MenuPlease email Anique@herwill.net for the date of the next workshop!
The Goddess Way
A 5 Day Sacred Retreat for Women
A sacred Retreat………..
What is it…actually?
For me, creating a sacred retreat space for women, is about creating a "womens village" for a period of time. We come together, from all our different walks of life, and from all our different paths, yet we are connected and bonded by our shared experience as women in this world. And this world is a patriarchal world, with a world view that sees women as inferior, over emotional and somehow "less-than" our brothers. No matter how strong we are, the world around us and the world media is designed to keep us denigrated and oppressed. I don't know about you, but every time I see an advertisement for a product completely unrelated to women, advertised by a sexualized, thin, "perfect" almost naked woman, I feel denigrated. And angry! So I need time with my sisters, in a safe woman-identified environment, to heal, share, and celebrate our woman-ness. What better way than to celebrate the Feminine Divine, She of a many thousand names and guises, in whose image we all walk.
The Retreat Begins………
Wednesday
Our retreat will begin on Wednesday afternoon, when you arrive, have a cup of tea, and get to know oneanother. In the evening, after our Welcome Feast, we will all meet in the Temple on Wednesday evening where you will be smudged and chanted into our Circle. The purpose of the smudging is to assist you to clear all unwanted energies from your personal space, and the chanting will open your heart and connect you strongly with the Divine. This is when I will greet you in the ancient way of women - hand to heart.
We will then enact the ancient ritual of Casting the Circle. It will be my honour and pleasure to facilitate this process as High Priestess for the evening. The process is beautiful and heart opening. I call in the Four Directions/Elements with chant and then invoke the Centre, She of a Thousand Names, with chant. There will be four altars in place for the Directions and a Centre altar for the Great Mother. I encourage you sisters, to bring something to place on each altar, that you may take home again after the retreat. The item you bring will be imbued with our combined energies of sacred work over the time we are together, and will become the focal piece for altars you will want to create yourself when you go home.
As part of our ritual, you will light a white candle which you will bring with you, and make an affirmation for the time we are to spend together. So start to think about why you are coming, and what you hope to gain from the experience. Please choose a white candle with a good long burning time. I would also bring a journal, to record your affirmations.
Also as part of the ritual, we shall do a Snake Spiral Dance - another ancient woman's process, taught to me by a wondrous African American sister priestess. So dress up for the ritual, bring your ritual clothes, jewels, colorful scarves, feathers, shells and all other manner of glorious adornment to celebrate the beauty in all of us!
After the Circle has been cast, we shall get to know one another a little better, as I lead you in a process of bonding and trust building. We will use Tarot Cards to work with Goddess archetypes and finish the evening with a guided relaxing meditation.
Ahhhhh………if only every night could be this way, what bliss life would be.
Day 2 - The Awakening……….
Thursday
The next day - Thursday - will begin with our first morning Sacred Womens Circle Check-In. This will be an opportunity for sisters to ask questions, speak their truth, and say whatever they wish to say. This is such an important process. In the ancient ways, the art of "witnessing" was practiced by the whole village each day. This meant that no rumors or undercurrents could develop too far before a sister could bring it up in the safety of the Circle. This process is something we could well use today, as we live in such isolation, in our individual house, apartments etc…..living over-busy lives and having very little social time which is unstructured and devoted to simply sharing what we feel. Imagine what a luxury it is, to simply sit with your sisters, to listen and share……….it never ceases to amaze me what jewels are found in these sessions. And what profound and lasting healing.
After morning Sacred Circle, we shall enjoy Morning Sacred Practice. This process begins with chanting for one hour and then prayers and meditation for another hour. After this process, our bodies are alive, our minds are calm and sharp, and we are heart open for the sacred work of the afternoon. We are also very hungry and ready for lunch!!
After lunch, we shall gather in the Temple for our first workshop THE PATH OF THE GODDESS. During this workshop we shall watch 2 videos -
"Mother Earth" revisioning the sacred, a video documentary by Mary Hopkins about our ancestors and their connection to the Mother and
"Signs Out of Time"
The story of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas. A magnificent documentary made by Starhawk and Donna Read, narrated by Olympia Dukakis. After watching these videos, we shall have a discussion about their content and learn much about the ancient ways of the Goddess, and how we can interpret them into today's contemporary Goddess worship. We shall also - together - craft our ritual for the evening.
