Personal and Group Retreats

Closing of the Bones

You are warmly invited to join in a ceremonial workshop where you will learn how to offer a Closing of the Bones ceremony, an ancient postpartum ritual that honors the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey of birthing.  It offers a crucial completion to a rites of passage that mostly gets ignored in any meaningful way in our modern world.   This completion of the birth rites of passage is crucial in the overall health of mother, baby, and parents; it is an ancient, essential part of postpartum recovery + health.

This sacred tradition, historically practiced across many cultures, helps to physically "close" the body after the opening of childbirth, supports emotional processing, and marks the profound transition into postpartum and motherhood. While Closing of the Bones definitely has roots in Mexico, it ALSO has origins in Russia and Morroco amongst many, many other places in the world. For more anyone concerned about cultural appropriation, I encourage reading this article by the amazing traditional midwife Rachelle Garcia Seliga who shares more about this history of this cross-cultural tradition. I have been given permission and encouragement from the midwives I learned this ritual from in both Central America and Mexico to share this way of postpartum care for the well being of all mothers everywhere.

You will come away with a deep respect for this sacred tradition so that you can then offer your own version of it to anyone in your community during the postpartum period (6 weeks-20+ years!) as well as to those who have lost pregnancies, and those who are going through significant life transitions.

Details

Date: Sunday, May 4th 2025  
Time:10:00 AM - 3:00PM  
Location: Heartsong Transformative Arts Space 
Whatcom County, Bellingham WA

Investment

$275 includes in depth teaching on the Closing of the Bones ritual with a demo, lots of hands on practice, light refreshments, womb massage oil, and a hand-crafted belly binding cloth to take home

This Workshop Is For

-Doulas, Midwives, Mothers, anyone female-identified who provides postpartum care
- Those experiencing significant life transitions
- Women seeking closure after pregnancy loss
- Anyone feeling the need for energetic boundaries and renewed centeredness
*This ceremony honors all birthing experiences and paths to motherhood.*

What to Bring
- Comfortable clothing (loose-fitting pants/skirt and top)
- A special item for our community altar (optional)
- A shawl or blanket for warmth
- Journal for reflection + notes
- An open heart

Facilitated By Erin Quies Wild, is a bodyworker, a doula of birth and a midwife of life transitions. She is a regenerative grief guide, psychedelic journey doula, a mother of two and a committed steward of the earth who has lived on Orcas Island since 2004 and has been facilitating retreats, including doula trainings, for the past 20 years.

Registration

Space is limited to 12 participants to ensure an intimate, personalized experience.  
To learn more or with questions, please contact Erin at erinquies@gmail.com or text (360)298-0733

Come home to the Earth. Come home to your body. Come home to your purpose.

Humans throughout history have always set aside time to be in nature to seek answers to life’s questions, clarity on one’s direction, to quiet the mind and receive downloads from mother nature or spirit.  In today’s modern world, we are inundated by information, logistics, technology and relationships that can often distract us from our soul’s journey, our intuition and our vital connection with the animate earth.  For anyone committed to that relationship, to self-care, inner growth and peace; a vision fast has the potential to be potent, nourishing medicine for the soul.

This 2 day retreat is an allowance and opportunity to simply Be; a fast from our daily habits, needs and tendencies. It is a slowing down, an unplugging, with no distractions, that allows the full presence of what needs tending inside of you. You will have a private place to connect with the natural rhythm and sounds of nature, with the deeper wells of your mind and spirit that cannot be accessed easily in our busy, distracted and screen-dominated world.   This non judgemental, vital space will support you in reconnecting to your authentic Self, your dreams and gently instill your sense of Belonging. 

* Reset your nervous system
* Unplug
* Ground into the earth + connect to your center
* Be held in an intentional silent container with others
* Open yourself to visions, purpose, wisdom for your life
* 24 hours of fasting from “doing”, technology, food,  + drinks other than water (unless you have health concerns)

Includes:

* Guidance in preparation of the solo fast 
* An intention setting circle 
* A 24h solo nature spot 
* A solo sauna session 
* Morning practice and integration 
* A reflection council 
* A light nourishing lunch to break your fast
* 24 hour support and held space 



“ I just want to express my gratitude. You held such a beautiful space to welcome me back to myself; I have always felt at peace in nature but being held by the mother and by you created the deepest sense of being at home. You are such a gift to me and this world. This past weekend is something I will forever hold onto and reflect on in times when I need re-grounding.   When I’m in a frenzy or getting too attached to the negative inner dialogue,  I just imagine you whispering the words “please come home” and it brings me right back to me.” -Past participant (June 2023)

Costs:

* $275 (payment plans available)

If you are limited by finances please reach out so we can have a conversation.

The sacred container and guidance from Erin & Christianne will allow you to fully let go and safely drop into your unique experience. It is a chance to be alone, in silence, while surrounded by other people doing the same. Each person will have the opportunity to take a detoxifying sauna and cold plunge in the evening.  Together, we will share 2 talking circles as a group, at the beginning and end of our time, a movement practice, and a simple breakfast. A central fire, that we will light together, will burn throughout your solo time and act as a safe home base, always tended by one of your facilitators.  The simplicity of the experience allows you the spaciousness to connect to a meditative sense of deep time.

Host Your Own Retreat

Are you looking for a magical place to host your own retreat? Erin's land on Orcas Island offers 10 acres of simple beauty. Contact her for more information.