The Fire Within
Empowering the Creative Transition from Womanhood to Crone
May to September, 2026 - Women's Rite of Passage Journey
About this Series
Join Stephanie MacKay and Cari Burdett as we gather to hold the sacred questions as we transition through the rich and timeless passage through (peri)menopause to Cronedom – in community, in strength, and with the land. This offering is for female-body individuals who have journeyed through many moon cycles of the body and are now stepping into new realms of what it means to be a woman at this time.
~ For mothers ~
~ For women who wanted to be mothers ~
~ For women who chose to intentionally not be mothers ~
~ The grief and praise, and everything in between ~
We will ask the big questions and look to each other, our own innate wisdom, and the messages from the land to guide us on our journey.
Who am I in this phase of life?
What have I been doing, and who am I becoming as I live into Crone?
It is said by wise old ones from around the world that this stage of life is our most powerful time as women. Together we will explore song, myth, ceremony, and creating beauty with our hands to reclaim the strength of our age.
We will touch our deepest longings, disrupt limiting beliefs from the dominant culture, and let our hearts and souls run wild.
Indigenous cultures have long recognized the new creative power that women have access to as they pass through menopause:
“As the bleeding stops, the fire goes within,” Lakota elder Paula Gunn Allen says, noting also that in her tradition, medicine women do not practice until they have reached their menopausal years.
~ Sharon Blackie, Hagitude
Fire Within in the Quw'utsun Valley 2026
Join us for this beautiful journey:
Dates: May – September 2026
Session 1
May 9–10
Saturday 10–5, Sunday 10–3
Session 2
June 13–14
Saturday 10–5, Sunday 10–3
Session 3
July 11–12
Saturday 10–5, Sunday 10–3
Session 4
August 15–16
Saturday 10–5, Sunday 10–3
Session 5
September 11–13
Friday 4pm – Sunday 4pm
This final gathering is a two-night overnight and our closing weekend together on the land. Saturday includes an overnight Rite of Passage. The program closes Sunday at 4pm.
Where
In the wild on Vancouver Island and at Lila Music & Nature Centre in Duncan, BC.
Price
Early bird pricing is $1,575 until April 1.
Regular pricing is $1,825.
Optional camping add-on $25 per night.
Participants may choose to camp at Lila Music & Nature Centre during the first four weekends.
Age
Approximately ages 40–60, and/or those wishing to explore perimenopause and menopause transitions and rites of passage.
Accommodation
This program unfolds over five weekends across five months. The first four weekends are non-residential. Participants may camp on site for a small fee or arrange their own accommodation nearby. There is also a room in the main house for rent and other vacation rentals avalable.
The final weekend will be fully residential, with group camping in a remote area in Glenora on Vancouver Island. Please inquire with Cari for details.
Cancellation and refund policy
A 50 percent refund is available for cancellations made 15 or more days before the program start date.
No refunds are available for cancellations made 14 days or less before the program start date.
A Day Together
Here’s what a day may look like:
10 am – 11:15 am
Opening Connection: Song, Gratitudes, Check-ins
11:15 am – 12 pm
Voice Work* and Solo Song
12 pm – 1 pm
Myth Study*
1 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Crafting*
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Wander
4:30 pm – 5 pm
Closing: Sharing and Aftercare
Our final weekend
Two nights on the land, with the second night being a solo ceremony.
Additional Course Info
* Voice Exploration:
*Myth Study: A collaborative exploration into the hidden layers of knowledge and wisdom held within old European stories.
*Crafting and Handwork: working with different materials and plants to create offerings for the land, deepen our connection to ancestral ways, and strengthen our relationship with the sacred.
*Registration is for the whole series. Please contact us if you cannot make all the sessions.
*This program does not offer medical or clinical information on (peri)menopause. We are not health care practitioners and will not bring medical information on the medical or physiological processes of menopause. It is a gathering to empower women through community and ceremony.
“All that you are seeking is also seeking you.
If you lie still, sit still, it will find you.
It has been waiting for you a long time.”
— Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women who Run with the Wolves
The Fire Within
5-Session Series
Session 1:
Air & Eagle & Arrows
Connecting to Breath and our ability to soar as Eagle. Initial weekend to meet, connect, set intentions, build containers, create a craft that will be sent off with you on a mission, offerings of prayers and feeding our reciprocity. With a focus on air, we will sing, share stories, connect to our inner fire and unfold our intuitive myth making ways. We will embody and claim our power at this time in our lives with our voice and our prayers, while keeping an eagle eye on the sacred within.
Craft: ceremonial arrow made from obsidian, oceanspray, sinew and feathers
Session 2:
Earth & Plant & Medicine
Honoring the earth, where all life comes from, we lay beside her and seek plant allies for support in medicine making. What songs and myths are alive in the mossy forest floor? How does the earth hold us in this time of transformation to the elder and aging self?
Craft: herbal tinctures and salves made with local and indigenous plants
Session 3:
Water & Salmon & Skin
Diving deep into the water allies and medicine of the sacred salmon, who swim away and returns home again. What lessons can we learn and where is our home in our body, heart, spirit and soul in this time as women? What skins are we shedding and what are we transforming into? Who are we now? Who are we becoming? What are we releasing? How does the water hold us and change us? What messages are we receiving from the waters as we grow into our crone years.
Craft: processing a salmon skin into richly beautiful leather
Session 4:
Fire & Bear & Copper
The fire lives within us all. What is burning and wanting to become ash and coal? As a wild animal, how can we embrace and embody the sensual crawl of the bear? What lives inside the magic and beauty of copper? Fire as medicine is potent and life giving, providing answers to our scared questions. Working with alchemical copper invites us into the realms of magic and transformation.
