Category: Conferences

Annual Gay Spirit Visions conferences.

GSV 2023 Spring Retreat Post 2

Spring Retreat

GSV Spring Logo

From Vulnerability to Intimacy: Exploring the Threshold

May 12-14, 2023

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Highlands NC

3 Day/2 Night Package (Friday through Sunday)


Bunk House (shared room up to 4 people): $190.00


Lodge or Duplex Cabin (double occupancy): $220.00


Single Occupancy (private room): $340.00


For All Rooms add Mandatory GSV program fee: $35.00

Register Now!

On the threshold, the entire past and the endless future rush to meet one another.
—Gunilla Norris

Dear Siblings,

I am very excited to be the convener for the Gay Spirit Visions 2023 Spring Retreat and look forward to sharing our experiences of intimacy and vulnerability as we explore the various thresholds we will encounter while moving from vulnerability to deeper intimacy — with ourselves, with each other, and with the Divine.

Our opening time together on Friday evening will honor our GSV traditions, followed by simple, meaningful conversations, and gentle touch; tea and biscuits may even be involved!

On Saturday you will be invited to attend workshops that will offer more exploration of the thresholds we cross as we journey from vulnerability to intimacy. These will include clothed sacred touch, an exploration of Sufi wisdom, a discussion of our shadow selves, and an exploration of how our identity is itself a threshold into deeper intimacy. Finally, there will be an invitation to have a socially nude experience through boundary setting and ritual. On Saturday evening we will share in drumming and camaraderie around our sacred fire.

Throughout the weekend, there will be plenty of unstructured downtime to give you an opportunity to encounter The Mountain and our siblings in whatever way you desire.

Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available. The financial assistance application submission deadline is April 30. Our hope is that anyone who resonates with our mission and community, and who has the desire to attend, can join us at our gatherings. To that end, we offer financial assistance through the Raven Wolfdancer Financial Assistance Fund. Please go to the Financial Assistance page on the Gay Spirit Visions website for more information about financial assistance (scholarships) and for a link to the GSV financial assistance application form. Remember, the financial assistance application submission deadline is April 30.

Registration is now open via the GSV website, so please join us. To inquire about the availability of a private room, which are available on a limited basis, please call The Mountain office at (828) 526-5838.

Come — enter into your vulnerability and discover intimacy. Come — stand on your thresholds and listen to how they are calling you deeper into new manifestations of yourself. Come — your siblings and The Mountain await you. Aho!

Douglas Argue
GSV 2023 Spring Retreat Convener

Register Now!

GSV 2023 Spring Retreat Post 1

Spring Retreat

GSV Spring Logo

From Vulnerability to Intimacy: Exploring the Threshold

May 12-14, 2023

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Highlands NC

3 Day/2 Night Package (Friday through Sunday)


Bunk House (shared room up to 4 people): $190.00


Lodge or Duplex Cabin (double occupancy): $220.00


Single Occupancy (private room): $340.00


For All Rooms add Mandatory GSV program fee: $35.00

Register Now!


On the threshold, the entire past and the endless future rush to meet one another.
—Gunilla Norris

Dear Siblings,

I have often been intrigued by the line between vulnerability and intimacy — just how vulnerable do I need to be to have authentic intimacy? You are invited to join me at the Gay Spirit Visions 2023 Spring Retreat to explore the various thresholds one can find during the process of moving from vulnerability to intimacy. We will engage with each other to learn more about making our way through our thresholds — “the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be  manifested” — and enter deeper into vulnerability and intimacy.

Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available. The financial assistance application submission deadline is April 30. Our hope is that anyone who resonates with our mission and community, and who has the desire to attend, can join us at our gatherings. To that end, we offer financial assistance through the Raven Wolfdancer Financial Assistance Fund. Please go to the Financial Assistance page on the Gay Spirit Visions website for more information about financial assistance (scholarships) and for a link to the GSV financial assistance application form. Remember, the financial assistance application submission deadline is April 30.