On Thursday Evening, we shall enact an ancient and powerful ritual of bonding and trust called SISTER TO SISTER. This ritual is designed to deepen the trust we have begun to build and allows us to share our new knowledge, dis-covered in our afternoon workshop. We shall have already crafted this ritual together, using time out of mind processes used by women for thousands of years.
Day 3 - The Connection……….
Friday
Friday Morning begins again with our morning Sacred Circle. It will be an opportunity again for women to share in safety and trust, and be listened to with respect. Our Morning Sacred Practice will be repeated and we shall learn two new chants/songs to add to our repertoire of Scared Music.
On Friday Afternoon, we shall enjoy our afternoon workshop "THE FEMININE TEMPLE". This workshop is a magical journey back in time as we explore the ancient Temples and the role they played in the community. We look at the Priestesses, and how they organised both themselves and the functions of the Temple. We then create a ritual together, which embodies the process of a day in the Temple, with each woman taking a role. Of course, within the workshop, there is much information shared about the structure of the Temple, Priestess training, the role of High Priestess, the responsibilities and honours associated with the many functions etc…...
Then, on Friday Evening after dinner, we enact this ritual in the Temple. The ritual is called SERVING THE GODDESS and is a beautiful way of "living" as priestess for a moment in time. It is a gorgeous process so bring your Priestess clothes. In fact, if any sister makes gorgeous ritual clothes, then bring them with you, it may be an opportunity for others to purchase their very first ritual garment!
Day 4 - The Deepening………..
Saturday
Saturday is a big day. Again, we begin with our Womens Sacred Circle. This will be followed by our Morning Sacred Practice and then lunch.
After lunch on Saturday we will gather in the Temple to work with the Dark Goddess. In this workshop, we will look at a number of "Dark Goddesses" from a number of cultures and understand their role in our lives. We examine the "life/death/life" cycle and understand how the Dark Goddess is another face of the Goddess we all love and welcome to our altars and our hearts. We look at our shadow and see if we can match our dark side to a Goddess, and then we create a process for each woman to undertake and get to know her personal dark Goddess. We then learn to welcome Her, and integrate Her into our lives as a friend and mentor.
After dinner on Saturday Night, we shall do a Dedication Ceremony to the Dark Goddess we have each chosen to integrate into our lives. You will have time between the afternoon workshop and dinner, to create your very own part to this ritual. You will add to the process we plan in the afternoon and surprise me by showing me how much you have learned whilst you have been in retreat!
Day 5 - The Honouring…………
Sunday
We will begin on Sunday morning as usual with our Womens Sacred Circle. After morning tea, we will gather in the Temple for a very special process. By this place in the retreat, we have un-covered our Priestess selves, and taken the Great Mother into our hearts. We will have also understood our ancient heritage through learning the herstory and Path of the Goddess. We will have dared to look at our shadow and welcomed a Dark Goddess into our lives, striking the balance which must be in all things and ways of life. It is now time to come together to make our very own Priestess Headdress or Crown. The basic material to make the crown will be provided by the Retreat, however, I encourage you sisters, to bring your own special pieces of fabric, ribbon, beads, shells, feathers, crystals and any other items you may wish to put on your crown. This is a magical process of intention, and will be carried out in Sacred Circle with discussion and sacred music.
After lunch, we shall all participate in a special ritual, where each sister will be crowned as a Daughter of the Goddess. Blessed be!! We shall then close our Sacred Womens Circle and open the Circle cast for the Retreat. We shall release the Directions and the Centre, after each sister makes her final affirmation for her return to the world. This is an opportunity to set your intentions for the year to come. A powerful and deeply moving ritual, with deep intention. If you keep a journal during the Retreat, which I highly recommend, then your intention will have been developing over the five days we spend together. This final affirmation, made in Sacred Circle with your sisters, is a powerful promise to yourself, witnessed by your tribe in the moment - the sisters you have journeyed with to the heart of your being.
