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Community Corner

Women's Fall Retreat

The annual Women’s Connection Fall Conference will take place at Racine’s DeKoven Center, with an opportunity for various views and experiences of women’s spirituality.


Keynote speaker will be Geri Schrab, an award-winning artist from DeForest, Wis., who will speak on “Accessing Ancient Wisdom through Rock Art.” Her ideas stem from the knowledge that a woman's body is a macrocosm of Mother Earth's body and that respect for the Earth and respect for woman goes hand in hand.


Schrab has traveled throughout North America to explore ancient sacred sites and explains that her art work is the study of petroglyphs and pictographs which are images pecked, carved and painted on rock surfaces by the ancient indigenous people of North America. She reports, “I have found al-though the style and execution of the original rock art images may vary from area to area, there is an underlying unity. This ancient unity echoes our common heart and essential connection to Mother Earth.”

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The weekend will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, with registration and the opportunity to browse a vendor’s fair with a variety of crafts, books and gifts and bid for silent auction items before and after dinner along with available games. The opening ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. followed by dancing and the creation of a mural for the weekend activities.


On Saturday, Oct. 20, participants may begin with body movement at 7 a.m., followed by the keynote speaker at 9:30 a.m. In the afternoon, they may select from a variety of workshops:

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  • Painting with the Ancients with Geri Schrab, Wisconsin artist.

  • Create Your Own Piece of Wearable Art with Jenny Ross, a textile artist specializing in embroidery and Native American art, from Deerfield, Ill.

  • The Ancient Wisdom Within with Deb Singleton, meditation and shamanic practitioner.

  • Drumming Our Way Home with Heather Poyner, drum facilitator and owner of the Drum Hut, Kenosha.

  • Tarot Wisdom and the Valuing of the Feminine with Karen Carnabucci, holistic psychotherapist, coach and author in Racine.

  • The Medicine Wheel: A Way of Living with Mercedes Dzindzeleta, massage therapist and energy healer in Racine.

  • Cakes for the Queen of Heaven facilitator training with Gretchen Ohmann and Diana DeWeese, members of the U.U. Women’s Connection.



Evening activities will include a meditative twilight walk, a croning ceremony, dancing, drumming and games.


Saturday’s activities will include a worship service and closing ceremony, with opportunity to visit vendors.


A crafting area where participants may select and make crafts at their own pace will be open all day Saturday and  on Sunday morning.


The retreat is sponsored by the Universalist Unitarian Women’s Connection although all women with an interest in women’s spirituality are welcome.


Cost is $60 to $75, depending on membership, with residential and commuter options for attendees. For an additional $3 fee, participants may swim at the DeKoven pool during the weekend.


For more information, Call Diana DeWeese at (217) 546-5834 or write connections@uuwomensconnection.org.

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