Shamanic methods of altering consciousness and the journeywork method tap deeply into the heart of the creative process. From paleolithic times, shamanism has been the Mother of the arts, not only healing arts, but music, drama, story telling, divinatory problem solving mask making, talisman crafting, ecstatic dance, regalia-making and so on. Practicing an art also becomes a form of spiritual practice, when integrating, expressing and sharing what you find through direct-revelation in shamanic journeying.
Come join us in musing with your creative daimon for the annual 5-Day Crows Nest Summer Intensive Retreat. Bring your favorite creative art or craft to share.The central theme involves exploring creative practices in accessing and entering into deep relationship with your own creative daimon, also known as a Guardian Spirit or Angel, a Spirit Twin or Higher Self. There will be lots of use of the shamanic journey method along with participations and explorations in expressive creative arts, all forms of care of the soul. We’ll have break out workshops on accessing and channel your Creative Daimon (Guardian Spirit)
The event will include many breakout sessions, arts festival-style:
*Shamanic Journey Work *Sacred Breathwork *Poetry Den with Laura Burkett-Gutierrez, *Afro-Percussion Class with Nick Brabhan, *Shamanic Painting with Rhonda Skinner, *Henna body art and drum design class with Cheri Carpenter Lundstrum, *Story Telling with Bob Wagner, *Mask Painting with Mikkal, *Shamanic Plant Medicine Tutorial with Leonard LaGarde, and more. *Soul Retrieval and Extraction Journey by Traci Perg
Everyone is welcome to bring their creative thing to share, either as a breakout, or during fertile hanging by the Sacred Fire. It is not a requirement but an invitation to share what inspires you, or what you are passionate about.
A central feature of shamanist practice is life as an opportunity to live creatively, making your way of being in the world itself a work of art. One goal of this retreat is to extend ourselves, and have a lot of fun in finding ways to tap the enormous creative engine of shamanism to open the channel of communication between you and the creative power at the heart of your psyche (soul).
Where: Crows Nest Center for Shamanic Studies, 55525 Nubour Rd, Dowagiac, MI 49047
When: We begin Thursday evening, August 8th, and close Monday afternoon (3:pm).
What to Bring and Sleeping Arrangements:We have many beautiful forest campsites, or you can sleep inside the Medicine Lodge slumber party style if you prefer. Bring your tent, sleeping bag, flash light, shamanic tools and eye cover, towel, rain gear, musical instruments, a little food to share, and prepare to enjoy great community at Crows Nest. You may book a room at the Baymont Hotel in Dowagiac, MI if you prefer. It is only 10 minutes away. 1-(855)-680-3235.
Meals: Bring something to share on Friday night. We pitch-in and prepare community meals, lunches are typically on your own, and there are some good restaurants in the nearby town, and a hotel for those who prefer not to sleep in a tent/campsite.
Cost: $550.00 | Click here to register and pay
Travel/Shuttle: The nearest airport is coded SBN (South Bend, IN). If you let us know in advance, we can have someone shuttle you to Crows Nest Center for Shamanic Studies on Thursday, and return to you SBN on Monday evening.
Crows Nest Center for Shamanic Studies was founded in 2002 by C. Michael Smith, Ph.D., (Mikkal) is a Jungian psychologist, author and shamanic teacher. Crows Nest Centers for Shamanic Studies has communities in France, Belgium, South Africa, as well as at the original Southwestern Michigan woodland location. Crows Nest offers training and certification programs in Shamanic Counseling, advanced Soul Doctoring, Psychoshamanism and Sacred Breathwork. The importance of teaching-learning communities is essential to the Crows Nest vision. www.crowsnestshamanism.com and www.cmichaelsmith.com