When: August 30  - September 1, 2024

Friday: 11 AM - 6 PM

Saturday: 10 AM- 5 PM

Sunday: 9 AM - 4 PM

Where: N.E.S.T. in Woodstock, NY

Cost: Sliding Scale $150 - $600

Register: HERE

We invite you to gather with us in community to explore the “medicine” of creating ceremonies of the living spirit together. Led by Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, Barbara Mainguy, and Peter Blum, we will discover that an integral part of this process is to work with our stories. What are the stories that we tell ourselves and others? Do they empower us; enrich our lives? Or are they stories that place us in the role of victims, disempowered, and with impoverished lives? Learn how, through a narrative approach, we can help each other craft better stories.

Within our approach, we recognize that non-ordinary states of consciousness facilitate personal transformation, and the creation of new stories. With this in mind, we will work through imagery, ceremony, hypnosis, prayer, singing, drumming, drawing, mask-making, sacred drama, and ridiculous humor to find these non-ordinary or liminal spaces.

Along with group exercises in the Sanctuary, participants will also be able to utilize the natural beauty of 23+ acres of wooded mountainside and streams where the N.E.S.T. is situated, just a few minutes from the center of Woodstock, NY. The final day of this 3-day retreat includes the ancient purification lodge ceremony sometimes referred to as “inipi” or “stone people’s lodge”, followed by a potluck dinner.

This event is sliding scale to allow people with different budgets to attend.  It is our intention, whenever possible, not to turn anyone away for financial reasons. If you are in need of a further reduced rate, please reach out and we will work with you.

We encourage you to attend this three day event in full. On- site lodging is available for an additional fee.

Register for this event here!