Jan 22 - 24: (Commuter Pass) The Way of the Sword: Cutting through Illusion with Damien Echols

A Three-Day Workshop with Damien Echols

Damien Echols spent nearly two decades on death row for a crime he didn't commit. He emerged from solitary confinement with a disciplined practice of inner alchemy, chronicled in the New York Times bestseller Life After Death and his latest, Alchemy of the Broken Blade.

This retreat is where that philosophy becomes action. Each day opens and closes with a short talk on the Great Work: what it is, and how to accomplish it in your own life. In between, you'll train the mind through sitting and active meditation, then take that awareness into motion by learning a Tang Soo Do sword form, practiced as a moving meditation that cuts through distraction and anchors you in the present.

Not a weekend for collecting ideas, but for living them. Open to all levels; no martial arts experience required.

A special commuter rate is available for local guests interested in participating in the workshops, meals, and amenities without an overnight stay. To book this workshop with overnight accommodations, click HERE.

The Way of the Sword: Cutting Through Illusion with Damien Echols
January 22–24
$825 per person plus tax. Includes meals, access to the Hutton Brickyards grounds, and workshops. Accommodations are not included.

Meals
- Farm-to-table meals are prepared by Chef Edward Harder, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who leads the kitchens at Hutton’s seasonal restaurants, Aster and River Pavilion.
- Vegetarian meals are available upon request.
- Seasonal dishes spotlight local ingredients and purveyors.

Workshop and activities
- Each program is led by an expert teacher who is a leader in their field with a substantial following.
- The multi-day experience follows a custom schedule with breaks for meals, free time, naps, and local exploration.

On-site amenities and spa
- On-site activities include Hudson Valley hiking trails, campfire hangouts, spa treatments, and sauna sessions.

Itinerary

Friday
- Each participant receives a wooden sword to train with and take home during an opening presentation ceremony. The retreat begins with a traditional Daruma blessing to watch over the weekend ahead.

Saturday
- The morning opens with a short reading, a Korean sword chi gung form, and basic warmups. The afternoon moves into practice, pairing foundational strikes with beginning footwork.

Sunday
- The final morning returns to the chi gung warmup, then focuses on reviewing and practicing everything learned over the weekend. The retreat closes with a final reading and the completion of the Daruma blessing.