The Tapestry of Women’s Society is holding its 21st annual conference in the society’s continued efforts to empower, enlighten and educate women all of backgrounds, ages, cultures and religions.
This year’s event will be this Halloween Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cochrane RancheHouse and will once again feature a number of speakers.
“Our focus has always been trying to empower women so they can be stronger in their communities. It starts at home; it starts with self,” said Carol Patenaude, who has been chair of the Tapestry of Women’s Society for over five years.
In an Cochrane Eagle article from last year, Patenaude said that the Tapestry of Women’s Society began after the 1995 United Nations World Conference on Women that was held in Beijing, China. She explained that a local woman had attended the conference and brought the idea back to Cochrane. They started a chapter for women in Cochrane and surrounding areas.
This year sees the addition of two new speakers, Martha Birkett and Samantha Orthlieb. Birkett, who runs Amaryllis Center for Healing in Cochrane, will present on the art of “Healing through Sound” which involves the use of crystal bowls, music and the human voice.
Orthlieb, a practicing herbalist for over fourteen, has recently started converting a rural property near town into a permaculture-inspired botanical sanctuary, chakra garden and herbal farm and will share her herbalist-based knowledge.
“Every year is unique. Those that turn up are the ones that suppose to be there. It is a very powerfully.
“We’ve had people come that have never been there before who were very moved by the things that learned and a sense of community.”
She said she’s seen firsthand the impact of the conference. She recalled meeting one girl that came last year with lots of health issues but managed to pull through the day. After everyone left, Patenaude found the girl waiting for her.
“She wasn’t going to leave because she felt so energized and so empowered to do something more with her health for herself; to move on in a more positive way.”
