A Workshop for Adults Ages 50 and Above

Cost: $1800

Time: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM

We are pleased to introduce a new workshop for individuals ages 50 and above. The Crossroads of Wisdom moves into and beyond the challenges of growing older, offering tools to reclaim and expand into the profound potential of this rich stage of growth, calling, and authentic expression.

The Reality of the “Second Act” In between the unrealistic images of 104-year-olds running competitive dashes and the ageist stereotype of the frail elder, there are rich, unexplored, and rarely talked about experiences of growing older.

This is a time of diverse reality: individuals searching for meaning in their “last act,” looking back and assessing inevitable regrets or lost opportunities, and facing their fears to forge ahead with creativity. Some of us are seeking release, others eternal youth; some retreat while others move outward to fight for our planet. Whether you are feeling hope, rage, peace, humility, or resignation, this workshop provides a sanctuary to explore what it means not just to grow older, but to grow whole.

The Experience: Weaving the Tapestry In this workshop, we will explore the practical and mystical sides of the aging process. Through experiential activities with the Eponaquest herd, we will invite the wisdom of the horse and the wisdom of the Sage and Crone to inform, reframe, and enhance our relationships with our authentic selves, our families, and our colleagues.

We will listen for the “hooves of the great ancestral horse herd” and converse with archetypes, contemporary thinkers, and the divine. Together, under the warmth of the desert sun, we will weave the threads of our past and future into a tapestry, becoming the heroes of our own journey.

The Facilitators: A Blend of Science and Spirit This workshop offers a unique balance of the transformational and the practical:

• Linda Kohanov: Eponaquest founder and author of five books, including the bestseller The Tao of Equus. Linda brings her expertise in the transformational power of the horse-human bond.
• Carole Estabrooks: A PhD-prepared nurse scientist and expert in issues related to older adults. As a senior scientist at the University of Alberta, Carole brings deep practical knowledge of the realities of aging and long-term care.

Together, they are excited to answer the question: “What is the potential of truly living the rest of our lives with consciousness, compassion, discernment, grace, and creativity?”.

The Philosophy: The Crossroads and the Wise Elder The workshop is grounded in the concept of the “Crossroads”—those places where the unknown intersects with the known, asking us to surrender our ego to a higher calling.

We will explore the potent archetype of the Wise Elder (represented by the Crone and the Sage). Far from a negative stereotype, this archetype possesses a “unique combination of compassion and discernment”. As Jungian analyst Marion Woodman noted, this elder energy represents a powerful detachment: having “been there,” one can stand in the “straight, flat-out, naked truth”.

Regardless of gender, the enlightened Elder embodies a balance of nurturing feminine and discriminating masculine qualities. By developing this archetype within ourselves, we learn to:

• Become a “tuning fork” in our environment, resonating with reality without the need to manipulate others.
• Utilize “masculine” discernment to cut away what is no longer essential or destructive, while using “feminine” nurturing to cut with love.
• Mentor others from a place of wisdom rather than ego.

Join Us at the Crossroads Life is filled with many little deaths and transitions. But few of us consider that fertile time between letting go of the old and embracing the new. Join us to turn the “rest of life” into an opportunity to reap and share the fruits of a life well lived.