Whole Planet Spirituality Forum & Retreat

October 29-November 1, 2026

Attendance in person is highly reommended. A virtual option is available.

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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 (virtual option also)

When: October 29 - November 1, 2026

In our sixth year, we are once again calling all spiritually minded, planet-conscious and animal-loving people to enjoy 3 1/2 days (Thursday early afternoon to Sunday late 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. Recognizing that we are all at different stages of our evolutionary process, we invite anyone - vegan, vegetarian or curious omnivore - who is open to sharing, learning and connecting. All lunches and dinners will be plant-based.

Our retreat theme this year is “Above All, Love All.” This reminds us to be steadfast, radiant expressions in all of our encounters. It calls us to embrace all of creation in our circle of compassion and align our actions to the best of our ability with lovingkindness. It urges us to be love even in the most challenging of circumstances, toward ourselves and difficult people. It sometimes calls us to stand up, be firm or resistant. Love is one of the highest vibrational expressions and when our actions come from that space, we raise the collective consciousness. Our movement toward a world that works for all must be led by and imbued with love, because it is simply not possible to create a world of non-violence and care if we act violently and uncaring toward ourselves or others, even our presumed enemies. We will be challenging ourselves with these ideas during our time together. We will also enjoy fabulous plant-based meals, engage in spiritual practices and ceremony, honor our animal friends and their habitats, and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Bring your heart and willingness to connect with other wonderful people who are also called to live as love, above all.

Check back regularly or sign up for updates. Retreat e-newsletters will go out roughly every other week beginning in April.

Everything about the retreat is on this web page! Scroll down to learn about Unity Village, event speakers, testimonials from past attendees, the hotel and more!

Programming Includes (scroll to the bottom for detailed schedule)

  • Workshops on Whole Planet Spirituality, Raising Consciousness, Paradigm Shifts, Connecting with Nature, Opening the Heart/Forgiveness, Kindly Caring for Companion animals and more (see more below)

  • Featured Speaker Kameron Waters, co-creator of Christspiracy film (see more below)

  • Sunday afternoon community conversation with Renee King-Sonnen, founder of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary

  • Morning body movement class

  • 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

  • Ceremony to honor animals (including humans) 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

  • Wonderful plant-based meals - three lunches and three dinners prepared by local chefs

    NOTE: Virtual attendance will include presentations but will not include group sharing sessions. Virtual attendees will go into your own Zoom room to share and discuss.

Want to stay in touch? Sign up for retreat updates here

You will receive a newsletter titled “Whole Planet Spirituality Forum & Retreat” every 2-3 weeks. Check your spam folder!

Hosted by

Promotional Sponsors

Last year were were grateful to the Circle of Compassion for their financial donation to this event. It makes a big difference in what we can offer during this retreat. This year we are grateful to Compassion Consortium and Interfaith Vegan Coalition for their willingness to promote our event through social media. We are open to any and all donations and acts of support for our event in 2026! Contact revcarolsaunders@gmail.com if you would like to be a 2026 donor or sponsor.

Registration

Registration is now open! We will have three levels of registration - full experience, single day and virtual. Registration has increased due to higher meal and room rental prices. We may be able to accommodate a few partial scholarships.

Full experience: The retreat fee of $459 includes all programming, three plant-based dinners (Thursday, Friday & Saturday) and three plant-based lunches (Friday, Saturday & Sunday). Call the hotel (816) 347-5537 to book separately and mention your attendance at this retreat to get a reduced price. The Unity Hotel does NOT serve a plant-based breakfast for us, but you can select plant options from their regular hotel guest breakfast if desired (included in your room rate).

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. The single day fee is $179.

Virtual: We highly recommend attending in person for the best overall experience. If you simply cannot do that, then virtual attendance is an option. The virtual experience will be held via Zoom. As stated above, virtual attendance will include presentations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but will not include group sharing sessions. The virtual attendees will be able to participate in Q&A sessions and will be placed in a Zoom room for their own sharing and also during group breakout sessions. Recordings of presentations will be available for two weeks after the event ends. The virtual fee is $115. This fee covers the cost of two tech support people. There will be a full-time Zoom facilitator for those attending virtually.

