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Mindfulness

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Cortes Island
Support our Cortes campus and get an intimate behind- the-scenes Hollyhock experience with our month-long residential program.

Metta Vipassana: Cultivating Love & Wisdom (Vancouver)

With Michele McDonald and Steven Smith

April 17 - 19, 2020
UBC Asian Centre
Take a breath in the city through the practice of silent Vipassana (insight/mindfulness) and Metta (loving kindness) meditation. Join a connected community of new and experienced meditators. Enjoy guided meditations, sitting and walking sessions, Dhamma talks, and meditation instruction.

Metta Vipassana: Awareness as a Path to Liberation

With Michele McDonald and Steven Smith

April 22 - May 6, 2020
Cortes Island
Experience seven days practicing Metta and Vipassana meditation, followed by seven days of cultivating mindfulness. Develop compassionate awareness and a more loving heart with a unique integration of mindful movement.

Hakomi: The Practice of Loving Presence (Vancouver)

With Donna Martin and Georgia Marvin

May 2 - 3, 2020
Granville Island Hotel
Loving Presence represents the heart of Hakomi, a mindfulness-based self-discovery practice. Learn to cultivate open-hearted relating through a well-developed sequence of experiential practices. This program is based on the 2019 publication, “The Practice of Loving Presence” by Ron Kurtz and Donna Martin.

Hollyhock Sampler May

May 10 - 13, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 31, 2020.
3 Perfect Nights - Enjoy a taste of adventure and relaxation with our Hollyhock Sampler: 2 one-hour massage or healing art treatments New! 1 guided stand-up paddle board adventure OR private yoga session Access to Hollyhock amenities Abundant natural beauty, ocean front beach, and hiking trails French intensive garden – ideal setting for photography, painting, meditating Ocean-view hot tubs Complimentary activities: Morning meditation and yoga, naturalist events (morning rows, afternoon guided hikes, garden tours) By-donation Presenter Evenings from visiting faculty *based on weather conditions, stand-up paddle board may be replaced by an additional massage session I have known about Hollyhock for 30 years and it…

Mother, Daughter & the Divine

With Patricia Höglund and Maeve Höglund

May 10 - 15, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 31, 2020.
Uncover the mystical magic that can arise in the bond of the mother-daughter relationship. Whether your connection needs healing, deepening, or celebrating, we will journey through rediscovering the divine feminine that is yearning to be unearthed and brought to the forefront of everyday life.

The Way of the Guide: Forest Therapy

With Amos Clifford and Christy Thomson

May 15 - 20, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 31, 2020.
Way of the Guide explores a process of working in partnership with the more-than-human world to discover and nurture the unique seeds of medicine carried by each person. Supporting the growth of these seeds calls forth a constellation of gifts that is the person’s way of embodying power and beauty.

Heart of the Condor: Andean Wisdom Teachings

With Jhaimy Alvarez Acosta

May 20 - 24, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 31, 2020.
Ground yourself in the wisdom teachings of the Andes while discovering the keys to harmonizing the three bodies of the serpent (mind), puma (body), and condor (soul). Connect to your heart, Mother Earth, and the Cosmos with the support of traditional Andean Indigenous knowledge, passed down through generations since time immemorial.

Mindful Self-Compassion

With Megan Prager and Martin Thomson-Jones, PhD

May 24 - 29, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 31, 2020.
Cultivate the skill of self-compassion in this empirically supported training program. Self-compassion is strongly associated with greater emotional well-being, less anxiety and depression, maintenance of healthy habits, and satisfying relationships.

Sea Kayaking Adventures Aboard Misty Isles

With Jonas Fineman and Kai Harvey

May 29 - June 3, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 31, 2020.
Learn to kayak on the pristine and protected waters around Cortes Island, from the comfort of the 43 foot Schooner, Misty Isles. Certified local guides share their knowledge and passion for the coast. All levels of experience welcome. Limited to 12 participants. Jonas Fineman is the seasoned sea captain and owner of Misty Isles. Kai Harvey is a wilderness guide and owner of Cortes Kayaks. They will also be offering this program on Sept 11-16. mistyislesadventures.com

Discover the Essence of Tantra (Vancouver)

With Yogacharini Maitreyi

June 6 - 7, 2020
UBC Liu Institute, 6476 NW Marine Dr, Vancouver
Traditional Tantra is the way and alchemy of the heart. Dance reality into its true essence by clearing energetic imbalances. Elevate, channel and refine your emotions through Arkaya purification tools from the South Indian mystical traditions. Celebrate the beauty and harmony of reconnection with yourself and in relationships. Stabilize into spiritual maturity with an authentic heart-centred guide. All levels welcome.

