Autumn 2017 Workshops
Blessings for a Changing World ~ Book Reading
In Blessings for A Changing World each page speaks to a relevant life issue, arranged alphabetically, with thought-provoking invitations to alter our perspective and to connect with the deeper part of our selves. If you need a few minutes of respite from the chaos of the world, step into these pages where peace and perspective reign. Blessings for A Changing World effortlessly connects the ordinary events of each day with the extraordinary meaning of life using an exquisite blend of inspiration, affirmation, and prayer. Whether you find yourself in your favorite comfy chair with a soothing cup of tea, or at your place of work needing a brief time-out, you will find solace here. Diana will be sharing selected readings from this, her second, book. Bring a lunch if you want to come on your lunch hour.
Saturday, September 16 • 11 am–12:30 pm • $10 members/$15 non-members • Diana Moore is an interfaith minister, author, and currently works with a Vermont hospice organization. She travels to us for this reading from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont!
Celebrating Seasonal Rituals ~ Temple Space for Women • Fall Equinox
Gathering in this quarterly circle, we honor ancient holy days that women have celebrated for millenia. We feed and strengthen our spirits with many different gifts and directions: Meditation; music and sound; anointing our energy fields with Aura-Soma; color considerations; the gifts of Nature; positive readings; and, of course, the support of each other! If you yearn for a small, peaceful, sacred space in which your soul can be fed, this quarterly gathering is worth experiencing. Enjoy the uplifting effects of shared sacred ritual.
Sunday September 24 • 10–11:30 am $10 members/$15 non-members • Fall Equinox Ritual is MaryBeth Stemp & Claire Houston; MaryBeth is a psychotherapist and teacher by profession. Claire is a psychotherapist, an interfaith minister, the founder/director of WSW, and loves sacred space.
Sharing Our Lives
As women of all ages and from different walks of life, there’s much to talk about, such as who are we, and where are we in our lives? This is a time to mull over with each other the issues and questions that come up for us in daily life, getting a chance to share and hear the wisdom from within ourselves and each other. As we share our joys and concerns, we can count on mutual support and confidentiality. Each meeting will be guided by a theme for that session and set of questions designed to use as a springboard for sharing. New participants invited to join these monthly meetings at any time.
Thursdays August 24; September 14; October 12; November 9; December 14; $10 members/$15 non-members per session • 12:30–1:30 pm • Claire Houston, LCMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, and the director of WSW, and MaryBeth Stemp, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, and teacher of holistic healing methods-sound, color, and meditation.
Thursdays August 24; September 14; October 12; November 9; December 14; $10 members/$15 non-members per session • 12:30–1:30 pm • Claire Houston, LCMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, and the director of WSW, and MaryBeth Stemp, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, and teacher of holistic healing methods-sound, color, and meditation.
Introduction to Essential Oils for Health & Wellbeing
Let’s learn about this topic together! Our sense of smell is the only sense directly tied to the limbic area of the brain (the emotional center). This means when essential oils (EO) are inhaled, they can immediately begin calming, or stimulating, or balancing the part of the brain that controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, hormone balance, and other physiological and psychological processes. EOs can provide many benefits to the body without side effects. Come, let’s explore calming, healing, and soothing EOs that can help improve sleep; relieve tension; reduce bacterial, mold, fungus, and odors; relieve headache, improve concentration; improve mood. Some EOs are considered sacred, and can become a part of our personal self-care and spiritual practice. Everyone will go home with a small EO blend to work with at home. If an eager group forms, we could plan to go deeper in the future, inviting professionals to come lecture, and tapping into online classes together, BTW.
Wednesday October 4 • 6:30–8 pm $15 members/$20 non-members • Claire Houston will run this peer-led group, sharing what she’s learned through her own study and curiosity about Essential Oils.
Stories Within
Small group of women who would like to be in a Circle together, sharing and listening as each weaves a short (up to 5 minute) story of herself. Fall story theme: Do overs. Winter Story theme: From There To Here. Spring theme: Fresh Vision. Space limited. No experience necessary, just the interest to hear others’ stories, and to bring out your own. Future dates TBA seasonally.
Wednesday, October 25 • 6–8:30 pm • $20 members/$25 non-members • Sofia Haffenreffer & Claire Houston come together as peer leaders, drawing from their many years of women’s circles, knowing that we all have many stories inside us and would like to make a space for these stories to be told. Inspired by the “The Moth Story Hour.”
Imagination as Spiritual Practice ~ Touching the Sacred Through Shamanic Journeying & Art-Making
Journeying is a shamanic tool used for divination, for retrieving lost power, for exploring our inner landscapes, for healing. It can also liberate a wellspring of imagination available to everyone. This introduction to shamanic journeying will allow you to get in touch with Spirit-help you may not know is available to you. It will offer a doorway into the extraordinary creative capacity that is part of the human design but that is so often stifled. Engaging in this ancient practice, in conjunction with creating art using alcohol inks (which behave in ways that are quite magical), promises to be an exciting and generative experience. The lessons taught by the inks can then be carried into our lives for further healing and growth. Come free your creative spirit in a supportive, nurturing environment using colorful, forgiving, free-flowing inks! Come journey, play, and learn! Take a half-day retreat for yourself in preparation for entering the holiday season.
Saturday, November 18 • 9 am–1 pm • $40 members/$50 non-members + $5 Materials Fee • Riva Danzig, Barbara Nahmias & Claire Houston Riva is a shamanic healer as well as an ordained interfaith/interspiritual minister. She considers herself a Sacred Activist and believes in the transformative power of love and imagination. Barbara is a painter, poet, interfaith minister, and wedding officiant. Her artistic mission is to help others heal and grow through creative expression. Both leaders travel here from Riverdale, NYC to bring their unique offerings to the WSW community!
