Fall Retreat
October 14-16, 2016
DeKoven Retreat Center, Racine, WI
Keynote: Dr. Kayta (Kathleen) Curzie Gajdos, author of Quiet Wisdom in Loud Times: The Rise of the Wounded Feminine.
In the fall of 2015, Kayta took a trip with Carol Christ, to Crete, where she visited many ancient Minoan goddess sites on mountaintops and in deep caves, and reclaimed them for the goddess through song and ritual. She met Karin Janowski and Pat Hyams, also on the trip. Karin and Kayta are intrepid hikers. Kayta and Pat formed "the choir" on the trip and taught chants to the other participants. The trip to Crete is an indelible memory for all of them.
Kayta is a psychologist who works with individuals, couples, and families. She has experience and training in the fields of alcohol and drug addictions, hypnosis, family therapy, Jungian theory, meditation and mindfulness, grief and trauma, EMDR, ETT, sandplay therapy, and dreamwork. Dr. Gajdos developed a practice in the Pittsburgh area, where she also wrote for the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic's Family Therapy Newsletter.
Dr. Gajdos has published in the American Psychological Association Bulletin, The Family Psychologist, and in the Swedenborgian publications, Chrysalis and The Messenger. Illness, Crisis and Loss has published her articles on intergenerational grief as well as on the compassion of Kathe Kollwitz and Mr. Rogers. She has taught at the graduate level at West Chester University and Wilmington University, and has supervised psychologists in training. Having served as field faculty for Vermont College of Norwich University and the Union Institute's Center for Distance Learning, she most recently served as external faculty for Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Living in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Dr. Gajdos has been a columnist for the Chadds Ford Post and the Kennett Paper. Now, her Mind Matters column appears online in Chadds Ford Live. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Gajdos facilitates a grief support group, SAM (Survivors of Accident and Murder) for the Mental Health Association in Delaware. Active in disaster relief with the Red Cross and Medical Reserve Corps, she is the Disaster Resource Network coordinator for the Delaware Psychological Association. She participated in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts as a member of teams from the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Dr. Gajdos holds Master's degrees in both philosophy and clinical psychology and received her Ph.D. in counseling at the University of Pittsburgh. Among her professional affiliations, she includes having been a founding member and board member of the C.G. Jung Educational Center of Pittsburgh, as well as being listed in Who's Who of American Women. Woven into her professional career are Dr. Gajdos' pursuits of dancing, singing, and writing poetry. Her website address is: http://www.drgajdos.com
Fall Retreat Workshops
Kindness as a Spiritual Path – Tracy Zieber-Minks
What is the difference between being nice and being kind? Do you consider yourself a nice and a kind person? To whom are you nice? To whom are you kind? And who is deserving of your kindness? The idea of kindness as a spiritual path is not a new one, but in today’s modern, technical age, it’s one that many people may not devote as much thought to as they should. I invite you to join us as we practice “The Pause” -- the process of taking a moment to step back and consider our words and actions within any given moment, and how they affect those around us.
Living the Moon Cycle – Sue Wilhelm
We will discover the three sisters of the moon in our days, months, years, and lives. You will be given an opportunity to share your own experience and intuition throughout the workshop. We will also explore the knowledge of science and use it to understand how our physical and emotional needs change through- out our lives, filled with cycles and seasons.
Altered Books – Sage Hagy
Sometimes we want to change the stories of our lives. One way to do this is through "Altered Books". Sage will show examples of books that have been altered and everyone will try their hand at changing at least a page or two. Feel free to bring a commercially printed book you would like to work on, or you could also use a blank book you use or plan to use as a journal. Also bring any materials you think would be good for yourself or the group. Sage will also provide materials and of course she will have plenty of Mod-Podge on hand.
Embodied spirit or spirited bodies?
Continue the journey with our keynote - Kayta!