[DAYLONG/ASHEVILLE] The Four Sweet Liberations - Practices of Disruption for the Spiritually Fabulous

Traditional practice leans into striving for simplicity and letting go of material goods, renouncing all of the pleasures of the world. Strong feelings can arise as practitioners work to address craving and attachment in a world of consumerism and materialism, especially in the face of rising prices and less assistance with basic needs. Enter the Four Sweet Liberations.

Leisure. Beauty. Opulence. Pleasure. 

These practices and frameworks for liberation, articulated by Lama Rod Owens in The New Saints, are important tools, especially in these trying times. As we move through a season defined by overconsumption and escapism, a time of struggle and uncertainty for marginalized communities, we can explore and practice the Sweet Liberations as a means to not bypass suffering and be more present in the world around us. 

“The Four Sweet Liberations are the practices that I had to reclaim for myself to experience care and freedom in a world that too often frames beauty as an aesthetic of material consumption. The practice of the liberations isn’t about showing loyalty to capitalism. Neither is it about having fun to bypass our deep insecurities.

The liberations are a means for me to think about the many energies in and around me. In this framework leisure, beauty, opulence, and pleasure are only energies that take on the drag of material things. These materials are trying to take care of us but because we misunderstand their worldly appearance or abuse and manipulate them to bypass pain, we are not living in a balanced relationship with them.” – from The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors

This daylong retreat is open to all practitioners of all levels.

This event will be offered in person in Asheville on Saturday, December 13th at Land of the Sky United Church of Christ (15 Overbrook Pl, Asheville, NC 28805), in their beautiful Sanctuary space. Check-in will begin at 9:30am and the program will conclude at 5pm. Our time for lunch break has changed and will be scheduled from 1-2pm. Your registration fee is offered on a sliding scale ($25 – $75); kindly offer to pay at the highest amount that you are able. All proceeds will be offered to our teacher as dana. Participants will have the opportunity to offer the teacher additional contributions at the event if they choose to.

Firestorm Books will be vending Lama Rod titles, as well as a small selection of related books, at the close of this event.

We will not be requiring or administering Covid-19 tests for this program, but please bring mindfulness to your activity in the days leading up to the retreat out of consideration for our staff, teachers and participants. Masks will be optional. Avoiding higher risk situations and making use of masks whenever possible will minimize the likelihood of transmitting viruses to others while on site. We strongly encourage folks to stay home if they are symptomatic of any communicable illness.