Whole Planet Spirituality Forum & Retreat
A World That Works for All
October 17-20, 2024
Attend in person or virtually!
art by Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig
This is the time. This is the place. Come to connect, collaborate and co-create a love-centered world, free of exploitation.
Where: Unity Village, Missouri (near Kansas City)
When: October 17-20, 2024
In our fourth year, we are once again calling all spiritually minded, planet-conscious and animal-loving people to enjoy three days (Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) of inspiration, learning, renewal and collaboration as we co-create a world that works for all beings on the planet. Experience the sacredness of the Unity Village grounds, home of the Unity movement where co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore pioneered and advocated for ethical vegetarianism in the early 1900’s. Participate in the awakening of consciousness in the heart of our nation. All lunches and dinners will be organic and plant-based. Vegans, omnivores and vegetarians are all welcome! We are all learning and sharing and open to connection!
This year’s theme is “A World That Works for All.” We all remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech. “A World That Works for All” is a dream. A worthy dream. A dream that calls us to universal love for each other and all sentient life – ahimsa. It certainly is a departure from the experienced reality of our current and past worlds! Whether we look at environmental destruction, species extinction, human and animal exploitation, government corruption or war, it’s easy to find ourselves in a low vibration. But new creation emerges from a higher place. We need to become something different to create something different.
During these three days we will delve into the creative process, engage in inquiry, learn, and play in the realms of ahimsa, imagination and co-creation. We will also enjoy fabulous organic, plant-based meals, engage in spiritual practices, honor our animal friends and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Bring your heart and willingness to connect with other wonderful people who also want to co-create a world that works for all.
Everything about the retreat is on this web page! Scroll down to learn about registration, Unity Village, the hotel, the retreat schedule and more!
Programming Includes (scroll down for schedule):
Workshops on Whole Planet Spirituality, health, intersectionality, and co-creating a more beautiful and sustainable world
Keynote speaker John Pierre (scroll down to learn more)
Morning balance and coordination class
Art ministry projects
Spiritual practices centered on self-care and inner peace
Connection/collaboration with like-hearted people
Animals and World Religions traveling exhibit by curator Dr. Lisa Kemmerer
Evening social gatherings
Meditation, labyrinth, walking trails for renewal, restoration and self-care
Ceremonies to honor animals and habitats
Support in making values based lifestyle transitions to align your actions with your heart
Support of your creative process and effective action
Creative activities to support your inner journey and awaken the world
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“It is so amazing to be in this beautiful, relaxing place with other folks on their journeys and sharing with them their journeys and my journey. The education is so absorbing and the food is quite delicious.”
“My life has done a 180! This retreat was like a shot in the arm that saved my life for me. I was dying on the vine at my empty job, desiring to align with my core values and life purpose, needing community and love, healing and joy--and I received all that and more in full measure here! My heart overflowed with gratitude and I wept for the graces God was bestowing upon me at Unity Village in this beautiful retreat. I received insight and clarity into my next steps, my strengths and true heart's desires to serve in growing compassion for all life. I left completely inspired and lifted up.”
“I have been to three of these retreats so far. Each one has been unique and full of new information and inspiration. Each time I felt like I was home with my family of dear people who care so deeply about all sacred life and about each other. I will be back.”
"Being on Unity's beautiful grounds and spending time with the most loving and authentic people I have ever met has deepened my spiritual journey and consciousness in ways I could not have predicted."
“Unity Village is the most peaceful setting for this spiritual retreat. You will find yourself surrounded by wonderfully compassionate people who care so much about all beings on our planet. You will be inspired and renewed. You’ll also make new friends who share your compassion."
“I truly benefited from all that was offered....the presenters, break out sessions with other attendees, the morning and midday prayers, the documentary, the evening cafes, and the closing ritual, and just being on the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. I feel empowered and emboldened to do my own inner work and to share this message more effectively.”
“This event was well thought-out, and had the right amount of activity, reflection, study and individual time. It provided a comfortable and welcoming environment to meet people and express oneself and their experience and have respectful and caring exchanges with the other persons attending. The speakers and activities engaged our attention throughout, even as we sat towards the back of the room. The people who came were all approachable, interesting and surprising. This is the second year that we attended and we are anxious to go again to learn, be in community and eat delicious food.”
