This Glorious Life
An Online Easter Retreat with Mother Mary (for femmes and thems)
The Glorious Mysteries of the Mother and Her Unending Invitation into Eternal Love
You’ve come through the pain portal. The suffering has ceased. What now? What happens when it feels like the world has ended, when everything you thought you knew is dead and gone?
The women who walked the way of the cross with Jesus find themselves here– in the nothing, the dark beyond the dark, the dismantling and dissolution of their hopes and dreams. In faithfulness, somehow, one foot in front of the other, they continue to tend life. They do what needs to be done. They trust the instincts of their body and the waves of grief to bring them beyond the rationality of the mind, to some new shore.
Mary Magdalene finds herself in the garden, again, but instead of the garden of agony she beholds who she thinks is the gardener, beckoning her into the bloom of a whole new way of life. He asks HER, and the women with her, to preside over a whole new way of being human– born and reborn again, living alongside the ancestors, in constant communion with the Biggest Love.
In this retreat, we’ll weave and be woven by the stories of the Glorious Mysteries of the Mother, tracking the time from the death of Jesus through the birth of a whole new kinship and community of love. We’ll behold the essential role the women played– full of power and trust in the Beloved. In these Mysteries, Mother Mary shows up strongly sovereign– as witness, powerful priestess, walker between the worlds, and Eternal Queen.
In every Mystery, you’ll find yourself– called into a whole new way of being human, woven by magic at every turn, accompanied by the Sacred She all the way through.
Embodied Soul Care.
Prayer & Practice.
Wisdom Sharing.
Co-creative Community.
Details
5 Tuesdays during the Easter season:
April 28th; May 5, 12, 19, 25th
6:30-8:30 pm Central Standard Time
Zoom retreat Room (Option to attend in live time or receive the recording.)
Investment: $133 ($111-$155 sliding scale)
Weekly themes...
Week 1: The Resurrection. Believing the Women & Birthing New Life
Week 2: The Ascension. Caught & Carried in the Love of Thousands
Week 3: The Descent of Sophia. The Birth of the People of Goddess
Week 4: The Assumption. The Constant Communion of Love
Week 5: The Coronation. The Queen Reigns
Why Mother Mary?
Isn't she an outdated pawn of patriarchy?
Many of us were immersed in untruths about Mother Mary-- that she was passive and silent, an obedient daughter of patriarchy. But what if there's another story? What would it be like to engage the Divine Mother in Her potent power, full presence and fierce love?
Mother Mary is a powerful archetype and embodiment of the Great Cosmic Mother, Goddess Herself.
Like all archetypal energies, this is NOT about some being far away. The Divine Mother is showing us Her heart to call us into our own— to empower our lives for who we are and all we’re called to do and be in this lifetime. Her heart mirrors our own. Her love and liberation are ours.
It is true that she has been used and abused by sexist and misogynistic forces. She has been silenced and stifled and repressed— like the feminine in so many of us. Yet it seems that when you go right into this pain, when you dare to meet the truth of her diminishment, and yours, an equally great stream of power, presence and transformative grace is released. The place that has been distorted becomes the very site of great liberation.
For those of us who grew up in a Christian lineage (or whose ancestors did), Mother Mary is one of the ways Goddess, or the Divine Feminine, has been hidden in plain sight right in our midst. She is a potent way to come into relationship with the Divine Feminine without appropriating Her from another tradition.
Yet most importantly, Hers is a Presence that remains and draws closer in the most excruciating of circumstances, the most acute transformations. Nothing is too much for Her, and She has a way of meeting all Her people just where they are. To touch Her immense Love is to come into direct contact with the deepest reality of who you are— Love Herself.
What might it heal in you, to walk into the Christ Mysteries with HER? Tracking the Mysteries of the Rosary, ancient portals into Her, we reclaim Her love & life anew.
What folks are saying about Erin's retreats...
