Sacred Connections Wellness Retreat
Sacred Connections is an outdoor retreat to assist with the facilitation of personal, energetic, and community healing and wellness. Centered around a loving and safe environment for everyone to be heard, seen, and honored as themselves even in their vulnerable experiences. We promote and facilitate healing on emotional, spiritual, and mythical realms so that it assists the soul in transcending the physical constraints. We are located just outside of Jacksonville, Illinois.
No matter your skill level or understanding, you are welcome!
Schedule of Events
9-10 am Introductions & Welcomes
10-12 pm Somatic Breathwork
12-1 pm Lunch Break
1-2 pm Beginner Qigong/ Ti Chi with Zach
2-3 pm Energy Cascade
3-4 pm Omen Walk/ Anyi Despacho (Blessing Ceremony)
4-5 pm Cacao Ceremony
5-6 pm Dinner & Wander
6-7 pm Rewriting Your Story w/ Marcia
7-8 pm Drumming Circle
8-9 pm Fire Ceremony
Meet Zach!
Zach Eymann
Zach is an artist and health enthusiast, having lived in the Springfield area for the last twelve years. In addition to music, some of his main passions include Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, cooking, and cycling. He is excited to demonstrate Tai Chi and other closely related flowing movements, approaching physical and mental wellness with a bal
Zach is an artist and health enthusiast, having lived in the Springfield area for the last twelve years. In addition to music, some of his main passions include Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, cooking, and cycling. He is excited to demonstrate Tai Chi and other closely related flowing movements, approaching physical and mental wellness with a balanced and holistic perspective. He sums up his philosophy by saying, "I aim to find common ground with others, and see any of these group 'flow' activities as a wonderful opportunity to for us to connect in a meaningful way. In a shared space we can help elevate one another physically, mentally, and spiritually. Wellness is a journey; anyone can join on the path, and there is always room to improve. Wherever we are in life, we can take time to find balance as we strengthen and prepare for what may lay ahead of us. This way of life has brought me peace and stability, and I enjoy passing on to others what has helped me on my journey."
Ti Chi/ Qigong
This class is a fun and relaxed introduction to some of the moving forms present in Tai Chi and QiGong. Students will be guided through an uplifting variety of flowing movements while focusing on the body and breath. Tai Chi is an ancient martial art form that can help to improve balance and flexibility while reducing tension in the body.
This class is a fun and relaxed introduction to some of the moving forms present in Tai Chi and QiGong. Students will be guided through an uplifting variety of flowing movements while focusing on the body and breath. Tai Chi is an ancient martial art form that can help to improve balance and flexibility while reducing tension in the body. QiGong (pronounced chee-gung) is a related practice that focuses more on simple flowing motions with an emphasis on the breath and the movement of energy throughout the body.
The students will be guided through warming up and practicing some of the simpler flowing movements. A few more complex moves will be discussed in-depth, giving students time to practice and familiarize themselves with them. Towards the end of the session, some guided centering exercises will provide an opportunity to calm the mind and body before resuming the day.
What to bring: Water bottle
What to wear: Comfortable, loose fitting shirt and pants/shorts for ease of movement. The movements will be practiced in an upright standing position with bare feet.
Meet Marcia!
Marcia Harmon
My Story
I grew up in central Illinois in a home where religious and moral contradictions ran wild, alongside severe and complex varieties of abuse.
I have dedicated my life to self improvement as I never felt worthy of being loved until I met my husband. Through time I have realized that I have always been enough and deserving of love. I want to
I grew up in central Illinois in a home where religious and moral contradictions ran wild, alongside severe and complex varieties of abuse.
I have dedicated my life to self improvement as I never felt worthy of being loved until I met my husband. Through time I have realized that I have always been enough and deserving of love. I want to give the gift of self esteem to the other “lost and forgotten” souls of the world.
I began my journey of Spiritual healing and development of my natural healing gifts following a NDE. During my lengthy recovery I took a deep dive into the world of Spiritually and began my studies of the courses that would provide healing opportunities for myself and those around me. Some of those courses include: Professional Spiritual Coach, Relationship Life Coach, Advanced Trance Psychic Mediumship and Advanced Psychic and Clairvoyance. I continue my journey daily through meditation, self-healing, as well as providing my healing services to others.
Rewriting your Story
Rewriting your Story
At the Sacred Connections Wellness Retreat I’m thrilled to present “Rewriting Your Story”. Through the medium of art you will learn how to identify Triggers and how to process them into Glimmers. At the root of your project you will find a tool that you can employ every time you are faced with Trigger.
Meet the Hostess!
Jayme McCormick
I am the face behind
Gypsy Wings & Celtic Roots.
From a young age, I was criticized for believing in the “impossible” and magickal realms, never knowing that others couldn’t see them. As I grew up I learned to set my sights on school and get my head out of the clouds, that didn’t stop the fae or otherworldly creatures or spirits from tryi
I am the face behind
Gypsy Wings & Celtic Roots.
