Heartwood painting by Gwen Dirks
Heartwood Retreat
September 19-26, 2025
Rivendell Lodge, Bowen Island, BC
with Gwen Dirks, Mary Palm, and Peggy Allen
Express the essence of your being. Consider where you’ve been. Tell the story of how you’re being transformed. Just like the trees in the forest, we will support and communicate with each other, and feel our interconnection.
Guided by artists and spiritual companions, we invite you to create your own unique "heartwood painting" — a symbolic expression of your life's journey and core values. You will play the sacred roles of both storyteller and listener, as we move through a process of individual reflection, small group conversations, and larger-circle gatherings. You will use simple symbols to paint your life story onto a stretched artist canvas. No previous art experience is required.
This retreat is for you to:
• share your life story
• deepen into community
• explore your unique creativity
• witness others’ stories
Cost
The cost of this 8-day retreat is $1,550 plus a $50 non-refundable deposit (Canadian funds) to secure your spot. The retreat fee includes:
• 7 nights’ accommodation in the beauty and hospitality of Rivendell Centre
• all meals created on-site by Chef Kate Rice
• all art supplies, including the 36-inch x 36-inch canvas
• facilitation and instruction for the retreat
• a day of intentional contemplation or silence
• one optional spiritual accompaniment session
Check in on September 19 is between 2 and 3 pm for a 3:30 pm start. Check out on September 26 is at 11 am
If you have any questions or concerns about registering, email Gwen Dirks at gwendirks8@gmail.com
Facilitators
Gwen Dirks
is an artist and the creator of the Heartwood process. She is a seeker of the wonder and mystery that is God and is sensitive to the Spirit in herself and others. Creating and walking; self-inquiry and reading; community and solitude; she believes everything in the earthiness of life becomes an entry way into God’s love. Gwen completed the Pacific Jubilee SoulGuiding program in 2022 and the SoulMentoring program in 2025.
Read about Gwen’s spiritual accompaniment practice here.
Mary Palm
has a background as a teacher, but she is a student of life. She is a spiritual independent, trained in the sacred listening arts of spiritual accompaniment and grief companioning. Mindfully gardening, hiking, skiing, and focusing on all the wonder around her through photography, her biggest mentor is Mother Nature.
Reading and writing poetry, singing, and dabbling in other art forms, allows for expression of, and connection to, the common human experience. This, along with her deep, extensive life journey with personal loss, has opened her to new levels of interaction with others, and with Spirit.
Mary completed the Pacific Jubilee SoulGuiding program in 2022 and the SoulMentoring program in 2025. She offers spiritual accompaniment and facilitates grief journey groups. Read about Mary’s spiritual accompaniment practice here.
Peggy Allen
completed the Pacific Jubilee SoulGuiding Program in 2022 and finds joy and meaning in companioning herself and others into deeper union with the Divine, however we each experience that movement. Rooted in the Mystical Tradition, meditation and contemplation are trusted allies into spaciousness and acceptance of Life on its terms. Perhaps her most potent teacher has been grief and loss and the love that has risen in the doorway of this threshold. Through the creative processes of listening, gardening, soul collage, writing, and ritual, she is finding her way into easeful presence.
Read about Peggy’s spiritual accompaniment practice here.