“This retreat soothed my soul, inspired me and gave me so many things to think about and ideas, and made deep connections with some beautiful people.”
“I attended the retreat by myself not knowing anyone else and had a fantastic, enriching experience. I met new friends, made connections and had time to reflect. All my needs were met on every level. I came home revitalized and nourished mentally, physically and spiritually.”
“I went to the retreat primarily to hear the speakers who interested me. They delivered. However, it was the unexpected moments of connection during some of the group activities and evening 'games' at the cafe that provided joyful and heartfelt connections that I cherish.”
"Everything was delicious! I loved all of the vegan food served and was thankful the hotel was so accommodating too! I felt full and energized throughout the day and enjoyed the engagement in discussion during dinner time! The catering choices were brilliant."
"I definitely plan on returning next year because I made such good connections with many people, learned so much about myself and veganism through presentations and discussions, and of course, loved the amazing food!"
"I can't stop thinking about how great this retreat was. I already can't wait for next year!"
“I've been to hundreds of vegan conferences and workshops and expos and festivals over the years. I've never had one speak to my heart the way this one did.” —Victoria Moran, author, podcaster, and co-founder of Compassion Consortium
Accommodations
You can make your room reservations now for 2024. We have reserved rooms for our retreat attendees at the Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center, which is a short walk to/from the event space. The room rate is $139/night plus taxes. When you call be sure to say you are with the “VEGAN RETREAT.” That is how you will get the discounted rate. There are many other area hotels in close proximity. As the time for our retreat draws closer, we will facilitate people who want to find roommates.
If you live locally and would like to open a room in your home to a retreat attendee, please email me at revcarolsaunders@gmail.com.
For retreat updates:
Event Host
Financial and Promotional Sponsors
We are grateful to Unity Worldwide Ministries and Circle of Compassion for their financial donations in 2023. It makes a big difference in what we can offer during this retreat. We are also grateful to Compassion Consortium and Vegan Spirituality for their willingness to promote our event through social media.
Registration
Registration for 2024 is open! Rental rates and meal prices increased in 2024 and our retreat pricing has been kept as close as possible to last year’s. As in past years, we have three levels of registration - full experience, single day and virtual.
Full experience: The retreat fee includes all programming, three organic, plant-based dinners (Thursday, Friday & Saturday) catered by Cafe Gratitude, and three organic, plant-based lunches (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) catered by Gigi’s Health and Wellness Cafe. Accommodations and breakfast at the Fillmore Cafe are not included in the registration fee. Call the hotel (816) 347-5537 to book separately and mention your attendance at this retreat to get a reduced price. The Unity Hotel will NOT be serving a plant-based breakfast for us this year but you can select vegan options from their regular hotel guest breakfast (included in your room rate) or walk across the street to the Fillmore Cafe.
Single day: If you can only attend for a single day, you can register for either Friday or Saturday. This registration includes all programming and lunch and dinner on that day.
Virtual: Virtual attendance will be held via Zoom and will include all daytime speakers/workshops, spiritual practices and break out sessions from Firday morning through Sunday morning. It will be a fully immersive experience with the opportunity to connect and engage in group work/sharing with fellow virtual attendees.
Sunday afternoon dialogue workshop: Again this year, Laura Aube will lead a communications workshop after lunch on Sunday for those who can stay. This will be held in a smaller room for a maximum of 20 participants.
YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION WITH FULL REFUND UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17, 2024. AFTER SEPTEMBER 17, YOUR REGISTRATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE, BUT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE VIRTUAL OR DAILY EXPERIENCE.
About Unity Village
The Unity Village grounds are beautiful and offer many amenities. For your stay, there is a hotel and three Airbnbs on site, plus others nearby (scroll down for links to accommodations). Our room rate is $139/night plus tax. Call (816) 347-5537. Do not register online or you will miss the retreat discount.
For reflection/renewal time there are several chapels, gardens, sitting areas, walking trails and a labyrinth. Tours of the grounds will be offered on Thursday afternoon. Here are just a few photos of the Unity Village grounds and trails. The Unity Cafe, located across from the Unity Hotel, serves Starbucks drinks and is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Here is a downloadable map of Unity Village. Our meeting room is the Fillmore Chapel.
