Offerings for Opening & Transformation

Evolving practices invite us to listen, open, heal and feel our way into stillness and mindful being—with ourselves and with the world. Healing Walks, Woods Music, Placemaking, and Seasonal Celebrations have grown Our Story; new ways of conscious partnering with the land are now emerging.​ Recently developed offerings, others in the works, and an old favorite are described briefly below. See Calendar for schedule of upcoming activities and programs.

“There is just one question. How to love this world.”   —Mary Oliver

​Big Woods Voices in Outdoor Concert at Manitou

At the Manitou Forest Theater on Sunday, August 13, at 3:00 pm, enjoy a cappella American roots, world folk styles, and arrangements from Will Danforth's creative well, and poets old and new. From heart-stopping to foot-stomping, prayerful to fun-filled, dissonant to dulcet, Big Woods Voices interweaves harmony and dissonance in riveting and melodic soundscapes.

People say: “The music last night was extraordinary...the exquisite care each of the four of you put in, your combined harmonic sound, your humility, your bright spirits sending out the hope we are thirsty for. Each song was a jewel, a treasure.” “Singing sublime; songs sophisticated and meaningful; altogether a 'pinch me, I’m in southern Vermont' experience!”

BVW are Amanda Witman, founder of Brattleboro Pub Sing; Becky Graber, director of Brattleboro Women's Chorus; Will Danforth, award-winning, multi-instrumental solo acoustic artist and member of the Brattleboro Camerata; and Alan Blood, long-time member of area groups such as the Blanche Moyse Chorale, I Cantori, Blue Moon, and House Blend. 

Manitou is located at 300 Sunset Lake Rd in Williamsville; 1.4 mi. up Sunset Lake Rd. from Williamsville Rd, sign on right, or 5.6 mi. on Sunset Lake Rd from rte. 9. For more info: 802.258.8598, or  https://www.manitouproject.org/, https://www.bigwoodsvoices.com/, or bigwoodsvoices@gmail.com. Digital and print CDs at bigwoodsvoices.bandcamp.com.

Fun with exploration of our shared roots

Forest Immersion

Forest Immersion: Mindfulness with Nature
Guided by Amanda Kenyon, Landkind Guide
Sept 15 with Green Mountain Club, 10am - 12:30pm
Sept 24 with Southern Vermont Young Professionals, 1:30 - 4:00pm
​
When we tune into all of our senses in the forest, we can feel connection to our world in eye-opening ways. This practice, inspired by the Japanese shinrin-yoku, "forest bathing", or "soaking in the atmosphere of the forest" will slow us down to "tree time". Through guided invitations and a sensory-awakening meditation, we'll explore how to deeply, playfully, and easefully connect with nature using our senses and mindfulness. Find joy and relaxation through immersing oneself fully where you are, with all your heart and body.

Space is limited. Advance registration is required. For further information and to register, visit landkindguide.com, or contact Amanda Kenyon, landkindguide@gmail.com, 802-289-0108.​

​

Creating Sacred Space

Marianna Jacobs is a local energy healer grounded in years of Shamanic Transformational Energy Healing and training through healing modalities from Peru, Bali and India. She has a full-time healing practice with individual clients and leads workshops, retreats and classes for healing and Yoga. Her love and connection with the outdoors fuels her passion to share the knowledge and healing tools she’s acquired from Andean cosmology, Ancient Chinese wisdom and Indian Vedas.
 
On November 6th, 2:30 - 5:00PM—at the confluence of the Full Moon and Daylight Savings—Marianna will lead a Transformational Energy Forest Retreat & Fire Ceremony, where we’ll open Sacred Spaces together as individuals and as a group with Nature, creating individual forest Mandalas for exploration, rediscovery, affirmation, transformation and energetic healing, focused on specific openings to new pathways of discovery. We'll end with a fire ceremony to release heavy energy, celebrating our unique light with the support of the Full Moon. Suggested donation, $25.
​
For more on Marianna, visit Lightnstone.com.

Co-Creating a Life of Purpose

Co-creating a life of purpose through release into our full selves, retelling our story in attunement to who we are called to be today. Workshops in the making draw on Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects and others.  ​  

Releasing into our shared future

Healing Walks

​Healing walks on the land have long been a favorite of locals and visitors taking the short drive up Sunset Lake Road—2nd and 4th Fridays, Spring through Fall—to gather beneath the tall oak and pine for the stroll to the In-between Place to breathe and listen; first to the stillness and teeming life of forest and fen, then to shared reflections from the walk held in silence.

Earth Day walk with friends