Singing in Bloom is about Nourishment with a capital “N” – filling up the well that feeds you through song, nature, community, and connection. We will gather at the Swan’s Nest Holistic Wellness & Nature Centre, a private land sanctuary high on the Oak Ridges Moraine. In between our morning and afternoon song circles, you’ll have time to explore the 350 acres of wilderness trails, swim in the spring-fed lake, and feast on a home-cooked organic lunch.
Throughout our day together, we’ll sing simple, soul-nourishing songs learned by ear, in the oral tradition. We’ll play with harmonies, layer songs, and ‘don’t make me think’ songs that get us out of our minds and into our bodies. In the spirit of a small village, we’ll come together on beautiful land to sing, share, play, connect, and rest in the timelessness of the present moment. As always, no singing experience is required.
Since ancient times, women have gathered together to sing songs – to celebrate the cycles of the moon and sun, to mark special moments in life and community, and to share in the daily gifts of tending to land, home, and earth. There is an enduring magic that happens when women sing together – through the weaving of our voices, we remember our power, our rhythm, and our purpose.
The songs we sing will speak to themes of belonging and connection, earth and water, courage and freedom, grief and joy, nature and community, to name a few. They are songs that you can keep tucked away in your back pocket for moments when you need them, and songs that you can weave into the rhythm of your daily life. More than anything, they are songs that were made to nourish and enliven us.
As a wellness practice, group singing is known widely to improve health and well-being through the release of endorphins and oxytocin, which thereby reduce stress and increase a sense of joy and connection. Study after study has shown that singing helps with everything from increased lung capacity to reduced heart disease, boosting immunity and even a longer life span.
This retreat is open to all those with lived experience as a woman, including non-binary & gender fluid folx who feel comfortable in a woman-centred space. No singing experience is required, and no one will be asked to sing on their own. Please know that you are welcome however you are – tired and weary, fully ablaze in your brilliance, or anywhere in between.
*This retreat is designed as an adult-only experience, due to the length of the day, and the size of the group. However, pre-crawling babies are welcome.
