The Beginnings
The inspiration for One Heart Women's Retreat came from many threads of the web. Jocelyn and Sandy met in 2006 during yoga classes. They quickly found a kindred spirit in one another and began cultivating a fabulous, fun friendship. As both had individual experiences gathering with women and found an absence of such opportunities in south-western Manitoba, they began to conspire together to manifest their dream.
Jocelyn's first retreat experience was in 2002 at the Women of Spirit Retreat held near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Participating in this weekend was an amazing transformational and healing experience for her and she has returned to this gathering every year to recharge her "spiritual batteries." After going to a few retreats, the passion to gather women and offer a Manitoba-grown retreat began to burn inside Jocelyn. She knew this was something she was meant to do and that this undertaking was not something to attempt alone. Enter Sandy!
In October, 2008, Jocelyn and Sandy went to the Women of Spirit Retreat and on the drive home decided to offer the One Heart W omen's Retreat. Sandy had previous experiences circling with women and missed the community and sharing. Jocelyn's enthusiasm and the opportunity to reconnect with a community of women during Women of Spirit Retreat were inspiring. A natural partnership evolved, combining Jocelyn's vision and energy work with Sandy's ritual experience and counselling background.
The September, 2009 retreat is what we hope to be the first of many gatherings. We vision a place where women can come together and share their gifts, heal their spirits and gather strength to take back into the world. We welcome you.
Jocelyn's first retreat experience was in 2002 at the Women of Spirit Retreat held near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Participating in this weekend was an amazing transformational and healing experience for her and she has returned to this gathering every year to recharge her "spiritual batteries." After going to a few retreats, the passion to gather women and offer a Manitoba-grown retreat began to burn inside Jocelyn. She knew this was something she was meant to do and that this undertaking was not something to attempt alone. Enter Sandy!
In October, 2008, Jocelyn and Sandy went to the Women of Spirit Retreat and on the drive home decided to offer the One Heart W omen's Retreat. Sandy had previous experiences circling with women and missed the community and sharing. Jocelyn's enthusiasm and the opportunity to reconnect with a community of women during Women of Spirit Retreat were inspiring. A natural partnership evolved, combining Jocelyn's vision and energy work with Sandy's ritual experience and counselling background.
The September, 2009 retreat is what we hope to be the first of many gatherings. We vision a place where women can come together and share their gifts, heal their spirits and gather strength to take back into the world. We welcome you.
The Inspiration
Sandy and Jocelyn would like to acknowledge Margie Stillwell (TwoCooks), founder and gatherer of the First Women Foundation, for her inspiration for the One Heart Women’s Retreat. Margie saw the need for women to come together to heal, network, learn and play and to take the time to celebrate and experience the power of gathering in circle fashion. With this purpose in mind, she began the Women of Spirit Retreat in 1998. (For more information go to www.firstwomenfoundation.com) It was during the drive home from Margie's October, 2008 gathering that the One Heart Women's Retreat was birthed. Thank you, Margie, for having the courage and perseverance to make your vision a reality! We love and honour you, TwoCooks!
The Gatherer - Jocelyn Dowden
Jocelyn awoke to her healing journey in the early 1990s when she read Louise Hay’s revolutionary book, You Can Heal Your Life, and began to understand that she possessed the power to change her life for the better. This realization inspired Jocelyn to make conscious positive choices in her thoughts and actions and with these inner changes came magnificent changes in her outer world.
In 2001, Jocelyn became a Reiki practitioner and she completed her Reiki Master training on the island of Maui in September, 2007. In July, 2008, Jocelyn opened The Reiki Place, which she envisions growing into a wellness centre offering a variety of complementary healing modalities and personal empowerment services. Jocelyn loves acquiring new skills to put in her “entrepreneurial tool kit.” She is also a certified (or certifiable!) Laughter Yoga Leader who enjoys leading others in laughing themselves happy and healthy and she also teaches Urban Poling classes people can increase the benefits of their walking workout. Jocelyn lives, works and plays in Brandon, Manitoba.
In 2001, Jocelyn became a Reiki practitioner and she completed her Reiki Master training on the island of Maui in September, 2007. In July, 2008, Jocelyn opened The Reiki Place, which she envisions growing into a wellness centre offering a variety of complementary healing modalities and personal empowerment services. Jocelyn loves acquiring new skills to put in her “entrepreneurial tool kit.” She is also a certified (or certifiable!) Laughter Yoga Leader who enjoys leading others in laughing themselves happy and healthy and she also teaches Urban Poling classes people can increase the benefits of their walking workout. Jocelyn lives, works and plays in Brandon, Manitoba.