A Weekend Filled With Heart-Opening Experiences
- Marketplace: Sacred Commerce
- Fairies and Fun: Activities for Girls and Toddlers
- Sweat Lodge: Ceremony of Purification
- Moonlodge: Honoring the Blood Mysteries
- Wellness: Rejuvenate and Heal
- Divine Beauty: Pamper and Play
- Workshops: Share, Support, and Grow
Marketplace: Sacred Commerce and Exchange
Sharing our Abundance at Solstice
The Women’s Summer Solstice organization exists solely to create this annual camp for the community to come together in celebration, reflection, and perfect imperfection, from woman to clan to planet. All proceeds from economic exchanges go directly to funding the next camp, and committee roles are all volunteer positions. Goddess Grants allow all who are called to participate in the exchange to do so in balance with their available offerings. Additionally, donations received year to year offset individual ticket prices for the next year, keeping them considerably lower than the actual cost per person!
There are many ways to perceive, receive, and redistribute abundance in a diversely gifted community; ‘being in the flow’ can literally translate to ‘living in the gift.’ We go to the fire, to the lodge, and to the garage sale to let things go spiritually, emotionally, AND physically! We entrust those around us to witness, facilitate, and participate in the release and clearing, then joyfully receive the gratitude and support from them stimulated into action through the process. By giving your attention to that which you believe is good for your body, mind and soul, you are supporting what is good for all … for that which supports you in return.
Intentionally supporting our sisters, our mothers and daughters, matriarchs and menarches through the conscious exchange of energy in all its forms is an essential element of Women’s Summer Solstice. We offer three complementary currency flows to engage in, so everyone has a good way to experience the joy of being a vessel for our gifts to through to one another and all around the circle.
Marketplace
While Love is the currency of choice at Solstice, there is a place for monetary exchange in today’s world; and items you desire to bring into your life are being made by a Solstice Sister with love right now! Set some dough aside to bring what you might otherwise spend at a thrift store or on machine-made things, and give it to those who are crafting local, handmade versions for their artistic livelihoods. The generous exchange of money makes magic materialize… simply by perceiving it as our gift to offer as thanks to those who’ve touched our lives with their skill, services, and stuff.
The Solstice Marketplace is a magical space created by the community, for the community, where unexpected treasures, beautiful creations, and delightful gifts for yourself or others can be bought, bartered, and begged. The tapestry you’ve replaced may be just the thing for the young woman who made those feather earrings you love! In the past we have had drums, rattles, pouches, capes, jewelry, gourds, books, herbal products, fairy attire and other things…the possibilities are as endless as our collective cupboards.
If you are registered to attend Solstice this year and would like to offer your wares in the Marketplace, please find more specific information in the Welcome Packet.
Goddess Garage Sale
Enjoy treasure-hunting at its best at the Goddess Garage Sale – it’s like going through your best friend’s closets! Solstice is a wonderful place to bring those objects that are ready for their new story. You may bring your donations of books, clothing, costuming, altar objects, music, art and more. Please bring items that have a sacred purpose, not regular household items. Items that have not found a new home by the end of the weekend need to be taken back home with you.
Please donate funds to demonstrate appreciation for what your newfound treasure is worth to you. Proceeds from the Garage Sale partially fund the Goddess Grants that help women facing financial challenges to attend our event and benefit from the healing and community spirit.
Raffle
Many of the items made by women in the Solstice community are highly prized, such as artwork and natural health products. There will be items displayed during mealtimes that you can either bid on or purchase a raffle ticket to win. Again, the flow of abundance comes from each of you – those who set up in the Marketplace are asked to contribute an item for the Auction or Raffle, and winners are drawn and announced at Sunday breakfast. All who are called to contribute, please refer to contact information in the Registration Packet.
Fairies and Fun: Activities for Girls and Toddlers
We are delighted to have daughters and babies attend our Solstice Gathering! Girls are an integral part of the weekend and they bring a very special magic. Watching daughters who return year after year grow into women in our female-affirming community is an extraordinary experience. Daughters of any age are welcome and young boys are welcome under the age of 5.
Please keep in mind that the ultimate responsibility for the children’s comfort, well-being, and safety rests at all times with their mothers or the adult who accompanies them to the event. Organized childcare is not provided at this event. We encourage mothers to coordinate with each other to allow each of you some mama alone time to receive a wellness session, attend a workshop, or simply slip into the arms of the Great Mother in meditation.
Girls are encouraged to share in all ceremonies and workshops that are appropriate for their level of maturity. We ask that mothers/caretakers carefully guide the girls’ choices. Children under 8 must have an adult supervisor accompanying them to all Fairy Activities (workshops, the Fairy Tent, craft time, etc.) unless otherwise notified (sometimes fairies need to plan sneaky sparkly silliness, and Fairy Goddess Mother will let them know where to go and when.)
There will be a number of planned children’s activities during the weekend. These will include singing, storytelling, crafts, fairy hunts and nature walks, as well as preparing for participation in ceremony. More detailed information can be found in the Welcome Packet.
Prayerlodge: Ceremony of Purification
There are a variety of sweat traditions found in nearly every culture around the world and through time. Our lodges are Rainbow Lodges, meaning that we embrace and welcome all teachings and traditions. Our Solstice Lodge is made from materials the land has to offer.
Women’s Summer Solstice has been offering Prayerlodges (referred to by some Sisters as Sweatlodges) for many years. We have a group of experienced pourers and firetenders that are present to help you in any way we can with your experience.
This is the Ceremony of Purification. This is the place to pray for the realization of your heart’s true desire.