YOU CAN ALSO PAY BY CHECK. EMAIL REVCAROLSAUNDERS@GMAIL.COM FOR ADDRESS.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION WITH FULL REFUND LESS TRANSACTION FEES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 28, 2026. AFTER SEPTEMBER 28, YOUR REGISTRATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE, BUT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE VIRTUAL OR DAILY EXPERIENCE. RETREAT REGISTRATION FEE WILL INCREASE TO $489 ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.

NOTE: Our retreat registration platform this year is Zeffy. It is much more user friendly than PayPal and has a lot of benefits for non-profits,including no fees and easy-to-access reporting. They may ask for a donation to support their platform but you are not at all obligated!

About Unity Village

The Unity Village grounds are beautiful and offer many amenities. Sitting on 1200 acres, it is a Mediterranean-style campus with gardens, fountains, a nature trail, and multiple buildings. For reflection/renewal time there are several chapels, gardens, sitting areas, walking trails and a 90-foot diameter labyrinth, the largest paver labyrinth in the United States. There is also a 9-hole golf course on site. Tours of the grounds will be offered on Thursday afternoon.

Below are just a few photos of the Unity Village grounds and trails. The Fillmore Cafe, located across from the Unity Hotel, serves Messenger coffee, drinks and snacks. Here is a downloadable map of Unity Village. Our meeting room is the Fillmore Chapel.


2026 Featured Speaker


Kameron Waters

Kameron Waters is a former gospel songwriter and musician for Sony and Interscope Records turned filmmaker. After growing up in the buckle of the Bible Belt with a family lineage of gospel singers, a minister, and a tradition of hunting, fishing, and running a family BBQ restaurant, Kam was entrenched in the church — and the culture — from the day he was born. It wasn’t until his own faith sent him searching that he uncovered the thing hiding in plain sight: that the core thrust of the Kingdom of Heaven and the way we treat animals are impossible to separate. That discovery launched a journey he couldn’t stop following — and eventually led him to co-create Christspiracy (aka What Would Jesus Do?) — a revolutionary, censored documentary that challenges everything modern faith has been taught about Jesus and all life. Kameron isn’t trying to deconstruct Christianity — he’s trying to recover what was always at its center: protecting the vulnerable and honoring the Way of Life. All life. 

Kameron’s talk is titled, “The Tables Have Turned: Good News for All Creatures.”


Meet the Organizer/Retreat Leader


Rev. Carol Saunders

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 our Oneness with all beings; 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. Rev. Carol believes social movements are only truly effective when they are movements of Love and Peace. This is her sixth year leading this retreat at Unity Village.

Rev. Carol will lead the Thursday night “getting to know one other” gathering and officially open the retreat on Friday morning where she will discuss Whole Planet Spirituality and our 2026 retreat theme, “Above All, Love All.” We will once again delve into David Hawkin’s map of consciousness and engage in dialogue on love, healing, activism, planetary consciousness and the purpose that calls us to be.

 

Mind-Body-Spirit Team

Workshops

Building a World of Love Through the Spirals of Sacred Relationships with Tami Hay - Friday afternoon

Every relationship holds a sacred spark, whether it is between family members, co-workers, communities, other species or habitats. Some are easy; others can be quite challenging. In a world that seems to thrive on division, disconnectedness, and unhealthy discourse, how can we connect with others (and the earth) in the most loving way possible? Are we sure that our ready conclusions about other people or other species are true? In this workshop we will explore sacred relationships through earth-based wisdom, and use the Work Spiral Dynamics and Byron Katie to guide us to coherence, compassion, and conscious service

Tami Hay is an author, educator, and somatic practitioner devoted to sacred living, earth-based wisdom, and relational healing. She is the author of four books including The Essence of Sacred Relationships: Spiraling into Divine Union and Compassionate Service.

The Rowdy Girl Story: A Community Conversation - Sunday afternoon

Renee King-Sonnen (featured retreat speaker in 2023) returns to engage in community conversation around her story of spiritual awakening and ethical transformation, the impetus behind turning her husband’s Texas cattle ranch into a sanctuary for farmed animals. She will share what her spiritual awakening meant for her marriage, her faith, rural identity, and the animals who changed everything. This event will take place on Sunday after lunch and we are inviting the public to join us. Renee will also make herself available to sign her recently published book, Rowdy Girl: Confessions of a Vegan Cattle Rancher.

