Bio:    
Kirsten Reitan has been a teacher FOREVER.  First as an English professor, then as a qigong, reiki, and ThetaHealing teacher.  She's been practicing and teaching qigong for over 10 years.  And she is also a medical qigong energy healer.  Most spring, summer, and autumn Sundays you can find her practicing and teaching qigong at Walton Woods in Amherst. She weaves all of this together in her healing space WNY Energy Healing.

Workshop Description:  
I am so excited to share the magic of qigong with everyone at the retreat.  Qigong transformed my life in multiple ways. I'm healthier, I'm emotionally more balanced, and I feel more spiritually connected.  Qigong is a way to connect with the energy of nature as well as the energy of the Creative Force.  I will share some of my outdoor Nature of Qi practices that help me commune with nature and share in the healing force.  I will also teach you some basic treegong practices. 

Kevin May is an author, personal development coach, singer and poet from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the founder of Healing is Cool, which is a company on a mission to make holistic living the cool thing to do.
Join facilitator Kevin May, as he helps you to “Get Out the Way and Let the Universe Play!” We will gather around the sacred fire to activate our voices and unique creative expressions. Participants will have the opportunity to sing call and response songs, share freestyles, beatboxing and improvisation. We will also have an opening and closing sharing circle where everyone will have the chance to speak their intentions and gratitude around the sacred fire.

 Bio:
Hy Carrel is the Director of Operations for WNY nonprofit Community Canvases that facilitates arts-based community building. Hy is founding director of Community Canvases’ Kind Fools program, inspired by half a decade of training with the street-level community known as the Faithful Fools in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. Hy has worked alongside people experiencing homelessness since 2013 and has spoken at Erie County’s homeless memorial since 2020. In spaces that Hy facilitates, people from varied lived-experiences build community based on a value of "we all belong."

Workshop Description:
Hy will facilitate a Kind Fools’ WRITE ON! intuitive writing circle. First we co-create a safe space of nonjudgmental witness of each other and ourselves. Second, we engage the present moment through a check-in, a brief guided body-awareness meditation, and two free-writes. Third, participants are invited to share writing excerpts from this session (optional): others are welcomed to respond to these writings by offering validation through authentic encouraging reflections. This is an opportunity for every person to express their truth and to be listened to.
 

Experience a transformative guided Akashic Meditation designed to help you journey into the timeless wisdom of the Akashic Records. In this group setting, you’ll be gently led into a deeply relaxed state where intuition opens and higher guidance becomes accessible.
Together, we enter a shared energetic space, yet each participant receives their own unique insights, messages and imagery.
No two journeys are ever the same.
As you move through the meditation, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with ancestral knowledge - wisdom carried through generations and held within the energetic blueprint of your soul.
Many participants report receiving powerful messages, emotional clarity and a stronger sense of direction. This experience blends collective energy with deeply personal guidance, offering both group resonance and individualized messages that speak directly to where you are on your path.
Whether you are seeking healing, clarity, validation or simply a deeper connection to your spiritual self, this meditation offers a safe, supportive container to explore the records.
Come with an open heart and allow the journey to unfold. The Akashic field always meets you exactly where you are and provides the insight you’re ready to receive. 

This women’s circle offers a safe and sacred ceremonial space to honor, nourish and uplift oneself and each other. Through grounded and guided experiences, we will honor the magic of the earth and cosmos, our ancestors and the divine - and our own bodies as the meeting place between them.
Together we will dive into the astrology of the Aquarius Full Moon and the frequency of freedom through body based practices, herbal activations and story telling.

Moroni Lane offers a men's group named "Iron Sharpens Iron" which is focused on divine masculinity, defining authentic manhood, and creating a safe space where men can share their life experiences together.

Bio:
Tara is a sound healer and ceremonial space-holder devoted to supporting deep emotional, energetic and spiritual healing. With a background as a psychiatric nurse, she bridges grounded nervous-system awareness with intuitive soul-led practices. Her work weaves together sound healing, light language transmission, creative expression and earth-based wisdom to create spaces where participants feel safe to soften, release and remember who they are.

Workshop Description:
A two-part sound healing journey beginning with deep, receptive rest and unfolding into guided participation. Participants are invited to receive sound and frequency, then explore intuitive vocalization and Light Language as a form of embodied expression. Grounded, gentle and accessible for all levels.

Bio:
Onice Castro, also known as Coach Onyx, is a life coach, meditation teacher and motivator based in Buffalo, NY. With over four years of experience facilitating wellness workshops and coaching individuals in personal, professional and health goals. Her work is rooted in accountability, access and community empowerment. Onice is deeply committed to creating spaces where people feel supported, seen and equipped with practical tools for growth, especially in underserved communities. As an emerging leader, award-winning pitch finalist and community educator she blends lived experience with structured guidance to help individuals move from intention to action while building legacy-focused impact.

Workshop Description:
This interactive workshop is designed to help participants gain clarity, build confidence, and create realistic pathways toward their goals. Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and meaningful discussion, attendees will learn how to set SMART goals, identify internal and external obstacles and use affirmations as a tool for mindset alignment…not just for motivation.
Participants will explore the connection between self-awareness budgeting, accountability and personal growth. Journaling prompts and group engagement will support deeper reflection, while actionable steps to ensure participants leave with a clear plan they can apply immediately. This workshop is ideal for individuals seeking structure, encouragement and sustainable strategies to move forward with intention.

Key areas covered:
- SMART goal setting
- Affirmations rooted in self-belief and realism
- Identifying and overcoming obstacles
- Budgeting with purpose
- Building self-awareness and consistency
 

Founder of Ripple Effect Wellness Retreat Amanda Bridges and friends will guide opening and closing ceremony through a blend of intention setting, guided meditation and community-based singing.

During opening Ceremony, we will take a moment at the beginning to honor all lives who have transitioned due to suicide, send love to all people who may currently face challenges with mental health and substance use, and create space in our minds and hearts for a weekend abundant with inner transformation, authentic community connection and unconditional love.

Closing Ceremony will consist of open discussion around what each of us individually have learned and what kind of ripples we will allow to flow through us into our community once we return home. 

"It's not that serious" - say that ten times fast!
Join Sierra for some summertime shenanigans as the weekend begins - settle in, not down.

This is a call to deep dive into the safety of your body through embodied play and community connection.