Women’s Journaling for Health

Nature Retreat

Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

June 4 – 7 or September 10 – 13, 2020

Travel to Mayne Island from Victoria, Vancouver, or one of the other Southern Gulf Islands

Women with an interest in writing from their hearts while nurtured in a beautiful private setting are invited to this special experience. Immersed in and inspired by nature, we will reflect on and write about topics important to women’s health. I invite you to give yourself this gift of self-care surrounded by the magic of the sea, peace, hawks, eagles, deer, no street-lights – the stars and moon are breathtaking!

You will leave the retreat restored, replenished, and have a new appreciation on how nature can guide us if we take the time to truly listen and watch her. Through interactions with a small group of women you will have new insights into the power of your journal to explore, reflect, and find answers. For those interested, the group can stay connected through a private Facebook group following the retreat to continue the magic we will create together.

This retreat is perfect for someone who has never written in a journal and those having done so for decades.

As a Certified Journal to the Self Instructor, a graduate from the Therapeutic Writing Institute in Denver, Colorado, I have seen magic happen with women in journal writing circles. Moments of wonder, insights, changing perspectives, or simply reinforcement. I fully trust the process of ‘what wants to make its way to the page will’. Please see the “Praise” tab here on my website to read positive experiences women have journaling with me. 

I am thrilled to be able to facilitate this gathering at an inspiring venue. The Fernhill Retreat Center offers a peaceful, quiet place of great natural beauty to get in touch with your own voice and to listen with heart ears. The property ranges from woodland and garden to a dramatic cliff edge with a view to the farm below and the ocean beyond. You can wander close by the rambling house or further afield – hiking, walking trails, shopping, and carved rock seashores are close by. The rooms are extremely comfortable and decorated with love and imagination. And to inspire your inner muse, there are many little nooks, inside and out, where you can curl up to read or write.

I am delighted to introduce you to our wonderful hosts, Julie and Richard Jarco. They will be discreetly on hand to make sure your stay is enjoyable and if you prefer to not bring a vehicle, they will be happy to pick you up at the ferry or float plane dock and drive you to optional activities.

Now let me introduce you to Mayne Island. www.mayneisland.com You may want to consider visiting the island earlier than the retreat and/or stay later. There are numerous accommodation possibilities. 

Travel to Mayne Island is by way of British Columbia Ferries www.bcferries.com or float plane www.seairseaplanes.com  

The schedule is below. The retreat includes structured time including journaling together, meals, and happy hour. The rest of the time is yours – engage in some of the optional activities or simply stay at the retreat center and do what fills your soul: write privately under an arbutus tree, wander the walking and hiking trails close by, sleep, doze on a lawn chair. Mingle with others or be alone.   

In terms of journaling, for island workshops I always title them “Journaling for Health” because I consider journal writing equally important as nutrition, exercise, diet, massage, and other modalities for health. Our holistic health. As women we are conditioned from a very young age to put others first. I will be asking on your registration form what holistic health topics are of interest. For example, balance, self-care, saying no are possibilities. One topic always fun to write about together is flânerie, the simple act of doing nothing. We will also welcome Mother Nature to speak to us and what a setting we have for her to do so!!

For journaling together, we will sit in a circle and begin each session with a short meditation. After introducing the prompt, a timer will be set and when we are finished writing, I welcome sharing either reading what you wrote or anything you want to say about the experience. Sharing is always optional. There is no right or wrong way to journal and before we start writing we will explore that more.

The Fernhill Retreat Center will accommodate five retreat participants and two Mayne Island women are invited to take part in all activities and returning home to sleep. Thus, we will be a group of eight women, in my experience the optimal size for journal writing and optional sharing.

Bring a journal, writing materials, and/or the electronic device of your choice. Considerable research has concluded there are many benefits to handwriting compared to typing so I invite you to try it for our time together.

In terms of our nutritional health, we are thrilled to have experienced and creative chefs provide our nourishment deliciously incorporating organic, local, and seasonal foods and beverages for all meals, coffee breaks, and happy hour.

Eggs will be from my free-range organic chickens.

