Women's Wisdom Day Long Retreats

For women who want to embrace the inner wisdom of their Divine feminine spirit and bridge the gap between nature, spirit, and the physical world of their body, relationships, money, work.

Next Women's Wisdom Retreat will be held May 26th.

Women's Wisdom Retreats are also available at your location.

Details of our 2007 retreats:

Where? 35 miles NE of Grand Rapids Michigan at the home of Daina (Dinah) Puodziunas located on 40 breathtaking acres with a small private lake (with free camping available and a few spots indoors.)

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The May, June, October, and November retreats will have a renewal sweat ceremony** that brings us back into balance with the spiritual and physical inside of a dome shaped structure which represents the womb of mother earth.

**NOTE-This is not a Native American Sweat Ceremony.  It is specifically designed for women to embrace their feminine spirit.

The July, August, and September retreats will have another ceremony which replaces the cleansing sweat. They will have instead, a burning bowl ceremony around an outdoor fire.

What is a burning bowl ceremony?

A sacred burning bowl ceremony is a powerful ceremony which is done around an outdoor fire in one of the enchanted outdoor sanctuaries.

First we will connect with the fire as a symbol of our passion and inner fire for life. We will use it to ignite our passions and fuel them through writing symbols, drawings, or words on paper that we want empowered by the fire.

We will then use the fire's alchemical energy which transforms anything that is outdated or blocking our passions into a gift. We will release those things into the fire after we have received our gift.

There is chanting, singing, drumming, prayer, and silence going on throughout the ceremony.

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What Women Have Expressed To Me

"I am shouting from the hilltops to announce my new found peace and clarity. I would never have imagined such a sharp focus existed!"

Victoria A. Emery
L.P.N.,Grand Rapids, MI

"I have experienced subtle, yet profound shifts within the renewal sweat that opened me to the wondrous, ever abundant Feminine Heart."

Diane V. Lange
Building Inspector
Grand Rapids, MI

"I felt compelled to write you and tell you that your programs have completely uplifted, inspired, and transformed my life. I am blessed that you have followed your passion and spiritual enlightenment to share these experiences with others."

Sandra Morrigan
M.S.W.,C.S.W.
Ann Arbor, MI

In a letter to a good friend this woman said: "I had the most amazing experience yesterday.  I participated in a sweat lodge ceremony with four other women. It truly was like being in the womb of the great mother.

The woman who facilitated it is such an old soul and a wonderful, light-hearted healer.  She is not pretentious in any way.  I know you would love her.

When I got back to the house we went swimming in the lake, the half moon reflecting off the water.  It was beautiful, the entire experience was.

I am grateful that spirit led me to that place, I was ready to heal another layer.  Again life has shown itself to be a grand adventure, full of twists and turns that I can never really anticipate."

Sarah Traxler, Michigan

Structure And Focus Of The Retreats

The retreats are designed to help women "downshift their internal gears”, get fully connected with themselves(mind, body, spirit) and nature, and begin moving in the direction of their dreams, desires, and wishes.

1) We first create an enchanted circle by using candles and sage. We place whatever we want on the alter. Sometimes we drum and sing (I have some drums and rattles available to use.)  Universe means "One Song". When we make music together, our energies begin to harmonize and an enchanting space is created.

2) We open the circle by agreeing to commit to not gossip and to not talk about what anyone shares beyond this circle. We create a VERY safe and nurturing space.

3) We begin with a sharing circle where some of the women who have been to a previous retreat might share some insights, action steps, challenges, or anything that they are proud of with the circle. Those that are new can share what they are wanting for themselves at this time in their life and how we can support them. There is always a common theme that emerges as we are all sharing. I call this surfacing the wisdom of the group.

4) I then give a particular teaching based on the Midlife Magick ™ Formula (to see more go to the homepage)  connecting it to the theme that has emerged from the group.

5) Early evening we go out to create the fire for the renewal sweat ceremony. We might drum and sing outside while the fire is burning and while we cover the structure for the ceremony.

6) We will then go back to the house, snack some more, and get ready for the ceremony.

7) The ceremony - I begin to pour water over the rocks, pray, drum, use rattles as I create the energetic space for our renewal. You can get out at any time. We are all sitting around the pit in the earth that is filled with hot rocks. We also sing. Then I usually do guided inner journey that goes with the teaching earlier that day. You will also have time to say prayers of your own if you decide to do so. There is no pressure and you can remain silent.

8) After the sweat we often go into the lake to refresh and then back to the house for eating, sharing, laughing. You are welcome to shower as well. You will sleep like a fresh newborn that night and wake up renewed and refreshed!!!

Details Of The Retreat

1) Please arrive between Noon and 1:00 PM eastern time.

2) Bring a dish to pass that preferably does not need heating - this could be fruit, salad, sandwiches, dips and things to dip, some sweets - enough for about six women.

3) Bring some natural bug spray, a couple of towels you don't mind getting dirty, some paper and pen, water bottle, and a little gift from the heart for another woman to receive (preferably something from home that has meaning for you or something that does not cost more than a couple of dollars).  You are also encouraged to bring a symbol of something that you want to empower in your life right now. You will be able to place it on the little nature alter outside of the renewal sweat. This has really been meaningful to women when they bring it home with them and can stay connected with the energy.

4) You are welcome to bring a sleeping bag just in case you want to spend the night. I have a couple of futons and nice padded carpet in the lower level where we hold the retreats.

5) The renewal sweat ceremony takes place outdoors in the evening. It is a dome shaped structure with a pit in the center to hold hot rocks that are placed in there after we go in. Many women enjoy going in without any clothes as it is completely dark in there once the flap to the doorway is closed. I encourage all women to do what feels comfortable to them - bathing suit, towel, terry wrap...whatever.

Please register and I will give you directions and answer any questions.

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