The Great Search – Commuter Option

Monday, May 4 - Wednesday, May 6
Facilitator(s): Cami Twilling, John Philip Newell
graphic for retreat in Racine, Wisconsin with John Philip Newell

Overview

Description
The Great Search – A Three-Day Retreat, in which the wisdom teachings of John Philip Newell and the spiritual practices of Cami Twilling inspire us in this time of transition toward a spirituality of intimacy with Earth rather than a spirituality of alienation from Earth, and a vision of interrelatedness and harmony instead of religious and political division. The retreat focuses on the main themes of John Philip’s ground-breaking new book The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home (HarperOne, August 2024).

John Philip Newell is a ‘wandering teacher’ from Scotland in the ancient Celtic tradition. He describes himself as ‘a son of the Christian household, seeking to be in relationship with the wisdom of humanity’s other great spiritual traditions.’ Cami Twilling is the director of Earth & Soul, a Celtic initiative of study, spiritual practice, and compassionate action based in Colorado. Their much-loved combination of teaching and spiritual practice offers great hope for healing and transformation in our lives, both individually and together.

Dates and Details
Monday, May 4 – Wednesday, May 6, 2026
This retreat begins at 5pm on Monday and ends at 1pm on Wednesday

Commuter Cost: $350

The commuter option is ONLY for those who live nearby or make their own overnight arrangements. If you choose this option, you are responsible for securing your own lodging and breakfasts. Transportation is also not provided.

Registration Information
You may register and pay online by clicking the yellow “Register Here” button above, by calling the Registrar at (262) 898-2582 with a credit card number, or by mailing a check made out to Siena Retreat Center to 5637 Erie Street, Racine, WI 53402. Payment must be received to complete registration. Please see our FAQ page for our cancellation policies and other helpful information.

If cost is a barrier to your ability to attend, you are invited to complete our Scholarship Request Form. While we cannot guarantee that all requests can be fully accommodated, and we do ask that you contribute a portion of the fee, we will do our best to assist as many participants as possible within our available resources.

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About the Facilitators

Cami TwillingCami Twilling

Cami Twilling, based in Colorado, is the Director of Earth & Soul (a Celtic initiative of study, spiritual practice and compassionate action inspired by the teachings of John Philip Newell). As well as heading up the overall work of Earth & Soul, she facilitates the spiritual practice component of the Earth & Soul Retreats. In addition to leading mountain and urban retreats, she has led international pilgrimage groups to Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland and work teams to Guatemala to build houses in communities that have suffered from political strife and economic hardship. Cami is passionate about the relationship between spirituality and action and believes that spiritual vision and practice can play a vital role in helping to heal and transform our lives both individually and together.

John Philip NewellJohn Philip Newell

John Philip Newell (b. 1953) is an internationally renowned Celtic teacher and author who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and every human being. A Canadian-born Scotsman, he lives with his wife Ali in the ecovillage of Findhorn in Scotland and founded the Earth & Soul initiative in 2016. He teaches across the U.S., Canada, and leads international pilgrimages on Iona. With a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, he has written over fifteen books, including Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, winner of the 2022 Nautilus Book Award. His upcoming release, The Great Search (HarperOne, 2024), explores spiritual yearning amid the decline of organized religion. Known as a “wandering teacher” in the Celtic tradition, Newell brings together the poetic and the scholarly, weaving spiritual insight with ecological and political awareness.