A cozy winter exploration of creativity and self-discovery

Soul Fire Phoenix, in collaboration with Creators Space, is thrilled to offer ACTIVATING COURAGE: Exploring Creative Spirit! Join your hosts, Laura Libby & Melissa Dessart February 9-11, 2023 at the ARC Retreat Center in Stanchfield, Minnesota for a cozy winter exploration of your creativity and self-discovery.

During this 3-day retreat, we’ll explore uncertainty as an opportunity to summon Courage and transform the areas of our lives that no longer align with our path and greater purpose. We’ll discover many energetic tools for courage through philosophical discussion, crafting art, movement, ritual, and guided meditation to help remind us of the power and potential that lives within us all.

This special event is designed to promote personal growth, create community,  deepen connection to our creative spirit, and explore the medicines and wisdom of self-reflection. Shared teachings, group discussions, sacred rituals, and movement classes are the magic formula for what will surely be a powerful and unforgettable experience.

Located just 50 min north of the Twin Cities. ARC features a beautiful and cozy three-story A-frame lodge on 90 acres of pristine woodlands surrounded by a majestic white pine forest. You’ll relax, reflect, unite, and return inspired and renewed.

What's Included

• 2-Nights accommodation in a single or double occupancy room
• 5 Nourishing, vegetarian meals 
• Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day
• Sunrise Yoga & Meditation 
• Nia Dance & Healing Circle 
• Group discussions and teachings
• Snowshoeing in a majestic pine forest 
• Cozy fireside discussions
• Labyrinth for meditation walks
• Sacred Cacao and Tea Ceremonies
• Ritual candle and personal oracle card making
• Time & space to relax and renew by yourself or with others
• Access to the entire ARC Retreat Campus
• Ample Parking

Registration & Cancellation Policy

Event Registration

Only 16 spots for this amazing retreat are expected to fill quickly. So don’t delay in securing your special spot! This event is a wonderful holiday gift to yourself or someone you love, wanting loving change in the coming new year. Registration ends Jan 19. A waiting list will be created once all spots are filled. Your non-refundable deposit ($275 for a single and $550 for a double) is to secure your place in the ACTIVATING COURAGE RETREAT. Registration can be made through the WeTravel app.  See below for further cancellation policy details. 

A payment plan option is available upon request. If you are in need, please contact info@soulfirephoenix.com for more info or consider applying for our scholarship program.

Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/activatingcourage

Cancellation Policy:

We understand that no one who registers for a retreat wants to cancel but sometimes unexpected events happen. Please note that because our retreats are limited to a small number of attendees, to allow for a more personable, intimate experience, our cancellation policy is in place to help guests and us alike work together sharing expenses that may arise from unexpected cancellations. If for some reason you need to cancel:

• Refunds are based on the price of your room at the time of booking
• More than 21 days in advance – A refund of $328 for single occupancy and $400 for double occupancy will be issued (1/18/23) 
• 14-20 days in advance – A refund of $164 for a single and $200 for a double will be issued (1/25/23)
• Less than 14 days in advance – no refund (1/26/23)

In the rare event of OUR needing to cancel the event due to dangerous weather, political unrest, acts of god and other force majeure events, you may choose to transfer your balance to the rescheduled date or receive a full refund (minus a $50 admin fee). We cannot compensate participants for airfare, hotel and travel costs incurred. 

IMPORTANT DATES

November 1: “Special Friends” Early Bird Registration 

November 9: Public Registration & Scholarship App Opens

December 15: Scholarship Application Closes

December 15-21: Scholarship Submissions Review

December 23: Scholarship Award Notifications

January 22: Registration Closes 

Feb 9-11: Retreat Weekend

Available Scholarship

We are pleased to offer one special scholarship to attend, “Activating Courage” held on February 9-11, 2023 at the ARC Center in Stanchfield, MN entirely for FREE. Located just 50 min north of the Twin Cities, ARC features 90 acres of pristine wetlands and woodlands within a majestic white pine forest as your destination to relax, reflect, unite, celebrate and return renewed. Any person in need of support is welcome to apply. For more information 

Please see the application: https://forms.gle/F5xqHXCR1iPVqTZK8

Your Hosts

Laura Libby, is a dancer, healer, teacher, coach and merrymaker with a deep desire to move people to discover their true potential while learning to love and accept themselves using music, movement and magic. Having received her 600-hour certification in 1997 from Center Point School of Massage Therapy, Laura's specialties include deep tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Swedish Massage and is currently studying Craniosacral Therapy. 

As a certified Group Fitness Instructor, Laura teaches a wide range of classes including Barre, Spin, Vinyasa Yoga and Yoga Sculpt. As a life-long practitioner of Hatha Yoga in the Himalayan tradition, Laura received her 200-hour teaching certification through Corepower Yoga Minneapolis in 2007. Most recently, she received her White & Green Belts in the Nia Technique, a powerful, sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance and healing arts. She currently offers weekly Nia classes at Creator Space where she is a member of the healer's Sanctuary Collective. As a member of Creators Space, Laura has been a featured presenter at Community Bloom and regularly creates opportunities and spaces to celebrate and explore creative spirit.

Internationally renowned as award-winning burlesque performer Ophelia Flame, Laura is the founder of The Twin Cities Burlesque Academy, Minnesota's first school of its kind. The Academy's mission was to teach burlesque technique, performance, and history while encouraging creative self-expression, and body confidence that welcomed students of all levels and backgrounds. Laura enjoys performing rituals, creating sacred spaces, spending time with her family, traveling and anything related to ice cream.

Melissa Dessart

Melissa Dessart is the co-founder of Creators Space and an active student, teacher, collaborator and creator within the creative community. Through her work at Creators Space, she has built a place to explore the power of the Creative Spirit and find a deeper connection with your authentic self as a way to heal, grow and manifest goals personally and as a collective. 

Melissa guides sacred circles, retreats and meditations at Creators Space.  She weaves together a curriculum exploring creativity, spirituality, and nature’s wisdom through the wheel of the year as a way to support the integration of creative wisdom into your daily life. Melissa graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point with a B.A. in Dance and a second major in Business Administration-Entrepreneurship.  

She started her professional career managing product portfolios for Target Corporation and then moved into the role of Market Director for the School of Education at Capella University. She then took her 20 years of business experience and deep understanding of how to build great education programs and channeled it into her passion for the arts and community, Creating Creators Space.

Melissa seeks to journey through life with wonder and awe along with loving parents, a supportive husband, three amazing kids and a growing family of creative friends embracing a similar way of living.