Regenerating the Transcendentalist Flame
With Karey Thorne & Robert Waterman
October 17–24, 2026 | Concord, Massachusetts
Join us in Concord,
during the changing of the colors—one of New England’s
most luminous seasons,
for an immersive week
in the living spirit of American Transcendentalism.
The Transcendentalists were architects of America’s moral imagination. Through their writing, activism, and spiritual courage, they worked for the abolition of slavery, women’s rights, social equality, and democratic religious life—shaping progressive American values before and after the Civil War.
These authors, thinkers, and activists laid the groundwork for a uniquely American form of democratic and progressive spirituality. They challenged the dehumanizing effects of economic competition, social inequality, and rigid hierarchies, creating communities devoted to radical social and spiritual renewal.
At the heart of Transcendentalism was a revolutionary belief: each human being carries a spark of the Divine, and true fulfillment—personal and collective—arises only when we care for the full spiritual and moral flourishing of others. Their passion for justice emerged from what they called spiritual friendship—a bond that transcended differences of gender, class, race, theology, and social position.
Their essential vision was nothing less than this:
To create, for the first time, a nation rooted in the wisdom of the Soul.
The Immersion
This gathering invites you into a direct relationship with that vision—through land, history, shared presence, and lived inquiry. Each participant will choose a Transcendentalist to study and embody throughout the journey.
Together, we will walk the landscapes they knew, engage with their writings and lives, and attune to the deeper field of meaning from which their work emerged. Throughout the week, we cultivate an atmosphere of attentiveness and reflection—allowing the wisdom of these figures to become present not as history alone, but as a living inheritance.
This is a contemplative, communal experience grounded in study, dialogue, and walking. It is a gathering for personal transformation and quiet collective service.
Why This Moment
This immersion takes place in mid October 2026, a time when the national atmosphere is often charged and unsettled. Rather than responding directly to events, we turn toward something deeper: cultivating inner orientation, moral clarity, and soul-level vision.
Just as the Transcendentalists responded to the turbulence of their era by grounding themselves in conscience and spiritual insight, this gathering offers a space to listen more deeply—to self, land, and collective meaning.
This work is not about oppositional politics. It is about remembering a deeper ground from which wise action naturally arises—offering a vision rooted in love, the soul, and shared destiny, and tending the Transcendental flame at a consequential moment in our shared life.
Program Structure
Pre-Trip Preparation
Four 2-hour monthly Zoom gatherings (June–September 2026)
Dates are: June 17 | July 22 | Aug 26 | Sept 30, 2026Times: 4-6pm pacific | 5-7 mountain | 6-8 central | 7-9 Eastern
Study and dialogue with your chosen Transcendentalist
Community connection and shared orientation
In-Person Immersion (7 Days in Concord)
Daily group meetings and reflective practices
Guided walks and historical visits with local experts
Sacred and historical landscapes of Concord
One special event (To be announced)
Ground transportation within Concord (trolley)
Transcendentalist Selection Process
After submitting your deposit, you will list three Transcendentalists in order of preference from a provided list.
Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. We will look at selecting these light figures in June, preference will be given to those who get their deposits in first if two people want the same light figure.
Once a figure is chosen, it is no longer available.
Alternative figures from the same era may be proposed with facilitator approval
What’s Included
Guidance and teaching with Karey & Robert
Four 2-hour each preparatory Zoom sessions
Tour Manager Rosemary Swade owner of The Happy Traveler US
Guided historical tours
Daily group meetings
Ground transportation in Concord
One lunch
Three dinners
Breakfast is included each day
Special event (To be announced)
Lodging & Travel
Participants arrange their own Lodging and Travel.
You will make your own Hotel Reservation - by phone only to be able to use our code. We have held single and double rooms and we will email you the Reservation Code to be used after the Deposit is paid.
Suggested hotels
Colonial Inn
https://www.concordscolonialinn.com/
Phone: (978) 369-9200
North Bridge Inn
https://northbridgeinn.com
Phone: (978) 371-0014
Estimated lodging cost:
$145–$345 per person per night
(7 nights, tax included)
For more informtion about the Accomodation click this burron:
Airfare and Airport Transfers are not included.
Approximate transfer from Boston Logan Airport: $65.
Cost
$1,000 non-refundable deposit, This secures your place on the trip.
$ 2,900 Balance due on May 15th.Total program cost: $3,900.
Please contact us if you wish to explore a payment plan. Email KareyThorne@gmail.com
Space Is Limited
Enrollment is intentionally small. Once full, a waitlist will be created
Important Please Note:
Please note that your trip is not reserved until the INTAKE Form below is completed signed, and Submitted.
After you have submitted the INTAKE form, if you choose to lodge in the Hotels where we held rooms, we will send you a code, so you can make your Hotel reservation and book it with the code and your credit card over the phone.
The button below labelled: REGISTRATION is to finish payment for the class and trip if you have only put in your deposit.
All monies are due by May 15 although if possible full payment is great before that date.
Thank you!
Please be sure to fill out all sections of the Intake formin order to submit it.