Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
http://www.resurrectionafterrape.org/retreat.html
The special guest for the wilderness retreat will be Bill Miller, a Grammy-Award winning composer. You may not have heard of him, but this is an incredibly special guest! Bill is a Mohegan Indian from Wisconsin, and is regarded as perhaps the most gifted Native musician of our day.
Bill's story is relevant to our retreat. He came from a life of turmoil on the reservation, in a family steeped in violence, alcoholism, and trauma. For years he went through his own anger and despair, before finding ways to recover. Bill's music and storytelling all point to hope, victory, and survival from a painful past. Bill is a funny, warm person, and engages his listeners in heartfelt stories about his struggles and how his faith and creativity have guided him through his trauma to healing.
Bill's message and skill have attracted musicians like Pearl Jam and Tori Amos, who have selected Bill as their concert opener. (on one occasion, Pearl Jam's fans weren't getting the message and were ignoring Bill. Frontman Eddie Vedder strode out on stage, clasped his arm around Bill, and told his audience, "If you don't listen to what this man has to say, we're not playing!")
Today, Bill uses his music to promote healing, rather than using it to get rich. He is frequently sought as a special consultant/minister to communities that have been ravaged by trauma. For example, he has been summoned as an "emergency aid" to assist in healing after school shootings, and he volunteers his time to lead "reconciliation and healing" programs. Bill and his wife have also made a special ministry out of adopting and caring for special-needs children.
Bill has been a mentor to me, and if you want to know what my values are, you need to listen to his music. His performances are generally packed, so this is a VERY rare occasion--we can have Bill all to ourselves, to spend the whole retreat with.
Bill's musical style ranges from folk, rock, blues, traditional Native, and Praise. To familiarize yourself with him, here are some of his songs as .mp3
"Ghost Dance" - (about resurrection and recovery after feeling defeated) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/ghostdance.mp3
"Pile of Stone" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/pileofstones.mp3
"After the Storm" - (about finding spirituality after pain) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/afterthestorm.mp3
"The Reason" - (about finding personal meaning, despite pain) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/TheReason.mp3'
"Sun is Gonna Rise Again" - (Finding hope) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/SunRise.mp3
"Every Mountain I Climb" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/EveryMountain.mp3
"Never Too Far" - (God's song to suffering people) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/NeverTooFar.mp3
"Faith of a Child" - (song for physically-disabled children) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/FaithofaChild.mp3
"Brave Heart" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/BraveHeart.mp3
"You Are the Rain" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/YouAreRain.mp3
The special guest for the wilderness retreat will be Bill Miller, a Grammy-Award winning composer. You may not have heard of him, but this is an incredibly special guest! Bill is a Mohegan Indian from Wisconsin, and is regarded as perhaps the most gifted Native musician of our day.
Bill's story is relevant to our retreat. He came from a life of turmoil on the reservation, in a family steeped in violence, alcoholism, and trauma. For years he went through his own anger and despair, before finding ways to recover. Bill's music and storytelling all point to hope, victory, and survival from a painful past. Bill is a funny, warm person, and engages his listeners in heartfelt stories about his struggles and how his faith and creativity have guided him through his trauma to healing.
Bill's message and skill have attracted musicians like Pearl Jam and Tori Amos, who have selected Bill as their concert opener. (on one occasion, Pearl Jam's fans weren't getting the message and were ignoring Bill. Frontman Eddie Vedder strode out on stage, clasped his arm around Bill, and told his audience, "If you don't listen to what this man has to say, we're not playing!")
Today, Bill uses his music to promote healing, rather than using it to get rich. He is frequently sought as a special consultant/minister to communities that have been ravaged by trauma. For example, he has been summoned as an "emergency aid" to assist in healing after school shootings, and he volunteers his time to lead "reconciliation and healing" programs. Bill and his wife have also made a special ministry out of adopting and caring for special-needs children.
Bill has been a mentor to me, and if you want to know what my values are, you need to listen to his music. His performances are generally packed, so this is a VERY rare occasion--we can have Bill all to ourselves, to spend the whole retreat with.
Bill's musical style ranges from folk, rock, blues, traditional Native, and Praise. To familiarize yourself with him, here are some of his songs as .mp3
"Ghost Dance" - (about resurrection and recovery after feeling defeated) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/ghostdance.mp3
"Pile of Stone" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/pileofstones.mp3
"After the Storm" - (about finding spirituality after pain) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/afterthestorm.mp3
"The Reason" - (about finding personal meaning, despite pain) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/TheReason.mp3'
"Sun is Gonna Rise Again" - (Finding hope) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/SunRise.mp3
"Every Mountain I Climb" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/EveryMountain.mp3
"Never Too Far" - (God's song to suffering people) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/NeverTooFar.mp3
"Faith of a Child" - (song for physically-disabled children) - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/FaithofaChild.mp3
"Brave Heart" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/BraveHeart.mp3
"You Are the Rain" - http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/YouAreRain.mp3
Never Too Far is wonderful. I've listened to it several times today. :o)
I'll be looking forward to your journal, Leitha! And everyone be forewarned... you'll be getting hugs from me whether I'm there or not! lol
<3
I plan on journaling, and building a dream box, and I plan on finding the face of God in the dark, heat of a totally new experience...I plan BIG, but somehow, I think this time, I may just have planned exactly right! Oh my gosh, this is happening, and I am so blessed to be able to be there, I realize that - how blessed I am.
Remember when Bill was singing about "All the lonely people, where do they all come from" and the room froze in poignant understanding?
Remember when Bill sang "Never Too Far" and we all voiced the words along with him? http://resurrectionafterrape.org/mp3/NeverTooFar.mp3
Remember when Bill tore the roof off the place with "Suzie Q"?
Remember when Bill cried and we cried too?
Remember when Bill talked about his crippled daughter crawling across the floor to check on her hurt brother, and how we all need to be like her and set our own pains and limitations aside at times and love others?