Hosted'by'Leaves'and'Lizards''

Arenal'Volcano'Cabin'Retreat'

Costa'Rica''

Contact'us'for'more'information'at:''leavesandlizardsretreat@gmail.com'

September'17'–'27,'2017'

2'

•  About'Eponicity'•  We'offer'equine'facilitated'learning'workshops'J'interaction'between'horses'and'people'designed'to'create'experiential'learning'and'development.'

•  About'Rites'of'Passage'•  We'organize'Vision'Quests'–'an'ancient'ceremony'where'people'go'alone'into'the'wilderness'to'look'within'and'engage'on'a'sacred'journey:'completion'of'an'old'life,'movement'through'the'threshold'of'the'unknown,'and'return'to'the'world'reborn.'The'teachings'of'the'Medicine'Wheel'are'used'to'guide'the'quest.'

Eponicity'is'proud'to'partner'with'Mike'Bodkin'and'Dashielle'Vawter'of

Rites'of'Passage'to'explore'the'interconnection'between'all'living'beings'through'the'

teaching'of'the'Medicine'Wheel'

In#this#ground-breaking#and#unique#experience,#we#will#combine#the#ancient#teachings#of#the#Medicine#Wheel#with#the#ancient#survival#wisdom#of#horses#–#a#deep,#profound#and#

enlightening#journey….##

•  The'way'horses'sense,'think'and'behave'can'help'humans'better'understand'how'we'sense,'think'and'behave'

Equine'

•  Activities'are'uniquely'designed,'facilitated'and'deJbriefed'to'deliver'profound'and'powerful'experiences''

Facilitated'

•  Having'an'experience'is'a'powerful'way'to'learn'and'create'sustainable'change'(rather'than'just'books'or'lectures)''

Experiential'Learning'

3'

4'

The'medicine'wheel'teaches'us'to'know'

ourselves'deeply'and'to'understand'and'claim'our'

place'in'it'all.''

The'medicine'wheel'is'a'system'that'organizes'and'

helps'us'understand'the'place'of,'and'relations'between,'all'things'within'creation.'From'the'cycle'of'seasons'to'the'roles'of'different'animals'in'

ecosystems,'from'the'wildness'of'children'to'the'

responsibilities'of'adulthood;'the'medicine'wheel'teaches'us'to'understand'the'importance'of'each'thing'within'a'larger'

whole.''

One'of'the'gifts'of'working'with'the'medicine'wheel'is'to'reincorporate'our'human'

identities'into'the'larger'whole'of'nature.'While'modern'life'seems'to'chant'that'we'are'

separate,'the'medicine'wheel'whispers'to'us'of'our'connectedness'and'

interdependence.'The'gift'of'this'is'a'restored'sense'of'

connection'with'all'of'life'and'the'healing'of'our'own'wholeness'within'that.'

Medicine'Wheels'are'found'in'many'cultures'and'vary'widely'in'how'they'are'organized'based'on'the'spiritual'

traditions'from'which'they'emerge.'The'medicine'wheel'we'will'work'with'in'this'

workshop'was'passed'through'the'teachings'of'Hyemyhosts'Storm'to'Rites'of'Passage'and'

the'modern'vision'quest'movement'in'the'1970's.''

5'

6'

Our'journey'to'the'Southern'region'of'the'Medicine'Wheel'takes'us'to'our'childhood'where'we'learned'to'play,'see'ourselves'as'individuals,'get'in'touch'with'our''human'form/body.'A'well'balanced'horse'knows'how'to'play'and'evokes'our'playful'and'spontaneous'childhood'desires,'helping'individuals'with'buried'childhood'wounds'to'heal.''

Moving'from'the'South,'looking'to'the'West'we'enter'adolescence,'we'begin'to'develop'our'inner'resources'and'find'our'uniqueness'and'sense'of'self.''In'the'West'we'learn'to'feel'our'emotions'and'to'release'grief'and'loss.'Horses'help'us'uncover'blocks'within'ourselves'that'hold'us'in'the'West,'in'our'shadow'and'the'dark'places'

Emerging'from'the'resources'we'discover'in'our'West,'comes'our'reasoning,'our'work'ethic,'our'intellect'and'adulthood.'A'place'where'our'ego'may'suppress'our'intuitive'processes.'Our'North'governs'and'keeps'resources'in'balance.'With'the'North'and'the'horse'we'will'explore'how'to'balance'our'logic'with'our'intuition.'

