Academy of On - Steve Beard

Steven Beard is a 47-year-old student of mysticism and researcher of spiritual sciences. The name "Academy of On" is a link with the Celestial Academies of Light and their touch-points upon the earth grids - past, present and future.

Kaballah is the science of the many universes that serve the Godhead, spiritual truths given in every age. The Academy of On encourages faith active in wisdom, and direct experience through living codes of revelation and renewal. "Shema Yisrael - Hear oh Israel!" The consciousness raising program "Israel" is Divine Light instruction that restores our Image through the revealed Names of YHWH. In using the Divine Names and music, we re-awaken a precious gift; our sacred soul garments of Light from which we were "first born."

The Earth is a training station for soul advancement. Jesus, in revealing a mystery of Divine Sonship, manifests the anointing power of the Christ, opening us to higher levels of oversoul and chakra thresholds of the greater Tree of Life; the Light body template known as the Adam Kadmon. Christ conquered the death function, showing that we may also resurrect off the "cross" of space and time to enter the house of many mansion worlds within the Infinite Way.

The first commandment, one that opens us to the language of Light, is this holy prayer found in old and new testaments alike: "Hear oh Israel, God is one, love God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind, and your whole strength." From this loving wholeness comes understanding and deepening of communication between the Many and the One. With this in mind, we can love our neighbor as ourself, extending peace. Academy of On is located in downtown Crestone, 161 E. Galena. All are welcome to visit and view mandalas of creational codes, sacred artwork and templates.

Web site: www.academyofon.org

Sacred Passage and the Way of Nature Fellowship
John P. Milton, Founder

John Milton is a pioneering ecologist, spiritual teacher, meditation master, vision quest leader and shaman. His vision quest and shamanic work began in the mid-1940s after experiencing his first vision quest at the age of seven. Since the 1950s, John has guided thousands of people into the wilderness, always sharing with them a profound connection with nature and a deep commitment to the realization of Source Awareness. Over the years, many have sought his profound teachings on the Clear Light of Source and on spiritual cultivation and meditation in nature. He has also been widely sought for his powerful yet gentle Qigong teachings, T'ai Chi Ch'uan training, and Sacred Passage programs.

John's teachings draw upon many decades of practice in various styles of meditation, T'ai Chi, Qiqong, and extensive personal vision questing. His training is also informed by direct teachings from many of the world's outstanding spiritual teachers and lineages. From this comprehensive background, John has created and essentialized a path of key principles and disciplines that flow from Universal Source. He calls this path "The Way of Nature." The lead process of this Way John has named, "Sacred Passage." The core of The Way of Nature Fellowship and Sacred Passage are Twelve Principles, distilled from his many years of solo time in the wilderness, and combined with deep training in some of the world's most profoundly enlightening, earth-connected lineages. Buddhist, Taoist, Dzogchen, Tantric, Vedantic and Shamanic traditions are mystically encapsulated in these Twelve Principles, the Heart of his Awareness Training.

John received his M.S. in Ecology and Environmental Conservation from the University of Michigan in 1962 and 1963. He also studied at Mexico City College and the OAS Inter-American Graduate School of Tropical Science in Costa Rica. John played an instrumental role in the birth of the environmental movement from the early 1960s, as well as the tropical forest protection movements of the 1970s and 1980s. He was the first ecologist to serve on staff at the White House, working with the President's Council of Economic Advisors.

Since the 1950s, John has conducted numerous expeditions and field projects in wilderness areas of the United States, Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, Central and South America, Asia and Africa. These have included rhino and tiger conservation in Nepal, protection of mountain ecosystems in both Nepal and Bhutan, preservation of Alaska's wilderness, and rainforest protection in Brazil, Cambodia, Central America, East Africa, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, Peru, Thailand and Venezuela.

John has authored numerous books, articles and audiotapes, as well as produced video/CD/DVD media on ecology, environmental conservation, meditation, cultivating life energy, inner development, discovering and protecting sacred places, preserving wilderness and the shamanic way.

Web site: www.sacredpassage.com  - www.wayofnature.com

Spiritual Life Institute and Carmelite Monastery
Father Eric Haarer, Prior

The Spiritual Life Institute is a small monastic community, Roman Catholic in origin, Carmelite in Spirit, and universal in outreach. Founded for both men and women in 1960, Spiritual Life has created wilderness retreat centers where monks and guests toughen their bodies by manual labor and outdoor living, deepen their minds by exploring the spiritual roots of Western civilization, enliven their hearts by community virtue, and nourish their spirits in silence, solitude and communal worship. The central purpose is to foster the spirit of contemplation so that social, political and domestic existence is inspired by it. Aldous Huxley said that contemplation is the only proven way of changing human behavior radically and permanently. Contemplation is loving awareness and begins with a long, loving look at the real - an animal, a plant, the earth, the sky, another human being. It ends in the happy surprise of being in harmony with the universe, in the glory of God's presence and madly in love with all that is. The center at Crestone includes Nada Hermitage, a center for learning, leisure, and leadership, and the Carmelite Monastery. We will visit the monastery for Sunday morning Mass with Father Eric Haarer.

