Date: Saturday June 9th 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Place: St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Byron
1344 Commissioners Road West, London, Ontario
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin
About Us
Bitchfest provides an opportunity to awaken the positive balanced Alpha female in every woman. It is an occasion for self discovery. Explore the inner reaches of your psyche in a way that honours you and your sisterhood. This is a day to connect with the self. The connection I am referring to is that deep velvety source which is our most inner self. It is not just the mind, body and soul but rather that wild, untamed, intuitive self that holds all the other wonderful stuff together. The stuff we just know. Awakening this type of consciousness means nourishing the flame that is ever present within us, once done it is difficult to turn back. It stimulates the kind of growth that makes the bud too tight making the pain of remaining closed more uncomfortable than the fear of bursting open. Yet this type of discomfort is all right because once we are awakened we are lit within, both individually and collectively, and we feed this fire with healthy, balanced energy and support. The result is a woman who is deeply aware of her sacred connection to her inner source and to her outer sisterhood.
Now the magic really begins for once a woman understands her worth to herself and to her sisters she understands her worth to World. It is at this point that the bud begins to unfurl. When this happens anything can happen. It is often terrifyingly exhilarating to the individual experiencing this metamorphosis just as it is terrifyingly beautiful to those observing. Just as we drop a stone into a still pond the ripples of this kind of transformation spread much farther than we can ever really know. This is not important. As long as the energy is balanced and positive its ongoing life will strengthen everyone and everything it touches. Once we are fully conscious and plugged into our Alpha we are able to join Alpha to Alpha. We are infinite. We cannot be broken and everywhere we go enrichment and connection result. This is the nature of healthy, balanced Alpha energy. Even if the energy of another initially flees or lashes out do not worry. Breathe deep, stay grounded and true to your inner Alpha, and before long you see the energy of the other begin to make its way home. Source energy is always the energy of home.
So Alpha Goddesses, you are cordially and lovingly welcomed with a long beautiful howl calling the pack on June, 9th2012- to get your Bitch On!
The Bitchfest Day!
Introduction: Open the directions and ritual of welcoming and acknowledgement.
Movement with Susan: This time is designed to familiarize ourselves with one another and begin to break down barriers and form new bonds.
Revitalization: An intimate journey of reawakening our connection to Source Energy. Reflexologist and Aroma Therapy Specialist Lori Kells will ease our way into the sacred relationship of honouring Source as it lives and thrives in everybody – including your body.
Nourishment
Alpha Journey
Mandala: The Origins of Feminine Energy through spiral of creation as depicted through the creation of our own sacred Mandala.
Lunch
Inspiration: Authentic implementation for our Future with Louise Fagan
Gratitude Ritual and Remembrance.
Rituals
Meditation
Join us as we travel by way of voice, drum and Mandala to the distant forests of your dreams to discover what or who is awaiting our arrival.
Movement
Susan Meehan is a holistic practitioner also located in London. She is well versed and certified in Shamanic studies, ritual practice and energy work. She is a Reiki Master both practicing and teaching Usui-Tibetan Reiki (First, Second, Third, and Master Degree). Susan is a blue belt certified Nia technique instructor. Susan works with energy and flow developing focus and balanced Chi. She is adept in her practice, both fluid and grounded in her delivery. Susan will be our first presenter of the day. She will invite us to embrace the day. With movement and guidance Susan will help you to engage with your body awakening it to your essence and to the essences of those around you. You will explore focus and release as you move with your sisters creating an affinity and recognition for one another.
Find out more information about Susan at www.susanmeehan.net
Aromatherapy & Reflexology
Lori Kells is a registered nurse at LHSC who has worked in her field for over 25 years. She is a native of Woodstock but makes her home in London. In addition to her nursing career Lori has a brisk practice in allied health. She is also a certified Reflexologist and an Aroma therapist. Lori is also a Reiki Master. She will be sharing the benefits of a beautiful foot soak with us using essential oils and gentle massage. She will demonstrate the importance of celebrating self care especially when we are in service of others. You cannot give to another until you are full. This is an interactive process so please bring a bath towel! A gift of essential oils is part of your swag!