Renee King-Sonnen, born and raised in Houston, Texas, is the founder of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, currently located in Waelder, Texas. As a spiritual seeker, she has taken the deep dive into many of the world’s faith traditions and finds her greatest strength in the still, small voice inside her that she has come to know through her practice of yoga and meditation.

Welcome to Planet B with Dr. Sailesh Rao - Saturday morning

Do you want to help build a better world rooted in love and respect for all life? Welcome to Planet B. This is not a distant planet to escape to, but an alternative operating system for human civilization that systematically addresses the twenty-six tightly interwoven existential threats facing us today.  Solutions are clear, but the collective will and courageous leadership to implement them at scale is urgently needed. Dr. Sailesh Rao will walk us through what we are facing today and lay out the foundational systems of Planet B. We will engage in inquiry around how we can implement solutions at the personal and community levels and co-create a world that loves all, feeds all, serves all, and heals all. 

Sailesh Rao is the the Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated towards healing the Earth, author of several books, and Executive Producer of several documentaries, including Cowspiracy, What the Health?, Prayer for Compassion and Christspiracy.

Ho’oponopono & Somatic Breathwork with Shilpa Manjeshwar - Saturday morning

Shilpa Manjeshwar will lead an experiential session that bridges ancient wisdom with modern science. We will explore the history and mechanics of the Hawaiian forgiveness practice Ho’oponopono and how combining it with intentional breathwork allows us to penetrate the subconscious. This guided session is designed to release deep-seated internal patterns, facilitating profound somatic healing and emotional freedom.

Shilpa Manjeshwar is a corporate leader and certified breathwork and yoga instructor who overcame chronic respiratory struggles through somatic practices. She transitioned from performance-driven living to a life of authenticity and now helps others release internal patterns and achieve success without sacrificing well-being. Her work is rooted in a deep reverence for the interconnectedness of all life, advocating for a compassionate presence that honors both our inner nature and the environment we share.

Love Your Four-Legged Friend and All Earthlings with Dr. Armaiti May, DVM


What if the healthiest way to feed our furry friends is also the kindest to other animals and also the most respectful of our precious planet and its limited resources? Learn how feeding a nutritionally balanced and complete plant-based diet is one of the greatest acts of love you can bestow on your animal companion.  Whether you love to cook, need convenience, or want to save money on vet bills, you will learn practical tips in this interactive workshop which you can start applying immediately to improve your companion's health, longevity and overall quality of life.

Armaiti May, DVM is a vegan integrative veterinarian for dogs and cats with 21 years of experience. As a follower of Zoroastrianism, the ancient monotheistic faith from Persia, she observes the tenets of good thoughts, good words and good deeds which she applies to both human and non-human animals. Her spiritual foundation also guides her philosophy of respect for individual sovereignty and bodily autonomy. 

Hotel Accommodations

You can make your room reservations now for 2026. 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 $149/night plus taxes. The direct number to make your reservation is 816-347-5537. If they do not answer, leave a message and they will call you back! When you call be sure to say you are with the “WHOLE PLANET SPIRITUALITY RETREAT.” That is how you will get the discounted rate. Do not wait until the last minute. Our block will sell out!

We have reserved two Airbnbs on the Unity Village grounds and 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. Some people chose to camp nearby.

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.

Scheduling Flights and Ground Transportation:

If you are flying, the nearest airport is Kansas City International Airport (MCI). If you can arrive around noon on Thursday, there are planned activities beginning at 1:30 pm. Our first official time together as a group will be Thursday’s dinner at 5:30 pm. On Sunday, we will have a retreat closure ceremony before lunch, but if you are able to stay later, there is an afternoon workshop featuring Renee King-Sonnen, founder of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. It will end at 3:00 pm.

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.

Other Area Hotels:

Join us in 2026!

