being threatened, that addictive, compulsive habits escalate. People are more agitated, quick to react, suspicious, and sometimes even hateful. This retreat welcomes all who want to have respite from the ills of the world, and equip themselves with tools to live life from a place of loving kindness
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Teacher Bio: Vimalasara (Valerie) Mason-John is a Trauma expert working in the field for mindfulness for Trauma and Addiction. Trained in Internal Family Systems, and one of the founding facilitators of Dr Gabor Mate's Compassionate Inquiry, they teach the year long course and have a private practice. Award-winning author of 11 books, they are the co-founder and co-author of Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, with 8 step meetings in 3 continents. This year their new book a First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviours was published. They live on the unceded territory of Kanata.
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​Schedule
Please note: Schedule details subject to change. Arrival times and meal times will not change.)
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Friday, June 13, 2025
10:45 -11:30 am Arrival and Registration
11:45 am in Dining Hall Welcome Talk
12:00 pm -12:45 pm Lunch
12:45 - 1:15 pm Work meditation
1:15 - 1:30pm pause and sit down
1:30 pm Orientation an Q & A
2:00 - 2:45 Sitting meditation
2:45 - 3:15 Neurosomatic Tools to help calm the heart mind
3:15 - 3:45 Break
3:45 - 4:30 Breath as Medicine - Pranayama breathing
4:30 - 5pm Debrief - and Questions
5pm - 6:00 Four Foundations of mindfulness interactive practice - we will explore the body then debrief, explore feelings then debrief, explore thoughts then debrief and explore dharmas then debrief
6:00 - 6:45 Dinner
6:45 - 7:30 Work meditation / personal time
7:30 - 8:15 Orientation and Opening Talk
8:15 - 9:00 Meditation instruction / sitting meditation
9:00 pm Rest or further practice
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Saturday, June 15, 2025
6:15 am Wake-up bell
6:45 - 7:30 Sitting meditation
7:30 - 8:15 Breakfast
8:15 - 9:00 Work Meditation / personal time
9:00 - 10:00 Loving Kindness Practice Instruction / Sitting Meditation
10:00 -10:45 Neurosomatic Tools to help calm the mind
10:45 -11:30 Sitting Meditation
11:30 - Noon Break
12:00 Q & A / Discussion
12:15 - 12:30 Still Meditation
12:30 - 1:15 Lunch
1:15 - 2:00 Work Meditation / Personal Time
2:00 - 2:45 Sitting Meditation
2:45 - 3:15 Mindful Movement (optional)
3:15 - 3:45 Break
3:45pm 4:30 Breath as Medicine - Pranayama breathing
4:30 - 5pm Debrief
5pm - 6:00 Four Foundations of Mindfulness interactive practice
6:00 - 6:45 Dinner
6:45 - 7:30 Work Meditation / Personal Time
7:30 - 8:15 Dharma Talk
8:15 - 8:45 Q & A / discussion / experiential exercises
8:45 - 9:00 Sitting Meditation / Dedication of Merit
9:00 - Rest or Further Practice
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Sunday June 16, 2025
6:15 am Wake-up Bell
6:45 - 7:30 Sitting Meditation
7:30 - 8:15 Breakfast
8:15 - 9:30 Work Meditation/ Room and Center Clean-up
9:30 - 10 - Loving kindness Sit
10 - 10:15 Short Talk
10:15 - 11 Closing and Tools to Take into the World
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More Information
If you have questions or need additional information about this retreat or other Flowering Lotus program offerings, please contact:
Beth Herzig
601-918-8510
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