Craft: working with fire and copper, we will craft a copper pendant
Session 5:
Reciprocity & Prayer & Ceremony
Weaving and bringing it all together in an embodied and ceremonial space, we will stand at the threshold of our questions, and go into the wild for a solo quest, bringing with us crafts from previous sessions, animal and plant allies.
Returning to a sacred holding and witnessing of each participant in celebration of the becoming… the accepting, the surrendering, the awakening, the letting go, the renewal, the mystery, and the magic.
Note: this session involves spending up to 24hrs alone on the land
The Teachers
Teacher Greetings
Q&A
Are you dealing with medicines and dietary support for Menopause at this course?
This course does not offer medical advice on menopause or its physiological processes. It is more focused on empowering women through community, ceremony, myth study, and creative practices. The aim is to explore the transition into cronehood through non-medical forms of support, such as connecting to the land, myth, and crafting, rather than through dietary or medicinal guidance.
How do I know if this is a course for me?
This course is designed for women 40+ (or those approaching perimenopause), particularly those interested in exploring their personal journey through menopause and beyond. It’s a good fit if you’re looking to connect with a community of like-minded women, engage in myth study, explore creative expression, and participate in a transformative ceremony and personal growth process. If you’re curious about navigating this phase of life in a spiritual, artistic, and communal way, this could be a meaningful course for you.
How is the solo overnight important to my growth at this unique time of my life as a woman?
The solo overnight is a key part of the program, offering a sacred, supported experience to connect deeply with yourself and the land. It provides a space for reflection, renewal, and deeper connection to your inner wisdom. By spending time alone in nature, you’ll have the chance to ask important questions, release what no longer serves you, and integrate the teachings of the course in solitude. It’s an opportunity for profound personal transformation, fostering a sense of empowerment and clarity as you step into the next phase of your life.
Can you tell me more about the hand crafts and the importance of "Beauty Making"?
Crafting and beauty-making are integral parts of the course, helping participants connect to ancestral ways, deepen their connection to the sacred, and express their inner wisdom. Each session includes creating something meaningful with your hands, from crafting ceremonial arrows to working with plant allies for medicine making and even crafting copper pendants. These activities allow you to bring beauty into the world while also nurturing your spirit and engaging with nature in a grounded, creative way.
Can you explain the significance of myth study and menopause?
Myth study is a central theme of the course, helping women connect with ancient stories and wisdom that resonate with their own experiences. By exploring old European myths, you can uncover hidden layers of knowledge that support your transition into cronehood. The myths offer guidance, strength, and insights into transformation, helping you navigate menopause with a deeper sense of meaning and empowerment. This journey through myth allows for personal healing and the reclamation of wisdom as you move through this powerful life stage.
Physical Comfort
We’re all about creating a space where you feel comfortable and supported. While much of our time will be spent outdoors, we’re mindful of your physical comfort. For sitting during sessions, we encourage bringing cushions, blankets, or anything that helps you stay comfortable. If you need a chair or something that will keep you warm, that’s absolutely okay. You don’t have to sit on the ground if it doesn’t work for you!
Solo Overnight Support
The solo overnight is an incredibly powerful part of The Fire Within, and we provide plenty of guidance and support before and during the experience. You’ll have access to mentors and group support leading up to the solo time, and there’s always someone available to check in if you need anything during your solo. It’s a gentle, supported process, and we ensure you feel prepared and safe.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is very important to us. If you choose to share something personal, you can feel confident that it will be respected and kept within the group. We create a culture of trust and safety, and the group agreements are clear that what’s shared in the circle stays within the circle. This is a space where people can be vulnerable and supported without fear of judgment.
Refund Policy
We understand that sometimes people need to cancel.
Here is our refund policy. Please read carefully and reach out if you have any questions.
Due to the extensive planning, preparation and supplies required for this unique course, we are unable to offer a full refund.
Please note that the FireWithin course has a $250 non refundable registration that is included in the total cost for all participants.
Here are our further refunds:
- Cancelation 15 days or more before the start of your program (up to June 15th): a 50% refund will be offered on the full tuition amount. *If on payment plan, we require remaining payment to equal 50% of total tuition by the second instalment date. Those of you who have paid in full will be refunded half of the tuition you paid.
- Cancellation 14 days or less before your program start date: There are no refunds. *if on payment plan, we require payment of remaining funds to equal 100% of total tuition and will continue to be collected following the instalment schedule.
** Please reach out if your cancellation is due to medical or family emergencies.
Accessibility
Fire Within takes place in a natural, outdoor setting and is not wheelchair accessible.
The land includes uneven ground, forest terrain, and natural elements such as roots, rocks, and slopes. Participants are required to move independently across this terrain.
This offering also includes an overnight outdoor component, which may involve extended time outdoors in varying weather conditions.
We are committed to transparency and want participants to feel fully informed before registering. If you have specific accessibility questions or would like to discuss whether this experience is supportive for your needs, please reach out directly. We are happy to have a conversation and explore what may be possible.
Singing and Participation
We encourage personal expression, but we also respect where people are at with their comfort levels. If singing or any form of expression feels too much for you, that’s absolutely fine. The goal is to step into your own experience, not to force participation. Whether you prefer to listen, observe, or engage in your own way, we honor your process.
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The Fire Within 2025: 5-Session Series
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