This sacred Retreat will conclude by 3.30pm
The exchange of energy - my wisdom, experience, skills, time, materials and love is exchanged for your money.
This is the cost of the retreat.
Included in the cost is:
* All food and beverages (non-alcoholic)
* All rituals, workshops and other teachings
* A songbook
* A Prayerbook
* 2 Cds-Invoking and Embracing The Goddess
* 1 CD of backing tracks
* Materials for making your crown.
Fully Waged $425
Part Waged $350
Unwaged $275
CREDIT CARDS WELCOME
You may also pay by cheque, money order or direct deposit.
Please make all cheques and money orders out to:
HERWILL CREATIONS
5 Unicomb Close
RUTHERFORD 2320 (near Maitland)
Australia
When your registration is complete you will
receive a map and directions, plus a list of what you will need to bring with you. You arrive by 2.00pm on Wednesday.
So my dear sisters, I ask you to begin to vision your journey. Imagine starting your journey, however it is you have chosen to travel, with a light and joyful heart and the intention to make good and deep changes in your life. Envision being greeted as you arrive by a sister who has worked hard and happily to prepare a welcoming and beautiful space for you to do your work of transformation. Feel the love her heart as she welcomes you with the ancient greeting of women. Have a cup of tea in the Beehive, our shared space of relaxation, and meet other sisters in our shared space and recognise the similarity in each other as you share your stories and journeys. Stroll to our Temple and light a candle of gratitude for this rare opportunity to partake of this journey and know in your heart that the changes you have been seeking in your world are already taking place. As you return to the outside world, take a moment to take in the beauty that surrounds you and know it is just a reflection of yourself, for you are Goddess, as we are all Goddess, as is the Earth and All who live upon Her.
May you journey safely my sisters, I send you love and blessings till we meet.
In sacred sisterhood,
Anique Radiant Heart
Priestess of the Goddess
Singer of the Sacred Songs
Of the Temple.
www.herwill.net
Anique@herwill.net
02 49324616
A 5 Day Sacred Retreat for Women
A sacred Retreat………..
What is it…actually?
For me, creating a sacred retreat space for women, is about creating a "womens village" for a period of time. We come together, from all our different walks of life, and from all our different paths, yet we are connected and bonded by our shared experience as women in this world. And this world is a patriarchal world, with a world view that sees women as inferior, over emotional and somehow "less-than" our brothers. No matter how strong we are, the world around us and the world media is designed to keep us denigrated and oppressed. I don't know about you, but every time I see an advertisement for a product completely unrelated to women, advertised by a sexualized, thin, "perfect" almost naked woman, I feel denigrated. And angry! So I need time with my sisters, in a safe woman-identified environment, to heal, share, and celebrate our woman-ness. What better way than to celebrate the Feminine Divine, She of a many thousand names and guises, in whose image we all walk.
The Retreat Begins………
Wednesday
Our retreat will begin on Wednesday afternoon, when you arrive, have a cup of tea, and get to know oneanother. In the evening, after our Welcome Feast, we will all meet in the Temple on Wednesday evening where you will be smudged and chanted into our Circle. The purpose of the smudging is to assist you to clear all unwanted energies from your personal space, and the chanting will open your heart and connect you strongly with the Divine. This is when I will greet you in the ancient way of women - hand to heart.
We will then enact the ancient ritual of Casting the Circle. It will be my honour and pleasure to facilitate this process as High Priestess for the evening. The process is beautiful and heart opening. I call in the Four Directions/Elements with chant and then invoke the Centre, She of a Thousand Names, with chant. There will be four altars in place for the Directions and a Centre altar for the Great Mother. I encourage you sisters, to bring something to place on each altar, that you may take home again after the retreat. The item you bring will be imbued with our combined energies of sacred work over the time we are together, and will become the focal piece for altars you will want to create yourself when you go home.
As part of our ritual, you will light a white candle which you will bring with you, and make an affirmation for the time we are to spend together. So start to think about why you are coming, and what you hope to gain from the experience. Please choose a white candle with a good long burning time. I would also bring a journal, to record your affirmations.
