Spark the expansion of your essential nature . . .
Invigorate Liberate Celebrate
Shift paradigm from the depth of your soul
to the peak of your possibilities . . .
Credit: Jan Novotny
Upcoming Offerings at the Haven on Gabriola Island
Weaving the Threads of Consciousness: Integrating Psychedelic and Peak Experiences: November 7-10
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Transformative work is vital to support the shifts in consciousness necessary to adapt, thrive and lead in the complexity of these very interesting times. There are many wonderful opportunities to help these consciousness shifts through psychedelic and other altered state processes however, many participants who have these ‘transformative experiences’ neglect to integrate them sufficiently. The transformative potential of the experience and the resources invested are wasted, or worse, the person’s world is completely destabilized.
Conscious Breathwork: A Training for Personal Mastery & Professional Skill Development:
November 22-24
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If you’re new to the Haven or to personal work:
This weekend will be a gentle yet profound entry that offers the essential foundation of consciously breathing for embodiment, heightened awareness, and healing.
If you’ve already been to the Haven:
You’ll know that breath is core to initiating and integrating your physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual Self. This weekend is is intended to be a refreshing immersion into refining and deepening your capacity.
If you’ve participated in this Breathe! program previously:
In response to requests, I’ve expanded it by one day to allow time for increased depth, discovery and invigoration. Each time I offer Breathe! I incorporate different dimensions of conscious breathing. In November’s iteration we will include exploration of the consciousness expanding, soul nourishing aspects of breathing.
If you are working in a helping profession:
The Breathe! program will be supportive not only for your own wellbeing and self-care, it will offer healing, grounding, regulating, life enhancing, liberating breathing practices and techniques that may be useful professionally
Whatever your reason, I’ll be delighted to share this body and soul nourishing weekend with you.
Come Alive
January 1-6, 2025
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Come Alive is the Haven's most popular core program and the perfect place to begin or continue your journey in personal or professional growth and transformation.
People from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, and locations participate in Come Alive and often experience something profound.
Haven-Style Embodiment Training: February 18-23, 2025
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As we heal we become embodied; as we become embodied we heal. Authentic, lasting transformation must include our body.
Psychological and emotional energy restrictions from traumatic events and neglectful emotional experiences are held deeply in our body, and lie at the root of distress, dissociation and disembodiment.
In order to responsibly guide another person to liberate their self from these unconscious restrictions of their inner strength, passion, physical and mental health and vitality through facilitating embodiment practices, the practitioner must first tend to their own embodiment.
This program is for helping professionals who are keen to:
Learn and experience body, breath and energy practices as a way to skillfully open into the depths of the body and psyche
Learn to sensitively facilitate a person to beneficially liberate deeply held restrictions by navigating the continuum from subtle, delicate nuances to passionate expression
Develop and use your own intuition, creativity and presence
Become aware of and utilize transformative moments as they emerge
Registration coming soon.
Grieving:
February 28 - March 3, 2025
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Grieving is a skill that is often undeveloped and overlooked. In this compassionate program, we will learn together and journey through the dimensions of grieving and mourning to open the flow of burdened life-force and emerge full-heartedly.
Grieving within a group gathering cultivates the sense of belonging which is one of the most powerful healing medicines in existence. It is the experience of being held in the embrace of a village.\
Registration coming soon.
Boundaries:
March 27-30, 2025
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This dynamic three-day program at The Haven combines teaching and experiential learning about discerning, defining and then effectively expressing your boundaries.
You will also learn about accountability and consequences for when an expressed boundary is not accepted or regarded.
For those who internalize boundary conflicts into an illness pattern, there will be an opportunity to explore and decipher the boundary being expressed through the symptom.
Registration coming soon.
Come Alive:
April 6-11, 2025
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Come Alive is the Haven's most popular core program and the perfect place to begin or continue your journey in personal or professional growth and transformation.
People from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, and locations participate in Come Alive and often experience something profound.
Registration coming soon.
Teens Alive 1 & 2
August 16-19 & 19-22, 2025
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Join us for the 33rd Year of Teens Alive running at The Haven!
The goal of Teens Alive is to give young people a space to ask questions, share perspectives, try out new approaches when connecting with others, and build a community.
Teens Alive I
Learn foundational models exploring new ways to think of self-criticism and compassion, while connecting with others in new ways.
Teens Alive II
Practice new communication tools and engage in emotional literacy activities, while building community.
Over 500 teens have been a part of and contributed to this program since 1992. Join us for one or both parts in summer, 2025!
Learn more on the new Teens Alive website: teensalive.ca
Mandarin Living Alive: Self Awareness Essentials, June 6-19, 2025
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With 琳达· 尼科尔 斯 Linda Nicholls and 李文淑 Wen-Shwu Lee.
The Mandarin Living Alive Essentials program offers the unique experience of time, space, and guidance to help you (re)discover who you truly are. For 12 days, you’ll have the opportunity to create and establish new or different patterns for conscious living.
Credit: Jan Novotny
Musings
Credit: Jan Novotny
Gathering in a circle to engage in intensely personal and inventive ways is the most healing, life enriching experience imaginable. Every one of us emerges with fresh insight, vitality, inspiration, well-being, and inner strength, prepared to thrive from a deepened sense of connection.
Credit: Jan Novotny
Portals of Expansion
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Conscious Breathing
Conscious breathing is our most potent healing, enlivening capacity. During this dynamic program you will experience a range of breathing patterns that will enhance and sustain your overall vitality and well-being for the rest of your life.
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Defining Boundaries
Defining then acting on a boundary is a relational issue, which is why boundary challenges show up every-where, every-day, personally and professionally. In this illuminating program, you will learn how to discern, define, and express effective boundaries.
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Shadow Exploration
Every one of us has parts of ourselves that we unconsciously repress or deny. Becoming acquainted with our elusive shadow reconnects us with the broader dimensions of our self and others, our deeper nature, our passion and our potential.
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Art & Science of Communication
We humans create, influence and reveal our reality through our languaging. There is a fine art to expressing our reality, verbally and non-verbally, in such a way that we are actually understood by others and listening to others in such a way that we come to understand them.
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Depression Alternatives
From within the depths of depression it is difficult to find the light. This revealing program is an exploration of hidden factors that support suppressing and depressing. Alternatives in support of embracing a fuller, more joyful life will be illuminated.
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Fully Grieving
Grieving is a skill that is often undeveloped and overlooked. In this compassionate program, we will learn together and journey through the dimensions of grieving and mourning to open the flow of burdened life-force and emerge full-heartedly.
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Psychedelic Integration
Expanding into non-ordinary realms of consciousness through psychedelic journeys or other peak experiences is a privilege – and whatever you encounter offers treasures that require integration to be authentically beneficial. It’s time to start living your larger life!
Credit: Harvey Schipper