{Listen. Enjoy. Savor} Seasonal Retreats for the Soul

Our next retreat gathering is... 

Winter Solstice: Eternal and Evergreen

In-Person: Friday, December 19, 2025 from 9 am to noon Central Time at our home in Eagle, WI

Virtual Gathering via Zoom: Saturday, December 20, 2025 from 9 am to noon Central Time) 

Dear Luminous Lights — 

Winter made its arrival in a big way this past weekend with 9.5 inches of snowfall at our home here in Eagle, WI. With the two snow days at home, a pull to candlelight, Christmas lights and quiet, it felt like the perfect prelude to this winter season.

Amid the busy-ness of the holiday season, it's essential for me to make intentional space for inner listening. To slow down enough to hear the whispers of my soul and the longings of my body and spirit. 

I invite you to make space for this kind of deep inner connection and join me for the "Eternal and Evergreen" a {Listen. Enjoy. Savor.} Winter Solstice mini-retreat. For the first time, I'm happy to share there are two options to choose from:
  1. In-person at our home in Eagle, WI on Friday, December 19 from 9 am-noon US Central Time.  
  2. OR Virtually via Zoom on Saturday, December 20 from 9 am-noon US Central time

Our guiding supports and archetypes for this Winter Solstice gathering will be White Lynx (penetrating truth, inner sight), Mountain Laurel (perseverance, overcoming adversity), and Clear Quartz (balance and amplification of energy).

There will be space for solo sacred listening with yourself and the wider field of awareness, group sharing, a guided meditation and a ceremony to mark the shifting of the season. You'll leave with sustaining guidance for the coming season as well as practices to abide in what is eternal and evergreen as move into winter — a season of stillness and being with the dark.

The message I received around the theme of this gathering during my meditation was this:

You can trust its arrival
like you can trust the beating of your heart.
The seasons of life come and go
but what remains evergreen within you
burns steady and true, a source of warmth
and sustenance, even in the darkest nights.
Cultivate that which is eternal and everlasting within you.
Believe in the taproot within, in your sturdy
inner branches and the leafing green of growth that pulses strong.
Like the pine standing sentinel in a field of snow, or
the mountain laurel holding vigil over
the rushing waterfall's release,
so too can you remain
alive, vital, resilient…
whatever may come. 

 

Are you called to be a part of this soulful and supportive circle?


 

 

{Listen. Enjoy. Savor.} 

The Eternal Evergreen

A Winter Solstice Mini-Retreat

 

In-Person at our home in Eagle, WI 

Friday, December 19, 2025

9 am to noon Central Time

$50 

 

OR

Virtual Gathering via Zoom 

Saturday, December 19, 2025

9 am to noon Central Time

$40

 

To register for Friday's In-Person, Eagle, WI Retreat:

Venmo (preferred) or Paypal

 

To register for Saturday's Virtual gathering:

Venmo (preferred) or Paypal

 

  • Experience the Eternal Evergreen guided journey meditation and a ceremony to mark the shifting of the season
  • Listen inwardly for your soulful callings this winter
  • Enjoy being in a circle of kindreds 
  • Savor solo time to listen, be and reflect
  • Receive a handout with reflection questions, practices for the season and other resources
  • Bespoke Spotify playlist 
  • Recordings of meditations included.
  • Scholarships available if needed.

 

Questions or need to know more? Email me. 

Feel free to share with others who might be interested.  

with so much gratitude,

Shannon

What is Listen. Enjoy. Savor.?

Mini-retreats designed to support you in mindfully connecting to the deeper wisdom and callings in your life. Held at the turning of each season within the sacred land, labyrinth and special trees of my home, Dancing Oak House, in Eagle, WI or virtually via Zoom. Each gathering has a spiritually inspired focus, customized to the season and group, but all include:

  • Time for personal inner and outer listening with Nature and the Wider Field (however you define that)
  • Space to slow down and savor with all your senses and be present to Nature's cycles
  • Being together in a sacred circle of loving acceptance and support
  • Freedom to choose and engage in activities in the way, style and approach that fits you
  • Beauty, ceremonies, rituals, practical tools, intention setting, and guided meditations and energetic attunements

My approach as a facilitator:

I resonate deeply with Angeles Arrien's credo to "walk the mystical path with practical feet," and it's the compass for my teaching, retreat facilitation and private sessions. I bring all I've learned in 14+ years of offering shamanic energy work and intuitive guidance; in my 26 years as a teacher and facilitator for creative souls; as a dedicated listener to Nature, Spirit and my own inner wisdom; AND all my learning and experiences from my own curious journey to bloom more into joy and love. I'll be your guide and co-traveler on the path, offering my best tools and support for you to connect more deeply with your soul's knowing and wisdom. I love to create a special space for you to be deeply nourished and receive abundant value your investment of time, energy and money.

