by Sulfiati Harris
A wonderful gathering was held at the Seven Circles Retreat Center in Badger on November 3-5. This event was an extension of the invitation to the Regional Helpers from Subud CA at San Joaquin Valley to come for a visit. Robert and Helena Mertens worked with Sulfiati Harris to put on the event.
The 43 attendees included nine youth: two teens who took care of the seven younger ones. The cost for the weekend was $120 for two nights lodging and all meals from dinner on Friday through lunch on Sunday. The food received rave reviews, and cooking was a joy because various ladies came in at just the right time throughout the weekend.
It felt like a rebirth for Subud at Seven Circles, with energy akin to when we in Subud California first came to the site in 2002 to clean it up and make it into a Subud retreat center. Many who helped start Seven Circles were present.
In the future, we plan to host two to three Subud retreats like this per year. The retreats will include latihans, some kind of program, and trips to nearby Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. We are striving to keep it very affordable, at something like $150 for the weekend. A program for children will be included, and we are working on a way that children and teens can come at a very reduced price.
We are currently planning a Family Arts Camp for the last weekend of April, and possibly another latihan-focused retreat in February. If you owuld like more information, please send an email to sulfiati@gmail.com.