A beautiful three-day workshop was held in the Pacific Northwest (U.S.) this weekend on Vashon Island (near Seattle). We offer our gratitude for the collaboration with Journeymen Institute and for all of the participants and facilitators who created a courageous, heart-centered, and spiritually uplifting experience.
The coastal landscape on the Puget Sound—filled with snowy mornings, majestic trees, and sounds of lapping water—provided a natural sanctuary for our deep and transformative work. We shared dreams, honored our ancestors, and addressed the harms we have all experienced and carried out ourselves.
As we navigated themes such as generational trauma, sex and intimacy, and harassment and assault, our authentic listening and sharing brought an alchemy of deeper understanding, powerful healing and transformation.
We offer our deep gratitude to Nicky Wilks, Alex Craighead, and Katelyn Danielle of Journeymen and One Village for their invitation to GERI to bring this workshop to their beloved community.
I have never felt more seen and accepted – in my raw truth and ugliness – by such a diverse group of people. Nor have I ever been trusted to hold, or given the privilege of witnessing such honorable vulnerability by such a group. Many of whom I will see often, some of whom I will work with every week. And because of all of this, I have emerged clear about my life’s work, what is mine to hold, and what is not. What a gift.
Nicky Wilks, Co-Founder of Journeymen Institute
And so, I write today from a place of gratitude for this profoundly generous team of facilitators who journeyed far and wide (Kenya, Bolivia, Canada, LA, Texas, and more) to hold space for us here on Vashon for 3 days of deep healing and truth-telling, work that I believe is some of the most (if not the most) important work that can be done today. Work that I hope will become easier over time to promote, enroll for, and understand – such that we will all come to know peace in ourselves and our communities.
Heartfelt appreciation to our facilitation team ~ Karambu Ringera, Jorge Rico, Hugo Sanchez, Shelli Lether, Sarah Flournoy and Cynthia Brix. And, many thanks to the wonderful support from Matthew Evangelisti who served the team with care throughout the workshop.
Please join us in celebrating the individual and collective growth accomplished in this workshop—together we are creating new visions and hope for a gender-healed world!