Vol 2, Issue 7

The Totem Lives!
Creativity, community, spontaneity, resourcefulness, determination.  The Haven Totem has come to represent these qualities since Jimmy Joseph first came to the property and carved the story into its wood.  And all of these qualities, and more, came to life in last month's totem painting.

Faced with an unexpected change of plans for Michael Runningwater (originally slated to lead the painting of the pole), members of our staff, New Horizons participants, resort guests, and our dear friend Phill Ashbee came together.  And together they helped to lower the pole, give it new paint, refurbish the base, and return the totem to its proud place where The Haven meets the sea.

In a simple, engaging ceremony, Ben and Jock welcomed Phill and gave special thanks to everyone that had contributed to bringing new life to our Totem.  After Phill smudged the pole and offered the sweetgrass to everyone present, he spoke briefly of the totems place in aboriginal culture, and it's connection to the land and spirit that is The Haven.  A few words from some of the many who contributed were followed by a piece of music from Ben's intuitive musical sense.

We imagine that many of you reading this have your own special moments and memories of The Haven Totem.  We invite you to pause next time you are here to drink in the colours of the Totem, and spirit and care that held the brushes.

Phase I
Last month Joann Peterson received an enquiry from someone interested in coming to Phase I, and asking "what the Phase was all about".  Her reply said so much, with so few words.  We decided to share it with you for two reasons.  We think that it may strike a chord with those of you that have already gifted yourself with Phase I, and if you have not participated in Phase I we cannot imagine anything more clear and "spot-on" than Joann's words.

First, I think that Phase I is useful for most all of us!  I still reflect back to the eighties when I took the program and it was the cornerstone for my understanding my core structure and for updating my personal process and self development.  It is about healthy people, sometimes anxious, confused, uncertain about our "next steps in life" including folk who have residue left over from varied traumas.

Each person has an opportunity to see him/herself reflected in feedback from other people for an entire 25 days; I often believe that it does take two to know one. (That is not my original thought, but whoever thought it up was a smart cookie....).

There will be opportunities to limit "doing" and discover "being-ness".  That was huge for me!  I was way over stretched, almost lost a primary relationship because of being "in role" - and wasn't sure that I knew who the person was inside my successful roles. There are special "discovery" days - when one of our senses is eliminated...what emerges? an opportunity to stretch and enact dreams, old unresolved traumas, create new talents, dreams etc.

Each participant in the course has a private appointment, and in small groups, times to do "experiential adventures - gestalt (pillow talk to unresolved issues and people), breath and perhaps body work to name a few processes. And, individual "clearings" are valuable tools to learn.

Each segment of Phase is designed around core conceptual foundations - learned in the process of actual experiences. Sometimes learning is worth chuckles, sometimes tears, sometimes profound respect for our ability to resonate with one another.

Symposium
More and more "people working with people"are finding great value in what our courses and setting have to offer to enhance the quality of life through learning, discovery and awareness.  With this in mind, David Raithby is spearheading an ambitious plan to introduce The Haven to people working in the Health, Wellness, Helping, and Human Resources fields.  Beginning the evening of Sunday, November 2 and running through the morning and afternoon of November 3, The Haven will host a symposium of one-hour presentations and discussions based on the ideas, philosophies, and models that are intrinsic to our courses.

We will keep you informed in coming Updates as this event unfolds.  If you want to become involved in publicizing and/or you are aware of people you think may be interested in receiving information about the Symposium, please email David at sandav@island.net.

Set Your Course For The Haven
Time with others, time with you, time with The Haven...click on the course titles below to discover some summer time!

• Come Alive (July 18-23)
• Writing For Life(July 25-27) with Ellery Littleton
• Bararumba! (August 2-3)
• Come Alive (August 3-8)
• Cantonese Transforming Fear & Anxiety (Aug 6-9) with David Raithby
• Anger, Boundaries & Safety (August 8-11) with Joann Peterson
• Dancing The Body's Wisdom (August 8-11) with Catherine Fallis
• Cantonese Embracing Personal Passion (August 9-12) with David Raithby
• Teens Alive (August 12-15) with David Raithby, Linda Nicholls
• Parent Time (August12-15) with Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer, Gary Holdgrafer
• Dance & Games For Kids (August 13-18) with Denise Goldbeck
• Coyote's Journey(August 14-17) with Wes Gietz
• Teens Alive II(August 15-18) with David Raithby, Linda Nicholls
• Parent Time II(August 15-18) with Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer, Gary Holdgrafer
• Journey to Self Level II (August 18-24) with Maria Gomori
• Couples In Conflict(August 22-24) with Judy Sellner
• Come Alive (August 24-29)
• Come Alive II(August 24-29) with David Raithby, Linda Nicholls
• Healing Stitches(August 29-September 3) with Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer, Wendy Huntington
• Trusting The Stone(August 29-31) with Arthur Weinfeld
• Dynamic Dialogue(Sep 4-7) with Carole Fast
• Caring For Your Self(Sep 4-7) with Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer, Gary Holdgrafer
• Addictions: Choiceful Transformation (Sep 5-7) with Cathy & Ernie McNally, Wendy Huntington
• Disengaging Depression(Sep 7-12) with Joann Peterson, Judy Lemon
• Spirit Communication (Sep 12-14) with Marilyn Rossner
• Act II (Sep 12-14) with Jane Geesman, Sarah Lucht
• Worth Your Weight(Sep 12-14) with Cathy Wilder, Leslie Whyte, Dianne Anderson
• Effective Boundaries (Sep 12-15) with Joann Peterson
• Spirit Intensive(Sep 14-16) with Marilyn Rossner
• Mirroring: Reflecting, Reacting, Relating (Sep 15-18) with Joann Peterson
• Primal Whisperings(Sep 18-21) with Marlyn Farrell
• Anger Coaching For Couples (Sep 19-21) with Joann Peterson, Cathy McNally, Ernie McNally
• Come Alive (Sep 21-26)

Congratulations to two members of our kitchen team, Julie Birkett and Peter Braga, who took part in their High School graduation ceremonies last month.  Julie marked the occasion with a thoughtful and reflective poem that was published in the Gabriola Sounder newspaper, and Peter received special recognition for achievements in his Comparative Civilizations course.

The Fall issue of Shen was mailed out last week. It can be viewed at www.haven.ca/us/shen for those of you who don't recieve it by mail.

That's a wrap for this Update.  We'll be in touch again next month with more news and information about the courses, events and people that are The Haven.  If you want to be in touch with us, visit our website www.haven.ca, email us at info@haven.ca or call us at 250 247-9211.

Take care, enjoy yourself, and each other, and be in touch soon.

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