Winter Solstice Transformation Retreat

Congratulations on your decision to join us for this years winter solstice transformational retreat. My team and I are really excited, we know this is going to be a fantastic experience for all of us. We have some great things planned.

Here is the timetable at this time, it is of course subject to change at a moments notice, but not to a large degree!

Winter Solstice Timetable

Day	Morning exercise 7.30- 8.30	Am  talk workshop demo 10-11	Am healing services 11-1	Pm  talk workshop demo 2-3	Pm  healing services  3-6	Pm  exercise 5-6	Evening  talk 7-8	Evening 7-9pm
Fri 20	-	Opening circle	Settle in Bushwalk relax massages	Meditation and chakra issue workshop	-	Sweat lodge 5-9	-	supper
Sat 21	Bushwalk and/ or Wu tao  9-10	Clearing the sub conscious programs that no longer serve us	Massages Psych –k	Emotional expression and clearing workshop	Massages Psych k	Chakra dance	Singing toning Healing circle	Bonfire, drumming, instruments Music to dance too
Sun 22	Bushwalk	Felt slipper workshop	Psych-k Massages	Healing light meditation Trans-formation al hypno-therapy session	Psych k massages	bushwalk	Closing circle

 

Breakfast 8.30-9

Lunch 1-1.30

Dinner 6 -6.30

 What to expect

Well a transformational experience, of course!

After welcoming and setting the tone for the weekend we will be highlighting what it is we wish to transform in our lives and enjoying the physical and spiritual cleanse and healing preparation that is the Native American sweat-lodge. A great opportunity to release the past and set our purpose for the future.

Saturday you will learn the water element dance from the Wu Tao with Dominique.

Samantha Warner will discuss the role of the subconscious in beliefs, behaviours, habits, thoughts, and experiences that reoccur and dis-harmonise our lives. We will talk about methods of reprogramming these beliefs and what you can do about it. Then we will get into the connection with and expressing of our emotions through sound and meditation with Louise Plant.

After that we explore self expression through movement, singing and toning. We will celebrate the Solstice in a traditional manner with feasting, drumming, and dancing into the night, with a bonfire or fireplace (in case of rain).

During Saturday and Sunday you will have to the opportunity to experience Psych-K and its practical application to your issues and goals. This is included in the retreat price. This will all be explained at the retreat but you can check out the method at www.psych-k.com

You may also book in for a massage or other healing services over the course of the weekend at the cost of $60/hr. Relaxing or deep tissue Massage, hot stone massage, reiki, reconnection, energy or sound healing. You may also book an extra session of Psych-K. See the retreat registration form to make your selection.

Sunday is a relaxed felting workshop to produce some lovely slipper to keep your feet warm through the winter. We will gather for a meditation and transformational hypnotherapy session. We will be encouraging plenty of walking through the lovely local bush land (only 90 minutes to Lake Lescanultia).

Food

Make sure you let us know on the registration form about any food needs you may have (sorry no lobster and caviar!). Our cooks and helpers will keep you filled with warm and tasty winter treats, all as organic and local as possible. We are integrating the Chinese medicine philosophy of food and the seasons. The following is taken from  “Healing with Whole Foods” by Paul Pitchford

Food preparation

The kidneys which open through the ears are the organ most affected by winter time. It is easier to listen closely in the cold and silence of winter. The voices and sounds of cooking from the kitchen increase the appetite.

Warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts sound good on cold days. Dried foods, small dark beans, sea-weeds, and steamed winter greens fortify the kidneys in the winter.

 Cook foods longer, at lower temperatures and with less water.

 Salty and bitter flavours are appropriate for winter as they promote a sinking, centering quality which heightens the capacity for storage. Foods which cool the exterior, bringing body heat deeper and lower into the body, with a cooler surface you notice the cold less. Caution overuse of salt, an excess causes weakness in the kidneys and bladder, causing coldness and and overconsumption of water which also weakens the heart.

 Adding few bitter foods will protect the heart mind in winter.

Bitter foods

Lettuce, watercress, endive, turnip, celery, asparagus, alflalfa, carrot top, rye, oats, quionoa, amaranth.

Teas – citrus peel, horsetail, burdock, chicory root tea/coffee

Salty foods

Miso, soy sauce, sea weeds, salt, millet, barley,

 Seasonal attunement

“Winter is the end of all seasons. To unify with winter, one emphasises the yin principle to become more receptive, introspective, and storage oriented; ones cools the bodies exterior and warms the bodies core. Cold and darkness drive one to seek inner warmth. It is time to rest, meditate deeply, refine the spiritual essences, and store physical energy – in the form of a little added weight – for the cold season. Even though the slow yin processes predominate, one must stay active enough to keep the spine and joints flexible.” Paul Pitchford

 “The forces of winter create cold in heaven and water on earth. They create the kidney organ and the bones within the body… the emotion fear, and the ability to make a groaning sound.” Inner classic

The Kidneys in harmony and disease

The water element organs are the kidney and bladder, controlling water metabolism. The kidneys are also seen as the root or foundation of the body, they rule the lower part including the sexual organs and their reproductive functions. They also provide energy and Warmth (adrenalin). Consider all kidney function, adrenal gland activity and bladder function as assigned to the kidney in TCM. The adrenals contribute to the energy, warmth, sexuality, and other attributes of the body. The kidneys, representing the roots of the body, are the foundation of Yin and Yang qualities in the body. Thus the kidney yin supports and affects the yin (fluid) of the entire body; kidney yang acts as a foundation for all the yang in the body. The kidneys are the place of fire and water and any TCM diagnosis considers both their yin and yang aspects.

A healthy person with vital kidneys is active yet calm, courageous but gentle, accomplishes a great deal without stress, and balances assertive action with nurture.

Symptoms of kidney imbalance

All bone problems, especially knees, lower back and teeth

Hearing loss and ear infections and diseases

Head- hair problems – hair loss, splitting, premature graying

Any urinary, sexual and reproductive imbalances

Poor growth and development of the mind and body, premature aging

Excessive fear and insecurity

The water element emotion is fear. Like the kidneys, fear is deeply rooted and we are often not consciously aware of even major areas of fear and insecurity. A little healthy fear protects us and keeps us from foolhardiness. When excessive however, fear fosters a general insecurity about life and also ‘injures’ the kidneys. On the other hand weak kidneys generate fearful feelings, which in turn block loving experiences. Stressful fear ridden kidneys fail to remove excess water, which extinguishes the heart fire and its normal expression of love and joy. By restoring the kidneys the dark cloud of fear lifts.

How to prepare

As this retreat is aimed at helping you clear old habits and patterns and manifest your goals and dreams, you may like to think about what it is in your life that no longer serves you and what you would like to experience instead. Write a list. This of course will expand and change over the weekend, but it is a good idea to come with your intention for the weekend prepared in some fashion.

As this is not a physical cleanse as such there is no need to detox from coffee etc we will be providing organic milk, soy, tea and coffee, however the retreat is strictly vegetarian and no intoxicants, please respect this.

Accommodation

Each chalet has 3 single rooms and one twin. There is a small kitchen, good drinking water, a bathroom and laundry. There are washing machines so bring laundry product if you wish to wash clothes. You may select which you prefer and whom you would like to share with. This will be allocated in order of which retreat monies’ are received.

Felting Slippers

Csilla will show us how to make gorgeous slippers from felt. Please let us know on the registration form if you wish to participate so we can provide the correct amount of materials.