Homo Ahimsa Rising
Whole Planet Spirituality Forum & Retreat
October 16-19, 2025
Attendance in person is highly reommended. A limited virtual option is available.
“Our Tree of Life” art of diNo
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 (also limited virtual option)
When: October 16-19, 2025
Are you becoming aware of your true heart which sees all life as sacred and interconnected.? Does your compassion for Life and all beings feel incongruent with the world/culture around you? Are you trying to sort out how to live as Peace and Love in the face of this incongruence? Do you want to better align your values and actions, but also minimize your own suffering? If your answer is yes to any of these, this event is for you. And the community we are building here will welcome you with open arms.
This year’s theme is Homo Ahimsa Rising. Ahimsa is the Sanskrit word for non-harm, and more broadly includes reverence and care for all life. Homo Ahimsa* is the consciousness rising within us beyond the destructive ‘wisdom’ of Homo Sapien. While Homo Sapien lives in a dominance/war paradigm, Homo Ahimsa lives in active connection, nonviolence and compassion, with no boundaries. It is a paradigm that recognizes all beings have their own purpose and no one lives for the purpose or use of another — an all-inclusive Golden Rule. Many of us feel the evolutionary call to Homo Ahimsa. We may also feel it as a return to our original nature. Either way, living as Homo Ahimsa requires an internal shift in consciousness beyond philosophical ideas and oppositional activism. It calls us to learn to be in the world but not of it, and do our best to practice what we say we believe even in the most difficult of circumstances. It calls us to practice inner peace and self-love.
In our fifth year, we are once again calling all spiritually minded, planet-conscious and animal-loving people to enjoy three full 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. 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.
Check back regularly or sign up for updates. Retreat e-newsletters will go out every other week beginning March, 2025.
* This phrase was coined by author, Judy Carman, in her book, Homo Ahimsa: Who We Really Are And How We're Going to Save The World. We are grateful for Judy’s Divine idea!
*****SCROLL DOWN FOR REGISTRATION*****
During these three days we will engage in inquiry, learning, and play in the realms of ahimsa, awakening and co-creation. We will also enjoy fabulous 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 are also called to rise as Homo Ahimsa.
Everything about the retreat is on this web page! Scroll down to learn about Unity Village, event speakers, testimonials from past attendees, the hotel, the retreat schedule and more!
Programming Includes (scroll down for schedule):
Workshops on Whole Planet Spirituality, Ahimsa, Paradigm Shifts, The Power of the Few, The Natural World and Our Place In It, and more
Featured Speaker Timber Hawkeye
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 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but will not include group sharing sessions. This year the group sharing sessions include featured speaker Timber Hawkeye’s discussion sessions and the Sacred Service for Animals and Habitats.
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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!"
Accommodations
You can make your room reservations now for 2025. 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. 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!
There are also three Airbnb’s on the Unity Village grounds and 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.
For retreat updates:
NOTE: PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER FOR THESE UPDATES AND MOVE TO YOUR INBOX FOR FUTURE EMAIL UPDATES. I SEND OUT MONTHLY OR BI-WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES, SO IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE THEM, THEY ARE LIKELY IN YOUR SPAM FOLDER!
Event Host
Promotional Sponsors
Last year were were grateful to two anonymous donors and the Circle of Compassion for their financial donations to this event. It makes a big difference in what we can offer during this retreat. We were also grateful to Buddhist Boot Camp, Fillmore Church, 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 2025! Contact revcarolsaunders@gmail.com if you would like to be a 2025 donor or sponsor.
Registration
Registration for 2025 is now open. As in past years, we 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 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 will NOT be serving 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) or walk across the street to the Fillmore Cafe. The registration fee for the full in person experience is $429. Note that other retreats at Unity Village this year are offered at $429 with one less meal and a $30 registration fee.
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 $169.
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. This year the group sharing sessions include featured speaker Timber Hawkeye’s discussion sessions and the Sacred Service for Animals and Habitats. The virtual registration fee supports the expense of two dedicated staff people plus equipment. The virtual fee remais at $109. Recordings of presentations (except for Timber Haweye’s) will be available for two weeks after the event ends.
YOU CAN ALSO PAY BY CHECK TO: THE SPIRITUAL FORUM, N5684 COUNTY ROAD F SULLIVAN, WI 53178.
PLEASE NOTE: YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION WITH FULL REFUND UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16, 2025. AFTER SEPTEMBER 16, 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. 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.