Web site: www.spirituallifeinstitute.org

Vajra Vidya Retreat Center

Open to all sects, the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center was founded by the Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist master. The center offers individual retreat rooms for short and long-term retreats under the guidance of Lama Wangdu and Khenpo Jigme. Both lamas have completed the five-year monastic college (shedra) program and completed a three-year retreat. In 1980, the 16th Byalwa Karmapa, Rigpe Dorje (Vajra Vidya in Tibetan) visited Crestone. Visiting with His Holiness at that time were His Eminence Jamgon Kongrul and His Eminence Tai Situpa. Their party explored, sometimes on horseback, the mountains around the Baca Grande land grant. Traveling by car, they drove past the Stupa site and he requested that they go back. He pointed out mountain shapes that looked like elephants lying down and other auspicious forms. These, he explained, were signs of propitiousness of this particular location. He predicted that there would be more than 40 realized siddhas from this area. People who were with the party at that time tell of various predictions that His Holiness made during his visit. The Karmapa also foresaw that this special location would provide a safe haven for the teachings and for the Tibetan people. After the passing of the 16th Karmapa, his Eminence Jamgon Kontrul initiated the building of the Tashi Gomang Stupa. This style of stupa represents the 84,000 paths taught by the Buddha. He gave very specific instructions on how the Stupa was to be created. Khempo Karthar Rinpoche and Bardo Tulku along with a small but highly dedicated number of students spent the next decade completing what now reflects the blessings of the Kagyu Lineage. It was consecrated in July 1996. His Holiness suggested that great benefit would come if a monastery, retreat center, library to house the sacred teachings of ancient Buddhist wisdom, a Tibetan medical institute, and a lay community for Tibetans were built in Crestone. Construction of this facility is now underway. www.VajraVidyaRetreatCenter.org

Desert Foundation - Father David Denny

The Desert Foundation is an informal circle of friends who share an interest in the cultures and spiritualities that grow out of the world’s deserts. We study, teach and write about the inner and outer desert in Christianity, and in relation to the other contemplative Abrahamic traditions: Judaism and Islam, with emphasis on the Middle East and the American Southwest.

Founded in June 2005 by Tessa Bielecki and Fr. David Denny, the Desert Foundation looks forward to a lively exchange with you, in order to disseminate the wisdom of the world’s desert peoples, cultures, and religions, and to foster peace, understanding, mutual respect, and reconciliation between them. http://www.desertfound.org/

Haidakhandi Universal Ashram and Divine Mother Temple
Ramloti, Pujari (Temple Priest)

The Haidakhandi Universal Ashram is a spiritual community inspired by Haidakhan Babaji and dedicated to the Divine Mother. Established in 1986, the Ashram is located high on a mountainside overlooking the expansive San Luis Valley to the west. Life at the Ashram is guided by Babaji's teachings of truth, simplicity and love. Babaji taught devotees to repeat the name of God and to perform service to humanity. The daily schedule of the Ashram is built around this service (karma yoga), morning and evening devotional services (aarati), simple living, and repitition of the name of God. Babaji said to use the name of God that is in our hearts and that all religions lead to God. He also taught the ancient Sanskrit mantra or prayer, "Om Namah Shivaya." This prayer means "I bow to the God within." In keeping with simplicity, ashramites live and build in sustainable ways whenever possible. The 101-acre Ashram includes an organic garden, its own water system and photovoltaic derived electricity. The buildings are made of natural materials and most are heated by passive solar energy. Structures on the unique property include an Earthship, temple, dormitory, yurt and greenhouse.

Ramloti, aka Deborah Wood, first met Babaji in India in February 1981, while she was working on her master's degree in Psychology. After a brief one-month stay with Him, she returned to her home in Maui and organized trips in the summers of 1981 and 1982, with her two sons, back to India to be with Babaji at His Ashram in Haidakhan. Following these life-altering experiences, Ramloti, the name given to her by Babaji, has spent her life sharing His message and helping to establish Babaji centers and the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram in Colorado. She moved to Crestone in 1986 when the forested acreage was acquired where the Ashram now resides. She has lived at the Ashram since that time and has served as president or vice president of the Board of Directors for 14 years. She serves primarily as the pujari or priest of the temple. Her other duties include public relations, outreach and publications.

The auspicious timing of the Sacred Peaks Enlightenment Conference coincides with Fall Navratri - the Festival of the Divine Mother. This is one of the major Hindu festivals and honors the all-powerful sacred feminine creation energy as embodied by the Goddess Lakshmi. The Ashram will be celebrating with daily fire ceremony, teachings and puja from October 4-12. Our visits to Crestone's sacred sites will begin with a tour of the Ashram grounds on Saturday morning followed by Fire Ceremony and Discourse, then community lunch in the Earthship. Please dress for ceremony, women in dresses or skirts. Loose-fitting, comfortable clothing is perfect.