Erin's retreats open up the Divine Feminine mysteries of the Rosary in a way that helps me realize, of course the Sacred SHE has been here all along! We dropped straight into the essence of how the Divine Mother's cycles of life, death, and rebirth move through us always. This experience gave me room to breathe, to cry, to laugh, to question, and to bring my tender heart into the loving embrace of the Mother - She who holds me through each "death" and each new birth and everything in between!
Erin knows this path because she has walked it, with faith and courage, for many years. Give yourself the gift of returning to this holy ground of the Feminine with Erin's loving guidance and profound spiritual insight!
- former retreatant
This is my second year participating in the advent retreat. Both times it has offered a deeply valuable space to access the (sometimes ignored) well of wisdom that exists within myself as well as in the wisdom of the feminine collective that gathers to share this experience together. As I walk out of these five weeks I find myself feeling stronger, rooted more deeply in my authentic self, and connected to other beautiful souls. With clarity, conviction and reverence for the unknown, I continue on my path with this Medicine.
- former retreatant
Erin offers many ways to connect with the divine and quiet ourselves - guided meditation, personal time, dance, song, prayer, paired sharing, larger group sharing (optional). No matter what you prefer, you get to do something that feels comfortable and also are invited to try something new or experiment. Erin's leadership style, presence and very intentional flow of the retreat sessions always brings me in, no matter how busy my day has been or what's on my mind, I am gently led to spend time with Mother and quiet my soul.
Through Erin's leadership and a divine magic, I feel an almost immediate connection and gratitude for the other people attending the retreat.... I just feel like I'm tapping into a vast network of powerful, faithful, strong humans and it is beautiful. Erin calls it "weaving together our circle" and it is a beautiful thing to be a part of!
-former retreatant
Frequently asked Questions...
Is this retreat for women only?
This retreat is open to anyone who identifies as a woman or female or primarily feminine as well as our non-binary siblings (femmes and thems) who feel drawn to this. We love you brothers and we need a place to deepen and heal in feminine focused space.
Is this retreat for Christians only?
This retreat is rooted in the Wisdom tradition of the Christ lineage, but you don't have to identify as Christian to attend. Folks of all or no religious or spiritual persuasions are welcome.
Do I have to attend live?
No, the recordings are available to catch the retreat at any time that works for you. That said, the insights of those present in live time (Wisdom Circle) is a central piece of the retreat, so if you can attend for any of the sessions in live time, that is a bonus!
Do I have to be familiar with the Divine Feminine (or Mother Mary) to attend?
Not at all. This retreat is designed for those just beginning to get to know the Divine Feminine, as well as those seeking a deeper dive. We gain a lot by the Wisdom of one another, so wherever you are on the spectrum of relationship with Her is totally fine and welcome!
What if I have some serious wounding from Christianity?
We will be diving into some central stories from Christianity, so if you're triggered by that, this might not be the best place for you. However, if you sense there are some wounds there ready to be healed, engaging these stories anew with Mother Mary's love could be just the medicine needed. We expect each person to take full responsibility for themselves and their own healing, and we trust your capacity to do so. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to talk this over more!
Hi, I'm Erin
I’m so glad you’re interested in this work. The Divine Feminine is rising in wondrous ways, and I’m grateful to be of service to Her return, particularly in the tradition of my origins, the Christ-light lineage. Rooted in Catholic Christian sacrament, spirituality, and social justice, I work in service to the reclamation and renewal of Sophia, the Feminine heart of Christ, in devotion to the liberation of all beings. I’m honored and excited to re-member and reweave this golden thread of Sophia Christ all the way from the Great Cosmic Mother Goddess into our lives today. I hold masters degrees in Catholic Education (U. of Notre Dame), Multicultural Ministry (Franciscan School of Theology) and Christian Spirituality (Graduate Theological Union) and over two decades of experience teaching, facilitating groups, working with folks one-on-one and leading retreats. I live in St. Louis, MO with my beloved and two fur babies.
