The Fifth Season – Creativity in the Second Half of Life
A weekend retreat and international book launch with Mark Nepo
Friday, August 22 - Sunday, August 24, 2025
Single occupancy $575, Double occupancy $525 per person
(includes an *ensuite bathroom and all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast.
*Four rooms in Seascape share a bathroom.)
Commuter $375
(includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch & dinner)
Inquire about partial scholarships
Registered participants will receive a complimentary copy of Mark’s book at check-in to be autographed at Sunday’s book signing where refreshments and light fare will be served.
The Mercy For All Scholarship provides support for those experiencing financial challenges.
➔ Learn more and apply here.
About this offering
As the years go by, the question for each of us becomes more and more real: What does it mean to age? Despite the limitations that come as the body wears down, there are many gifts to inhabit by aging. So much is gained and so much is shed along the way. Now in his 70’s, poet and philosopher Mark Nepo explores the rhythms of aging in the second half of life. More than ever, we are called to live a creative life as we age, which leads us to inhabit what the Chinese call the “fifth season,” that time in late summer when the glare is gone and only the color of things as they can reach us. And so, the second half of life is a turning point, a time of integration and transformation that helps us make sense of our experience. All seasons lead to this season, all experiences to this understanding of experience. In truth, we each must face living and dying from the inside of the one life we are given. But we can share the journey, which is the purpose of Mark’s new book and the focus of this weekend retreat – to be a companion in your effort to enter the fifth season of your life.
About the presenter
Mark Nepo is a returning and beloved Mercy by the Sea facilitator. He is a poet and spiritual adviser who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for more than 40 years. He describes himself as a “student of all spiritual paths.” Nepo is best known for his “New York Times” #1 bestseller, “The Book of Awakening.” He has published more than 25 books and recorded 15 audio projects. His many books have been translated into more than 20 languages.