Agenda
“Being the ‘I’ in the Storm~Courage, Care and Compassion”
Chimney Corners Resort Frankfort, Michigan
Thursday, May 15, 2025:
3:00 - 7:00 pm Check In/Settle In (Dinner on your own)
7:30 - 8:30 pm Welcome and Opening Session Tanis Allen, LMSW - The Lodge
“Being the ‘I’ in the Storm~Courage, Care and Compassion in this Turbulent Time”
In our opening circle, we will begin to turn inward and listen deeply to our parts within the supportive container of expansive Self-energy which we will build as a group. Given the current circumstances in our world, we are, at turns, holding both our own shocked, frustrated, grieving, outraged and despairing parts along with those of our clients and loved ones, in what can feel like a constantly triggering and sometimes raging emotional storm. We will set our intentions together as we enter this time set apart from all this to tap into our collective wisdom and begin an exploration of the courage, care and compassion residing in every one of us and within the group.
As Dick so appropriately notes in “No Bad Parts,” when speaking of holding our center in trying times: “This is quite a challenge in some circumstances - when you face threatening people or events, for example. And yet, amid the terror or the rage, the Self in each of us is always there ~ the ‘I’ in the storm, the calm depth beneath the rolling waves. There is always Self.”
Friday, May 16, 2025:
8:00 ~ 9:00 am Morning Yoga in the Lodge
Beth Jerva, LMSW, PRYT, RYT
10:00 am ~ 1:00 pm Morning Session:
“Writing from Self, Writing With Parts”
Vera Dyck, RP, MSc, RMFT
The goal of Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) writing is “through the use of the workshop method developed by Pat Schneider, to support established and emerging voices, to free silenced voices and to respect the artist in all writers.” This experiential workshop invites participants to fully engage in AWA style writing while connecting with, learning about, and hearing from their internal parts in a variety of ways. We’ll use AWA’s uniquely supportive feedback guidelines and other practices for overcoming writer’s block and increasing our experience of delight in both writing and our parts. Prompts and exercises will be shared to inspire but not constrain writers’ creativity.
1:00 pm Lunch in the Lodge
2:30 pm ~ 5:30 pm Afternoon Session:
“Writing from Self, Writing with Parts” (continued)
7 pm Dinner at The Manitou Restaurant
8:30 pm Music and Stories AnnMarie Rowland Singer/Songwriter
Saturday, May 17, 2025:
8:00 am ~ 9:00 am Morning Yoga in The Lodge
Beth Jerva, LMSW, PRYT, RYT
10:00 am ~ 1:00 pm Morning Session:
“Healing with SoulCollage: Witnessing and Unburdening”
Pricilla Boyd, LCSW, M.Ed
Through Self-led and group parts work along with sacred circle meditation and ritual, this experiential workshop will be an integration of the powerful processes of SoulCollage (developed by Jungian analyst Seena Frost) and IFS. Participants will have the opportunity to create cards that represent parts of themselves (managers, firefighters or exiles) and in so doing allow expression, obtain clarification, and develop understanding of their personal history and functioning. Participants will learn the benefits of this expressive therapy and its correlation to IFS to support themselves and clients in their quest for self awareness and personal power.
1:00 pm Lunch in the Lodge
2:30 pm ~ 5:30 pm “Healing with SoulCollage: Witnessing and Unburdening” (continued)
7:30 pm Dinner at Vita Bella Restaurant in Frankfort
Later Bonfire, Stargazing, Music and Stories
Sunday, May 18, 2025
10:00 am Music and Meditation
10:30 am ~ 12:30 pm Closing Session:
“Being Fully Present With Courage, Care and Compassion: Allowing Our Parts to Speak”
Tanis Allen, LMSW, CIFST
Our closing circle will offer a time to both acknowledge and invite parts that wish to speak about their experiences during the weekend to do so in an embodied and Self-led way. Through guided meditation, body-centered practices, parts sculpting and connection to the guidance of nature surrounding us, we will tap into the power of the group’s Self-energy such that a deeper integration of our experiences in retreat together emerges and insights gained will be highlighted.
Again, as Dick relates in his book “You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For,” incorporating a quote from the 19th century philosopher William James at the turn of the century: “you are drops of the same divine ocean or sparks of the same eternal flame, part and parcel of the wider Self.” This session will help us strengthen our skills for becoming more fully present to ourselves, our clients and those we care about as we “walk each other home” to that wise, spacious, compassionate and loving harbor within that we call Self.
12:30 pm Closing and Send-Off
Tanis Allen, LMSW, CIFST