Exploration'of'the'Eastern'shield'of'the'Medicine'Wheel'takes'us'to'our'spiritual'doorway'of'birth'and'death.'It'is'our'union'with'the'divine.'It'is'Spring'and'Sunrise.'The'horse'will'show'us'the'East'by'opening'and'awakening'our'intuitive'senses,'leading'us'into'our'spiritual'connection'to'the'energetic'world'around'us.'''

7'

“Beyond#the#veils#of#language#and#the#noise#of#activity,##

the#most#profound#events#of#our#lives#take#place##

in#those#fleeting#moments#where#something#else#shines#through,##

something#that#can#never#be#fixed#in#language,##

something#given#as#quietly#as#the#gift#of#your#next#breath.”#

'JJohn'O’Donahue,'Theologist'''

''''''

8'

!!

“All of us felt supported, physically, emotionally and mentally and

certainly spiritually. To be directly in contact with nature and horses, in such a beautiful environment with

gorgeous accommodation and wonderful food, it just doesn’t get

any better.”!'

“I'm so grateful for the experience I had at Leaves and Lizards. It was truly a life changing

experience that I couldn't have anticipated. Being surrounded by such love from all the horses,

waking up to a stunning view of the volcano, eating delicious organic meals and working with such

amazing facilitators (Debbie, Sally, Dashielle and Mike) was healing on so many levels. My overall experience of this workshop in 3 words is sacred,

exhilarating and unforgettable!”!

“Equine facilitated learning and the medicine wheel is a perfect combination for profound and

meaningful self work. The guides from Leaves and Lizards and Rites of Passage do a fabulous job at

creating a hands-on activity-filled workshop that promotes personal

growth and the gaining of valuable life wisdom, while balancing down time for rest, play, exploration and rejuvenation. I felt cared for, seen and heard - and that's how well

they treat their horses too! You will deeply connect with these divine creatures, with the Costa Rican jungle, and with the guides and

other participants. I highly recommend this event and it is most definitely money well spent. And now

there's even a pool - bonus!”!

“The horses are extraordinarily genuine, compassionate and giving - their interaction with me brought out feelings I had not expected to

surface and I worked through blocks and identified barriers I didn't even know were

there. Working with the horses in the group dynamic was also a fascinating mirror to how I

show up in other life situations.”!

“I am going to be honest. Your retreat is the best thing I ever participated in...Also, I am aware of a

new inner space of my perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and definitely the dreams. They help

reveal the truth of my life as it is while sensing the truth in my life and connection to others beyond my

imagination. And yes, I am able to picture new solutions in my life with imagination.”!

!

What'happens'at'Eponicity'Retreats?'You'will'experience'uniquely'designed'activities'with'the'horses,'both'on'the'ground'and'in'the'saddle'No'prior'horse'experience'is'necessary'

What'do'these'activities'involve?'• Activities'are'dynamic'and'will'be'tailored'for'you'personally'to'support'your'individual'learning'process''

• All'exercises'are'expertly'facilitated'and'deJbriefed'to'maximize'your'learning'potential.''An'example'activity'is'learning'to'build'a'relationship'with'your'horse'on'the'ground'so'that'he'follows'you'freely'without'any'lead'rope'or'bridle'

What'is'different'about'this'one?'•  This'retreat'will'incorporate'the'teachings'of'the'Medicine'Wheel'into'the'horse'experience'for'a'profound'and'farJreaching'journey'of'the'soul'

• We'have'two'fantastic'guest'facilitators'who,'with'their'breadth'and'depth'of'vision'and'experience,'will'add'a'whole'new'dimension''

9'

10'

Michael'Bodkin','M.S.,'MFT,'is'a'psychotherapist'and'wilderness'guide'who'has'been'the'Executive'Director'of'Rites'of'Passage'for'over'25'years.'His'passion'is'leading'people'to'the'mirror'of'nature'to'discover'the'gifts'of'their'soul.'He'holds'expert'knowledge'of'the'Medicine'Wheel'bringing'this'ancient'spiritual'practice'to'modern'day'life.'He'directs'the'guide'training'programs'for'Rites'of'Passage'and'has'led'Vision'Quests'and'trainings'in'

places'as'diverse'as'South'Korea'and'Australia.''

