Transition Cadillac

 "Life flows on in unexpected ways that can bless or diminish life for us.  It's  up to us to decide, each moment, each day which it will be. After a period of facing and grieving losses we can be blessed by the changes they bring....regardless  of where they lead. That seems to be the challenge of our time." Julie   In collaboration with Transition Cadillac Area, an initiative which promotes living more locally and in supportive community for the environmental, financial and fuel energy challenges we all face, MorningStar Retreat Center, near LeRoy, is offering a *safe circle the last Sunday in the month starting February 26 from 1:00- 4PM through November for those seeking to look at issues of "inner transition"; our internal world of needs, feelings and possibilities related to the external changes happening, and learning to live more clearly from a place of inner resourcefulness and personal empowerment as part of the change we seek for the world.  To guide us in our self-reflection we will be using the book, Awakening the Heroes Within; Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform our world. By Carol S. Pearson. Purchasing it is highly recommended, as it is a clear guide to the path of personal transformation which is the only sure path to a transformed world, and addresses the development and maturity of Ego, Soul and Self.   The Archetypes worked with are the: Innocent, Orphan, Caregiver, Warrior, Seeker, Destroyer, Lover, Creator, Ruler, Magician, Sage and Fool. We learn what characterizes their stages of development as a map to our own conscious transformation and learn ways to foster our own healing and integration toward wholeness.  This is not a therapy group, but a place of self-empowered learning for greater self-responsibility for both women and men, with group support. The Circle will be limited to12 participants. Each session will begin with a contemplative practice for bringing awareness of our inner selves and senses using a variety of experiential means, including time in nature.Julie Keefer, BS.MA, Founder of MorningStar is the Circle coordinator and initial facilitator.  She is trained and certified in Archetypal studies with Carol Pearson and is a life-long student of psycho-spiritual studies for mind body, soul and spirit integration with 30 years of  experience facilitating safe circles of self-discovery and personal empowerment at MorningStar.       *A safe circle format has guidelines that will be shared and followed in how we listen to one another as we share our personal reflections without blame or judgment, and in confidentiality.   

Morningstar welcomes donations of hands, heart and resources to support our work. To learn more about this experience, or to register call or e-mail Julie: cell 231-884-2789 or land line: 231-768-4368 morningstar.retreatcenter@gmail.com

The 100 Food Garden Challenge kick-off meeting was well attended, despite a generous fall of lake effect snow. The following teams were created: Outreach/promotion/media, materials and logistics, model projects, volunteer coordinator.
There was much brainstorming and an enthusiastic discussion of ideas. 
There will be more opportunities to get involved for those who were unable to come. 
The next meeting will be on January 26th 2012 at 7pm, 
First Congregational Church, 200 Harris Street.
We were featured on the Transition US website, as well as in the Cadillac News!
Read more on 100 Garden page

It was an honor to have international speaker and futurist, Nicole Foss in our community, hosted by Transition Cadillac Area. Her talk was brilliant, enlightening, and very well received by the audience.

Several representatives of Transition Cadillac attended a Michigan Land Use Institute event at Traverse City State Theater on October 6th, entitled "Fair Food". Oran Hesterman has written a  book called "Fair Food" in which he envisions a way forward for our broken food system. He emphasizes the importance of local food, which is a focus for Transition Cadillac, and cites Shetler Dairies as an example of good practice.
Oran Hesterman spoke on NPR's Points Live. 
See also: http://www.mlui.org/pageview.asp?fileid=17521