Optional activities – nature walks, massages on site, a visit to our lively and fun Saturday morning Farmer’s market, and the island’s beautiful Japanese Gardens. There are fabulous shops, boutiques, and galleries for clothing, art, jewelry, and other treasures if retail therapy is of interest.

Women’s Journal Writing Retreat Schedule

June 4 – 7, 2020 and the same schedule for September 10 – 13, 2020

Thursday June 4	Friday June 5	Saturday June 6	Sunday June 7
	Breakfast 8 – 9 am	Breakfast 8 – 9 am	Breakfast 8 – 9 am
Arrival time depedent upon ferry or float plane schedule. Or if coming from elsewhere on island	09:15 – 11:30 am Journaling together	09:15 Walk to Mount Parke   10:15 Bus arrival for optional activities	9:15 – 10:00 am Nature walk   10:30 – 12:15 Closing circle
	12 Noon Lunch at Lighthouse Park	12:30 Lunch	12:30 Lunch
4 pm Opening circle	1:45 Leave for boat ride around Saturna Island (weather dependent) or visit to Japanese Gardens or alone time	2 – 4 pm Journaling together	Departure time dependent upon ferry or float plane schedule. Or if you are going to other accommodation to extend your stay
5:30 pm Happy Hour	5 pm Happy Hour	5 pm Happy Hour
6:15 pm Dinner	6 pm Dinner	6 pm Dinner
Evening our Time	Evening Your Time	Evening Your Time

 

The retreat includes three nights accommodation in a glorious nature setting, opening and closing circles, all beautiful and nutritious meals, wine with dinner, two-hour boat ride exploring Saturna Island from the water (phenomenal sandstone formations and good chance of seeing marine life), followed by drinks and snacks at a seaside pub; coffee breaks, happy hour, chocolate, journal writing gatherings, flowers and a little welcome bag in your room, nature walks, bus Friday for a picnic lunch at the Lighthouse Park and optional activities following, bus Saturday morning to Mayne Island Farmers Market or Japanese Gardens, and island transportation if you prefer not to bring a vehicle.

We will also interact in a private Facebook group prior to the retreat and following as Alumni of the Women’s Journaling for Health Nature Retreat.

There is the option for massages on site at an additional cost with Registered Massage Therapist Kim Fairall – kimfairall.com

Fee – Early Bird $1595.00 Canadian – $1225.00 American.

A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is required to complete your registration. The final payment of $1095.00 (Canadian) and $725.00 (American) is due on or before May 1, 2020 for the June retreat and July 31, 2020 for the September retreat. You are welcome to pay for the whole retreat at registration as well.

Please keep in mind the retreat fee does not include airfare or ground transportation to and from Mayne Island.

Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel attending the retreat for any reason, all funds paid to the date of cancellation will be refunded minus the non-refundable $500.00 deposit. No refunds after May 2, 2020 (for the June retreat) and August 1, 2020 for the September retreat. Please consider purchasing trip/travel insurance for cost reimbursement in case of an emergency or illness which prevents you from attending the retreat. Retreat costs are not covered by insurance.

If after reading this information you would like to chat on the phone, please send me an email at katherinecoxstevenson@gmail.com with the subject line “Phone call request about Women’s Retreat.” I am more than happy to put our hearts together and hear each other’s voices. 🙂 

Otherwise, for registration and payment please complete this form Women’s Journaling for Health Nature Retreat 2020 -Registration-Payment-Form

Once you have paid in full for the retreat, I will welcome you to the private Facebook group where we can get to know each other a bit, share travel plans, information, etc.

Thank you again for considering our Women’s Journaling for Health Nature Retreat. Please email me if you have any questions and I look forward to hearing from you.

Namaste,

Katherine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registered Massage Therapist Kim Fairall – kimfairall.com

If after reading this information you would like to chat on the phone please send me an email at katherinecoxstevenson@gmail.com with the subject line “Phone call request about Women’s Retreat.” Otherwise, for registration and payment please complete this form Women’s Journal Writing Retreat Registration Payment Form August 2019

Thank you again for considering our Women’s Journal Writing Retreat. Please email me if you have any questions. Looking forward to hearing from you – Namaste, Katherine