Hollyhock Sampler June

June 7 - 10, 2020
Cortes Island
3 Perfect Nights - Enjoy a taste of adventure and relaxation with our Hollyhock Sampler: 2 one-hour massage or healing art treatments New! 1 guided stand-up paddle board adventure OR private yoga session Access to Hollyhock amenities Abundant natural beauty, ocean front beach, and hiking trails French intensive garden – ideal setting for photography, painting, meditating Ocean-view hot tubs Complimentary activities: Morning meditation and yoga, naturalist events (morning rows, afternoon guided hikes, garden tours) By-donation Presenter Evenings from visiting faculty *based on weather conditions, stand-up paddle board may be replaced by an additional massage session I have known about Hollyhock for 30 years and it has been…

Luminous Threshold: The Art of the Personal Altar

With Lisa Gibbons

June 7 - 11, 2020
Cortes Island
What do you find sacred and how do you express it? Create a personal altar and learn techniques such as creating antiqued surfaces, acrylic painting, collage, assemblage, and using beeswax and gold leaf. Deepen your experience with meditation, journalling, and guided nature inquiry. Art materials provided.

Beekeeping & Hive Health

With Steve Sheppard, PhD

June 7 - 12, 2020
Cortes Island
Honey bees and humans have interacted for thousands of years. Use your senses fully to engage in a process that strives to build a mutually beneficial relationship with them. Awareness of the complexity of this highly social organism is key to appreciating the art of mindful beekeeping. All experience levels welcome.

Fostering Resilience for Health Professionals

With Mark Lau, PhD and Andrea Grabovac, MD

June 7 - 12, 2020
Cortes Island
Revitalize, restore, and build resilience during this Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) meditation retreat for physicians, health professionals, and their partners. This retreat includes teacher-guided mindfulness practice and discussion, with a focus on meditation technique. Drs. Lau and Grabovac, MBCT mentors with the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute, also offer a 5-day MBCT Professional Training at Hollyhock, Sep 25-30.

Summer Solstice: Yoga, Ritual, Meditation

With Mara Branscombe

June 17 - 21, 2020
Cortes Island
Summer solstice honours the earth’s most dynamic time of expansion, growth, and abundance. Join the celebration with the art of breath, the healing of yoga, mindful meditation, and shamanic practices. Luminously integrate heart, body, and mind.

Tantra for Couples: Cultivating Sacred Intimacy

With Devi Ward Erickson and Chris Erickson, PhD

June 29 - July 3, 2020
Tantra is an ancient spiritual science designed to activate, heal, and enrich every area of life. Learn practical and effective Tantric methods to cultivate a deeply sacred, utterly joyful, and profoundly pleasurable intimate connection - in and out of the bedroom.

Hollyhock Sampler July

July 3 - 6, 2020
Cortes Island
3 Perfect Nights - Enjoy a taste of adventure and relaxation with our Hollyhock Sampler: 2 one-hour massage or healing art treatments New! 1 guided stand-up paddle board adventure OR private yoga session Access to Hollyhock amenities Abundant natural beauty, ocean front beach, and hiking trails French intensive garden – ideal setting for photography, painting, meditating Ocean-view hot tubs Complimentary activities: Morning meditation and yoga, naturalist events (morning rows, afternoon guided hikes, garden tours) By-donation Presenter Evenings from visiting faculty *based on weather conditions, stand-up paddle board may be replaced by an additional massage session I have known about Hollyhock for 30 years and it has been…

Discover Cortes: Nature Adventures

With Bill Ophoff

July 3 - 8, 2020
Cortes Island
With birds and wildflowers at their vibrant peak, explore Cortes Island’s magnificent rainforest and teeming waters. Learn about the stars, the sea stars, and everything in between on this adventure of inspiring hikes, kayaking, beach walks, and a sailing excursion to Mitlenatch Island – the “Galapagos” of the Georgia Strait. Limit of 12 participants.

Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Yoga

With Marie Soleil Boisvert

July 8 - 12, 2020
Imagine practicing yoga while floating on the clear ocean water surrounding Cortes Island. Trade in your yoga mat for a stand-up paddleboard and challenge your sense of balance! Find your centre; practicing awareness, mindfulness, and presence. Expect the unexpected, and lots of laughter! Limited to 12 participants.

The Future of Children: Transforming the Educational Paradigm

With Phillip Moore, Gabriela Masala and Solomon Masala

July 8 - 12, 2020
Cortes Island
Experience a new educational paradigm and activate the wisdom of the inner child. Connect with self, community, and nature through awakening to love-based ways of exploring, learning, and teaching. Expand awareness through imagination, songs, stories, and meditation. Ages 14+

Drawing Towards the Earth: Making Journals for Life

With S. Portico Bowman

July 12 - 16, 2020
Cortes Island
Learn how to draw with graphite, charcoal, red ocher, and other earth elements. Drawing from the life and works of Paulus Berensohn (1933-2017), you’ll also create a coptic stitch Arcadia Playshop journal and a bookmark in the Bargello tapestry technique. Berensohn’s healing arcadia frames the path to ecological recovery on a global scale.

Horse Play for Families

With Oriane Lee Johnston

July 16 - 19, 2020
Make friends with the horses on a farm near Hollyhock. Learn to groom, lead, and communicate with them, and to play in the field with empathy and self-assurance. Kids ages 9+, with an adult. Limited to 12 participants.

The Mystery of the Soul

With Margie Gillis and Thomas Atum O'Kane, PhD

July 19 - 24, 2020
Cortes Island
The mystery of the soul can be embraced, experienced, danced, and explored, but never exhausted or diminished. Reclaim and celebrate the mystery of your soul with dance and spiritual teachings.

Healing Family & Ancestors: Ritual and Resonant Family Constellations

With Jill Purce

July 24 - 29, 2020
Cortes Island
Transform inherited patterns into magical blessings. Jill’s unique ceremonial, shamanic healing rites, using chant and family constellations, restore coherence within family fields in oracular ways, unavailable in normal therapy. Excluded relations are reintegrated as powerful allies. Relatives do not need to be living. Individuals and families welcome.

Time of Transition

With Thomas Atum O'Kane, PhD

July 24 - 29, 2020
Cortes Island
Life changes are times of passion and opportunity. Working with teachings from Jungian psychology and various spiritual traditions, detach and break free from old roles and expectations. Ritual, reflection, and wisdom guide your journey and passage toward your new sense of self. Thomas Atum O’Kane, PhD, holds a doctorate degree in transpersonal psychology and is a former senior teacher in the Sufi Order International. atumokane.com

Science & Spiritual Practices

With Rupert Sheldrake, Merlin Sheldrake and Cosmo Sheldrake

July 29 - August 2, 2020
Science sheds new light on many spiritual practices, including rituals, pilgrimage, meditation, chanting, and rites of passage. Explore spiritual traditions and reconnect with the natural world through singing, listening, looking, telling stories, thinking, and having fun.

Falling Awake: The Ecology of Wonder

With David Abram

August 7 - 12, 2020
Awaken your animal intelligence, shake your senses free from outmoded concepts, and invigorate your felt experience. Through elemental encounters with the land, creaturely shapeshifting, and heartfelt conversation, open a new relationship between your body and the breathing earth.

Sharing the Path: For Couples

With Judith Ansara & Robert Gass

August 12 - 17, 2020
Cortes Island
Rediscover and deepen the joy and intimacy of your loving partnership. Break free from negative patterns while learning practices of authenticity, self-responsibility, empathy, deep listening, problem solving, and sacred sexuality. Enjoy a deeply connecting time together and take home profound tools to support your life as a couple.