Registration is now open via the GSV website, so please join us. To inquire about the availability of a private room, which are available on a limited basis, please call The Mountain office at (828) 526-5838.

Douglas Argue
GSV 2023 Spring Retreat Convener

Register Now!

GSV 2023  Winter Meditation:  Updated COVID-19 Requirements

Gay Spirit Visions, Winter Meditation

Winter 2023

A Serene Weekend of Kindness


January 13-15, 2023


The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Highlands NC


3 Day/2 Night Package (Friday through Sunday)


Bunk House (shared room up to 4 people) $180.00


Lodge or Duplex Cabin (double occupancy) $200.00


Single Occupancy (private room) $320.00


For All Rooms add Mandatory GSV program fee $35


Register Now!

UPDATED COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS—PLEASE READ

Dear Siblings,

The Mountain beckons you to come, let go, and be in the moment. This weekend will be focused on going within, being one with the stillness of The Mountain in repose, and taking time to be kind to yourself. You are invited to join us for a weekend focused on serenity and kindness.

Among the workshops we will explore is the potential of physical change incurred from spiritual expansion, synching our chakras with one another, the invigoration of deep breath work, and small group discussions around kindness, internal journeys, and circular expansion. We will spend one evening by the fire, in our jammies, sharing inspirational short stories. We are also planning a workshop creating elder beads, and time with meditation stones.

We would like one or two more volunteers who would like to facilitate a workshop in line with the theme, so please let us know. If you are interested, please contact Doug Emerson at [email protected] or Bill Harris at [email protected].

Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available. The financial assistance application submission deadline is December 30. Our hope is that anyone who resonates with our mission and community, and who has the desire to attend, can join us at our gatherings. To that end, we offer financial assistance through the Raven Wolfdancer Financial Assistance Fund. Please go to the Financial Assistance page on the Gay Spirit Visions website for more information about financial assistance (scholarships) and for a link to the GSV financial assistance application form. Remember, the financial assistance application submission deadline is December 30.

To help make this event safe and healthy for everyone attending, you must review and complete the following:

  • You must be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (“You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.”) To attend you must be up to date at least two weeks before the event — on or before Thursday, December 29, 2022.
  • Due to the highly contagious nature of the BA.5 variant, all event participants will need to perform a COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Self-Test and test negative for COVID-19 no more than 24 hours before leaving for the conference. Anyone who tests positive must contact The Mountain to cancel their registration as soon as possible. Failure to do so could result in forfeiture of registration fees.
  • Review the General Liability Waiver document, print it, sign it, and bring it to The Mountain.
  • Review the Notice of Actions Taken document and the COVID-19 Safety Protocols document. These documents describe the various actions taken by The Mountain and Gay Spirit Visions to create a safe and healthy environment.
  • Your signature at check-in will acknowledge that you have read and understood the Notice of Actions Taken document and serve as proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.

    • Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

    Registration is now open via the GSV website, so please join us. Register early so that The Mountain will know how many cabins to heat up! Private rooms are available on a limited basis.

    Doug Emerson and Bill Harris,
    GSV 2023 Winter Meditation Co-Conveners

    Register Now!

    GSV 2023 Winter Meditation

    Winter Meditation

    Winter 2023

    A Serene Weekend of Kindness


    January 13-15, 2023


    The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Highlands NC


    3 Day/2 Night Package (Friday through Sunday)


    Bunk House (shared room up to 4 people) $180.00


    Lodge or Duplex Cabin (double occupancy) $200.00


    Single Occupancy (private room) $320.00


    For All Rooms add Mandatory GSV program fee $35.00


    Register Now!

    Dear Siblings,

    Winter at The Mountain is a magical experience. The air is crisp, the atmosphere is serene, and all of nature is in repose. Long dark hours in retreat from life’s commitments create space for reflection. The Mountain beckons you to come, let go, and be in the moment.

