Tao Fellowship members and guests from around the country gathered at the Sedona Mago Retreat to celebrate Heaven’s Opening Day during the Gae Chun Retreat October 1st-3rd.

Gae Chun means Opening Heaven. The retreat is the most ancient yearly celebration in the tradition of Sun Tao to celebrate and appreciate the beginning of the Tao tradition in ancient Korea, which started from the Priest-King Dahn-Guhn 4344 years ago (BC 2333). Dahn-Guhn established a nation named Jo-Sun with the principles of Heaven, Earth, and Human in Chun-Bu-Kyung for the goal of “widely benefiting humanity and harmonizing the World. The focus on the retreat is celebrating the inner heaven which can be found in each of us.

The highlight of the weekend was the Lantern Ceremony, during which participants dedicated wishes and prayers for the upcoming year and for their loved ones. The traditional Chun-Je ceremony was held under a beautiful clear night sky at the Dahn Gun shrine, then walked down to Heaven’s Rock for a closing bonfire, sending their wishes and prayers up to heaven along with the ashes from the bonfire.

The Gae Chun Retreat Weekend and Ceremony is an annual event, held every October 1st.