Schedule for Above All, Love All – 2026 Whole Planet Spirituality Forum & Retreat Schedule

NOTE: The virtual experience includes all sessions on Friday, Friday evening, and Saturday until 4:30 pm CDT. We will have an open Zoom room for anyone who wants to connect and debrief their own experience on Sunday morning but the camera will be off in the room.

Thursday, October 29

1:00 - 5:00 pm - Pickup nametags, schedule booklets and pre-ordered apparel - Fillmore Chapel

1:30 - 2:30 pm - Nature Walk on Unity trails with Dianne Waltner (meet in hotel lobby)

Join Dianne Waltner in a “wonder walk” on Unity Village’s beautiful nature trail. We will meet in the hotel lobby and walk mindfully on the trail, taking the time to notice and appreciate the beauty around us. Cameras (including phone cameras) are welcome, photos encouraged. We will start by going to the natural bridge and then see how far we get, with the intention of being back at the hotel by 2:30 to allow time to get to the 2:45 pm presentation in Fillmore Chapel.

2:45 - 3:45 pm - “Faith Traditions with Roots in Compassion for All Life” with Rev. Carol Saunders, Dawn Culverwell & Carman Lilly,  Fillmore Chapel

Rev. Carol will share some of the early teachings in Unity on ethical vegetarianism as well as the ways co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore included animals in their key teachings and projects. She will also share what she has learned about the Prophetess Gabriele from Germany (Universal Life Movement) and what her revelations say about animals. Dawn and Carman will share with us the teachings of Rev. Todd Ferrier and the Order of the Cross movement, an informal Spiritual Fellowship, dedicated to the Compassionate Life.

4:00 - 5:30 pm Walking Tour of Unity Village Grounds and Archives – Unity Commons

 5:30 – 6:30 pm Dinner in Executive Ballroom

 6:30 – 8:30 pm Getting to Know You gathering in Fillmore Chapel

 

Friday, October 30

7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant-based options)

7:30 – 8:15 am Body Movement Session with Lisa Levinson Fillmore Chapel

8:45 – 9:00 am Meditation

9:00 – 9:45 am “Above All, Love All” Introduction by Rev. Carol Saunders

We are each created as steadfast, radiant expressions of love, yet along the way we lose our way and forget our true nature. We all have blocks to loving universally and yet Universal Love is key to creating a world that works for all beings. Rev. Carol will challenge us to look at our blocks, explore forgiveness of self and others, heal our wounds, and awaken to our programming. She will once again use David Hawkins map of consciousness as a tool to help us move from fear/guilt/grief to love/peace/joy and share some of the extraordinary wisdom she has gleaned from her podcast ministry.

9:45 – 10:15 am Interactive Forum

10:15 – 10:30 am Break

10:30 - 11:15 am Group Connection

11:15 - 11:45 am Introduction to Creative Activity with Laura Aube

11:50 am – 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings led by Judy Carman

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom

1:15 - 2:45 pm “The Tables Have Turned: Good News for All Creatures” with Kameron Waters

What does the Kingdom of Heaven look like here on the Earth? Kameron Waters will share his scriptural revelations which caused him to go vegan as well as the nature of Jesus as the embodiment of the Golden Rule with no bounds. He will also discuss his recent animal advocacy work with the Ridglan beagles and encourage us to celebrate that the tables have turned for animals, and it is time to embody the good news. More here: https://youtu.be/4gM4jrVne54?si=9LjN4MAj286HQ7NQ

2:45 – 3:00 pm Break

3:00 – 3:15 pm Heart Coherence with Sandra Higgins

3:15 – 4:15 “Building a World of Love Through the Spirals of Sacred Relationships” with Tami Hay

Every relationship holds a sacred spark, whether it is between family members, co-workers, communities, other species or habitats. Some are easy; others can be quite challenging. In a world that seems to thrive on division, disconnectedness, and unhealthy discourse, how can we connect with others (and the earth) in the most loving way possible? Are we sure that our ready conclusions about other people or other species are true? In this workshop we will explore sacred relationships through earth-based wisdom, and use the Work Spiral Dynamics and Byron Katie to guide us to coherence, compassion, and conscious service.

