When Autumn Comes: Exploring our Elder Years

In this time of lengthening life spans, we as a culture could have the privilege to draw deeply on the knowledge of our elders, but often don’t.

Yet elder and multi-generational communities around the country are spawning a movement towards intentional elderhood, envisioning communities where meaningful work continues throughout the lifespan, and the wisdom and unique abilities of our elder are respected and valued. Be a part of this shift!

Many adults, as their children leave the nest, as they prepare to retire, or as their bodies change, begin to ask: "Where to next?" “What is the legacy that I wish to leave for the world?” “What do I want to make happen for myself?”

If these are questions that you have begun to ask, this is a retreat for you. It’s an opportunity for reflection and community among a small group of “active elders,” those who have energy to contribute to their communities, but in different ways than the busy-ness of earlier adulthood. Learning together with the program guides, including Stan Crow, Journeys’ Director Emeritus, and other Journeys’ program & community elders, you will prepare yourself to be an elder through personal reflection and sharing in a community of elders.

Journeys’ time-tested methods of helping guide individuals through life transitions will help you gain insights and look excitedly toward the possibilities of the future. Like all of our programs, you’ll be in a community of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, but with a common place on the wheel of life. The program will draw on a variety of learning modalities, designed to meet the unique gifts of all participants while providing opportunities to learn & think in new ways. Journaling, storytelling, council & dialogue, and creation of ritual will be just a few of the methods used during this retreat.

Designed specifically for those entering their elder years, you’ll enjoy a comfortable setting, both close to nature and close to a comfy chair in which to explore what you wish to create during your elder years.  This year, the program will be held at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. It is a 100-acre sanctuary of remarkable natural beauty located in Corbett, Oregon, 22 miles east of Portland. Its name (pronounced “men-OO-kah”) is derived from an ancient Hebrew word meaning “ever-changing stillness.”

Outcomes of the Elder Program:

• Explore other cultures’ understanding of the roles of elders in community, and how they relate to your life now.

• Understand your personal role as an elder by affirming your gifts and defining your legacy.
•  Reconcile the roads not taken.
• Take stock of who can benefit from your knowledge and wisdom.
• Set intentions for your current and future role as elder.
• Create a physical symbol of your experience. 
• Be initiated into elderhood through a meaningful ritual experience.