2024 Featured Speaker
John Pierre
is a champion for environmental, humanitarian, and animal rights issues. He has devoted more than 35 years to improving the lives of others in the areas of nutrition, fitness, women’s empowerment, compassion for animals, green living, and cognitive enhancement. A renowned nutrition/fitness consultant and dedicated activist, he works with people of all ages promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet, stress reduction, and physical fitness, and the importance of compassion for all life. John has authored two books, The Pillars of Health: Your Foundation for Lifelong Wellness and Strong and Savvy and Safe: Empowering Tools for Self Protection and Vibrant Health. His heart of service is a nonprofit called Living with Harmony, which works to heal, inspire, and transform the lives of people, animals, and the planet, through the education of “PLANET-Based Living.”
“John Pierre is special. He understands the value of living a truly ethical life. His actions are not for show. They’re for humanity, for the animals and the planet. Naturally, that commitment rubs off on those that are lucky enough to spend time with JP. I’m one of those lucky ones.” Joaquin Phoenix, actor and client
Meet the Organizer
Rev. Carol Saunders, organizer
Rev. Carol Saunders is an ordained Unity and interfaith minister; founder/host of The Spiritual Forum, a podcast, prayer & retreat ministry; author of Wolf and the Lamb, an online ministry to awaken the world to the Truth that we are ALL One; and author/compiler of the booklet, The Forgotten Teachings of Charles Fillmore: How Our Relationship with Animals Connects to Universal Love, Ethical Living, Spiritual Development and World Peace.
Schedule of Activities:
The schedule below is a working schedule and will be updated as more details become available, so check back frequently or sign up to receive updates (sign up above to get on the newsletter list). We recommend that you arrive on Thursday by 4 pm and stay through at least lunch on Sunday. If you arrive earlier on Thursday, there is a nature walks and tour you can participate in. If you stay after lunch, there is a communication workshop tailored to making the retreat as meaningful as possible.
For onsite attendees, you are free to attend any of the programming you wish and take personal reflection time as you see fit. The retreat meal plan begins with dinner on Thursday and ends with Sunday lunch. For breakfast, you can find some vegan options among the regular breakfast served at the hotel for guests OR the Fillmore Cafe across the street will have vegan breakfast options available for sale.
Each morning we will offer a body movement class starting at 7 am.
Thursday, October 17
1:30 - 3:30 pm - Mindfulness nature walk on Unity trails led by Kristin Cherry (meet in the hotel lobby)
4:00 - 4:40 pm Walking tour of Unity Village grounds
4:00 - 5:30 Registration - pick up nametag at Fillmore Chapel, check out the Animals and World Religions display
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner (meal plan)
6:45 -8:30 pm Orientation and introductions in the Fillmore Chapel
Friday, October 18 - The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some vegan options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:00 – 7:45 am Balance & Coordination class with John Pierre
This is JP’s most popular movement class. He will cover why training your balance and coordination are the real keys to longevity, health and vitality. We will do practical and functional movements that will wake up your nervous system and stimulated your cognitive functioning. You’ll also learn fall prevention skills.
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music
9:00 – 10:00 am Intro to Whole Planet Spirituality, the Creative Process and early Unity teachings on ethics, animals and spirituality led by Rev. Carol Saunders
10:00 – 10:30 am Interactive Forum
10:30 – 10:45 am Break
11:45 - 11:50 am Group connection/collaboration
11:50 am – 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for Animals
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Banquet Room
1:15 - 3:15 pm “PLANET-Based Living” with our featured speaker, John Pierre, plus Q&A
John Pierre’s non-profit, Living with Harmony, coined the term, “PLANET-Based Living.” This is a lifestyle of conscientious choices for the good of the people, the animals and the planet, and can be divided into three general areas: Environment, Ethics, and Health. John Pierre will share with us the many ways we can live a life that does the least harm to our planet and all her inhabitants. Whether you are new to this concept or consider yourself a veteran, you are sure to walk away with new knowledge and new commitments to put into practice in your life.