It's been a great joy to facilitate these seasonal retreats since 2016 on the sacred land I call home, in Eagle, WI, nestled next to the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit. I honor that this area is on the traditional lands of the Peoria Sauk and Meskwaki Potawatomi  and Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux) peoples. 

Save the Date! Upcoming Mini-Retreats for 2026!

Spring Equinox * Friday March 20, 2026 9 am to noon via Zoom

Summer Solstice * Friday, June 19, 2026 9 am to noon (in-person; held at our home in Eagle, WI) or via Zoom on Saturday June 20, 2026

 

 ________________________________________________________

 

{Write to Change the World} A Circle for Writers

I host an encouraging and supportive circle on the 1st Wednesday evening of the month on Zoom for writers of all types. We will open enrollment again in January, for the February-June 2026 session. We meet for two five-month cohorts each year. Please email me if you are interested. 

  • Meets from 6:30-9 pm US Central Time with a short biobreak about halfway through
  • Brief check-in on how the writing is going, how you are
  • Opportunity to share your writing (up to 3 pages, 12 pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced; reading the equivalent from your journal). 
  • Offering supportive feedback to other writers (what resonated & what you would like more of as a reader) while also honing your writer's "eye" 
  • Writing tips and advice based on your questions and sharing
  • Writing prompts to get your pen to paper
  • All levels and styles/genres welcome
  • Occasional links, recommendations and guided meditations for your inner writer
  • Limited to 8 writers
  • An encouraging and supportive circle of other writers!
Exchange for these five circles is $125.
To register:  Submit payment via Venmo (@Shannon-Arnold-32) (preferred) or Paypal, or Check.
As always, scholarships are available as well as monthly payment options.
Any questions? Let me know. You can email me here.

 

I do hope you'll join us. It's magic when writers support each other. Let's get writing!

To your fullest expression,
Shannon

 
PS Closing with encouragement from writer Roxane Gay:

 

“One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as a writer is to take yourself seriously. This does not mean you should take yourself too seriously, but it does mean that if you love writing, if you put in the work of writing, you are a writer. You don’t need to ask anyone if you can call yourself a writer. You don’t need to reach a certain publishing threshold. So long as you put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, you are a writer.

And if you are a writer, you want to respect your craft the same way you respect the other important things in your life. Make time for your writing whether it’s writing itself, reading, participating in the literary community or anything else that contributes meaningfully to your creative life. Write regularly, which does not mean you need to write every day but does mean that your work will be stronger if you are consistent. When you make a time to write, honor that commitment to yourself and your creative work as much as you honor all the other commitments in your life."

from here: https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/p/day-2-1000wordsofsummer-2022


About Me 

Since 1998, when I taught my first writing class, I have been passionate about inspiring others to write. I have taught more than 1,000 writing students, spoken at writing conferences (including the Midwest Writer's Conference, Great Lakes Writer's Conference and Fox Valley Writer's Conference) and have been a book "doula" and developmental editor for almost a dozen published books. My strengths are being an inspiration catalyst and encouraging cheerleader for writers. I am the author of two books — Flowering Wisdom: Inspiring Thoughts on Life, Love and Blooming Big (Self-Published) and Everybody Loves Ice Cream: The Whole Scoop on America's Favorite Treat (Emmis Books) and the past editor-in-chief of Ohio Magazine, an award-winning 100,000 circulation magazine featuring the best of the Buckeye State. My varied background also includes public radio producing, newspaper reporting, magazine writing, and corporate communications. For the past decade, my focus has been on serving creatives and spiritual seekers through my shamanic-based energy work, intuitive guidance and Human Design readings and in offering seasonal retreats for inner listening, community sharing and creative ritual at her home in the forest of southeastern Wisconsin and via Zoom. 


What Past Writing Students Have Said…

 

Thank you, Shannon! Your writing groups are a joy to be part of. Highly encourage anyone who’s ever thought of writing to join in. It’s easy to talk yourself out of it. This is a place to be heard, seen and validated. — Andrea

 

Thank you, Shannon, for holding the space so we can be good writers influenced by your wise teaching and your strong support of our creative expression. You are a gift to all of us. — Rosemary

I can honestly say you were the one who really got me to enjoy writing again, and I wouldn’t have
stuck with it without you. Thanks for all the help and encouragement. — Matt

Your teaching style is so positive and encouraging.   — Sue

I don't want to lose track of you because you are still the person in my life who most changed my life.  After 4 years, I'm still writing. — Mickie