Lean into Rest with Little Sabbaths

Lean into Rest with Little Sabbaths is a day of meditation and reflection at Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center in Litchfield, Connecticut. It is meant for anyone who wants to meet the winter season by slowing down: learning how to rest, taking a sacred pause, and creating their own "Little Sabbaths" to carry into daily life.

The day is led by two Spiritual Companions, Nancy Benben and Lisa Hudkins, and sits within the contemplative, spiritual-practice tradition of spiritual companionship. It suits seekers, whether or not they have a formal practice, who are looking for a quiet, reflective way to care for their wellbeing as the year turns toward winter.

What to Expect

The day runs from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM, a morning and early afternoon given over to rest. The focus is on honoring the winter season and on learning how to pause on purpose. The central practice is making your own Little Sabbaths: small, deliberate periods of rest that you shape to fit your own life. The themes are reflection, wisdom, spiritual practices and rest.

About Nancy Benben

Nancy Benben has been a seeker her entire life and has explored many spiritual paths along the way. She believes that the desire to be in relationship with the Divine is the essence of spirituality, and that following that desire leads us to encounter the many sides of the Holy. She is a Spiritual Companion, Supervisor and teacher of many years, with extensive training in using and teaching the Enneagram and Bio-Spiritual Focusing as tools for spiritual direction and personal growth. Nancy is a graduate of Northwestern University and of the Women's Leadership Institute at Hartford International University. She lives in Eastham, Massachusetts, with her husband David and their rescue cat, Misty.

About Lisa Hudkins

Lisa Hudkins is a Spiritual Companion and a Supervisor of Spiritual Companions. She is a former member of the teaching team that trains interns to become Spiritual Companions at the Spiritual Life Center in Hartford. Her practice is rooted in deep, attentive listening to people who are looking for the Divine in their lives, and she welcomes every seeker's path. She was an educator for more than 40 years, and she brings that same warmth to her work as a companion. Discernment, trauma and contemplative practices are among the subjects she brings to her sessions. Outside her work she enjoys books, poetry, cooking, journaling, gardening and time in nature.

The Setting

The gathering takes place at Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center, 229 East Litchfield Road, Litchfield, Connecticut. The event is offered at a commuter rate, which means you travel in for the day rather than staying overnight.

Before You Go

This is a public event, open to anyone drawn to the theme of rest. No prior experience with spiritual companionship, the Enneagram or meditation is described as a requirement.