Sacred Fire: Awakening Our Inner Mystic

A Nurturing Spirit Retreat
Friday, Sept 18 – Sunday, Sept 20^th
Stillwood Camp & Conference Centre, Cultus Lake, BC

To see our schedule and register go to: Sacred Fire: Awakening Our Inner Mystic — Nurturing Spirit (CDN)

Registration price includes all meals, snacks, accommodations, and session supplies.

If you are flying in to BC, the closest airport to Stillwood Retreat Centre is Abbotsford.

Facilitators: Teresa Hanlon and Vickie MacArthur

Mysticism is a direct experience of the sacred – no church or clergy required…
Embracing mysticism in our everyday is a way of being more alive in the world,
an awakening to the interconnectedness between all things.
---Mirabai Starr

Join us for a weekend retreat as we experience the subversive wisdom and fierce compassion of the feminine mystics across cultural boundaries and spiritual traditions.

Discover your own inner mystic as you open to the stories of both ancient and modern-day mystics. Explore the essence of their teachings and practice:
- embodied wisdom connecting movement, music, breath, and stillness
- meditation and quiet reflection in nature
- contemplative prayer in both solitude and community
- active imagination using dreams, imagery, scripture and poetry

Connect to the natural stream of wisdom that flows through all life, and allow it to integrate the fullness of our humanity with the truth of our divinity, and so reveal the Love that ignites the sacred fire deep in our souls.

Bio’s

Teresa Elder Hanlon is a prayerful healer, retreat facilitator and spiritual director who was ordained a woman bishop with RCWP Canada in September 2025. A servant leader, she pastors an inclusive community both in person and by zoom. She holds an MA in sociology and Doctorate of Ministry from St. Stephen's College in Edmonton. 

Teresa loves playing with children, reading poetry aloud, watercolour painting and making music. She is a mother of 2 grown sons and 4 grandchildren and lives with her husband Vincent on the coulees of the Oldman River near Lethbridge, AB ,Canada. 

Websites: https://spiritualdirectorslethbridge.com/  liccf.ca  rcwpcanada.ca

Vickie MacArthur is a writer, spiritual director, yoga & meditation teacher passionate about integrating embodied awareness, breath, and spirituality into everyday life. She believes in the healing power of community, creating sacred space to explore the deep inner work of yoga and meditation through her studio, Spirit in Motion Yoga, along with other spiritual communities.

Vickie teaches the “art of slowing down and listening deeply” to ourselves, to each other, to our planet, and to the Great Mystery that holds us all. With an inter-spiritual heart that embraces the oneness of all spiritual traditions, Vickie seeks to build bridges of shared practice and understanding through her writing, teaching, and retreats.

Donations are graciously accepted.

If you would prefer to make a donation via e-transfer, please send it to donations@CreatingConnection.ca and note Nurturing Spirit Retreat and cc Debra@CreatingConnection.ca so we have a record of which donations are for this program.

 Retreat Schedule – all class sessions are in the ‘Maple Room’. Lodging rooms are very large and may be shared with 2-3 people. If you're attending with friends, please advise who you would like to room with.

Friday

4:00 pm            Arrive, Register, Get Settled

5:30 pm            Supper - mealtime is fixed please be prompt

7:00 pm            Welcome and Orientation to Weekend – Maple Room

9:00 pm            Go Gently into the Quiet of the Night, or Visit in the Maple Room

*Quiet hours are between 10:30pm and 7am

Saturday

7:00 am            Body Prayers & Meditation – Maple Room

8:00 am            Breakfast - mealtime is fixed please be prompt

9:30 am            Meeting the Mystics: Who are they? – Maple Room

11:00 am         Get to Know your Inner Mystic - Spend time outside, walking, reading, reflecting, journaling.

12:00 pm         Lunch - mealtime is fixed please be prompt

1:15 pm            Guided Relaxation, inviting wisdom from your chosen Mystic – Maple Room

2:30 pm            Dreams, Imagery & Visions – Maple Room

3:30 pm            Dream Exercise (to 4:30) or free time to wander, to journal, to commune with your mystic, or to be… – Maple Room

5:30pm             Supper - mealtime is fixed please be prompt

7:00 pm            Visit by Hildegard of Bingen, Guest Storyteller Margaret Murphy and Harp Music with Kat Goheen – Maple Room

8:30pm             Rest and Dream or Visit in the Maple Room

*Quiet hours are between 10:30pm and 7am

Sunday

7:00 am            Body Prayers and Meditation - Maple Room

8:00 am            Breakfast - mealtime is fixed please be prompt

8:45 am            Pack up Dorms – must be out of dorms by 10am

10:00 am         Sharing Circles: What has your mystic taught you? – Maple Room

10:30 am         Large Group: Mystics in Everyday life – Maple Room

11:00 am         Closing Circle with Anointing and Blessing – Maple Room

12:00 pm         Help pack up Maple Room if you’re able

Things to note:

                               The dorms will be locked when Maple Room sessions take place – see Debra for the keyif you need to access the dorms.

                               There is complimentary coffee next door to the Maple room as well as a coffee bistro to purchase fancy coffees and pastries.

                               If you would like to visit with friends in the evening, please visit in the Maple Room. The dorms will be a quiet space.

                               The upper floor washrooms in the dorms will be gender neutral.

What to bring

Bedding or sleeping bag and pillow.

Personal toiletries and towels

Water bottle and coffee travel mug if you like

Rain Gear for outdoor activities – optional- check the weather before arriving, you may want an umbrella or hat

Walking shoes or boots for exploring the grounds, or anytime we go outside

Slippers for inside our Activity Hall, the Maple Room, so we don't track dirt into our space

Flashlight for nighttime

For classes:

Comfortable clothing

Musical instruments (whether you play them or not!)

Yoga Mat (and any bolsters, blocks, straps or cushions that you use)

Cozy blanket and pillow for meditation and relaxation times

Personal Journal

An open heart and an open mind

We're looking forward to spending time with you!

Your Nurturing Spirit, Creating Connection Team