Why I Am Part of Hestia Retreat, by Sylvia Soholt

I thought hard about whether to join the Hestia Board.  I was honored by the invitation but didn’t need to fill empty spaces in my days.  There aren’t any.  But as the owner of Sylvan Sanctuary, a personalized, non-commercial retreat in my home for people who want to finish a creative project, I have observed first-hand how important it is for people to escape long enough from the demands of their daily lives to reawaken or ignite their enthusiasm for implementing an original idea. 

When I learned that there are very few residential retreats solely for women in the country I was intrigued.  The marketing corner of my brain whispered: A niche!  I decided to extend my vision for the future benefit of what could be a much larger audience and joined the board to help figure out how to realize their vision.

I’ve enjoyed learning how others describe the Hestia Retreat of the future—what the physical site might look like, what natural, artistic, and comfort-inducing features it would have, how many women could be present at one time, and what kinds of programs would be offered. 

These ideas have been realized on a smaller scale many times over the past year.  Through Hestia’s Hearth Circles, small groups of women have come together to learn, for example, how to carve out time from busy lives for a personal retreat, how to include visualization in meditative processes, and how their visions for their own lives can be accomplished.  By making time for their growth, and prioritizing peacefulness and centering, they have embodied what we want to have happen for women on Vashon, in Washington, throughout the country and our world.

If you have expertise in facilitating learning experiences that occur in short periods of time, contact us!  You can help us grow the idea of Hestia, writ large or small.  

It’s A Win-Win: Why My Partner’s Retreats Are Good for Me, by Steven Smith

I am contributing to this monthly newsletter as I think it is important to know of the benefits that everyone connected to a retreat participant can enjoy. 

Valerie, one of Hestia Retreat’s co-founders, has participated in many retreats since I have been in her life. They have included everything from a three hour retreat to a five day retreat. She always returns with a different understanding of her place in the world and usually has some clarity concerning issues with which she is struggling to come to terms.  At moments, I have observed a child-like joy for life because she is open to what is possible as result of her retreat time. 

Most importantly, I believe it brings her back to the present, where she can better engage in the moment with sense of groundedness and clarity of mind. We have had some of our most intimate conversations and some of our closest feelings of connection after her retreats.  I love to hear of the things she has learned. We often can apply this new found knowledge to our relationship. 

The shared experience with other woman brought her many new and close friendships. The bonds that are formed during these retreats bring Valerie such joy. 

We have also participated in a three day retreat together. The shared experience is so life affirming. We get to experience personal and relational growth at the same time. It's a very spiritual experience. 

Yes, I miss spending time with her while she is on or in retreat, I know that her happiness and our relationship will benefit from our time apart. We have both learned from our own life experiences that when we take care of ourselves and work on being a whole person, we can enjoy life fully. 

I am envious of the Hestia participants as they have such a great resource available in the monthly retreats and Wellness days. I wish that there was something similar for the men of Vashon as well.

Hestia Event Spotlight by Nancy Eister

I have traveled in the symbolic world of dreams, journeyed to the four directions in a shamanic body experience, and stepped into a map of seeds, leaves, fruit, and roots to find my place in my life.  And yet, I never went more than two miles away from my home on Vashon Island! I’ve been a fortunate participant in three events offered through Hestia Retreat.

This year’s Women’s Day of Wellness in particular featured short workshops with many notable and inspired women teachers. It was a tantalizing taste of what can be possible at a fully embodied retreat center: singing, stillness, movement, energy work, Ayurveda, envisioning – what a feast!  (Speaking of feasts, the food at Hestia events is always delectable, well-chosen, just right.)

The real feast is in letting down my boundaries, enjoying, and allowing trust to grow in a circle of strangers.  There is a common bond, an innate wisdom that emerges when women gather intentionally. I have such deep regard and appreciation for everyone who has shared their stories with me or listened to mine. I have had so many rewarding experiences encircled by likeminded women. I have really grown through that.

Like so many other women, I am at a transition point in my life – in my case from fulltime, hands-on mom to empty nester. My old dreams and goals are slowly bubbling up to the surface from buried depths, and I also have new dreams, new goals. The Hearth Circles I’ve been in have all opened some new potential to me, given me tools and language for where I want to go next.

I really feel that our lives’ meaning is found outside of conventional parameters such as job titles, salaries, and status, and that it takes joyous work and participation to become who we are meant to be, to allow our true self to show her face. Each encounter with a passionate teacher or seeker educates me and enriches my life experience. What seemed at one time like a luxury (attending weekend workshops about knowing myself) now seems such a sound investment! I can see how the changes in my attitude and level of joy ripple outward to affect my family, my friends, my community.

As women, we really need a safe and soothing intentional space, and the fellowship of like-hearted sisters to counteract the constant grind and pressure of outside expectations. So many of our values are shoved aside, invalidated. We need each other. We grow so much stronger and better through collaborating with each other. I believe in the mission of Hestia Retreat, and I am so grateful for its part in my community on Vashon Island.