Also as part of the ritual, we shall do a Snake Spiral Dance - another ancient woman's process, taught to me by a wondrous African American sister priestess. So dress up for the ritual, bring your ritual clothes, jewels, colorful scarves, feathers, shells and all other manner of glorious adornment to celebrate the beauty in all of us!
After the Circle has been cast, we shall get to know one another a little better, as I lead you in a process of bonding and trust building. We will use Tarot Cards to work with Goddess archetypes and finish the evening with a guided relaxing meditation.
Ahhhhh………if only every night could be this way, what bliss life would be.
Day 2 - The Awakening……….
Thursday
The next day - Thursday - will begin with our first morning Sacred Womens Circle Check-In. This will be an opportunity for sisters to ask questions, speak their truth, and say whatever they wish to say. This is such an important process. In the ancient ways, the art of "witnessing" was practiced by the whole village each day. This meant that no rumors or undercurrents could develop too far before a sister could bring it up in the safety of the Circle. This process is something we could well use today, as we live in such isolation, in our individual house, apartments etc…..living over-busy lives and having very little social time which is unstructured and devoted to simply sharing what we feel. Imagine what a luxury it is, to simply sit with your sisters, to listen and share……….it never ceases to amaze me what jewels are found in these sessions. And what profound and lasting healing.
After morning Sacred Circle, we shall enjoy Morning Sacred Practice. This process begins with chanting for one hour and then prayers and meditation for another hour. After this process, our bodies are alive, our minds are calm and sharp, and we are heart open for the sacred work of the afternoon. We are also very hungry and ready for lunch!!
After lunch, we shall gather in the Temple for our first workshop THE PATH OF THE GODDESS. During this workshop we shall watch 2 videos -
"Mother Earth" revisioning the sacred, a video documentary by Mary Hopkins about our ancestors and their connection to the Mother and
"Signs Out of Time"
The story of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas. A magnificent documentary made by Starhawk and Donna Read, narrated by Olympia Dukakis. After watching these videos, we shall have a discussion about their content and learn much about the ancient ways of the Goddess, and how we can interpret them into today's contemporary Goddess worship. We shall also - together - craft our ritual for the evening.
On Thursday Evening, we shall enact an ancient and powerful ritual of bonding and trust called SISTER TO SISTER. This ritual is designed to deepen the trust we have begun to build and allows us to share our new knowledge, dis-covered in our afternoon workshop. We shall have already crafted this ritual together, using time out of mind processes used by women for thousands of years.
Day 3 - The Connection……….
Friday
Friday Morning begins again with our morning Sacred Circle. It will be an opportunity again for women to share in safety and trust, and be listened to with respect. Our Morning Sacred Practice will be repeated and we shall learn two new chants/songs to add to our repertoire of Scared Music.
On Friday Afternoon, we shall enjoy our afternoon workshop "THE FEMININE TEMPLE". This workshop is a magical journey back in time as we explore the ancient Temples and the role they played in the community. We look at the Priestesses, and how they organised both themselves and the functions of the Temple. We then create a ritual together, which embodies the process of a day in the Temple, with each woman taking a role. Of course, within the workshop, there is much information shared about the structure of the Temple, Priestess training, the role of High Priestess, the responsibilities and honours associated with the many functions etc…...
Then, on Friday Evening after dinner, we enact this ritual in the Temple. The ritual is called SERVING THE GODDESS and is a beautiful way of "living" as priestess for a moment in time. It is a gorgeous process so bring your Priestess clothes. In fact, if any sister makes gorgeous ritual clothes, then bring them with you, it may be an opportunity for others to purchase their very first ritual garment!
Day 4 - The Deepening………..
Saturday
Saturday is a big day. Again, we begin with our Womens Sacred Circle. This will be followed by our Morning Sacred Practice and then lunch.
