Voices
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Nature Companionship: an afternoon in the woods with Dr. Jeanette Banashak
“Imagine,” says our guide Dr. Jeanette Banashak, “what it would look like to be attuned, to have attunement, right out of your front door with the land and the trees and the plants in your house or right here at Whidbey Institute? By practicing nature companionship we try and attune with the ancestors in the land who were here before us.”
Meet Joe Sendek, our Indomitable Facilities Steward
This week we continue our series to introduce the Whidbey Institute Staff. The Whidbey Institute runs on the fuel and the love of a very dedicated and not-large group (24) of hardworking and whole-hearted people, almost all of whom work part time.
We're so excited for you to meet more of us here!
Chatting with local artist, author, teacher and more: Deborah Koff-Chapin
How to even introduce much-loved local artist Deborah Koff-Chapin, founder of Touch Drawing and the Soul Cards.
In the Gardens with dee
dee elle, our wonderful Housekeeping staff and Place Team member, (also lovingly now known here as steward of cabins and tender of gardens) has taken on our gardens - both the herbal/culinary garden by Thomas Berry Hall and the beloved West Garden - and will be checking in with us regularly with around her work.
A Forest Bath Experience
20 of us gathered Sunday, May 2nd, at Storyhouse for a Forest Bath Experience. We began in the Storyhouse Meadow, then moved into the woods at the Listening Circle, and back inside Storyhouse for a sound bowl meditation and a simple tea ceremony, with our guide, Nancy Schmidt.
Sensing in the Forest
There’s 25 of us this sunny Saturday Spring Equinox morning. We’re here to experience the woods through our senses with Larry Rohan, Whidbey Institute’s (WI) Forest Steward.
Art in the Hall: Love from the Deep, A SeaMonster Art Opening with Cultural Educator and Indigenous Storyteller Pamela SeaMonster
What a wonderful, fun and successful Art Opening event last Saturday with Pamela SeaMonster!
We had 80-some people come along and enjoy a day of art showing and storytelling, learning about Pamela's art and about Pamela herself. The afternoon included a free raffle and Pamela gave away a very generous 5 pieces of art. Everyone enjoyed the drinks, including cedar cider, (thank you Pamela), soup and salad, nibbles and sweet treats for Valentine's Day.
The Art of Awe and Wonder: Rehearsing Resilience
16 of us arrived to the Sanctuary, full of anticipation, and perhaps some trepidation too - what does a workshop around resilience, awe, wonder, movement, and the arts look like?
Dana Lyons - Concert in the Hall
Saturday's concert in Thomas Berry Hall was the kickoff to Dana's These Songs of Freedom tour. We feel so lucky, and so grateful, to have hosted Dana here for his first concert tour! What a beautiful, fun, uplifting and important afternoon of songs, music and of course, incredible storytelling from Dana, an environmental and political activist, and committed social justice musical warrior.
A guided forest walk in November
Larry Rohan, Whidbey Institute Forest Steward and our guide this day says “close your eyes, breathe deeply, listen.”