From a young age, I was criticized for believing in the “impossible” and magickal realms, never knowing that others couldn’t see them. As I grew up I learned to set my sights on school and get my head out of the clouds, that didn’t stop the fae or otherworldly creatures or spirits from trying to get my attention. However, the older I got the more their interactions became fewer and fewer, because I quit looking for them. On the chance that I encountered an earthbound spirit, I then interacted from a place of fear.
As I came into my awakening, I found what others refused to work with ‘tricksters’ and misunderstood beings. I’ve always fostered a love for the misunderstood and wyrd (weird). Nature, animals, and Magick runs through my veins.
It was only natural that shamanism attracted me, a nature based and natural love of animism, honoring the sacred interconnected energies of everything and walking between worlds. I traversed the long road to healing through the pits of breaking free from the status quo and the understanding of emotional intelligence as their effect on our bodies. In this, I have learned to aid others in processing heavy emotions to find joy in the present (not to be confused with the mundane).
She is an intuitive tarot/oracle reader with 5 years experience. A practicing Shaman for a lifetime, yet certified in Peruvian shamanism in 2024. She continues her training with Norse and Celtic shamanism and the gifting of the Munay Ki rites. She has a love for energy weaving with the Threads of Fate, helping others build a relationship with their guides and discover/utilize their gifts as well as weave their futures.
Services
Somatic Breathwork- Join us for a highly sophisticated form of conscious breathing that teaches you how to breathe fully, getting more oxygen to your brain and body. It helps you to escape fight or flight trauma response. So that you can take control of your life, recharge your energy, and reduce stress, anxiety, pain and panic.It helps
Somatic Breathwork- Join us for a highly sophisticated form of conscious breathing that teaches you how to breathe fully, getting more oxygen to your brain and body. It helps you to escape fight or flight trauma response. So that you can take control of your life, recharge your energy, and reduce stress, anxiety, pain and panic.It helps you step back from emotional reactions and access the intelligence of your own body-mind, and establish new patterns and responses in your life. It offers an increased freedom of expression, and a connection to your true self as well as an overall feeling of personal empowerment. During this 2 hour experience, Danielle will lead you into a guided meditation followed by a breathwork journey. After your journey you will be guided to make an eclectic art blend and depiction of your breathwork journey to help process your healing and experience.
Energy Cascade -"The Energy Cascade is an experience of vibration, connection and releasing.The hour will be broken down into 4 rounds. Over each round the vibration grows. We will be assisting with the movement of energy within individuals and the group. What is required of the participants is to just BE and allow." In the final round we will be connecting on a larger scale level and sending Mother Earth some well deserved love.
Omen Walking- A Celtic Shamaninc Tradition utilizing an intention of your choosing and being gifted the answer through experiences in nature. This transformational experience can be used in your everyday life, even after the retreat. Which leads into the Ayni Despacho - Join us for this beautiful ceremony as we assemble the despacho and to honor and energize our personal intentions, and our intentions for the collective. Everyone will be cleansed with it and we will be burning it before the fire ceremony.
Ayni Despacho -Join us for this beautiful ceremony as we assemble the despacho and to honor and energize our personal intentions, and our intentions for the collective. This beautiful blessing ceremony is wrapped up like a gift and burned at the beginning of the fire ceremony as a prayer offering to all that you have healed, gratitude to your guides and a supercharger to all that you are manifesting into your life, as well as blessing the property on which the retreat has been held.
Cacao Ceremony - Ceremony Description: This ceremony is a meticulously guided experience from start to finish. We begin by opening sacred space, incorporating sound healing, shamanic drums, and other ritual elements to create a deeply immersive environment. Participants are encouraged to set their intentions, and we facilitate a collectiv
Cacao Ceremony - Ceremony Description: This ceremony is a meticulously guided experience from start to finish. We begin by opening sacred space, incorporating sound healing, shamanic drums, and other ritual elements to create a deeply immersive environment. Participants are encouraged to set their intentions, and we facilitate a collective release by having everyone write down something they wish to let go of and subsequently burn these intentions in a ceremonial fire.
Cacao Consumption: During the ceremony, each participant is offered the opportunity to enjoy up to two cups of cacao, which I personally serve. The group partakes in the cacao drinking together, enhancing the communal and healing aspects of the experience.
Sound Healing: Healing shamnic sounds and frequencies are played throughout the ceremony, further enriching the participants' journey. By: Danielle Boller
Closing and Gifts: We conclude the ceremony as a unified group, and each participant leaves with a special gift.
Drumming Circle- Playing a drum changes the vibrations in a five mile radius!! We will go through some fun exercises to help you remember how to keep your beat, play a fun game, and then play by your spirit's guidance. Let's change vibes together by playing Shamanic drums for healing! Bring a drum and rattle, if you have one. Some drums and other percussion instruments will be available to use,
Fire Ceremony - Let's close our sacred day by honoring our archetypes, our guides, and our ancestors. Bring a drum or rattle, if you wish.