Welcome to Awi Haven Marshall, NC
Creation was the first sacred text.
Awi Haven is a place to listen to Creation.
Welcome to Awi Haven Marshall, NC
Creation was the first sacred text.
Awi Haven is a place to listen to Creation.
Facilitated Earth Based Group Retreats
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall
Each earth season mirrors truths to us about the spiritual journey. In the spring, the creation helps us know more about what is involved in conceiving and birthing something new in our being, in our lives, in our world... The summer teaches of lessons of ripeness, abundance, and manifesting visions. Fall offers guidance in letting go and reminds us that even death itself is part of Life in the spiritual journey. Winter invites a time of dormant rest when we sit with questions without having to have the answers. It invites us to be willing to 'not know' what is next.
By reflecting on each earth season as a spiritual teacher, we understand the whole round of life as a mirror of the spiritual journey.
Each season is welcomed at Awi Haven with a retreat. Each retreat provides guidance for listening to creation for the lessons it has for us. Silence, readings, guided reflection, shared group reflections, shared meals, star gazing, and optional earth walking are all part of the offerings of these retreats.
The dates of upcoming retreats are:
Summer Retreat August 7-11, 2024
Fall Retreat Oct 23- 27
Winter --late January 2025
monthly no cost Creativity Pods, Circles, and gatherings
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Music
Once a month local musicians, singers, and story tellers gather to play together and share their gifts with those who want to listen. No cost. Contact Virginia for more information.
Writing
Once a month, a group of earth based poetry writers gather to write and share their writing. No cost. Contact Virginia for more information.
Drawing/Painting
Once a month a group of people gather to practice earth based drawing and painting. Contact Virginia for information.
The "Who" of Awi Haven
First and foremost, the animals, plants, and lives of Cherokee and Celtic descendants who lived on this land are a significant part of the ‘who’ of Awi Haven.
Virginia DuPre is the current tender of Awi Haven with lots of help and wisdom from people who have lived here for generations. Along with a community of neighbors, Virginia's partner, Michelle, also helps tend the grounds of Awi. Virginia facilitates retreats for small groups. She has been a spiritual guide, counselor, and registered art therapist for over twenty years and has led earth based spirituality retreats her entire adult life. Her spiritual training includes most recently being a ‘sendee’ of the Living School, a part of the Center for Action and Contemplation; an ongoing student of oral tradition training in Native American earth based teachings and practices; a Master of Art Therapy from Vermont College at Norwich University, and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory. Hiking trips as well as courses under Outward Bound and NOLS have also been ‘schools’ for Virginia. Virginia’s favorite poet is Mary Oliver who suggests that we “pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it.” These are words that guide Virginia’s work and life.