Frequently Asked Questions Overview
Womyn of Wunjo is deeply rooted in community and will be exploring ways of building authentic, equitable relationships through all of our time together.
We will foster deep connections with each other as well as the land. To accomplish this, our event space will be substance-free and we will strongly encourage all participants to fully unplug from the digital world. This helps us intentionally engage in ways that we don’t get to in our day-to-day lives; to slow down and tune into our own rhythms and directly access guidance available to us from the natural world. These are critical aspects for how we Re-Member.
FAQ:
Who is this for? Anyone who identifies as a womon who is 18+
What does “wunjo” mean? It’s a Germanic rune designating joy and kinship.
Why “womyn”? We are reclaiming this word that came out of feminist consciousness groups in the 70s to assert our right to self-determine, free from any association with men. The terms women and woman literally conjoin us, define us in relation to men, and is a patriarchal construct. We want to honor our choice in how we identify.
Is this for cis-gendered women only? Cis and Trans womyn are welcome in our space with the understanding that the container we are holding is one where we can lift up the identity of She/Her. We will be exploring and celebrating our ancient and contemporary expressions of female embodiment and womyn’s culture.
Do you have to have a particular religious or spiritual background to participate or feel comfortable? Is this just for white womyn? We are going to be exploring and practicing earth-based traditions from Europe. Because these practices have been denigrated, minimized, and villainized, as white womyn we have often looked to other cultures to try and find that re-connection. We are offering this space specifically for those of us who are from the European Diaspora to reclaim and recreate our own practices based on spiritual lineages from our own ancestral lands. This is a crucial step to ending cultural misappropriation and further colonization.
Where are these retreats?
We will be gathering 30 minutes outside of Asheville, NC on a beautiful, private 320-acre forest preserve. For security purposes, you will receive the exact address and other logistics details once you have registered.
Travel:
The closest airport is in Asheville (AVL); we will do our best to help with rides too and from for those who need ground transport. Once we have our full list of participants, we will share with the group so ride-shares can be coordinated.
There is plenty of parking and 4/all-wheel drive are not needed.
When do the retreats start and end?
We will start every weekend at 12pm on Friday and be done by 12pm on Sunday. If you are flying, please book your flights accordingly.
Accessibility needs: Our lodging and event space are centrally located on the property and require little walking to get to various activities. If we use outdoor spaces further afield, there will be options for transport if walking longer distances/uphill is an issue. Most bedrooms are up 2 flights of stairs and everyone will be sharing bathrooms; we will reserve bedrooms on the first floor for those with limited mobility. Please contact us with any other accessibility concerns.
Do I have to be ready to hike for miles? How outdoorsy do I need to be?
It will be up to individuals how much outside time/how deep into the woods you want to go. Bring sunscreen and bug spray and know that we do have ticks.
What’s your COVID policy?
We are asking everyone to be particularly vigilant in the week leading up to our retreats. If you are traveling by plane/train/bus, we strongly encourage you to mask throughout your journey. Once we are together, masking is optional and we will have stickers to indicate your preferred social distance. We suggest you are up to date on flu and COVID vaccinations. We will be doing COVID tests on-site prior to the start of each retreat – please bring a rapid test with you.
What kind of food will be available?
We will be providing all meals & snacks. We will have a variety of options to cover all dietary needs. Part of coming together in the community is being mindful about how we talk about food – everyone has their own dietary needs and we want everyone to feel supported and respected. Part of this will be an encouragement of no diet talk or “good/bad” foods. Our meals together will be focused on nourishing ourselves and enjoying our fellowship.
Will there be cell phone and wifi access?
Cell service and internet will be available (though see above re: unplugging from the digital world as much as possible)
Do I have to come to the intro weekend in August to attend the year-long program?
The retreat in August is a standalone weekend that will be an intro to some of the work we are doing and who we are, but is not needed to join the year-long immersion starting in November. You can just sign up for the August weekend or you can just sign up for the year-long series. We do ask that you attend all four weekends if you commit to the year-long program.
What is included in the year-long immersion?
All lodging, all meals, private access to a forest preserve and retreat center, extensive hands-on practice with highly trained Circle facilitators. Plus, we will be meeting virtually for monthly full moon calls and 4 quarterly somatic skills calls between each retreat weekend.
What does the year-long immersion cost?
If you are signing up for the year-long series starting in November, you have 2 payment options.
If you pay in full by October 5th, 2024, the all-inclusive cost is $3500.
If you pay in installments, the cost is $4000 and will be broken down like this:
Initial payment of $1500 will be paid no later than October 5th, 2024. Please note: space is limited – your spot is not confirmed until you make your first payment.
Then you will have 3 payments of $833 due before each subsequent retreat weekend:
- $833 due on Jan 5th, 2025
- $833 due on April 5th, 2025
- $833 due on July 5th, 2025
If you register for the August intro weekend as well, you will receive a $500 discount on the year-long program.
If you want to contribute to our scholarship fund, there is an option to indicate how much you would like to offer.
What about refunds or what if I can’t make a weekend?
Because of the nature of this program and all the expenses included, once you have signed up (regardless if you are able to attend or not) we are not able to offer any refunds. If you choose the payment plan and are unable to finish the program, you will still be responsible for your payments.
Will I be able to reserve a private room?
For our year-long immersion program, we will be rotating our sleeping arrangements (unless you have a medical need that precludes that) so that everyone will have access to different options.
Are there any options for financial assistance?
We do have some financial assistance available for womyn of limited financial means. Though we know that finances are tight for all of us, it’s imperative to understand that capitalism does not divvy up resources equitably. We find this information helpful in understanding different financial circumstances. If you are in need of financial assistance in order to participate, we invite you to reach out to us for more information.