Hollyhock Sampler August

August 17 - 20, 2020
Cortes Island
3 Perfect Nights - Enjoy a taste of adventure and relaxation with our Hollyhock Sampler: 2 one-hour massage or healing art treatments New! 1 guided stand-up paddle board adventure OR private yoga session Access to Hollyhock amenities Abundant natural beauty, ocean front beach, and hiking trails French intensive garden – ideal setting for photography, painting, meditating Ocean-view hot tubs Complimentary activities: Morning meditation and yoga, naturalist events (morning rows, afternoon guided hikes, garden tours) By-donation Presenter Evenings from visiting faculty *based on weather conditions, stand-up paddle board may be replaced by an additional massage session I have known about Hollyhock for 30 years and it has been…

Discover Cortes: Nature Adventures

With Bill Ophoff

August 17 - 22, 2020
Cortes Island
With birds and wildflowers at their vibrant peak, explore Cortes Island’s magnificent rainforest and teeming waters. Learn about the stars, the sea stars, and everything in between on this adventure of inspiring hikes, kayaking, beach walks, and a sailing excursion to Mitlenatch Island – the “Galapagos” of the Georgia Strait. Limit of 12 participants.

The Art of Spiritual Guidance: Year Two

With Thomas Atum O'Kane, PhD

August 22 - 27, 2020
Cortes Island
Spiritual Guidance is an art, a gift, and a calling that has been long practiced in contemplative traditions to support spiritual development and personal transformation. This in-depth training takes an interfaith approach while encompassing insights from transpersonal and Jungian psychology. Open for new registrations in 2021.

Writing as a Spiritual Practice: The Healing Power of Telling Your Story

With Mark Matousek

August 22 - 27, 2020
Cortes Island
Memoir is a path of self-knowledge. Learn to tell the whole truth and your essential stories will emerge, bringing insight and transpersonal wisdom. Writing exercises and group dialogue guide you toward creative discovery, increased mindfulness, and better composition. Everyone welcome.

Hollyhock Sampler September

September 1 - 4, 2020
Cortes Island
3 Perfect Nights - Enjoy a taste of adventure and relaxation with our Hollyhock Sampler: 2 one-hour massage or healing art treatments New! 1 guided stand-up paddle board adventure OR private yoga session Access to Hollyhock amenities Abundant natural beauty, ocean front beach, and hiking trails French intensive garden – ideal setting for photography, painting, meditating Ocean-view hot tubs Complimentary activities: Morning meditation and yoga, naturalist events (morning rows, afternoon guided hikes, garden tours) By-donation Presenter Evenings from visiting faculty *based on weather conditions, stand-up paddle board may be replaced by an additional massage session I have known about Hollyhock for 30 years and it has been…

Forest to Sea: Earth Based Medicine

With Yarrow Willard

September 1 - 6, 2020
Cortes Island
Awaken your inner herbalist and deepen your connection to the healing power of nature. Learn to create lasting health practices, make herbal medicines, and sharpen your senses as you build relationships with the plants, mushrooms, and seaweeds of the West Coast.

Sea Kayaking Adventures Aboard Misty Isles

With Jonas Fineman and Kai Harvey

September 11 - 16, 2020
Cortes Island
Learn to kayak on the pristine and protected waters around Cortes Island, from the comfort of the 43 foot Schooner, Misty Isles. Certified local guides share their knowledge and passion for the coast. All levels of experience welcome. Limited to 12 participants. Jonas Fineman is the seasoned sea captain and owner of Misty Isles. Kai Harvey is a wilderness guide and owner of Cortes Kayaks. They will also be offering this program on May 29-June 3 mistyislesadventures.com

Earth Wisdom, Horse Wisdom: A Nature Retreat with Horses

With Oriane Lee Johnston and Kera Willis

September 11 - 14, 2020
Cortes Island
Journey into the heart of the world with horses as our guides. Practice breath and body meditation, hands-on touch, joyful play with the herd, and a journey ride on horseback. Limited to 12 participants.

Your Soul’s Plan: Awakening to Your Life Purpose (Vancouver)

With Robert Schwartz

September 12 - 13, 2020
UBC Liu Institute
What soul plan did you make before you were born? What circumstances and relationships did you choose and why? Find the answers in a “Between Lives Soul Regression,” along with insight, healing, and a greater capacity for joy. Recognize life’s challenges as the great teachers and healers your soul intended them to be.

Beyond Interfaith: From Spiritual Misfits to Interconnected Communities

With Shahar Rabi, PhD

September 20 - 25, 2020
Cortes Island
Learn the tools and skills needed to establish trauma-informed methods of developing long-lasting and sustainable spiritual communities. Engage in meaningful dialogue about the future intersection of faith, psychology, and science. Bring home essential practices for today's diverse and complex world, and embody the heart of your contemplative life.