After lunch on Saturday we will gather in the Temple to work with the Dark Goddess. In this workshop, we will look at a number of "Dark Goddesses" from a number of cultures and understand their role in our lives. We examine the "life/death/life" cycle and understand how the Dark Goddess is another face of the Goddess we all love and welcome to our altars and our hearts. We look at our shadow and see if we can match our dark side to a Goddess, and then we create a process for each woman to undertake and get to know her personal dark Goddess. We then learn to welcome Her, and integrate Her into our lives as a friend and mentor.
After dinner on Saturday Night, we shall do a Dedication Ceremony to the Dark Goddess we have each chosen to integrate into our lives. You will have time between the afternoon workshop and dinner, to create your very own part to this ritual. You will add to the process we plan in the afternoon and surprise me by showing me how much you have learned whilst you have been in retreat!
Day 5 - The Honouring…………
Sunday
We will begin on Sunday morning as usual with our Womens Sacred Circle. After morning tea, we will gather in the Temple for a very special process. By this place in the retreat, we have un-covered our Priestess selves, and taken the Great Mother into our hearts. We will have also understood our ancient heritage through learning the herstory and Path of the Goddess. We will have dared to look at our shadow and welcomed a Dark Goddess into our lives, striking the balance which must be in all things and ways of life. It is now time to come together to make our very own Priestess Headdress or Crown. The basic material to make the crown will be provided by the Retreat, however, I encourage you sisters, to bring your own special pieces of fabric, ribbon, beads, shells, feathers, crystals and any other items you may wish to put on your crown. This is a magical process of intention, and will be carried out in Sacred Circle with discussion and sacred music.
After lunch, we shall all participate in a special ritual, where each sister will be crowned as a Daughter of the Goddess. Blessed be!! We shall then close our Sacred Womens Circle and open the Circle cast for the Retreat. We shall release the Directions and the Centre, after each sister makes her final affirmation for her return to the world. This is an opportunity to set your intentions for the year to come. A powerful and deeply moving ritual, with deep intention. If you keep a journal during the Retreat, which I highly recommend, then your intention will have been developing over the five days we spend together. This final affirmation, made in Sacred Circle with your sisters, is a powerful promise to yourself, witnessed by your tribe in the moment - the sisters you have journeyed with to the heart of your being.
This sacred Retreat will conclude by 3.30pm
The exchange of energy - my wisdom, experience, skills, time, materials and love is exchanged for your money.
This is the cost of the retreat.
Included in the cost is:
* All food and beverages (non-alcoholic)
* All rituals, workshops and other teachings
* A songbook
* A Prayerbook
* 2 Cds-Invoking and Embracing The Goddess
* 1 CD of backing tracks
* Materials for making your crown.
Fully Waged $425
Part Waged $350
Unwaged $275
CREDIT CARDS WELCOME
You may also pay by cheque, money order or direct deposit.
Please make all cheques and money orders out to:
HERWILL CREATIONS
5 Unicomb Close
RUTHERFORD 2320 (near Maitland)
Australia
When your registration is complete you will
receive a map and directions, plus a list of what you will need to bring with you. You arrive by 2.00pm on Wednesday.
So my dear sisters, I ask you to begin to vision your journey. Imagine starting your journey, however it is you have chosen to travel, with a light and joyful heart and the intention to make good and deep changes in your life. Envision being greeted as you arrive by a sister who has worked hard and happily to prepare a welcoming and beautiful space for you to do your work of transformation. Feel the love her heart as she welcomes you with the ancient greeting of women. Have a cup of tea in the Beehive, our shared space of relaxation, and meet other sisters in our shared space and recognise the similarity in each other as you share your stories and journeys. Stroll to our Temple and light a candle of gratitude for this rare opportunity to partake of this journey and know in your heart that the changes you have been seeking in your world are already taking place. As you return to the outside world, take a moment to take in the beauty that surrounds you and know it is just a reflection of yourself, for you are Goddess, as we are all Goddess, as is the Earth and All who live upon Her.
May you journey safely my sisters, I send you love and blessings till we meet.
In sacred sisterhood,
Anique Radiant Heart
Priestess of the Goddess
Singer of the Sacred Songs
Of the Temple.
www.herwill.net
Anique@herwill.net
02 49324616