If we wish to create a lasting peace, we must begin with the children.
Mahatma Gandhi
Communing at The Casa
A SoulCollage® Weekend
with Your Wise and Wonderful Younger Selves
December 1-3, 2023
Franciscan Renewal Center
Scottsdale, Arizona
This beloved sanctuary welcomes us for another SoulCollage® adventure!
- Our child aspects, or younger selves, help us to understand and embrace our life's journey and the person we are today.
- Perhaps more importantly, our child Neters can remind us of the potential that remains and who we may yet become.
- Our younger selves offer enthusiasm, honesty, and a large dose of authenticity!
This special weekend brings an opportunity to embrace playfulcreativity as we connect with our younger selves for inspiration, clarity, and wisdom. Enjoy Michele's "Playing with a Full Deck" activities (aka Card Games), and some sessions led by other Facilitators. You're certain to come away with enthusiasm for your personal practice, and if you're a SoulCollage® Facilitator, for your own workshops. Expect plenty of free time for card making and enjoying the sanctuary spaces of the Center. The sessions begin at 3 pm Friday and conclude by 4 pm on Sunday.
This gathering will include learning, sharing, individual and group activities - imagine the perfect blend of a retreat, workshop, conclave of peers, and meeting of friends.
Come enjoy The Casa's hospitality and serenity in the beautiful desert! The Center has a pool, hot tub, labyrinth, and lovely grounds. The facility is conveniently located within 20 minutes of the airport. It's an urban oasis with lovely mountain views. Private and shared rooms are available, all with private bath. Space for several commuters.
Some of the wonderful reasons to extend your stay to enjoy the area:
The Heard Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum
The Eddie Basha Collection (Nov 30 is the final day to visit this amazing collection!)
THIS RETREAT WILL INCLUDE NO MORE THAN 15 ADVENTUROUS GUESTS!
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Cost - includes supplies, instruction, access to Center facilities, 2 nights lodging and 6 meals
Private Room with private bath - $549 Shared Room, private bath* - $459 Commuter (4 meals) - $359 These prices reflect the $50 discount available to Facilitators, Kindred Spirits, and Michele's lists. No further discounts apply. * Shared room guaranteed when two register as designated roommates. Extra nights available before and after. Note your needs on the registration form. |
WANT TO JOIN US?
1. Complete the registration form HERE. 2. You will receive an email from Michele with instructions for payment. PAYMENT AND REFUND POLICY: After October 15, 2023, the full fee is due upon registration. After October 1, no refunds are guaranteed. Partial refunds may be provided if the space is filled by someone else. |
Activities for the weekend include:
- Sharing our memories as we identify our essential child aspects and younger selves
- Meaningful Play: re-membering and restoring the surprising wisdom of younger times into the present
- Younger Selves in Unexpected Places: honoring the early roots of our "adult" Neters
- Nothing But the Truth: engaging the "mouths of babes" as we seek guidance
- Test Runs: two Facilitators will present a 30 minute session related to our theme
- New inspirations for card making and oodles of images to use
- Your presence is requested at opening and closing sessions - but, everything is optional. It's a retreat!
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SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE (draft) Your free time may include creating or working with your cards, visiting the sanctuary grounds and labyrinth, enjoying the pool or hot tub, communing with friends. FRIDAY 3 PM Opening Ritual: Embracing Playful Creativity 5:00 Free time 6:00 Dinner 7:00 Meeting our Younger Selves (with mutual aid!) 8:30 Free Time SATURDAY MORNING 8 AM Breakfast 9:00 Discovering Younger Roots of “Adult” Neters 10:30 Facilitator Test Run #1 11:00 Introduction to the Labyrinth or Free Time 12 PM Lunch Break |
SATURDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING 1:30 Reconciling and Repurposing the Past 3:00 Recess 3:30 Facilitator Test Run #2 4:00 Open Studio and Individual Playtime with Neters 6:00 Dinner 7:00 SoulCollage® Card Game Time! 8:30 Open Studio, Free Time SUNDAY 8 AM Breakfast 9:00 Creating Alliances with Our Inner Youngers 10:15 Guided Reading 11:30 Open Studio, Free Time 12 PM Lunch Break 1:00 Bringing it Home Process and Sharing Circle 2:30 Closing Ritual 4:00 Depart (Dinner at 6 for those staying over) |
Since 2009, Michele has been creating and sharing meaningful ways to explore your SoulCollage® deck as a whole - honoring and integrating your ever-evolving aspects. These "Card Games" offer an understanding of the cards’ intricate relationships, and a chance to take inventory of your deck and yourself. Ideas for new cards come forth, as do new perspectives on old ones. A retreat is the perfect setting to learn new approaches, make new cards, and exchange ideas with others who practice or facilitate.
Comments from Michele's retreats:
“Michele is innovative, insightful, and an excellent retreat leader.”
"The planning and execution was top notch!"
"The Casa is a special place. I want to return here soon."
“Saw how important suits are.... game changer!"
"Already thinking about how to incorporate these activities into my own workshops."
"Every activity we did brought brand new awareness."
"I loved the activities that encouraged me to notice the relationships between cards."
"I developed a new appreciation of connecting with my cards ......I love them even more!"
"I can't believe how many cards I made. Plus a list of even more for later!"
"Everything was mapped out and organized so well for us."
“This is really like an advanced Facilitator Training, a graduate course in SoulCollage®.”
Comments from Michele's retreats:
“Michele is innovative, insightful, and an excellent retreat leader.”
"The planning and execution was top notch!"
"The Casa is a special place. I want to return here soon."
“Saw how important suits are.... game changer!"
"Already thinking about how to incorporate these activities into my own workshops."
"Every activity we did brought brand new awareness."
"I loved the activities that encouraged me to notice the relationships between cards."
"I developed a new appreciation of connecting with my cards ......I love them even more!"
"I can't believe how many cards I made. Plus a list of even more for later!"
"Everything was mapped out and organized so well for us."
“This is really like an advanced Facilitator Training, a graduate course in SoulCollage®.”
Dr. Michele Manos has almost 50-years of experience as an instructor for groups ranging from elementary school children (creative drama) to medical residents (as a Professor) to new and seasoned SoulCollagers. She trained as a SoulCollage® Facilitator in 2008, with Seena Frost, and has been taking her workshops and retreats to new and deeper levels since then. She has created and co-created an array of SoulCollage® offerings, including the 2009 Facilitators' Retreat in Kenyon Ranch, Arizona. In response to pandemic isolation, she began SoulCollage® Together Tuesday virtual gatherings for which she has produced over 35 uniquely crafted 90-minute workshops. Michele loves sharing her ideas with and learning from other enthusiastic SoulCollagers.
GATHERING IN THE TIME OF EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES: This retreat will be managed to minimize the risks of disease transmission as is appropriate at that time. This may include policies such as proof of Covid vaccination and use of rapid testing for Covid. The meeting room we have is spacious and well ventilated. The retreat facility offers lots of outdoor space. The bedrooms each have their own, isolated ventilation system. And, your retreat leader is a public health professional who is both an epidemiologist and virologist. Things will continue to evolve with Covid through 2023. If you have questions or concerns, contact Michele.