Voice, Words and Story
Louise Fagan is an acclaimed Canadian film director and producer, actress and story developer. She was born in London and her father is choral conductor, Gerald Fagan. After completing her in English and dramatic literature degree at the University of Western Ontario she became an independent theatre director working extensively throughout Canada and the United States. Her work has been featured in Washington DC at the National Museum of Women in the Arts as well as theatre productions in New York. She was Artistic Director for “Under An African Sky”, at the John Labatt Centre, benefitting the Stephen Lewis Foundation. She was the Creative Producer for ‘Inspiring a Dream” both the Olympic and Paralympic athletes. She is the Executive Producer of the Bach Music Festival of Canada.
Louise will be lending her story developing talents to Bitchfest. Together we will explore the stories of our lives that hallmark our lives both as individuals and as a collective group of women. As you can imagine, this will be a bit of a trip into the forest of the unknown. How exciting!
Find out more about Louise at www.louisefagan@wordpress.com
Ambient Sound, Percussion, and Music
Jocelyn Drainie has been a dynamic and progressive force on the southwestern Ontario music scene in recent years. She is schooled in percussion work receiving training from Cuban percussion master Joaquin Hidalgo formally of Soul Drums in Toronto. Joaquin is the leader and musical director of the Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble “Rumba Iyabo” and the traditional Cuban music group “Cubanos”. Under his tutelage Jocelyn flourished in both Latin and African rhythms and sound. She has commuted to Cuba on several occasions to perfect her art adding both congas and indigenous instruments to her repertoire. Jocelyn has continued to further explore and enhance her musical talents with percussionist extraordinaire; Rob Larose of Stratford based Celtic Band Rant Maggie Rant and The Antler River Project a richly accomplished and developed band now touring Ontario. Check out their web site at www.theantlerriverproject.com to find out more about this group and listen to tracks from their new CD: Latitude 43.
Jocelyn is currently working on material for a new CD slated for release in early 2013.
Throughout the day Jocelyn will provide potent and rich rhythms to compliment Susan’s movement as well as ambient music for Mandala, meditation and story development.
Facilitators
- Elizabeth Runciman: Opening and Closing Ceremonies/Meditation/Ritual
- Susan Meehan: Welcome/Movement/Ritual
- Lori Kells: Aromatherapy and Reflexology/Ritual
- Louise Fagan: Voice, Words and Story
- Jocelyn Drainie: Ambient Sound, Percussion, Music
- Sheila Horell: Ambient Sound, Percussion, Music
The Gratitude Tree
The Gratitude Tree is a symbol chosen by Wise Woman Events to receive sentiments of true gratitude. Once received, roots deepen the gestures even as branches and limbs send the messages of gratitude into the ether. A circle is created allowing a continuous spiral from the Earth’s depths to her surface and out into the ozone, all the while the Gratitude Tree remains both the conduit and the grounding force.
Please feel free to visit The Gratitude Tree. Take a moment to reflect upon what really matters in your life and what elicits true gratitude for you. If you feel so called we invite you to commit your feelings of gratitude to paper then add it to The Gratitude Tree. By writing your feelings of appreciation on paper you anchor the emotion that drives your appreciation giving incredible depth and meaning to our gratitude. Like the spoken word the written word possesses profound power. Attention awakens becoming focused outward as well as inward creating the ability to illicit real and positive change for all life. Once committed to paper the now written feeling is surrendered and in that selfless gesture real magic is born.
Menu
We will offer unlimited Tea, Coffee, Juice and Water throughout our day. In the morning delicious fresh fruit, granola and yogurt will be available.
For lunch we will have fresh green, seeds, nuts and vegetables for salad. Enjoy our assorted cheese tray with crackers and fresh baked biscuits. Additional fresh fruit will be available for snacking and lemon squares will round out our sweet temptations.
In the afternoon enjoy scratch made vanilla and chocolate pudding and homemade macaroons and of course more fresh fruit.
What to Bring
An additional fundraising opportunity will also be available at Bitchfest this year. It will be a 50/50 draw. Each ticket is a loonie and all proceeds from the draw will be donated to Braz for the Cause.
So when you attend Bitchfest this year don’t forget to bring the following: a bath towel, a yoga mat, jewellery you may wish to wear for your photo and loonies for the 50/50 draw.
Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to breathe and relax and most of all bring your bright, beautiful and curious essences so that you can enjoy a fabulous day!
Registration
This is a very intimate day seminar; as a result, registration is strictly limited to 30 women.
Cost of the day all inclusive is $45.00.
All profits from this event will go to a charity that we, the women attending this event, decide upon based on group discussion and equal contribution. Your participation is important. You have real value and your opinion matters.
For more information please email Elizabeth Runciman at erunciman@hay.net or call her at 519-228-7632.
