In my life I have found four things heal my soul like nobody’s business: a good acupuncture treatment, a creative outlet, people who can relate to my current experience, and nourishing food. When I speak to other people about ways that they heal, they too mention good food, creativity, and human connection. I admit, not everyone has acupuncture on the list. Some like naps, however; the consistency of these common themes got me thinking.
For years I’ve been thinking and talking about how I could bring connection, creativity, cooking, and my personal favorite, acupuncture, together to share them with others. So I talked, and I dreamed, and then this year things began to fall into place. My big ideas, came together with my friend Lee Hunsaker’s big ideas, and S
weet Remedy Revivals has been born. Birthed right out of our ideas and everyone else’s enthusiasm.
For our first retreat Lee and I had a great retreat planned: a general women’s writing retreat. But then a breast cancer survivor patient spoke to me of her loneliness years after her remission. She spoke of how she still struggles, and how everyone in her life has moved on beyond her cancer. At the same time I was providing acupuncture to boost the immune system of a women undergoing chemotherapy. During this time I performed acupuncture at two events to raise awareness and money for cancer research. The strength and struggles of the women I encountered was filling me up and moving me forward. After the last event, I called Lee, who is a breast cancer survivor and writer, and I went to lunch with my friend Nicole Kaltz, (acupuncturist who has also been affected by cancer) and Winter Respite was born.
Lee’s description sums up our goals:
A respite is defined as “a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.”
A cancer diagnosis can shake the very foundation of our feelings of security in the world. Whether years out of treatment or newly diagnosed, the physical and spiritual effects of this life altering event will forever change us.
Winter is a perfect time to go within and to gather the courage to light your inner fire. Our goal for this daylong retreat is to empower and support women who understand that cancer isn’t as simple as a “journey” or a “battle.” Cancer is not only a dis-ease in our bodies, but can also cause a deep seated grief within our hearts. We believe in the importance of allowing the time and space to honor all of these complex feelings.
During our time together, we will work toward a peaceful surrender, however fleeting, in which to fully acknowledge wherever we are within the experience of cancer. We will explore the power of the written word to tell our stories. We will learn self soothing techniques for stress relief. We will meditate. We will eat healthy and nourishing food together. We will experience the healing that acupuncture and ancient Chinese medicine can offer. Mostly, though, we will take comfort in knowing that we are not alone.
For more information please click here to be redirected to my Classes and Events page or visit us on Facebook