Just as our many wonderful farmers provide an abundance of physical nourishment in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, local spiritual centers offer an abundance of food for the soul. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites here and hope that you pay them a visit in 2014 whenever you need to refresh and uplift your mind and spirit.

 

 

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is one of the nation’s most trusted sources for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people a year to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, online, and at exceptional locations around the world.

Location: 150 Lake Drive Rhinebeck, New York. For more information, call 800.944.1001 or visit eOmega.org.

 

Alex Grey's Praying

Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) is a sanctuary for people to see themselves, the world, and our cosmos as reflections of the Divine. CoSM’s mission is to build a temple to preserve and share a collection of visionary art that is cherished by a global community. Forty acres of beautiful woods and newly renovated buildings invite the contemplation of art and nature, and provide a setting for events that encourage the creative spirit. CoSM honors the mystic core of love uniting all wisdom traditions and the transformative power of art to awaken human potential.

Location: 46 Deer Hill Road, Wappingers Falls, NY. For more information, call 845.297.2323 or visit CoSM.org.

 

Chuang Yen Monastery

Chuang Yen Monastery (CYM) is the headquarters of BAUS (The Buddhist Association of the United States). Situated on 225 acres in Kent, New York, CYM houses the largest indoor statue of Buddha in the western hemisphere. The monastery holds mediation retreats, Buddhist Dharma ceremonies, interfaith prayers, Buddhist text study and meditation classes. Scholars from prominent academic universities around the global visit to give lectures and workshops, and CYM’s Woo Ju Memorial Library provides Buddhist and other spiritual material to the general public. Tours provide thousands of visitors a deeper understanding of the majestic grounds and a basic understand of Buddhism. CYM’s goal is to provide educational resources to carry on the study and practice of Buddhism and to encourage better understanding among all the religions.

Location: 2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY. For more information, call 845.225.1819 or visit BAUS.org. Closed (mostly) during the winter months.

 

 

 

 

 

StarVisions, Inc

StarVisions, Inc. is a registered 501 (c) (3) corporation whose goal is to provide holistic learning for spiritual enrichment. Lectures, seminars and workshops in holistic fields and disciplines are provided at the nearby Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Mt. Kisco and the Chapel at Croton Falls on Rt. 22. Healing circles and meditation classes are offered monthly, and StarVisions hosts experts in mediumship, energy healing, yoga, Native American teachings, shamanic  practices, sound healing and more.

Location: 84 Pleasant Avenue, Pleasantville, NY 10570. For more information, call 914.236.4503 or visit StarVisionsCommunity.org.

 

The New Dawn Foundation

The New Dawn Foundation provides space and support for healing practitioners and those who seek to improve the condition of their communities and the world. Offering a beautiful haven overlooking Long Island Sound, the foundation hosts monthly acupuncture happy hours, bioenergy healing clinics, Lakota sweat lodge ceremonies, Reiki healing circles and many other special events. At New Dawn, visitors can enjoy a peaceful retreat and place of renewal for body, mind, and spirit.

Location: 590 Davenport Ave., New Rochelle, New York. For more information, call 914.632.8084 or visit TheNewDawnFoundation.org.

 

Wainwright House       

Wainwright House is the oldest non-profit, non-sectarian holistic learning center in the United States. With a mission to inspire greater understanding through body, mind, and spirit, Wainwright offers initiatives in spiritual exploration, health and well-being, cultural enrichment and environmental awareness. Visitors can enjoy five acres of lawns on the Long Island Sound include a meditation garden, seven circuit labyrinth, retreat-style buildings that sleep up to 34, and an array of classes that embody the center’s mission.

Location: 260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye, NY. For more information, call 914.967.6080 or visit Wainwright.org.

 

Upcoming Events ~ You’re Invited

New Dawn’s Healing Circle with Jeanne Campion on Thursday, January 9, 2014, from 7 to 9pm. Info: thenewdawnfoundation.org.

CoSM’s Full Moon Gathering on Saturday, January 18, 2014. Starts at 7pm. Info: CoSM.org.

StarVisions’ Healing Circle on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at 7:30pm.  Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Mt. Kisco. Preregister: 914.588.4079.

Wainwright House’s New Moon Gathering on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at 7-8:30pm. Info: 917.796.6026 or Wainwright.org.

Chuang Yen Monastery’s Chinese New Year Blessing Ceremony on Friday, January 31, 2014,  from 5am-5pm. Info: 845.225.1819 or Baus.org.