Peace, Poetry & Prayer

With Farah Nazarali

September 20 - 25, 2020
Peace is at the core of our being. Peace visionaries know that bringing peace into the world involves courage, collective action, and renewal of the spirit. This program combines peace, poetry, yogic practices, and universal prayers and rituals to dedicate ourselves to inner harmony, family reconciliation, reverence for the Earth, and peace in our world.

Mindfulness Meditation

With Robert Beatty

September 25 - 30, 2020
Cortes Island
Wake up from the trance of everyday life. You are not your moods, anxiety, compulsions, past wounds, or addictions. Awaken to the freedom, love, compassion, and joy that is your natural state. This program is held in silence (except sessions) — common areas on campus are shared spaces.

Whole Human Health: Functional Medicine 2.0

With Dr. Lawrence Cheng and Dr. Devon Christie

September 30 - October 5, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Jul 31, 2020.
Embody your well-being potential! Create your own personalized optimal wellness plan for lasting health and happiness informed by a synthesis of integrative and functional medicine, mind-body medicine, and leading-edge neurobiology. For anyone seeking an empowered approach to their own personal health.

From Age-ing to Sage-ing®: Deepening the Sage Within

With Annie Klein and Nancy Gray-Hemstock

October 5 - 9, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Jul 31, 2020.
“Sage-ing” is a new approach to growing older. Discover skills, philosophies, perspectives, and tools to improve the second half of your life. Recognize the value of experience, and learn to respond in practical and positive ways to the changes that occur as we age.

Wild Mushrooms & the Mycology of Consciousness

With Paul Stamets, D.Sc (Hon.)

October 5 - 9, 2020
Cortes Island
Save the world, one mushroom at a time. Fungi offer powerful, practical solutions to enhance both human and ecosystem health. Roam the wilds of Cortes Island and learn mushroom identification, easy-to-grow cultivation methods, as well as various culinary and medicinal applications. -- Paul Stamets, D.Sc., is a renowned, award-winning mycologist. The Star Trek Discovery series recently named a character - Astromycologist Starfleet Lt. Commander Stamets - in his honour.

Hollyhock Sampler October

October 9 - 12, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Jul 31, 2020.
3 Perfect Nights - Enjoy a taste of adventure and relaxation with our Hollyhock Sampler: 2 one-hour massage or healing art treatments New! 1 guided stand-up paddle board adventure OR private yoga session Access to Hollyhock amenities Abundant natural beauty, ocean front beach, and hiking trails French intensive garden – ideal setting for photography, painting, meditating Ocean-view hot tubs Complimentary activities: Morning meditation and yoga, naturalist events (morning rows, afternoon guided hikes, garden tours) By-donation Presenter Evenings from visiting faculty *based on weather conditions, stand-up paddle board may be replaced by an additional massage session I have known about Hollyhock for 30 years and it has been…

Inner Economics: Your Relationship with Money

With Karen McAllister

October 9 - 14, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Jul 31, 2020.
Free yourself from your blocks around money! This personal inner work will benefit your community, relationships, and career or business. Achieve the financial results you need to thrive, not just survive, while staying in integrity with yourself and others along the way.

Wild Mushrooms & the Mycology of Consciousness

With Paul Stamets, D.Sc (Hon.)

October 14 - 18, 2020
Cortes Island
Save the world, one mushroom at a time. Fungi offer powerful, practical solutions to enhance both human and ecosystem health. Roam the wilds of Cortes Island and learn mushroom identification, easy-to-grow cultivation methods, as well as various culinary and medicinal applications. -- Paul Stamets, D.Sc., is a renowned, award-winning mycologist. The Star Trek Discovery series named a character - Astromycologist Starfleet Lt. Commander Stamets - in his honour.

Alchemy of Forest Therapy: Week-Long Immersion

With Amos Clifford and Christy Thomson

October 18 - 25, 2020
Cortes Island
Book now and get 15% off listed prices. Offer valid until Jul 31, 2020.
When the discursive mind becomes quieter and the intelligence of the heart comes to the foreground, a new consciousness emerges. Forest Alchemy is our ongoing exploration of what happens when we connect head, heart, and body in the crucible of the forest.