COCHRANE— On the last Friday of each month post-traumatic stress survivors gather at the Wayfinders Wellness Retreat to participate in a healing drum circle.
The centre is located at the historic WineGlass Ranch and as the sun begins to set a group of 10 drummers led by facilitator and therapeutic guide Marilyn McLean connect over the rhythmic beat of drums.
The Drumming Circle with Marilyn embraces the age-old tradition of drumming as therapy. The event is designed to produce feelings of well-being and help in releasing emotional trauma, while bringing out the participant's creative side.
Wayfinders Wellness Retreat is centred on providing peer-to-peer support and resources for help with mental health. The drum circle is one of a variety of different traditional and alternative healing modalities available at the centre.
The Retreat was created as a safe space for first responders, military personal and their families to heal wounds inflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder.
Restorations of the site are on-going and Wayfinders is currently recruiting volunteers to help the retreat grow the programs it is able to offer and aid in restoring the homestead for use.
Visit wayfinderswellness.ca or Wayfinders Wellness Facebook page for more details.
