Walkingstick Lectures, Workshops & Retreats

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Conventional kabbalistic teachings and books rarely touch on the wild, uninhibited magic of raw, earth-based kabbalah. Drawing from long overlooked ancient and medieval Aramaic and Hebraic texts, Gershon brings us a potpourri of this rare and exotic realm of ancient Jewish mystery wisdom and guides us gently in incorporating it into our personal life journey. Through the rites of deep-belly humor, sacred clowning, deep meditation, and passionate chanting, Gershon takes us where few rabbis dare to venture these days, into the deep caverns of ancient Jewish shamanic wisdom brewing behind the "Veil of Illusion."

What they say about Gershon:

"A stand-up routine worthy of Jerry Seinfeld." -- The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, Virginia (December 13, 2001)

"A stand-up theologian." -- Tallahassee Democrat (September 29. 2001) "An excellent student of his own teachings-- He treats everyone with a genuine openness, great love, and a rich sense of humor." -- Missoula Independent, Missoula, Montana (September 13, 2001)

"His mastery of Hebrew and Aramaic sacred texts is matched only by an outrageous, reverently irreverent sense of humor. He is a teacher who appeals to beginners as well as experienced students..." -- Four Corners Magazine (Aug-Sept 2001)

"Combines the wit of actor Robin Williams with the wisdom of the Ba'al Shem Tov." -- The Jerusalem Post (May 25, 2001)

"Resembles the famed brazen trickster of folklore-- A mischievous maverick of modern Judaism-- Funny and provocative-- Down-to-earth, warm and gregarious--" -- Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, Colorado (February 19, 1999)

"There's an old Native American saying: "If it doesn't grow corn, what good is it?' Gershon Winkler grows corn." -- David Carson, Choctaw Elder, co-author of Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals

"His knowledge is a universe away from the glib superficiality of pop mysticism and mass market "spirituality.'" -- The Jewish Community Update, Sedona, Arizona (June 1999)

"Gershon Winkler peppers his [workshops] with a healthy dose of storytelling, chanting, and humor, creating the impression that we're attending the lecture of your favorite college professor or a performance by the likes of monologist Spalding Gray." -- Missoula Independent, Missoula, Montana (September 1998)

"Travels an unusual path and ruffles feathers." -- The Wall Street Journal (July 20, 1992)

Israel tour - Includes Egypt -- stay tuned for details

Walking Stick Foundation Presents

In the Dust of the AncestorsA Jewish Shamanic Tour of the Land of Israel
With
Rabbi Gershon Winkler
and Ravi Miriam Maron, R.N., M.A.

(photo credit - Felice Feingold)

November 1-12, 2007

$2750 if paying by credit card, $2500 if paying by check, cash, or money order. Buy Now From CCNow

Cost is $2500 if paying by check, cash, or money order, $2750 if paying on-line by credit card. Cost includes all meals, lodging, tours, program-related transportation within Israel, and tuition; does not include airfare to and from Tel Aviv which you must arrange on your own)A minimum nonrefundable deposit of $1000 is required
 (refundable only if Walking Stick Foundation cancels the trip).Do not purchase airline tickets before September 15, 2007 unless we inform you otherwise. We will not be responsible for any losses incurred from tickets purchased prior to September 15, 2007  in the event we end up having to cancel this trip. Please Note: There will be some rugged walking, so please consult your physician if you have a medical problem that might be aggravated by arid climate conditions or extended uphill and downhill wilderness treks.To register, send your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, notations about any special dietary restrictions, along with your deposit or the full amount in U.S. dollars payable to Walking Stick Foundation, to:

Ten delightful days of engaging the wisdom and experience of the Four Winds in what the ancient Kabbalists called “Land of the Deer.”

North – Tsahfon
“The Place of Concealment”
Sefad, Maron, Galilean Hills

North is where the eagle dwells, and the place of Water, holding the power of mystery and elusiveness. We will settle down at Moshav Amirim -- a rural vegetarian community overlooking the Sea of Galilee -- while we visit the tombs of the ancient rabbis whose teachings we will be sharing. We will also wander around the old mystical city of Sefad, home to the most important medieval kabbalists, and the nearby Galilean mountains where the mystics and sorcerers of our people were nourished and inspired by the mystery wisdom of North.

East – Kehdem
“The Place of Beginning”
Jerusalem and the Dead Sea

East is where the lion dwells, and the place of Breath, both symbolic of the powers needed for new beginnings. We will visit the longest-running point of controversy on the face of the earth: Yerushlayim, which ironically means: “that which will show you peace.” We will walk the recently-excavated underground tunnels that reveal 2300-year-old streets and the deeply-embedded foundation stones of the ancient temple wall. After visiting these and other sacred sites of Jerusalem, including an underground cavern in which several of the ancient Hebrew prophets are entombed, we will drop south to the Dead Sea to cleanse ourselves with earthiness and to salt ourselves with endurance. Salt is indestructible, never spoils, and holds the power preservation. In Jerusalem we lodge at the Mt. Zion Hotel.

South – Dahrom and Nehggev
“the place of cleansing and transcending”
Qumran and Ein Gedi

South is where the Inner Self dwells, and the place of Fire. We will lodge near the Dead Sea at Kibbutz Al’mog.  While nestled in this arid and incredibly scenic region of the Judean Desert, we will hike into deep canyons replete with mystery and history dating from the era of King David to the period of the Essenes whose caves and dwelling ruins we will visit. We will visit the waterfalls and nature preserve of Ein Gedi and then head up to the last stronghold of the Second Jewish Commonwealth: Masada. There we will walk through the ruins of ancient Roman palatial quarters that were built for Nero before the rebellion, and the ruins of the homes, ritual pools, synagogue, and meeting places of the Jewish rebels and their families who later took refuge there.

West – Ma’arav
“The Place of Merging”
Tel Aviv, Caeserea and Yafo

West is where the buffalo dwells, and the place of Earth, symbolic of our wild, unbridled side, our merging side where all of our lights and shadows merge to dance in unison, no holds barred, and bring our deepest seed self to fruition. Here we will visit the ancient port city of Yaffo and then blend our spiritual selves with our physical selves in the market whirlwind and nightlife of Tel Aviv.  We will lodge at the Astor Hotel in Tel Aviv, and from there visit the ancient Roman ruins of Caeserea and remnants of the even more ancient Egyptian presence in Yafo. West is where it all ends, where the sun vanishes into the horizon, where we all merge into the mystery of the next moment, into the uncertainty of the future, bringing along with us the clarity of south, the inspiration of east, and the north wind’s gift of the capacity to surrender to the unknown. From west, we head home.