Primrose Light
A Summer Solstice Retreat for Women at Primrose Lake With Jennifer Berezan and Jill Pangman
Join us in this exploration of the sacred, in the land of the midnight sun. Through sound and silence, and in the sublime sub-Arctic light, our senses will awaken as we immerse ourselves in the beauty of the Yukon wilds and allow the natural world to awaken our innate connection to all beings. And through music, movement and stillness we can experience the natural world in a profound and joyful way.
The setting for our retreat will be Primrose Lake, nestled in a stunningly beautiful mountain valley 80 kms southwest of Whitehorse. Primrose is a world apart, a true wilderness where the only year-round inhabitants are the wild animals that call it home. A rustic lodge and camp on the shores of the turquoise-hued glacial lake will be our home for the week. We fly in and out, weaving our way between soaring ridgelines of the Coast Mountains, a spectacular way to start our solstice journey.
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Dates
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TBD |
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Duration
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7 days
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Price
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inquire about price |
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Activity
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hiking, canoeing |
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Skill Level (minimum)
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novice |
We’ll meet as a group at a pre-arranged time late afternoon or early evening the day before the trip departs to discuss the trip and go over clothing and equipment. The next morning you’ll be picked up at your accommodation in Whitehorse about 8 AM (exact time to be determined at pre trip meeting) . It is only a few minutes drive to the air charter base on Schwatka Lake. The floatplane flight itself takes 20-30 minutes (depending on the style of plane, as well as weather conditions which can affect the route). It is a breathtakingly beautiful flight, so keep your cameras handy! You’ll discover why Whitehorse is called “the wilderness city”, as within moments of lifting off the lake we’ll be flying over alpine tundra, sparkling azure lakes and colourful rocky ridge lines on route to Primrose.
Our home for the week will be Primrose “lodge”, which consists of a rustic log building (with a kitchen, dining table and lounging area), a sauna, an outhouse, and 2 small sleeping cabins. There is space to set up tents as well.
The daily schedule will be divided between outdoor explorations into the surrounding mountain wilderness (on foot and by canoe), retreat activities, and personal time.
Jennifer will lead us daily in an exploration of music as spiritual practice. Drawing from the beauty and power of the natural environment we will circle daily to chant, tone and sing “praises for the world” together. A tapestry of sound and deep quiet will be woven through practices of meditation, deep listening and opening to the sounds and silence of the natural world.
Jill will lead us in guided meditations, creative writing exercises, and movement practices (eg. yoga). She will also guide a hike each day, either along the shore of Primrose Lake, to locations that we can canoe to as well, or above camp into boreal forest and open meadows, and over rocky ledges. We will plan one all day outing in the direction of the mountain ridge above camp. Spectacular views await regardless of how high we each climb.
One of the highlights of the week will be a celebration of summer solstice, whether the trip dates coincide with actual solstice or not. What better place to celebrate the longest days of the year than in this land of 24 hour daylight!
On our last afternoon we will fly back to Whitehorse, intending to be back in time for a bit of an explore (or souvenir shopping for those interested) , dinner and an evening in the vibrant vibe of this “wilderness city”.
- float plane flight from Whitehorse to Primrose Lake return
- guiding, retreat facilitation and cooking services
- all group equipment including first aid supplies and satellite phone (for logistical and emergency purposes)
- all meals from lunch Day 1 to brunch on day 7
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- transportation to and from your home and Whitehorse
- personal belongings as per clothing/equipment list
- any accommodation or meals in Whitehorse
Jennifer Berezan
Jennifer is a unique blend of singer/songwriter, teacher, and activist. Her work continues to expand artistic boundaries, blurring the distinctions between musical styles, politics, and spirituality. Over the course of eight albums, she has developed and explored recurring themes with a rare wisdom. Her lifelong involvement in environmental, women’s, and other justice movements as well as an interest in Buddhism and earth-based spirituality are at the heart of her writing. And her intense and personal approach to music as a transforming experience has brought her strong rapport with audiences throughout North America and Europe. Her ground breaking work as a recording artist and teacher has established her as a leading voice in the field of music and healing and she is an acclaimed producer of large scale multi-cultural ecstatic musical events. Raised on the prairies of Alberta, Canada, the transformative power of nature is also at the heart of Jennifer’s work. The Canadian born singer calls Berkeley, California home when not on tour. She teaches at the California Institute of Integral Studies in the department of Philosophy and Religion. Her on-going class (since 1997) is entitled “the Healing Ecstasy of Sound” and explores music as a spiritual practice from a wide range of cross cultural, traditional and contemporary perspectives. You can find out more about Jennifer at www.edgeofwonder.com.
JILL PANGMAN go to About the Owner