Detailed information regarding lodge and lodge etiquette will be available at check in and on the sign up board at the Information Tent. Please check the sign-up board for a description of lodge styles and information your ceremony leader will want you to know in advance. It is traditional to give a gift to the pourer, the fire tenders, and those that support your lodge. Should you choose to do so, you may give whatever seems appropriate to you. Gifts of loose tobacco, cornmeal, smudging herbs, or chocolate are good choices.
A traditional Native American Sweat Lodge is constructed of 12 to 16 willow sapling poles. One end of each pole is staked into the ground, bent over in a dome shape, and tied in the center to its opposite pole, creating a circle. … A shallow pit, about a foot deep, is dug out of the center of the space within the Lodge… The stones are heated in sacred fire. At the beginning of each round, a number of stones, specified by the person pouring the Sweat, are brought into the pit in the center of the Lodge. Next, a bucket of water is brought in for pouring on the rocks after each prayer. This creates the steam of purification. Certain sacred herbs are brushed on the hot stones to create Prayer Smoke. …People come to a lodge to do deep healing work… Each Lodge is different, and each Lodge experience is an opportunity to commune with spirit and emerge reborn”
PATH of the WHITE WOLF – an Introduction to the Shaman’s Way by our own Sandy D’entremont and Robin Tekwelus
Moonlodge: Honoring the Blood Mysteries
What is the Moonlodge?
The Moonlodge is a tent located on the grounds of WSS. It is a sacred space, a Red Tent, used to honor our wombs and our bleeding time. This space is for women who have reached the age of menarche–we ask that mothers instruct their children and young maidens to respect the intent of the space and not enter.
Why do we gather in Moonlodge?
In the Moonlodge, we turn inward for renewal and self-care. We allow our sisters to serve and honor us as we serve and honor them. We gather to stake claim to our birthright—the wisdom and power of the blood mysteries. We sit in Moonlodge to honor and listen to our wombs—to learn to trust Spirit and our inner knowing. Together, we seek to find the root of our ambivalence and disconnection from our bleeding cycle, and to honor, rather than disdain, our menstrual blood. We examine the cultural and personal factors that contribute to any sense of embarrassment or disgust—so that we may release them. We gather to restore the tradition of bleeding women taking respite, and allowing themselves to nurture and care for themselves and each other.
What do we do in Moonlodge?
Women who are currently bleeding may enter the Moonlodge to rest and pamper themselves during special Red Tent Hours. All women are welcome during “Open Lodge”.
We will offer guided lodges for prayer, healing and sisterhood and to regain our pride and reverence for our bleeding cycle.
We gather to share our stories—to talk openly, and without shame, about our menstrual cycles and our bodies. We share our stories of our transition through menarche and we welcome the new sisters in with reverence and celebration.
First Blood Ceremony
One of the most treasured traditions in the Solstice community is the Right of Passage for our young women who have experienced menarche. The young women can attend workshops and talking circles in preparation. The community will honor them during the Rights of Passage ceremony and they may then spend the night in the Moonlodge, on the night of the ceremony. The next morning the community sings them awake and, as they emerge, they can bask in the glow of our love as we welcome our young sisters to the tribe of women!
If you have a young woman in your party that has yet to be honored in this way, please indicate so on the registration form.
Wellness: Rejuvenate and Heal
All women at the Solstice Gathering may give or receive healing in its many forms including Reiki, massage, energy work, tarot, and other healing work. This exchange is a gift of love, not monetary, and is an opportunity to rejuvenate our spirits, heighten our energy, heal pain, and gain insights and meaning. We are all healers. If you wish to donate your time as a healer, when you register, please indicate your healing modality on the registration form in the service shift section. Our Wellness Coordinator will contact you well before the event. Please note that we can not guarantee that you will be assigned to the Wellness Tent for your service shift. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Wellness Practitioners
Please be prepared to bring the following for your two-2 hour service shifts in gifting your talents:
- If you will use one of our provided tables, please bring linens to cover the table for at least 8 clients (half hour treatments.)
- Pillows, bolsters or table padding that you like to work with.
- Oils, creams, or lotions that you like to use.
- Your own table if you prefer to use it. (Solstice is not responsible for the care and use of the table if you choose to share it.)
- Anything else that is pertinent to your healing work that will support you, such as crystals, sacred feathers, etc.
Spontaneous Offerings of Healing
We encourage all women to bring their own healing gifts and offer spontaneous healing gifts as they choose. Please find a space that fits your needs, use your own supplies, and take it upon yourselves to work with each other in communicating their schedules, availability, and needs.
We are all healers. Women seeking healing help may drop by or leave a request on the message board. Women that feel called to help or share their gifts may make themselves available as they feel appropriate. We hope the synergy of our healing nature will help our community meet more of the needs of individuals seeking healing help.
Divine Beauty: Pamper and Play
Beauty treatments relax, renew, and enliven us. Honoring the Divine Beauty that you already are, you will have the opportunity to be treated to foot soaks, hair brushing and/or braiding, nail painting, and having lotion applied to hands, arms, legs, and backs by loving hands. Each session is 25 minutes in length. There is a self serve area set up for those who want to care for themselves or offer to care for another. Bring forth the Divine Beauty within yourself and each other, rejuvenate spirits, heighten energy, and develop bonds of connection and friendship.
Workshops: Share, Support, and Grow
Attending Workshops
Workshops and activities, related to spiritual growth and personal interest, take place throughout the weekend.
The schedule, and sign up sheets will be posted in the Info Tent during the event.
We have some special things planned!
Presenting Workshops
- If you wish to offer a workshop, please indicate so on your registration form. A council member will contact you prior to the event to schedule your workshop. There are limited spaces for workshops, so not all workshops will be scheduled.
- Presenting a workshop does not replace your work shift.