Every day, Sun rises and travels across Sky, reaching his midday peak. Zenith touched, Sun turns his attention to the horizon. Shadows grow long, Sun sets, and the world is shrouded in darkness. Stars and Milky Way dance in Nighttime Sky, and Moon and her changing faces govern Ocean’s tides. Then miraculously yet predictably, Sun once again crests the horizon, and a new day blossoms. Spring gives birth to Summer, Summer becomes pregnant with Fall, Fall dies to Winter, and Winter rebirths Spring. Everything is connected.
Humans are Nature and the daily and seasonal cycles of birth, life, death, and renewal are reflected in our lives, too. Sun’s rise is a new beginning brimming with possibility, like tender Forest Violets pushing through Earth in Spring. High noon’s heat reminds us of the Summer of our lives, when skinny dipping and carefree play were the order of the day. Sun’s set is an ending. Like Leaves falling to Earth in autumn, it’s a time to go inward and dream. Winter is the domain of responsibility where wisdom, experience, and resilience guide us through the darkest hours. Nature is a mirror, making visible and meaningful the previously unseen. These reflections act as guides, expanding the field of possibility around us, and informing us of our strengths, desires, challenges, and hopes, awakening our deeper sense of connection to our own souls and to the source of life trying to express itself through each of us.
The Invitation
Join us for Nature as a Mirror, a 5-day contemplative retreat at beautiful Ravenwood, in Sayward, Vancouver Island, BC. Together we will honour the transition of Summer to Fall. Nature is our guide.
Nature as a Mirror offers
- Reconnection to
self, others, and nature
- Time in
solitude, on the land
- Medicine Wheel
teachings
- Medicine Walks
- Nature-based
ritual and ceremony
- Trance drumming
and spiritual journeying
- Sensory
awareness and mindfulness practices
- The Way of Council
and mirroring practices
Program Overview
Mornings will be taken up with ceremony and teachings, afternoons or evenings with solitary time in Ravenwood’s forest. We will gather in council and harvest the medicine of our stories through the practices of Council and mirroring. Toward the end of the program you will be invited to experience a dusk to dawn solo, while your guides hold vigil.
Please Note: Participants are responsible for bringing their own food and camping gear. Come prepared to be self-sufficient. When you register you will receive additional information including guidance on what to bring and how to prepare yourself.
Arrival & Closing
We will officially begin the retreat at 10am on August 10. You can expect things to be fully wrapped up by 4PM on the 14th. In order to accommodate those traveling long distances to get to Ravenwood, you may arrive the day prior to our opening, anytime after 4 PM. Although we will be present to direct you to camping spots and answer questions, we will be busy prepping the retreat on that day. Please plan on taking care of yourself until the retreat officially opens.
The closing ceremony will take place on the last day. You can expect things to be fully wrapped up by 4PM.
Retreat fee
The fee for the retreat is $577.50 - $1,785.00 (GST included).
We have established a sliding scale to make this program accessible to more people. We have set forth no criteria and trust that individuals will pay what they are able. It is important to us that all who wish to participate in this program be able to do so. If you are unable to afford the base rate, please contact us to explore ways that may allow you to participate. Limited scholarships are available.
A fair contribution is one that considers your financial situation, our many years of training, education, and experience, the cost of the extensive and expensive education and training related to these, and expenses we incur by offering experiences like this one. This includes things like facilities and site upkeep/rental, property & liability insurance, supplies, food, and travel expense.
- Maximum number of participants: 18
Deposit
A $250 deposit will secure your registration. Space is limited. Please register early to avoid disappointment. This deposit signifies your commitment to the program and is deducted from the base rate balance. All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. They cover the work of preparing the program you signed up for, including all communication and administration involved.
Workshop Facilitators
Corinna Stevenson & Tara Souch
Retreat Location
Nature as a Mirror is held at Ravenwood, located on forty private acres bordering the crystal-clear waters of the Salmon River, in the Sayward Valley. The land features majestic old-growth forest, grassy meadows, and many species of edible and culturally significant plants. Visitors are graced with regular visits from a local herd of Roosevelt Elk and the annual salmon run draws in wildlife of all kinds, including black bears and bald eagles.
Accommodation
Ravenwood is a wilderness camp. There is plenty of space to pitch a tent. Participants are responsible for bringing all camping gear needed to stay warm and dry and for practicing leave-no-trace camping etiquette. You will have access to a bathroom and shower.
For those who prefer less rustic accommodation, there are some options available in Sayward. Our days will start early and finish late. If you are choosing this option we strongly recommend staying nearby.
NATURE AS A MIRROR