This annual celebration of family continues to increase in popularity. To assure that every family has a fair chance to register for the family week of their choice, all registrations received prior to March 15 will be held until that date. If either week is oversubscribed participants for that week will be chosen by lottery.

CELEBRATE FAMILY SPIRIT

Week I: June 25 – July 1 (Wednesday dinner – Tuesday breakfast)

Week II: July 3 – July 9 (Thursday dinner – Wednesday breakfast)

Celebrate the spirit of Indralaya within the circle of family, when all ages gather to create a deeper experience of community. Each day begins with age-based centering circles, followed by a rich milieu of art, music, dancing, field games in the meadow, and additional workshops created within the diverse wisdom each of us carries. We’ll end the day with campfire gatherings with song, improvisation, and storytelling offered by all ages.

Highlights include a groovin’ sock hop, a ceremony honoring the transition of our children into their teenage years, men’s and women’s sharing circles, and a grand finale of all talents. This year “truth” will be the theme that is woven through our time together. This is truly a celebration of extended family within a playful, nurturing, and sacred environment that creates deep bonds which extend through the years. The diverse circle welcomes single family members as well as multigeneration families. Within the spirit of community every member 'has a cherished place.

Week I will be coordinated by Victoria Bennett, Viola Marx, and Elliot and Ondine Toler-Scott.

Week II will be coordinated by Hugh O’Neill and Annie McManus, Penny and Michael Sky

Program Fee $90

Preference will be given to those who register for the entire week.

If your family would like to attend the same week as another family, it is up to you to contact that family to coordinate your registration dates.

If you register by mail, please enclose one family per envelope.

DEEP SINGING

July 12–17 (Saturday dinner – Thursday lunch) Come, bring your voice, and join it with others in joyful harmony! As Chanticleer (one of the finest singing groups in the U.S.) says, “All traditions of spiritual enlightenment have used sound and the voice as a gateway to transcendence,” as part of both group ritual and personal spiritual practice. Our own experience at previous Singing weeks at Indralaya is that singing together, especially repeated singing of the same sounds, can be a profoundly meditative experience, bringing with it an experience of pure joy.

We will gather each morning for meditative and joyful “deep singing,” using rounds, chants, and simple harmonies. You do not need to be able to read music to participate in these singing sessions. All the music for the morning sessions will be taught by ear. Several optional afternoon sessions will be offered for those who want to learn more challenging rounds or sing more difficult multipart music. For these afternoon gatherings, minimal music-reading ability is helpful but our primary purpose is to “play” with music. In the evening we will have singalongs of old favorites and opportunities for individuals, duos, or larger groups to perform. Bring your instruments, favorite songs, and the desire to be lifted with your voice in song.

This week is led by Helen Bee and Barbara Bellamy. Both Indralayans are singers and musicians with deep camp roots.

Program Fee $80

A YOGA RETREAT

Families welcome. Although this program is suitable for all skill levels and ages, some prior practice of yoga is helpful. The program will include yoga classes for any children who do attend. If children cannot or wish not to participate, however, their parents are responsible for their supervision.

July 19-July 24 (Saturday dinner - Thursday lunch) The yoga program focuses on developing a yoga practice of asana and pranayama (breathwork). We will explore simple and fun ways to incorporate yoga into your daily routine. Hatha yoga will be practiced in the Iyengar tradition with emphasis on body alignment, strength and flexibility. Breathwork focuses on reducing stress, while oxygenating the blood and improving overall health of body and mind. There will be two yoga sessions per day, allowing plenty of time for relaxation and enjoying each other's company.

Melanie Whittaker, RYT was introduced to yoga 23 years ago. Her teaching is based in the Iyengar tradition, which is well known for its detailed attention to alignment. She has trained with Aadil Palkhivala, the "teacher of teachers", and studied holistic yoga with Doug Swenson. Currently training as a yoga therapist, Melanie is certified with the National Yoga Alliance. She owns In Balance Yoga and is the yoga director at Winthrop Physical Therapy, Winthrop, Washington.

Program Fee $80

THE ADVENTURES OF SITA AND RAMA: A MANTRA WORKSHOP

“The speech of men cannot reach the Lords. . .They must be addressed in their own language. . . It is composed of sounds, not words. . . This language, or the incantations of mantras being the most effective agent and the first of the keys which opens the door of communication between Mortals and Immortals.” – The Secret Doctrine, Vol 1, page 464

July 26–31 (Saturday dinner – Thursday lunch) This unique, entertaining program uses the allegorical story of Sita and Rama as the basis for teaching a series of mantras to illuminate resolutions to life’s problems and open that mystical door of communication.

Seven thousand years ago, the Seventh Avatar of Vishnu arrived on Earth to restore divine order by defeating two demons. Rama, representing the Divine Self, and Sita, representing pure Kundalini Shakti, manifested to defeat the evil ones and show the way for individuals to live a truly spiritual life while living in the world. The adventurous lives of these two, filled with mystical mantras and dramatic struggle, feature such other characters as Ravana, the negative, selfish ego, and Divine Servant Hanuman as prana, the life force within.

Besides some specific mantras related to the Sita/Rama story – such as the Apadamapa, Rama’s great healing mantra – participants pants will be offered more than 20 other chants to charge their bodies with positive energy, heal afflictions, and bring divine blessings into their lives. Other highlights: a Vedic ceremony (Puja) to send great positive energy to a dear departed one, and a ceremony featuring the one thousand names of Lakshmi.

Thomas Ashley-Farrand (Namadeva) is one of the Western world’s foremost authorities on the application of Sanskrit mantra to life’s problems. A Vedic priest, author, and lecturer , he has given presentations throughout North America. Visit www.sanskritmantra.com for more information.

Program Fee $80