Feb 29, Message from Guatemala
February 29, 2008
We’ve been in Guatemala for over 4 weeks now and soon will be preparing to return home. Yes, we are leaving the warmth of Antigua to readjust to the Ontario winter … hopefully almost spring. This is my third trip here. Once again it has been a learning experience for me – learning more about Guatemala, Mayan culture, corruption, poverty, and learning more about me.
Volunteering was different for me this year. Early in my stay here, I spent 4 mornings at Hermano Pedro Hospital for the poor, feeding the children who were not only malnourished but some with severe cerebral palsy and others really missing the constant holding of their mothers. I opened my heart to these little ones but ended up feeling completely drained.
I teach others to pay attention to the things that affect their bodies I needed to listen to this advice myself. The experience was useful for me. Learning how to keep myself healthy in this situation is going to be helpful in my sessions with clients with similar experiences.
A second important learning from this situation was the clarity about being aligned with the work we do. Next visit to Guatemala I will pay more attention to volunteering in areas that are what I do best. Sometimes we let “shoulds” influence what we choose to do. This is easier to recognize in others than in myself.
At the last minute before leaving Ontario, I thought about possibly teaching the first level of Reiki down here. I am grateful for that thought. I brought down my handouts and supporting materials. Three people attended. One was the owner of the hotel where we stay and help. Gail is from New Zealand and is very interested in helping the Guatemalans in numerous ways. Laura is a Mexican Physician who wanted to learn more ways to help her patients. Fedelina is a Mayan woman who is planning to use Reiki in conjunction with her Mayan tradition when she attends births. I was blessed with the opportunity to receive a Reiki treatment along with her Mayan traditions this morning. What a beautiful and welcome experience.
I will write more about our trip another day, perhaps after returning home. Guatemala is a beautiful country with lovely people and a huge amount of corruption. We are so fortunate to live in a country like Canada. We have so much to be grateful for.
Hasta mas tarde,
Marie
Fall Retreat Oct 24 to 26
February 8, 2008
The fall retreat this year will happen in Owen Sound with options regarding accommodations. See below:
Inner Wisdom Retreat
When: weekend of Oct 24th Will confirm after Aug 10th
Where: 249 4th St A East
Cost: $225 (price does not include accommodation. Space limited; $100 for single room for weekend) Price does include all the tasty wonderful food you are used to on out retreats.
In partnership with Memory Gardens I am offering a fall retreat focused on helping you access your inner wisdom and find inner balance. With attention to body, mind, emotions and spirit as well as the 7 major chakras, you will explore the integration of all that is you. All meals are provided. We will meet for a healthy delicious supper Friday and end the retreat at 4pm on Sunday. Days begin at 7 with meditation and end at 10 with an afternoon break on Saturday for outdoor activity and optional energy treatments.
You can expect tasty healthy food and snacks specially provided by Janice for the occasion.
The retreat will include experiences such as guided visualization, nature metaphors, energy work using music, journalling, poetry, and inner self discovery. We will hold the retreat space as a safe and sacred place for confidential self exploration with a focus on centrering. To discuss this further please contact me.
April Weekend Retreat
February 1, 2008
Self Empowerment through Aligned Intentions
April 18th to 20th
Dates: Arrive Friday April 18th between 4 and 5pm
Leave Sunday April 20th at 4:00
Location:Kimbercote farms
The April retreat is a great way to move into spring. We offer you inspiration and opportunities to explore and go deep. Andrea Smith www.hummingbirdholistics.com will be joining me Saturday afternoon inviting you to experience sound scapes to guide your process of uncovering your deeper soul yearnings. What a wonderful way to formulate intentions for the months ahead.
The April Retreat will be focused on Self Empowerment, Intentions, the Law of Attraction and actually getting to the depth of intention making. There are so many books related to Intentions and the law of the Attraction on the bookshelves these days that I just recommend you read one and bring it to the retreat. When Andrea shares the process with me on Saturday afternoon, she will offer her expertise in using sound and sound scapes to help you go deeper, allowing what needs to be raised to become more apparent to you. I have worked with Andrea before and her ability to intuitively find the right thing at the right time for a particular participant is so inspiring and useful to you.
Friday
We get together before dinner on Friday night and the friendly dialogue starts as people get to know each other. People get more or less settled in their rooms. The retreat begins. A delicious vegetarian dinner sets the tone for easy comfortable relationships over the weekend. We establish a sense of authenticity, fun, self-exploration and acceptance.
After dinner, we have activities that help people get to know each other. For the April retreat I am asking people to bring something of personal importance that reflects or brings strength or groundedness. It relates to the nature of the retreat. It is something that has meaning for you. Sometimes it is an object, sometimes a story. We aim to have a quiet house by 10pm so that those who wish to can get to sleep.
Saturday
Saturday morning begins early with meditation before breakfast. There is always a sense of anticipation as the day begins.
Saturday brings a variety of different self-exploration activities with mini-workshops. This could include working with sound/percussion/music/voice, as well as drawing and creating in a variety of ways. These are all ways we have to draw out what we know.
The retreats will offer some outside activity around lunch time. Come with outdoor walking clothing. Kimbercote has a labyrinth at the top of the hill overlooking the Beaver Valley. If weather allows, this is an optional activity providing exercise as well as inspiration.
Unstructured time
By popular demand, we will have a long lunch on Saturday afternoon to offer a number of options including simply being together. This has worked quite well.
Sunday
Sunday morning begins with meditation before breakfast again. Sunday is like Saturday in many ways. After breakfast, we will have more activities that help you consolidate what you have learned about yourself and somehow form it into an image and words that later become part of the closing circle exercise.
We ensure that you will be able to be on the road to home by 4pm. It is always important to be grounded and prepared for home life before leaving so that process becomes part of the closing activity.
I hope you will feel free to ask questions. Each retreat has its own specific offerings so you may want to know more about the one you are particularly interested in attending.
I hope you will consider joining us. Mostly people come because they heard about it from one who has previously attended. So please keep sharing the information. Let me know if I can answer any further questions.
Cost:
$295 if you pay before March 25
$325 after March 25th
Maximum number is 16. Register soon
**Cancellation Policy for retreats: $100 non refundable deposit ($150 – on cancellations 1 week prior to retreat, to cover costs of food, materials & booking fees) . No refund after Wednesday preceding retreat.