    You are invited to join us for a weekend focused on serenity and kindness. We will spend one evening by the fire, in our jammies, sharing inspirational short stories. We are also planning a workshop creating elder beads and time with meditation stones.

    As you consider our Winter Meditation theme, is there a workshop or experience your heart leads you to offer to our group? If so, please let us know by contacting Doug Emerson at [email protected] or Bill Harris at [email protected]. Thank you!

    Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available. The financial assistance application submission deadline is December 30. Our hope is that anyone who resonates with our mission and community, and who has a desire to attend, can join us at our gatherings. To that end, we offer financial assistance through the Raven Wolfdancer Financial Assistance Fund. Please go to the
    Financial Assistance page on the Gay Spirit Visions website for more information about financial assistance (scholarships) and for a link to the GSV financial assistance application form. Remember, the financial assistance application submission deadline is December 30.

    Please note that GSV currently plans to follow the CDC Covid policy in effect at the time of the gathering.

    Registration is now open via the GSV website, so please join us. Register early so that The Mountain will know how many cabins to heat up! Private rooms are available on a limited basis.

    Doug Emerson and Bill Harris,
    GSV 2023 Winter Meditation Co-Conveners

    Register Now!

    GSV 2022 Fall Conference: Last Call

    Fall Conference, Gay Spirit Visions

    GSVFallRetreat2022

    Who do you think you are?


    September 22 – 25, 2022


    The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Highlands, NC


    4 Day/3 Night Package (Thursday through Sunday)


    Lodge (shared room) $315.00

    Cabin (shared room) $315.00


    Bunk House (shared room up to 4 people) $270.00


    Register Now!

    “A thought is harmless unless you believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering.” — Byron Katie

    Dear Siblings,

    In just a few weeks, we will be gathering once again at The Mountain! You will be welcomed home to the summit of magical possibilities and embraced in nurturing serenity. Our time of introspection will be spent exploring the potential of our thoughts, those that guide our human development, and those we choose to create for our spiritual evolution. This journey called life is our creation and limited only by the constraints of our own making.

    Remember an early childhood memory and how that is still with you today. Are you still scared of the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz? Do you still sleep with a light or TV on? Do you still have visions of people burning in hell? Do you still long to wear a crown and walk the runway? Have you reframed that memory to something that has enhanced your journey? You can spend a lifetime trying to forget a few minutes of your childhood.

    “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
    — Ralph Waldo Emerson
    Fall Conference
    With adulthood comes the realization that we have a choice in the thoughts we create. Thoughts created in the present moment and thoughts created long ago. In many ways reframing conditioned thoughts is a return to your essence. Your true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other people’s opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a child and adult that became your beliefs about who you are.

    Our keynote speaker will be David Ault. David is an award-winning author, leadership coach, and global education advocate. His books include the bestseller Where Regret Cannot Find Me and the multi-award-winning book The Grass is Greener Right Here. David is known by many in Gay Spirit Visions as the former Spiritual Director at Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta. He loves leading through example and abides by the motto that people would rather “see a lesson than hear one.”

    COVID-19 and Monkeypox Information

    To help make this event safe and healthy for everyone attending, please review the following hyperlinked documents:

    2022 Fall Conference COVID-19 Safety Protocols
    2022 Fall Conference COVID-19 Notice of Actions Taken
    2022 Fall Conference COVID-19 General Liability Waiver
    2022 Fall Conference Monkeypox Information

    Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

    Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available. The financial assistance application submission deadline is September 7. We hope that anyone who resonates with our mission and community, and who has a desire to attend, can join us at our gatherings. To that end, we offer financial assistance through the Raven Wolfdancer Financial Assistance Fund. Please go to the Financial Assistance page on the Gay Spirit Visions website for more information about financial assistance (scholarships) and a link to the GSV financial assistance application form. Remember, the financial assistance application submission deadline is September 7.

    Make plans to return home to The Mountain in September, as you have been missed.

    In gratitude,
    Bill Harris
    GSV 2022 Fall Conference Convener

    Register Now!