NEWSLETTER - SEPT. 2011

THE WILBUR PHILOSOPHY
Sustaining Wilbur Hot Springs Hotel and Preserve as the perfect place to relax.



A FREE FORM RETREAT
Wilbur Hot Springs is a free-
form retreat, unobstructed by structure or dogma, self-
directed by mutual respect,
and is the creation of everyone who comes here. In short, it's organic."—RD

PHOTO GALLERY:
SUMMER CLOSEDOWN

CLOSEDOWN
Well, another successful Closedown has taken place over the past few weeks, and we're ready to show it off. Thanks to a talented, and dedicated team of volunteer workers, carpenters, chefs & staff, we transformed the space yet again, making it fresh and clean, as we do each and every year at this time. You'll notice some new features and enhancements to the Hotel, and recognize old, familiar things made new again. We think you'll like the upgrades, subtle changes and the freshness of it all.

Thanks to all who participated in making, and sustaining this unique place of healing waters, land and community we call Wilbur Hot Springs.

POETRY CONTEST!

We'll be announcing the winner of of our poetry contest in the October issue of the Wilbur newsletter. Thank you to all those who entered!

MONTHLY SPECIAL

September Special: Stay two or more nights, in a room of equal value, and receive 25% off your stay. Offer good Sunday through Thursday; non holiday periods. Excludes camping. Offer expires on September 29th, 2011. Click here

GUEST CHEF WEEKEND
Our next Guest Chef Weekend will happen September 23-25 with chef Marion Cascio. Join us for the the September Guest Chef as we kick off the fall season with a fresh new look and bounty of seasonal and local foods prepared lovingly by chef Marion and friends. For more information about Guest Chef at Wilbur, click here.

Do you want to take your yoga practice to the next level? Are you active in the world, yet also want a deeper spiritual practice to give you balance, joy, and clarity even in the midst of the challenges we all face? Do you want to step up your service in the world, and do that from a place of joy, love, balance, and clarity rather than one of anger and judgment? This workshop can serve you no matter what your level of yoga practice and service in the world.

Yoga and meditation provide us with the tools to open to the Divine Consciousness of Oneness. We can learn to embody this awareness through the practice of transforming fear, rigidity, and the ‘disease of disconnect’, and thus reclaim the wholeness and sacred interconnection of all life.

In this workshop, we will use meditation, chanting, and yoga (led by Sarana) and dialogue and reflection (facilitated by Julia) to explore how we can take the gifts and tools we learn in yoga and meditation and apply them toward making a difference in our own lives and in the world. With this embodied awareness, you will leave inspired and moved into conscious action, with a deeper connection to yourself, the community, and the world.

Weekend fee includes:
• 5 organic meals with Guest Chef Marion Cascio
• 5 yoga sessions
• 2 nights' accommodations (including use of baths, sauna and grounds)

Cost:
Private room: double occupancy, per person- $525
Private room: single occupancy - $725
Bunk: per person - $485
Camping: per person - $425

Click here for the complete weekend schedule and what to bring

Enrollment is limited. Please sign up as soon as possible to reserve your space.

Contact Sarana Miller at 510-502-9642, or by email at [email protected].

For more information about Sarana's yoga teaching, see www.saranayoga.com

Dear Friends of Wilbur:

Just prior to writing this, I opened a personal letter from Carolyn, a long time Wilburite, telling me how important Wilbur has been to her health throughout her adult life. She arrived at Wilbur, as a resident artist, the same year Richard and Ezzie arrived as General Managers, in 1988. Her letter produced many sweet tears and deep smiles.

Reading Carolyn's letter gave me pause regarding what I had originally planned to write you about. Her letter served to remind me that this newsletter is about Wilbur and is not meant to be used by me as a vehicle for my political commentary. And so, suffice to say, for those wishing to hear why I think the United States is engaged in an Undeclared Civil War go to my web site: MindBodyHealthPolitics.org and listen to the August 16th pod cast.

It is Closedown time at Wilbur and this is the most exciting, complicated, Closedown in Wilbur history. The Hotel and Red House are getting new paint with brand new decoration. The side entrances are becoming real entrances with awnings to match the trim color, toilets and sinks added to two of the rooms, and, while not a Closedown event, Franklin's Retreat, provided for those of you with canines, is getting spruced up. I am researching tricycles and quadracycles for potential use at Wilbur. Picture yourselves driving through the Nature Preserve on a two person quadracycle.

Closedowners form a unique community of their own and some of the folks working Closedown have been doing it for 17 years. The close down food itself is a huge draw for It is like Guest Chef week end every day of the week. You can work close down and earn gift certificates for use during the year.

Paying guest, resident artist, close downer—many roads lead to Wilbur.

See you soon at Wilbur. Say hello to the real tall guy with the big friendly smile and soft eyes.

Richard