Heartstone Herbal School - Van Etten, New York - Ithaca, NY

Retreats, Gatherings, Councils, & Ceremony

In 2008, we began to offer guided and supported RETREATS at our Center. This is an opportunity for you to step away from everyday routines in order to reflect, rest and rejuvenate, clarify goals and dreams, and be cared for by the love of the land & our staff.

Our yurt sits in a sloping meadow within a grove of maples. It is a 5 minute walk to our main house providing access to support while affording enough distance for privacy and quiet. Retreats are designed with Kris to take into consideration your desires for meals, ritual, counseling, massage therapy, or other support needs or simply to be left to your solitary time with supported fasting. Some individuals choose to take retreats in a questing way; staying on the land with minimal provisions or in tents. Our lean-to, or Toadstool, is also available for this retreat.

The cost of your retreat is determined based on length of stay and nature of support desired. Due to our modest size and our many activities, we are only able to support a limited number of retreats per year. They are available from June through October.

My retreat at HEARTSTONE allowed & encouraged me to unfold into, around and above myself. I felt fully supported & free to be whoever, wherever & however I needed to be.

What a gift! S.C.

We are available for modest GATHERINGS & CEREMONIES that require simple or rustic provisions. Our barn kitchen is available for these occasions. Kris is available to facilitate groups in a variety of ways and will officiate naming and marriage ceremonies. She is ordained by the Universal Life Church.

SUPPORTED COUNCILS

I look for the way things will turn out spiraling from a center

Life is creative.
It plays itself into existence, seeking out new relationships, new capacities, new traits.

Life is an experiment to discover what’s possible.
… When living beings link together, they form systems that create more possibilities, more freedom for individuals.

That is why life organizes, why life seeks systems – so that more may flourish.

Margaret J. Wheatley

Finally, we are very excited to develop our COUNCILS program in 2009. A COUNCIL is a group of people, hand-picked by you, who gather together to offer YOU their support or guidance around something that’s important to you.

You might create a COUNCIL to…

Help you with a specific issue or challenge or assist you with an important decision;
Focus on a broader theme such as turning 30 or 80, becoming a parent, dealing with children growing up and moving into their adult lives;
Create a vision for yourself…to gather ideas, insight or support for your dreams unfolding;
Receive love and feedback from people who know and care about you;
Create action…kick off an idea for a project, a change of lifestyle, a garden plan, healing protocol, a run for office.

Your COUNCIL can be made up of your closest friends, family & colleagues, people you barely know, or both. Your COUNCIL may include ceremony, fire circle, modest food (unless catered), and Kris’ help with facilitation, if desired. A COUNCIL may be structured formally with a set agenda and process, be very informal and open-ended, or blend these together. You may choose to gather for a few hours or 1-2 days.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gather your resources around you and let them be of service to you. Typically, everyone in the COUNCIL benefits from the gift of being there with you.

Our yurt is available for COUNCIL gatherings of up to 30 people and Kris’ office in Ithaca, NY can accommodate a small gathering of 5-10. Kris is available to consult with you in planning stages, for facilitation during your gathering, & for follow-up, as desired. As with other services, fees are based on the nature and amount of support desired. As with our retreats, our modest size and many activities limits the number of COUNCILS we can support each year. Kris is available to assist with COUNCILS at other locations as well.