Spring Into Life: Rediscovering Joy

Weekend Workshop
April 12-14, 2024

Co-Facilitated by John Ruskell, Founder of the Awareness Institute

Imagine feeling vibrantly alive, present, aligned with authenticity, comfortable wherever you find yourself, and ready for whatever life has to offer. Welcome to "Spring Into Life" – a transformative weekend workshop that will help you uproot inertia and reconnect with the flow of life.

“The workshop equivalent of a cold plunge – it will blow your mind and wake you up.” -Mirko

The pandemic instigated a sharp departure from what we considered the norm.

It particularly influenced how we connect, forcing many of us into either isolation or intense togetherness - with both exposing an uncomfortable, pressing need to grow and mature. Today, the changewave continues to reverberate as we find ourselves adapting to a world (both inner and outer) undergoing profound transition.

Each of us addresses change in our own way, often retreating to familiar territory while we inventory options and assess our readiness. Yet, amidst this introspection, evolution beckons from the depths, inviting us to embody a truer, more authentic presence - a metamorphosis echoed in nature’s remarkable transformations from tadpoles to frogs and caterpillars to butterflies.

At the heart of every transformation lies a pivotal act: letting go of one stage to make way for the next.

From the perspective of consciousness, this means letting go of fearful false beliefs and self-protective behaviors to embrace an integrated and open presence that feels both grounded and joyful.

This is the journey of self-realization - rediscovering who and what we truly are, freed from inheritances of the past. It is also the central tenet of our new Spring Into Life workshop, where through honesty and acceptance we come to appreciate and release who we’ve been, and embrace the unified presence of what we are.

"The power of now" will be a guiding theme throughout our journey together. Incorporating astrology, breathwork, movement, music, and guided one-on-one and group sharing, we will explore the profound experience of being fully present.

What does “Spring Into Life” offer?

  • A life-changing, in-person weekend workshop.

    More than 20 hours of self-awareness processes that will help you to break free from conditioned beliefs and self-limiting behaviors.

    Introduction of new tools that can help foster enduring behavioral changes and life perspectives.

  • Profound and accelerated insights, growth, and transformation – without the use of mind-altering substances.

    Support to honestly assess and take responsibility for the life you’ve lived.

    Opportunities to integrate and release trauma stored in your body through breathwork, movement, and sharing.

  • Pre- and post-workshop integration support with experienced team members.

    Authentic connection with yourself and others as you actualize new ways of being in your life.

    Be warmly welcomed into the Awareness Institute community.

This workshop is for you if:

  • You’re drawn to symbolic languages like astrology, myth, archetypes, and dream interpretation.

  • You've explored meditation, yoga, or spiritual practices and want to more deeply integrate and apply awareness principles into your daily life.

  • You've experienced loss or grief and want to expand your capacity for love, receptivity, and connection.

  • The complexity of modern life, especially since Covid, has left you feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, and you're seeking tools to better integrate.

  • You’re a parent (or aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend, teacher, neighbor) who wants to break generational patterns.

  • You’re ready to nurture real connections and create more depth in your relationships.

Workshop Investment

$695

10% early registration discount available until Friday, March 29, 2024 ($625)

Your retreat price includes:

  • More than 20 hours of self-awareness processes that will help you to break free from conditioned beliefs and fearful, limiting behaviors that no longer serve who you are today.

  • Introduction of new tools that can help foster enduring behavioral changes and life perspectives.

  • Family-style meals and lodging for two nights.

  • A one-on-one “pre-workshop orientation call” with an experienced Awareness Institute team member, guiding you through what to expect at the weekend retreat and an intention-setting exercise for the immersive experience.

PLUS ↴

  • BONUS: Join three Wednesday Community Classes FREE

    Step out of busyness and conditioned thought patterns and drop into presence through grounding exercises, breathwork modalities, and focused sharing as we co-create a space of connection and acceptance.

  • BONUS: Two post-workshop integration calls

    Two ~30 minute calls with Awareness Institute team members to support post-workshop integration as you actualize new ways of being in your life.

  • BONUS: Community support

    A local and online community to connect with other participants during the immersion program and after.

FAQ’s

  • Each weekend is different, so we encourage you to come in with an open mind. Our workshops are experiential, which means that we provide a platform where organic reactions and responses can arise, so you see yourself more clearly. We will be going beyond a conceptual discourse into an experience where ideas are blended with feeling and emotion, providing a more holistic experience. The workshop uses a variety of modalities: one-on-one and group sharing, movement, breathing, music, release work, etc. Strong emotions may surface and that could look like crying, anger, grief, etc. People will be coming to the workshop who are ready to change old patterns and begin trusting in the flow of life. This requires an objective look at why and how we shut down. For many of us, coping has become so normalized, that we don’t see it until we’re in this kind of workshop setting.

  • We have found that participants benefit most when they stop using recreational drugs and alcohol a few days prior to (and of course during) the workshop.

    We also encourage daily journaling and provide a list of optional supplemental reading after you register for the workshop. This isn’t required reading, but the book list provides a good primer for better understanding your personal makeup and what it takes to break free from your conditioning. These books are also helpful to read after the retreat to help integrate what you learned.

  • The retreat begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday evening. We ask that participants carpool to the retreat location; you will be contacted the week of the retreat to make arrangements. Plan to arrive in the Sacramento area on Friday evening to meet your carpool around 5:00 p.m. We’ll eat dinner together at the workshop.

  • Please bring, along with your usual toiletries and travel items, a sleeping bag, pillow, bath towel, journal and pen/pencil, slippers or socks, and a mug. Wear clothing that is loose and comfortable, and bring layers as it may be warm during the day and cool in the evening.

  • Our goal is to be responsible and do what we can to keep our community healthy. For workshop volunteers and participants, that means a requirement to take two tests: one each on Thursday and Friday afternoon of the workshop week, and texting a photo of each test result to one of our workshop coordinators. If you test positive, have a recent known exposure, or have any cold/flu/rsv/Covid symptoms, we will talk with you about potential options. Masks are welcome, but optional.

  • Although workshop registration payments are non-refundable, under certain circumstances the funds may be transferable to the next scheduled retreat or workshop, minus an administrative fee of at least 10%.

  • If you have any questions, please contact us at info@awarenessinstitute.org.