Our 2025 Featured Speaker:
Timber Hawkeye
is the bestselling author of Buddhist Boot Camp, Faithfully Religionless, and The Opposite of Namaste. His books and the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast offer a secular mindfulness practice to be at peace with the world (both within and around us). Living by the Buddhist precept of doing less harm, and still following the monastic vows even after leaving the monastery, his resolve remains to lead a life of purpose, congruence, and conviction. Timber's intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life.
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 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.
Schedule of Activities:
This schedule is a WORK IN PROGRESS! It will be updated regularly as we fill in the program content. We recommend that you arrive on Thursday at least by 4 pm and stay through at least lunch on Sunday. If you arrive earlier on Thursday, there is a nature walk and a tour of Unity Village for you to enjoy. We do not recommend leaving on Sunday morning because there are reflective and group activities planned that will complete your experience. If you stay after lunch on Sunday, there will be a communication workshop designed 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. All lunches and dinners will be plant-based. Since the hotel serves the general public, they will serve a breakfast buffet, you can find some plant-based options among the regular breakfast served at the hotel for guests OR the Fillmore Cafe across the street will have a vegan breakfast sandwich available for sale.
Each morning we will offer a body movement session starting at 7:30 am. Coffee will be available outside our meeting room throughout the day.
Thursday, October 17
1:00 - 5:00 Registration - Pick up nametag and map outside Fillmore Chapel. Meet and greet the retreat team.
1:30 - 3:00 pm - Mindfulness nature walk on Unity trails led by Kristin Cherry (meet in the hotel lobby)
3:00 - 3:45 pm - “Early Unity History & Forgotten Fillmore Teachings” by Rev. Carol Saunders
Learn about the amazing teachings and works of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore on universal love, peace and non-harm as it relates to our animal brothers and sisters. At prior events, Rev. Carol has presented pieces of this as part of her introductory talk on Friday morning. She will share it here for those who are new or for those who want to learn more and engage more deeply. There will be time for discussion. Completely optional!
4:00 - 5:30 pm Walking tour of Unity Village grounds and archives
A representatvie from Unity Village will take you on a tour of the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Meet outside the Unity Commons (red awning across the street from the Unity hotel).
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner
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 plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:30 – 8:15 am Body movement session
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music
9:00 – 9:50 am Opening presentation by Rev. Carol Saunders
9:50 – 10:20 am Interactive Forum
10:20 – 10:35 am Break
10:35 - 11:15 am Group connection/collaboration
11:15 - 11:45 am Spiritual Practice
11:50 am – 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom
1:15 - 2:45 pm “The Foundation for Being Peaceful” with Featured Speaker, Timber Hawkeye
Timber will lead a circle discussion and Q&A about the non-judgmental benefits of recognizing and acknowledging both the ego and the divinity within us all. Struggle is not a requirement, so we will discuss loosening our grip instead of white-knuckling our way through life, navigating relationships without the traps of hierarchy, and making sure our core values include respecting others. Mindfulness doesn't make other people less irritating; it makes us less irritable. This conversation is not about living in a bubble where nobody pushes your buttons; it is about getting to a point where you don't have any buttons that can be pushed.
2:45 - 3:45 pm Break/Reflective Time
3:45– 4:30 pm Compassion for All Presentation
4:30 - 5:30 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 movie screening or panel discussion
Saturday, October 19 -The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:30 – 8:15 am Body movement session
8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music
9:00 – 10:15 am “Implementation of Being Peaceful” with Featured Speaker, Timber Hawkeye
Timber leads a circle discussion and Q&A to address our reactions to and reflections about yesterday’s discussion
10:15 – 11:15 am Personal Processing Time
1l:15 - 11:50 am Group Connection
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:10 - 2:15 pm TBD Presentation
2:15 - 3:15 pm Panel Discussion on Homo Ahimsa
3:15 - 430 pm Spiritual Walk
4:30 - 5:30 pm Ceremony to Honor 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
Sunday, October 20 - The Fillmore Chapel
7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some plant options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)
7:30 – 8:15 am Body movement session
8:45 - 9:00 am Meditation
9:00 – 10:00 am Debrief/reflect on the events of the weekend dialogue with Rev. Carol Saunders
10:00 - 10:15 am Break
10:15 - 11:00 am Group labyrinth experience
11:00 – 11:45 am Group sharing - Who am I going forward?
11:45 – 11:50 am Closing words (for those who have to leave early)
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for All Beings
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Banquet Room/good-byes to those who are leaving
1:15 - 3:30 pm Afternoon workshop
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 2025 to birth Homo Ahimsa in You!
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.