The Grief retreat
Friday, May 17th - Sunday, May 19th
The space and journey of grief is not an
easy path for us to travel.
We are not taught in our society how to be with grief, process grief and co-exist with it.
For many of us, grief becomes a space that feels like an overwhelming emotion that we need to protect ourselves from, lest we lose ourselves to it and not be able to find our way out
We all have our times with grief and the space of the herd can be an impactful teacher in how to be with it.
As a prey animal, grief, loss and death are all natural parts of the cycle. Horses like many other animals and being in nature, understand how to walk that journey and honor it for what it is.
With horses we are seen and held in our process with grief, held in a deep knowing of the depth of what this journey asks of us and we are offered a perspective that allows us to walk hand in hand with grief in a way that it no longer feels debilitating.
Grief doesn’t leave us, but we can find our way with it and walk with it and be in relationship with grief in a way that we can feel the peace and acceptance in being with the presence of what grief gives to us.
This retreat is about being held in this wisdom of grief that the horses share, their own experience of loss and witnessing the planes of grief around what they have observed and experienced in their own journey.
Grief can show up not just in a loss or death, but in a transition, leaving an old life behind and also grieving parts of us that we have left behind.
We are also bringing in the intelligence of our nervous system and neuroscience to support us having the tools to support our physiology when the space of grief deeply changes us.
Sometimes having an explanation as to why we are no longer the same, why our brain feels foggy or why we don’t have the capacity for what we did before and how to support that, can be comforting and easing to our process.
This retreat is held to give you both the space of being held in your grief and receiving the medicine and wisdom of the herd to support that journey and giving you rooted and grounded tools to support your nervous system and reclaim the neuron pathways to healing and comfort in finding your way out of grief.
If you find yourself in a place where grief is a big presence and you are feeling challenged with how to be with it and or are looking for a healing space to be supported in it, we would love to welcome you to this retreat.
How our time with the herd unfolds:
We believe in the innate intelligence and wisdom of horses, their ability and capacity to tune into the energy of each person and respond to what they need.
We come into their space and allow the horses to give us what we need, to support us through our grief and other places we need to be supported.
We will also be teaching and giving each person an awareness of how to read the language of the horses and be safely in the space with them so they feel comfortable and safe in our sacred time with the herd.
The horses know who needs who, which medicine is needed for each person and so we give space to the herd to lead us as we walk into their energy.
The land supports our time with the herd and you will receive what you need to support your process and journey with grief so you leave feeling lighter and receiving the medicine you need to heal what is ready to be healed within you.
Meet your facilitators:
Hillary Schneider
Hillary is the founder and lead facilitator of the Epona Rise Retreat Center and Horse Medicine Leadership Academy, she has been leading and teaching retreats and trainings with her herd for the last 12 years.
Passionate about bringing the teachings of the horses to impact the lives of humans, she has been devoted to her own vision and purpose of creating a space in nature where people can come and receive the wisdom of horses, the land and their own inner guidance.
She has over the last 12 years had the privilege of hosting and leading retreats for a range of people who are seeking to become more masterful in their experience of being a human with their own passion of personal and professional growth and development.
Maia is an executive and leadership coach and physician specializing in the area of neuroscience and consciousness. She founded and directed BrainTalks at UBC, has led and co-led various retreats, and has spoken internationally at conferences for over twenty years.
Her love of neuroscience includes studies through several university degrees including a degree in biology and physics where she studied electromagnetism in animals and humans, and her advanced neuroscience training through medical studies and research.
She loves holding a clear space for you to experience your own magnificent potential, touch on your authentic truths, learn how to work with your personal neuroscience, and then sense how to live your brand of unique intelligence in the world. She works with horses as horses powerfully magnify and accelerate your personal, professional and leadership growth, in both mysterious and very practical ways.
Dr. Maia Love
What is offered in this retreat:
4-night stay in a private cabin
3 full days immersed with the herd
Neuroscience teachings and support to have tools to bring back into your life
Shuttle to and from the ranch
Catered meals
INVESTMENT:
$3000 CDN plus taxes
When:
Friday May 17th - Sunday May 19th
(arrive on Thursday night, and depart either Sunday or Monday the 20th, depending on travel)
Testimonials from our November Neuroscience Retreat:
“My time at the Human Horse Neuroscience Retreat was one of deep rest, relaxation, realization and renewal. I was able to let go and just be in this space, no worries, which allowed me to drop in deeply to the experience and be calm in my body. This openness allowed the herd to help me begin to replace self doubt and criticism into self love and compassion which is the energy that I need to move forward on my unique path of purpose.”
- Tori Hanke
"The Human Horse Neuroscience retreat at Epona Rise offered a mind, body, heart and soul experience. Hillary, Maia and the herd created a warm, accepting space welcoming all participants. Their teachings on human and horse neuroscience were effortlessly woven into the practices with the herd. It is difficult to articulate in words an experience that was more embodied than intellectual. The insights I had at the retreat have supported my personal growth as well as my work with my clients".
- AN, psychotherapist, November 2023
“ I just want to express my gratitude for the Human Horse Neuroscience Retreat. Your explanations about how horses think, behave and respond and how they can impact our nervous system and help us heal were eye-opening. The horse experiences in the pasture were amazing and reinforced what we learned. I highly recommend this retreat!”
- Doug McLean, Business Executive
“The retreat was so amazing. I just loved being there with Maia and Hillary and the horses. I learned so so much and I feel like I grew, as a person, in a really transformational way. Friends after the retreat have been commenting, wow, you've really changed, and you are doing so well! Thank you, again.”
- LK, 2023
