Douglas Stevenson

• Farm member from 1973 on the path of nonviolence
• 2 years in Guatemala and 7 months in Belize doing relief work
  Assistance to The Huichol Center, Mexico
• Founding member of PeaceRoots Alliance
• Musician - leading group song and chants
• Workshops:
  

  Insights of The Spiritual Path	Mindfulness Meditation
  Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation	The World Peace Diet

  
  

One of my recent insights is to recognize that The Farm has an abundant resource of teachers. The breadth of experiences, knowledge and wisdom I find among my friends is a remarkable gift. It is their ability to share...humbly offering their piece of the truth, gained through study and directly from life's lessons, that makes these folks so valuable.

The teachers and participants for each weekend vary, based on who is available. Below, let me introduce you to my good friend, a strong and inspiring woman who will be with us for the upcoming spiritual retreat.

Susan Skinner - Plant Spirit Medicine and the Huichol Tradition

A member of The Farm Community for nearly 40 years, Susan Skinner is both a leader and a teacher. A practicing Plant Spirit Medicine healer, for the past decade Susan has been traveling to Mexico to receive advanced training in the Huichol and Nahuatl traditions.

The Huichols are a Native American tribe who have preserved their shamanic skills and knowledge. Susan is a founder of the Sacred Fire Foundation, a movement that builds community through monthly gatherings to celebrate the sacred energy of the fire circle.

Saturday afternoon Susan will lead a workshop that introduces you to some of the things she has learned through her years of study in these ancient traditions. Saturday evening we'll gather with her around the community fire circle and be together in this sacred space.

Kathleen Rosemary & Healing Touch

• Co-founder of The Farm community 1971
• Mother of 3 grown children, all born at home
• Left the accounting/management profession to help people get their bodies and energy in balance
• Licensed Massage Therapist since 1999
• 20 years of study, practice of energy therapies, including Healing Touch, Reiki, Qi Gong
• Taught Healing Touch to nurses and massage therapists for 8 years around the U.S. and abroad
• Welcomes guests for revitalizing retreats at her guest house on The Farm

Introduction to Healing with Energy
Energy healing or energy therapy is a non-invasive way to help ourselves and others regain a sense of inner balance and harmony, thus allowing the body to more readily heal itself. Kathleen calls it "prayer in motion," as we can express our caring through touch and simple Presence in someone's energy system.

Kathleen will present basic concepts and then give participants practice opportunities to experience their own and other's energy fields and chakras. We will do centering, grounding, attuning, assessment, and treatments.

Peter Kindfield & Tai Chi

Peter Kindfield is a PHD education administrator that left the NY Public School system to fulfill his vision of alternative education that creates leaders who question authority. Now principal of The Farm School, he is also a Tai Chi Master.

In this workshop Peter will lead us on the fundamentals of Tai Chi, a Chinese discipline developed to produce mental focus through slow, relaxed movements.

Tai Chi Chuan is a traditional Chinese martial art that is practiced by many as a means of relaxation. Our introductory class will give participants a chance to practice the smooth flowing movements of Tai Chi as we learn about some of the big ideas of Tai Chi. We will learn that while it is natural to get tense in tense situations, it’s always more effective to relax.  We will also learn that relaxing enables us to listen to others, to follow their energy and to select a response that best fits their incoming energy.

Alayne Chauncy

• Mother
• Manager of the Ecovillage Hostel
• Board member for The Farm Community 2007 -2010
• Herbalist and healer

The Farm is the home of Spiritual Midwifery, and birth is considered one of the sacraments we treasure.

There will be an opportunity to meet with one of the midwives to explore this important aspect of The Farm's spiritual life.