MEET YOUR GUIDES
“We must open our hearts and eyes to see the gifts of life around us. If we do, we will be able to remember our oneness.” ~ Grandfather Oak
A FEW WORDS ABOUT US...
The Nurtured by Nature Retreat began as the seed of a “Divine Idea” planted in one woman’s heart years ago. Then at just the right time, it touched the three other open hearts it needed to put down roots and materialize in the world.
This seed “germinated” so-to-speak, in a cabin at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park where four women from diverse backgrounds came together to envision and plan a retreat where people could connect with nature in new and meaningful ways.
To say all four of us were surprised by what was revealed is an understatement!
Through our shared exploration, it became clear that this retreat was more powerful and important than we imagined; and only through the collaborative expression of each of our unique gifts could this “bigger vision” come to light – and LIFE!
The Nurtured by Nature Retreat offers an opportunity to truly relax and let go of day-to-day stresses, and at its heart, is designed to reconnect people to the pure joy of just being alive!
Each one of us is deeply committed to facilitating, in collaboration with the natural world, experiences to become present with the earth, all life, and each other.
Through forest walks, conversation, silence, movement, ritual and art as well as sharing laughter and tears, dreams and fears, we will come together to cultivate openings for rest, deep healing, hope, inspiration, and joyful feelings of childlike wonder!
Together we (Stef, Tonya, Ellie and Dana), invite you to free your wild child and come dance by the light of the moon (or the bonfire) with us! It’s time!
About
Stef
I am STEF SWINK MORRISON, RScP Emeritus and I have been a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner/Mentor for over 25 years. I am also a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and was the ghost writer and protégé of author and New-Thought pioneer, Louise Hay. In addition to my private practice, speaking engagements, and facilitating co-creation and various retreats, I also write the “Ask Stef” advice column, published bi-monthly in Guide for Spiritual Living: Science of Mind Magazine.
At 7, I had a profound mystical experience while lying in the sunlight with my dogs. Suddenly and tangibly, I became “One” with the grass, trees, animals and clouds and was immersed in the energy of profound love, connection, and safety. This and other spiritual experiences and studies led me to my life’s work and continue to guide my soul’s path.
The Nurtured by Nature Retreat is the fulfillment of my deepest aspiration to create a safe and welcoming space for individuals to heal and awaken through conscious connection with our natural world. The present challenges faced by individuals, society, and the environment globally highlight the adverse effects associated with “Nature Deficit Disorder.” Spending mindful time outdoors is not only healing, it is essential. Therefore, now is the time for this retreat and I hope you will give yourself this gift. I am profoundly grateful that it has come to fruition so beautifully through collaboration with these three incredible and gifted souls.
Please join us as we reconnect to our true “wild” natures, evolve consciously and collectively, and lift the vibration of Love and Oneness on this planet!
Connect at www.StefSwink.com.
About
Tonya
Making a positive difference in our world, through connecting with people and connecting to nature, is why I am here. Perhaps you feel the same way, and that’s why you’re here as well!
Having retired from my career as a commercial airline pilot, it was time for me to switch gears and pursue a more personally fulfilling path, a joyous and enlightening journey to reconnect with nature and with others who value her.
My love of animals and nature was passed on to me by my parents through many wonderful experiences as a child. Growing up on a farm in the Texas Panhandle, I raised, cared for and loved many animals, and I have always felt a special kinship with, and compassion for creatures of all kinds. When my parents offered me an opportunity to go to a summer camp in Steamboat Springs during my 8th grade summer, it changed my life. The camp was all about immersion in nature. I watched as a porcupine swaggered into a tent, chewed on a boot and thankfully left the occupants unharmed. I camped alone after passing by fresh mountain lion tracks. The final backpack trip of that camp was through the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in northwestern Colorado. We woke up on the third day of that trip to a couple of feet of fresh snow surrounding our open-air tarps. Yes, we were all so tired we slept through 2 feet of snow falling around us! Luckily, a couple of horsemen came along and slowly started giving us rides out via several trips back and forth to our waiting vehicles. It was so beautiful and I remember feeling an intrinsic peace and connection to my surroundings, the ground beneath my feet, the snow and the beauty of it all. I was the only one to hike all the way out and I loved it! Nature held me in her arms that day and I have been a devotee of her gifts ever since. Her wildness and wonder have always felt like home to me and have brought me much comfort, solace, and joy throughout my life. This love of nature motivated me to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide, which allows me to further share the gift of nature with others through this retreat and beyond.
The Nurtured by Nature Retreat allows us to get back to nature and give back to her in the process. Through this retreat, we can further connect with ourselves and others and perhaps find our unique path in this world.
I look forward to going on this journey with you. Let’s wander and wonder together!
About
Dana
When my friend told me about her dream to present a workshop based in experiencing nature in new and sacred ways, I said yes. I have always loved being outside and, luckily, grew up in Colorado. One of my fondest early childhood memories is of sitting on a rock in the middle of a stream half-naked, basking in the afternoon sun. I have spent many years exploring and experiencing the forests and hills and mountains of this earth and have been fortunate to have traveled to many different countries, meeting people from many different cultures and paths. My life journey has brought me to a deep love for nature and the nature based religions of many cultures, which recognize and respect the elements of the earth through ritual and practices that, to me, reveal the wholeness and interconnectedness of the natural world and humankind. My hope is that through mutual respect, kindness, compassion and joy we can build a world that works for and celebrates our differences and our similarities, for we need them all.
I am currently a licensed spiritual practitioner with the Centers for Spiritual Living with deep roots and a life long interest in ancient earth-based religions and practices. Through passionate and heartfelt facilitation, I seek to inspire a sense of presence, reverence and connection to the world that is a blessing to all. My hope is that by connecting with nature we recognize and live a life of wonder and reverence for all that this world we inhabit has to offer, and that we care for and tend to the needs of this beautiful planet as well.
About
Ellie
I have always felt a special kinship to nature. Growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania surrounded by farmland and wooded areas, I often had wonderful encounters with the natural world. On my childhood sojourns, I would discover box turtles lumbering through the grass, black swallowtail caterpillars munching on my mother’s parsley and plump bullfrog tadpoles in nearby ponds. Much to my mother’s dismay, I would bring these natural wonders home with me. Needless to say, I ended up getting a master’s degree in Environment Education and encouraged children and adults alike to enthusiastically explore the wonders of nature for 10 years.
My relationship with the natural world has deepened as I’ve gotten older. Too many of us have lost our precious connection to it in our busy, technology driven and social media dominant society. We feel stressed out and anxious and wonder why. Reestablishing our relationship with nature offers us so many health benefits from calming our nervous systems to bolstering our immune system. I experienced this healing firsthand recovering from a journey with cancer. Now, I’m about to embark on a new path as a life coach and invite people who are going through challenging life events to rekindle a connection to nature that offers sanctuary and healing.