Dashielle'Vawter'is'a'Vision'Quest'guide,'coach,'singer,'minister,'facilitator,'and'mountain'guide.'8'years'ago,'after'a'spiritual'awakening,'she'left'her'nonJprofit'career'path'and'began'a'journey'of'selfJdiscovery'and'exploration'aimed'at'returning'to'her'heart'and'her'own'deepest'passions.'While'the'road'has'been'winding'and'wild,'her'

personal'growth'work'led'to'the'emergence'of'her'coaching'practice'and'the'uncovering'of'music'as'a'deep'and'abiding'love.'While'working'as'a'mountain'guide'5'years'ago,'she'discovered'the'Vision'Quest'ceremony'and'her'first'experiences'questing'were'key'in'her'own'process'of'transformation'and'healing.'After'training'and'apprenticing'with'Mike'Bodkin,'she'now'helps'facilitate'this'process'as'a'guide.'Singing'and'songwriting'are'her'deepest'passions,'along'with'supporting'other'people'in'claiming'their'own'

unique'and'beautiful'paths.'

Deborah'Draves'Legg'left'her'life'in'the'USA'and'a'25'year'career'as'a'registered'nurse'in'2006'and'created'Leaves'and'Lizards'Arenal'Volcano'Cabin'Retreat'in'Costa'Rica'with'her'husband,'artist,'Steve'Legg.'Her'years'working'as'charge'nurse'and'transport'nurse'in'

Neonatal'ICU,'Pediatric'ICU,'Adult'Hospice,'Director'and'founder'of'a'pediatric'home'care'program'prepared'her'for'the'challenge'of'creating'this'healing'retreat'in'Central'America.'Horses'found'their'way'into'Deborah’s'life'serendipitously'after'the'move'to'Costa'Rica.'Little'by'little'as'the'herd'grew'to'20'plus'horses'so'did'the'equine'therapy'programs.''

Sally'Nilsson'is'an'expert'facilitator,'certified'executive'coach,'experienced'mentor'and'instructor'in'Eponaquest'horseJled'leadership'and'personal'development'activities.'Sally'spent'15'years'as'a'corporate'attorney'in'London'and'Hong'Kong,'starting'her'career'in'a'

leading'global'law'firm'and'culminating'as'General'Counsel'of'a'multiJbillion'European'realJestate'investment'firm.'She'stepped'off'the'deal'junky'path'in'2015'to'follow'her'passion'and'focus'her'full'attention'on'supporting'others'to'find'and'access'the'life'they'truly'want'–'and'

to'believe'that,'like'her,''they'can'create'it.''

“Vinculo”'is'a'Spanish'word'meaning'a'deep'unexplainable'connection'between'two'souls.'At'Eponicity,'we'support'the'horse/human'interaction'

with'relationshipJbased'horsemanship''When'we'listen'to'what'our'horses'have'to'say,'our'relationship'potential'

with'them'is'infinite'

We'have'25'horses,'who'live'together'as'a'herd'on'26'acres.'We'grow'most'of'their'food,'cutting'fresh'grass'for'them'daily.'We'ride'in'bitJless'“painJfree”'bridles'–'it'is'very'important'to'us'to'have'happy,'healthy'horses'

11'

12'

Leaves'and'Lizards'is'a'sanctuary'in'the'rainforest''at'the'base'of'the'Arenal'Volcano,'Costa'Rica.'

'Surrounded'by'glorious'nature,'away'from'the'stresses'of'daily'life,'guests'are'

nourished'with'farmJtoJtable'fresh'food,'natural'water,'comfortable'accommodations'and'massage,'all'provided'by'caring'staff'onJsite'

www.leavesandlizards.com'

''

What'is'keeping'you'from'being'your'best'self?''

'Take'a'journey'around'the'Medicine'Wheel'to'feel,'

heal,'and'restore'your'true'and'whole'Self'''

©'Eponicity'2015'''www.leavesandlizards.com''' 13'

14'

Retreat'includes:'

•  8'day'workshop'plus'2'additional'nights'of'stay'•  Daily'workshop'activities,'tuition,'materials,'

horses'and'guides'•  5'hours'of'massage'services''•  Food'and'accommodation*''

Dates:' September'17K27,'2017'Arrival 'at 'Leaves 'and'Lizards 'on'or 'before 'September ' 17 . 'Departure 'on'September'27 ' in ' the'morning'(depart ing'flights 'today'should' leave'after ' 1pm)'

Duration' Workshop:'8'days,'nights'of'stay:'10'

Cost'' $2899'/person'Additional'nights' Double 'occupancy'at '$ 150/night 'plus ' 13%'tax , ' includes 'breakfast '

Not'included' Fl ights , 'a irport ' transfers , ' t ips , 'a lcohol ic 'dr inks '*Dinner 'on'nights 'of ' 17 t h 'and'26th ' '

Book'your'place'now'by'contacting'us'on:'leavesandlizardsretreat@gmail.com'

'For'more'information'on'equine'facilitated'learning'click'HERE'

'

©'Eponicity'2015'''