4:15 - 5:30 pm Free Time/Group Time/Nature Time/Creative Time

5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Executive Ballroom

6:30 – 7:30 pm Café Hangout in Fillmore Chapel

7:30 – 8:30 pm We will show the 30-minute extended interview with Andrew Linzey, director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, which was recorded for the film, Christspiracy. Discussion with Kameron Waters will follow.

 

Saturday, October 31

7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity Hotel (with some plant-based options)

7:30 – 8:15 am Body Movement Session with Lisa Levinson

8:45 – 9:00 am Morning Meditation/Music

9:00 – 10:00 am “Ho’oponopono & Somatic Breathwork” with Shilpa Manjeshwar

Join Shilpa in an experiential session that bridges ancient wisdom with modern science. We will explore the history and mechanics of the Hawaiian forgiveness practice Ho’oponopono and how combining it with intentional breathwork allows us to penetrate the subconscious. This guided session is designed to release deep-seated internal patterns, facilitating profound somatic healing and emotional freedom.

10:00 – 10:15 am Break

10:15 - 11:45 am “Welcome to Planet B” with Dr. Sailesh Rao/group work

Do you want to help build a better world rooted in love and respect for all life? Welcome to Planet B. This is not a distant planet to escape to, but an alternative operating system for human civilization that systematically addresses the twenty-six tightly interwoven existential threats facing us today.  Solutions are clear, but the collective will and courageous leadership to implement them at scale is urgently needed. Dr. Sailesh Rao will walk us through what we are facing today and lay out the foundational systems of Planet B. We will engage in inquiry around how we can implement solutions at the personal and community levels and co-create a world that loves all, feeds all, serves all, and heals all. 

11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings led by Judy Carman

12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom

1:15-1:30 pm HeartMath with Sandra Higgins

1:30 - 2:30 pm Sound Bath with Susan Harp (bring blanket or jacket)

2:30 – 3:00 pm Free time/Spiritual Walk

3:15 - 4:15 pm “Love Your Four-Legged Friend and All Earthlings” with Dr. Armaiti May, DVM

What if the healthiest way to feed our furry friends is also the kindest to other animals and also the most respectful of our precious planet and its limited resources? Learn how feeding a nutritionally balanced and complete plant-based diet is one of the greatest acts of love you can bestow on your animal companion.  Whether you love to cook, need convenience, or want to save money on vet bills, you will learn practical tips in this interactive workshop which you can start applying immediately to improve your companion's health, longevity and overall quality of life.

4:15 - 4:30 pm Break

4:30 - 5:30 pm Ceremony to Honor Animals, People and Habitats led by Rev. Carol Saunders

Rev. Carol will create a sacred space and open the service, which will organically arise from there. There will be an altar on which to place a picture, poem, or token representing your loved one. Many attendees report this to be their favorite part of the weekend. The service is inclusive of all faith traditions as well as those with no faith tradition.

5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Executive Ballroom

6:30 - 8:30 pm Cafe Hangout/Halloween Party/Open Mic

 

Sunday, November 1 - The Fillmore Chapel

7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant-based options)

7:30 – 8:15 am Body Movement Session with Lisa Levinson

8:45 - 9:00 am Breathwork/Meditation with Shilpa Manjeshwar

9:00 – 10:00 am Debrief/Reflect on Weekend Dialogue with Rev. Carol Saunders

10:00 – 10:15 am HeartMath with Sandra Higgins

10:15 - 10:30 am Break

10:30 - 11:15 am Group Labyrinth Experience

11:15 – 11:45 am Finalize Creative Activity

11:45 – 11:50 am Closing Words

11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings led by Judy Carman

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom/Good-byes

1:15 – 3:15 pm “The Rowdy Girl Story: A Community Conversation” with Renee King-Sonnen. The public is invited for book signing.

Renee King-Sonnen (featured retreat speaker in 2023) returns to engage in community conversation around her story of spiritual awakening and ethical transformation, the impetus behind turning her husband’s Texas cattle ranch into a sanctuary for farmed animals. She will share what her spiritual awakening meant for her marriage, her faith, rural identity, and the animals who changed everything. This event will take place on Sunday after lunch and we are inviting the public to join us. Renee will also make herself available to sign her recently published book, Rowdy Girl: Confessions of a Vegan Cattle Rancher.

 

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.