“Back to Basics: Tending the Life of the Soul” – Fall Camping Adventure at Colorado Bend State Park
Come enjoy the beauty and quiet of Colorado Bend State Park as we take time away from the hustle and bustle of Fall schedules as the veil is thinning to pause, reflect and turn back towards the fundamentals that nourish each of us at the level of the soul. We’ll be camping on the literal shores of the Colorado River with beautiful hiking trails that include a diverse array of birds, deer, armadillos and, of course, raccoons. There will be campfires (provided there’s no burn ban) and storytelling, group drumming, shared mealtimes, periodic reflection circles to track what’s emerging, and time to follow your own curiosities and flow internally and externally.
Here’s a short video that helps introduce you to all Colorado Bend State Park has to offer if you’re unfamiliar with it: https://youtu.be/vlFS7qbKE94?si=qNZQeMMGhEoqdaqR
Parking is limited at the park so we’ll be carpooling from the Healing House as our own interdependent traveling ecosystem to the park which is a bit more on the primitive side than some we have ventured to in the past – compostable toilets, an outdoor shower to rinse off and no electricity. No prior camping experience required.
When: Fri., 10/25 @ 12pm – Sun., 10/27 @ 1pm
Where: Colorado Bend State Park, San Saba, TX (a little ways north of Lake Buchanan)
Investment: $275/person; $100 deposit to reserve your spot (deposit is fully refundable before 10/10/24)
Participant Limit: 10 people; 6 cars
To register: Contact Eamon Willow at (512) 560-7294 or e-mail at eamonwillow@calonyddraig.com
“As the Wheel Turns” – Quarterly Group Hiking Opportunity at McKinney Roughs Nature Park
Hands down, one of my favorite natural areas in Central Texas is McKinney Roughs Nature Park, an LCRA park located on the Colorado River on Highway 71 West just before you get to Bastrop. While it is difficult to get camping space there, hiking is ever available with many different options to access a wide range of ecosystems all in the span of a single outing.
These quarterly group hikes take place in the months of the solstices (June & December) and equinoxes (March & September) to facilitate a dropping in to connect body and soul with the land and it’s cyclical evolution as support for our own growth as the wheel of the year continues to turn. Discover more about local flora and fauna in the physical world as we also listen to their messages and teachings in the soul realm throughout our journey together. The emphasis on these hikes is not about distance or speed but about listening deeply and tending body & soul in connection with the land.
Because of the Texas heat, June & September hikes will start an hour earlier to hopefully allow us to get out on the trail and back to home base before the heat of the day gets too intense.
When: Saturdays, once per quarter – 9/7 & 12/7
Time: 8:30-11:30am (6/1 & 9/7); 9:30am-12:30pm (12/7)
Where: McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 State Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek, TX 78612
Investment: $35 (includes park day use fee)
To register: Contact Eamon Willow at (512) 560-7294 or e-mail at eamonwillow@calonyddraig.com
“Walking with the Ancestors” Monthly Drop-in Groups
Prerequisite: Participants are asked to have attended a previous series of “Opening to the Ancestors” or to have an already established relationship with a resourceful ancestor/ancestral presence.
These monthly drop-in groups afford those who are actively working to integrate their connection to the ancestors into their daily lives and personal journeys a place to drop back into that connection with the support of others who are also open to and/or immersed in this work.
When: An in-person group one Wednesday per month and a virtual group one Monday per month (virtual groups beginning in June 2024)
2024 Upcoming Dates: In person groups (Wednesdays) – 7/24, 8/28 & 9/25; Virtual groups (Mondays) – 8/12 & 9/9
Time: 6:30 – 8:00pm CST
Investment: Sliding scale from $25-$45 payable via cash, personal check, credit card or Venmo
To register: Contact Eamon Willow at (512) 560-7294 or e-mail at eamonwillow@calonyddraig.com if you plan on attending OR if you’re new to ancestral work and would like some support in establishing an initial connection with ancestral resource before attending this group
*Please note: In the spirit of reconciliation practice and reparative action, 50% of fees/investment collected for these monthly Ancestors groups is returned to the service of Indigenous and Black people, communities and narratives through the following organizations:
Native American Rights Foundation – www.narf.org
Lipan Apache Tribe: https://www.lipanapache.org/LAT/donate.html
Society of Native Nations – http://societyofnativenations.org
International African American Museum – https://iaamuseum.org
“Support in the Depths” – A Monthly Drop-in Virtual Group
Whether you find yourself in the process of integrating a soul retrieval or extraction, traveling across the land on an archetypal soul hunt or quest, or navigating unfamiliar territory in the Underworld, it can be challenging to balance the sense of satisfaction and “rightness” that comes with honoring your soul path and alignment with the sense of aloneness from few reflections readily visible in the human world for the courageous journey to which you agreed and are now experiencing. Historically, these kinds of soul excavations and healing journeys happened in the context of a holding community that bore witness to the intent and held vigil in some form or fashion while the quester was away. This kind of seeing and holding can be harder to come by in our modern world.
In response to this reality, this new drop-in/stand-alone group will take place the last Friday of each month offering folks engaging in these kinds of journeys a place to temporarily surface and connect for support, witnessing and validation. While these journeys are inherently solo ones, pausing here and there to rest and connect with like-minded folks can often be just the thing needed to renew and propel you through the next leg of whatever lies before you. Come as you are and tap into a little peer nourishment where you can feel seen, heard and encouraged before heading back into the depths!
When: Last Friday of the month (7/26, 8/30, 9/27)
Time: 10:30am – 12pm CST
Where: From the comfort of wherever you are – Virtual group
Investment: $45
To register: While each group stands alone and is not part of a series, please contact Eamon Willow at (512) 560-7294 or e-mail at eamonwillow@calonyddraig.com to register for each individual month’s group you are interested in so you can get the link for the gathering
Cymuned Dysgwyr Cymraeg – A Community for Welsh Language Learners
Learning a new language can be a great activity for brain health and stimulation as well as a fun way to feel more connected to your ancestry (if you happen to have any ancestral lines that trace back to the country of the language you’re learning.). And if/when you start to get excited about your language learning endeavor, you generally want to share that enthusiasm with others who share your interest which can also give you a great avenue for practicing what you’re learning in more real-life situations.
Soooo…whether you’re a brand new beginner who’s been interested in learning a little Welsh but just haven’t been sure where to start or someone who’s been giving it a “go” with Duolingo, “Say Something In Welsh” or any of the other Welsh learning tools and programs out there for a bit or a while AND you live in Central Texas, here’s your opportunity!!!
Gatherings will be the third Monday of each month (beginning June 2024) and we’ll come together for casual connection, conversation and language practice, resource sharing and maybe even a language game or two. All are welcome so, if you’re curious, please come join the fun and give it a try!
When: 3rd Monday of each month – 7/15 & 8/19
Time: 6:30 – 7:30ish pm CST
Investment: Free
To register: Contact Eamon Willow at (512) 560-7294 or e-mail at eamonwillow@calonyddraig.com
Autumnal Equinox Drum Circle
Come take a moment to pause, ground and honor the Autumnal Equinox in connection with community and the power of the drum. Bring your own drum or rattle or use one of the many we have to share at the Healing House. No prior drumming experience necessary. Youth ages 12 and up are welcome with an accompanying adult.
When: Fri., 9/20
Time: 7:30 – 8:30ish pm
Investment: $15/person
To register: Contact Eamon Willow at (512) 560-7294 or e-mail at eamonwillow@calonyddraig.com