Dr. William Thiele, PhD, will facilitate a day retreat at the Naval Life Oak National Seashore, Gulf Breeze, Florida, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. This will be an experiential contemplative retreat with a theme of “Walk Slowly and Bow Often: Eco Spirituality as a Contemplative Practice."

The sacredness of nature fills our beings like nothing else. Join us as we practice spiritual truths from Mary Oliver’s poem, “When I Am Among the Trees,” in real time. Dr. Thiele will lead us in learning divine truths of contemplative living from the nature beings all around us, tapping into the feeling of oneness with all beings in the natural world, and letting go of the illusions of separation from God and from one another.

We will weave centering practice (inner sanctuary) into Eco-practice (outer sanctuary), dissolving the illusion of separation, “holding space for the sacred within and wherever we go.”

William Thiele, PhD, is a spiritual director, licensed professional counselor, retreat leader, Compassion Cultivation Training teacher, and author of books & articles on contemplative living. He has authored the books The Gate of Heaven is Everywhere and Monks in the World: Seeking God in a Frantic Culture. He publishes "A Contemplative Path" podcast on iTunes and blog on Wordpress.com. Thiele served as founding spiritual director of the School for Contemplative Living, and he stays connected with the school as its Founding Director Emeritus.

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