Web site: www.BabajiAshram.org

Dharma Ocean Foundation

The Dharma Ocean Foundation was founded to preserve, transmit and extend the Dharma teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, one of the pre-eminent practitioners, teachers and scholars of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The Foundation creates and supports educational materials, programs, seminars and meditation retreats in which participants can study and practice the teachings of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly as they were presented by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Part of its mission to transmit the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Julie Greene is a student and authorized teacher in the Vajrayana lineage of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, specifically as taught within Dharma Ocean, led by Reggie and Lee Ray, residents of Crestone, CO. Julie brings her experience as a psychotherapist and teacher of psychology at Naropa University to the embodied meditation practices emphasized in her community. She also applies somatic therapeutic techniques in her private practice and lectures and offers workshops on these methods as well.

Meditation practice is at the center of Julie's life; she is committed to teaching others in a personal, heart-felt and genuine way. It is through personal connection and experience that the teachings of her lineage are best transmitted.

Julie currently resides in Crestone, CO, and teaches in locations throughout Colorado. She is on the Board of Directors of the Dharma Ocean Foundation and is active in the area of Practice and Ritual Space in Dhyanasangha, the community of students working with Dr. and Mrs. Ray.

About Dhyanasangha

Dhyanasangha is the spiritual community at the heart of the Dharma Ocean Foundation. The members of Dhyanasangha study and practice the Buddhadharma of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche under the guidance of Dr. Reginald A. and Mrs. Lee Ray, both long time students of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and teachers in his lineage. The community meets on a regular basis to practice in the Kagyu and Nyingma meditation traditions, study the key texts of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism and deepen their understanding of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Buddhadharma as it is presented by Dr. and Mrs. Ray.

Dhyanasangha members are householder yogis and yoginis living in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia. The community meets several times a year in Crestone or Boulder, Colorado and in smaller study, practice and community groups, more frequently.

Atekokolli-Native American Ceremonies

Keep it Real Reconnect with Source
Crestone, CO (719)256-5307

Atekokolli is a native born Choctaw Cherokee holy man. He has been ordained a spiritual leader and roadman in the Native American Church. He is offering a wide variety of sacred ceremonies to the public. As a pipe carrier, he offers the sacred Peace Pipe Ceremony to all who ask.

The sweat lodge is one of the most powerful and ancient ceremonials on earth. Our sweat lodges can be done Lakota style (plains), as well as in the Mexica tradition (temescal). This unique tradition represents the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy of the eagle and the condor. This is the alliance of the central and South American (condor) traditions with the North (eagle).

As a roadman, Atekokolli facilitates various ceremonials, sweats, blessings, and all night peyote ceremonies featuring the Seven Arrows Half Moon Fireplace of the Crow Dog Lineage. He leads healing sessions of many forms: personal, land, fertility, and love blessings, spiritual transformation, treatment of addictions, puberty rites, rites to manhood, weddings, funerals, memorials and various other fasts and feasts. Private sessions in all of these areas are available.

Chamma Ling (Land of the Loving Mother) Retreat Center has been established and is in the early stages of development in the mountains near Crestone, Colorado, on land that has been granted by the Manitou Foundation. Chamma Ling was founded in 2002 to support personal meditation retreats.

Tenzin Rinpoche's vision for the Chamma Ling site is a simple place of solitary retreat, enriched by the awe-inspiring natural surroundings of the Crestone area. The natural environment of the mountains of Crestone is ideal for those working deeply with Dzogchen, the elemental forces, or the spirits of nature. The methods of Dzogchen have traditionally been pursued in the solitude of mountains, for they provide the perfect support for the practices of light, dark, and sky. Working with the elements to bring balance and clarity runs throughout Bön, and the high arid climate and surroundings of the San Luis Valley supports direct perception of the elemental essences. The spirits of mountain, stream, plant, and stone can also be more easily contacted in the isolation of wilderness. Our setting in Crestone is ideal for the deep maturation of the dedicated practitioner.

Our plan is to build several isolated retreat cabins where individuals may spend weeks, months, or years in seclusion and contemplation. Some of the cabins will be set high on the mountainside and will overlook the valley's vast expanse; some will be nestled in shady areas and outfitted for dark retreat. A residence for our Lamas, and a small teaching hall, will rest in the heart of the 35 acres, making possible on-site teachings for small groups of practitioners. We will also offer larger public teachings, in Crestone, on a periodic basis.
www.chammaling.org

Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order

Kate Steichen, aka Hamida (ha-mee-duh) Nur, is the Friend of the Crestone/Baca Circle of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order, a community of dervishes within the Halveti-Jerrahi Tarigot. Muzaffer Ashki al-Jerrahi, the 19th Grand Shaykh, brought this lineage to the West in the late 1970s and the lineage continued with Shaykh Nur al-Jerrahi, our first American Shaykh. Shaykha Fariha al-Jerrahi is the current leader, based at the Masjid al-Farah in New York City, who guides circles throughout the U.S. and other countries.
www.nurashkijerrahi.org

speakers and program subject to change without notice