Inner Wilderness meets Outer Wild
Wild Belonging
Within each of us is the knowing of a more connected way of moving through this world- one that supports our full aliveness AND our stillness. Wild Belonging is 3 days and 3 nights of engaging in soulful practices to return us to inner ground. In community and on the land we will explore, get real, and remember our belonging to this great whole.
“What if the world is holding its breath- waiting for you to take the place that only you can fill?”
— David Whyte
Return to Baseline
You may have noticed, the idea of slowing down, striving less, and connecting deeply is not exactly encouraged by the dominant narrative- of course there’s nothing wrong with the fast lane, but do you ever wonder what might get lost in the modern hustle, far from the days of the village?
Whether you’re caught up in the grind, or carrying some inner storm, yearning to down regulate or needing to refresh with a new perspective, tending a connection to the land and to each other can can return us to ourselves, and provide powerful tools to navigate the wilderness within.
Wild Belonging
A Nature Connection Retreat
What? a 3 day, guided retreat- in community and on the land
When?: March 21-24, 2024. Arrival before 9pm on Thursday evening departure after lunch on Sunday:)
Where? At a private cabin on Kennebec Lake, Arden Ontario
Cost? Sliding scale (see below)
Why? To return home with greater clarity, more light and less to carry:)
What it is (and isn’t) all about:
The Wild Belonging retreat is not a peak experience or a ‘method’ to heal. It is not a quick fix nor is it a personal philosophy. Wild Belonging comes from that innate desire that we all share to be part of the whole, to know that we belong. It is a weekend of doing things that will help us remember some of that.
Together we will take part in practices that humans have always done to tend our connection to life: communing with the land, sharing food, releasing what’s on our hearts, allowing ourselves to be seen, breathing in fresh air, singing together, ritual, telling stories, sitting in circle with each other, and moving our bodies. That’s it!
You will be guided. Taking part is optional. You will trust your own rhythms and you will be fed nourishing dinners! We operate by the principle that each of us is walking this path with an immense amount of wisdom to get us where we are going, sometimes we just need the space, and the mirror held up to allow the ‘soft animal of our body to want what it wants’
What’s Included?
3 nights shared accommodation at a lake front cottage on Kennebec Lake
Nourishing dinners prepared with local, organic food (and love)
Endless coffee and tea (Carly is a coffee fiend so no need to worry)
Guided programming of nature connection, embodiment practices and community circle designed to support a sense of belonging
Nature based ritual
Singing around the campfire
Wild plant teachings (with the one and only Laura G of Wild Muskoka)
FREE TIME
Optional morning movement classes (aka silent dance parties)
Delicious conversation
Invitations to deepen your personal relationship to the land
Rosy cheeks
Mirroring from caring mentors to deepen your experience
Facilitators:
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Kate Sutherland
SONGFIRE CHOIR
Kate is a multi-disciplinary creative who works with all forms of nature’s gifts to bring forward inspired art with a deep message on the themes of vision, wholeness and powerfully honouring the wild. Songstress, judo and Kung-fu blackbelt, mentor, mother, painter- she will be joining us this weekend tending the hearth, cooking us magical meals, and as a guest instructor- getting our bodies moving and our hearts singing.
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Laura Gilmour
WILD MUSKOKA
Laura hails from the land of granite and pines where she tends her permaculture homestead, and works as lead concoctress of foraged delicacies at the internationally renowned Wild Muskoka Botanicals. Laura will be joining us as a guest instructor, sharing her deep love of wild plants and their medicines-yay! Laura teaches from a place of reverence and relationship to the wild and has a special knack for filling her pockets with lichen wherever she goes.
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Carly Joynt
WILDER CONNECTIONS
Ecotherapist, depth counsellor, song lover and mud slinger from the Oak Ridges Moraine. Carly loves creating spaces where people can explore the inner landscape and remember their own wild brilliance. She spends much of her time trying to learn the instructions that have been lost to this life, and is compelled by ancient technologies for cultural repair. Don’t be surprised if she welcomes you right where you’re at- mess, beauty and all:)
Cost
We offer programs on a sliding scale in an effort to provide access to folks from diverse life circumstances. The scale for this program is $350-$550 for the weekend. If you’re gainfully employed, the invitation is to pay the full price, otherwise please choose a place along the scale that works for your budget.
not included: breakfasts and lunches, transportation
Flow of the day:
Before Breakfast
Opt-in movement practices. Wake that body up with some flow.
Morning
Community time. Held in a guided container, you’ll have the chance to work with the themes that are on your heart while being guided by a mentor and supported by the group.
Nature connection time: Take it to the land- she is our greatest mirror
Lunch and Free time
We try to keep this spacious enough for you to follow your rhythms. Need to go for a run? Great. Need a nap? Amazing. Need to lie down on the dock and let the fish nibble your toes? Even better.
Afternoon
These workshop blocks are here for you to bring the inner- out. This might look like a guided plant workshop with Laura or a creative exploration with Kate.
Dinner
Quite likely the best part. Kate will be serving up some home-spun deliciousness, receiving and being cared for with each spoonful.
Evening
Well now, we can’t reveal all the secrets just yet! But trust, that if you are coming to get a good night’s rest, that will be fully available to you:)
To register:
Send an email to carly.joynt.counselling@gmail.com letting us know where along the sliding scale you are able to opt into. A non-refundable $100 deposit is required to register.