3:15 - 3:30 pm Break
3:30 – 4:30 pm “Homo Ahimsa” with Judy Carman
4:30– 4:45 pm Animals and Habitats meditation
4:45 - 5:30 pm Group connection/collaboration
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room
6:30 – 7:30 pm Café hangout in Fillmore Chapel
7:30 – 9:00 pm Possible film viewing
Saturday, October 19 -The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some vegan options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:00 – 7:45 am Balance & Coordination class with John Pierre
This is JP’s most popular movement class. He will cover why training your balance and coordination are the real keys to longevity, health and vitality. We will do practical and functional movements that will wake up your nervous system and stimulated your cognitive functioning. You’ll also learn fall prevention skills.
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music
9:00 – 10:00 am “Brain Building” with John Pierre
Co-creating a new world requires a healthy brain! John Pierre created some of the first brain building programs in the United States 38 years ago. We will cover dietary do’s and don’ts, learn why prioritizing sleep and stress reduction are paramount to a healthy brain, and try some brain building exercises to enhance focus and recall.
10:00 – 10:15 am Break
10:15 – 11:15 am “The Big You - Building Beliefs That Support You” with Dona Sauerburger
We all have beliefs about ourselves and the world around us that either support us, or make us feel anxious, discouraged, and/or depressed. To create something different than what we already have, we need to become someone different. In this workshop, we'll explore how to build beliefs that support us. We’ll learn how to become The Big You – the you who understands and connects with those who oppose your efforts, the people who sometimes seem to be . . . well, just evil! When we can love the sinner while fighting passionately against the sin, we are not only more effective, we feel more at peace about all that is happening. Dona’s workshops are rooted in her mother’s book, How to Think If You Want to Change the World.
1l:15 - 11:50 am Group Connection/Reflection time
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for Animals
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch (meal plan) with dessert demo by our visionary/caterer, Gigi Jones
1:15 - 1:45 pm Inspiration from Unity Worldwide Ministries CEO, Rev. Shad Groverland
1:45 - 2:45 pm “Pinky Promise” with Dr. Sailesh Rao
We will explore some delightful elements in Dr. Sailesh Rao’s book, The Pinky Promise. In this book, Sailesh’s granddaughter Kamaya is our teacher who sees the world as one would expect — through the eyes of a child! Can we create a world where we see every child in the world as our grandchild? A world where we don’t lie and where our games are not about domination and control? A world where we act for the world we imagine? Dr. Rao, a systems specialist with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, is the Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated towards healing the Earth’s climate.
2:45 - 3:45 pm Tree meditation or other spiritual practice
3:45 - 4:30 pm Group sharing
4:30 - 5:30 pm Ceremony to Honor the Animals and Habitats led by Rev. Carol Saunders
5:30-6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room
6:30 - 8:30 pm Cafe hangout/Open mic to share your heart and talent, evening labyrinth walk
Sunday, October 20 - The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some vegan options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:00 – 7:45 am Balance & Coordination class with John Pierre
This is JP’s most popular movement class. He will cover why training your balance and coordination are the real keys to longevity, health and vitality. We will do practical and functional movements that will wake up your nervous system and stimulated your cognitive functioning. You’ll also learn fall prevention skills.
8:45 - 9:00 am Spiritual practice
9:00 – 10:00 am “What’s on Your Heart” dialogue with Rev. Carol Saunders
10:00 - 10:30 am Group connection
10:30 – 10:45 am Break
10:45 - 11:45 Group consecration project
11:45 – 11:50 am Closing words (for those who have to leave early)
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for Animals
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Banquet Room/good-byes to those who are leaving
1:15 - 3:30 pm Communication workshop with Laura Aube
Ground Transportation to/from the Kansas City Airport:
For ground transportation to and from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), we recommend BATS (Better Alternative Transportation Service). BATS has reliably served Unity retreats for many years and will coordinate shared rides to give you the best price possible.
Accommodation Options (click on photos and links):
Other Area Hotels:
Join us in 2024 to co-create a world
that works for ALL!
Questions?
Do you have additional questions? Please first see if your question is addressed on our FAQ page. If it isn’t, submit your question below. Thank you.