"Devaa is a living example of the Evolutionary Woman arising in our midst. Combining brilliant intellect, business experience, spiritual development and now a major outreach into the world to assist is all in our evolution, she is a loving and inspiring woman leading us forward in the 21st century."
Devaa Haley Mitchell, Inspiring Women Summit Founder & Co-Host
Elayne Kalila Doughty, Inspiring Women Summit Co-Host
"I've met a lot of teachers, healers, and leaders in my years on the speaking circuit. When I wanted to dive deeper with my work and share from a new level of vulnerability, I turned to Devaa. She helped me lead from my authenticity, connect with my depth, and open in ways that proved energizing and effective. Her support enabled me to go to a whole new level in my public presentation and bring new qualities to my leadership. She helped me in a million ways that I cannot even describe. I am blessed by her presence. Thank you Devaa!"
"Elayne you are potent expression of female energy. Your deep and wise insights. Your wild women. Your fun. Your joy. Your supportive collaboration. The whole -- and I emphasize whole -- enchilada. I'm really thrilled for you -- You have this powerful energy as the basis for whatever it is that you are building-- and it is big!"
"The time (or should I say timelessness) that I spent with Devaa was profound. After years of seeing all kinds of 'experts' I can honestly say the time with Devaa broke something loose and now I feel burden-free, as well as much lighter and more joyful. I recommend her work to anyone who is ready to fly."
"Working with Devaa & Elayne has been one of the more poignant, fulfilling and empowering of my life experiences to date. Both of these women are extremely gifted in identifying and bringing out the strengths, skills and beauty of each individual that they come into contact with. In my own work with them, I have felt continuously seen, heard and held by their unique feminine presence, which is sometimes amazingly gentle and compassionate and at other times fierce and full of fire-- igniting my own inner flame. Always, they come from love. I highly recommend Devaa to any woman who desires to blossom into her full leadership potential."
"A lot has shifted in my life since working with Devaa & Elayne. I feel clearer, more free, and have more energy. It's also been deeply healing for my heart. I feel a growing empowerment to step into my own leadership as a healer, guide and musician!"
"After working with Devaa & Elayne, I feel so much more connected to my heart, purpose, passion, and a deep sense of my personal spirit. The authenticity practiced in the gatherings has brought me closer to my true essence."
"Elayne, I just want to express my deep gratitude to you for midwifing me into the next evolution of my life as a powerful woman. You were the door in, giving me a roadmap to follow. You have brought me a community that has been missing in my life for the past 10 years, or perhaps longer. You created an oasis to refresh my Feminine soul, after the creative desert I've been crawling through for too long. I'm feeling refreshed and full of possibility. There is nothing more thrilling!
"Elayne brings deep listening, empathic insight, grounded compassion, informed guidance as well as inspired play, to the chaos, confusion, fear, love, ecstacy and joy that is presented her. There is a unique intimacy in her connected understanding, creating safety and containment to go to great depths in ones process of discovery. With Elayne, I feel seen, heard and mirrored in all my authenticity. Two words: playful passion"
"When I met Devaa, I was trying to figure out my next steps, I wasn't clear on my direction, and I was scared. Together we explored my professional and personal strengths and my connection to Source. Devaa's guidance supported me to find my confidence and authentic power. Her deep wisdom, patient listening, and reflecting were instrumental in my personal process. The work we did has encouraged my heart to stay open and fearless, beginning afresh, every day. I am very grateful. Thank you Devaa!!"
"Devaa could be called a spiritual midwife, assisting people in the birthing their inner-selves. She empowers you, assists you, gently encourages you, and honors you for your efforts. With Devaa's impeccable assistance, I was able to go through what is so far the most powerful experience of my life. I am extremely grateful!"
You’re a soulful woman. You’re self-aware, motivated, talented, and you’ve been successful in many undertakings and important projects. And yet…
You sense even greater possibilities for your life. You yearn to move beyond a vanilla life that is working “fine” to a life that is filled with passion and greater meaning. You want to touch people and be the brightest light you can be. And you’re willing to die to an old way of being so that something new and much more soul aligned can be born.
But you’re hesitant, maybe even afraid, to venture into this unknown territory. You don’t know how to move beyond your comfort zone – especially since you haven’t been taught how to navigate the terrain, and you haven’t been given a map for where you’re going.
We truly understand. We were once there ourselves.
How We Were Able to Birth Our Soul’s Calling...
Devaa’s Story
A mere five years ago I (Devaa) was in a prestigious job, receiving great pay and lots of recognition for my leadership and management skills. But I wasn’t really happy. Something big was missing in this role. I was yearning to do the thing that really lit me up. But the problem was... I wasn’t totally clear on my purpose or how to get my gifts out there.
What I DID know is that I wanted to find and express my most authentic voice. I knew that I had an important gift to offer – my soul’s calling – and was giving it in small ways here and there. But I didn’t know how to get it out in the world in a way that had the biggest impact. And I certainly wasn’t making a living doing it.
So, what did I do? I started by allowing myself to dream into my future. I asked myself, "If time and money were not obstacles, what would I be doing with my life?"
From that question, a vision arose of running a women’s wisdom school (like the ancient mystery schools but in a modern context). And as the vision began to crystallize, the doubts began to arise almost as quickly. "But I’m not old enough to run a wisdom school," said one voice. "And maybe I’m not wise or experienced enough," said another.
I was my own biggest obstacle for awhile, as I dealt with these insecure places inside of myself.
Elayne’s Story
I (Elayne) was running a very successful psychotherapy practice and felt blessed to have a vocation that served others. This was a time when I was honing my skills, my listening and my ability to navigate the mysterious realms of soul transformation and alchemy.
But I knew deep down inside that at some point I was going to be called to leave the walls of my therapy office and step into a bigger story of my own life. At first when I heard this calling inside of myself I resisted. I was comfortable in my office, safe, protected - and somewhat hidden! I wasn’t sure that I wanted to step into the public eye and face the fear of failure, and the fear of being 100% responsible for what I said or shared. I feared being judged, ridiculed and not being good enough. Sound familiar?!
So what did I start to do? I started to take risks. I started to be bold and to put myself in situations that were uncomfortable - ones that had me stretch beyond my current form. I heard the call and went to the Congo to be of service. I heard the call and revitalized the ancient mystery teachings to bring them to the world.
Essentially, I jumped off the edge. I said YES to the calling and asked the universe to support me. And what has transpired since this act of courage and heart is that the universe has swelled up to meet me and hold me accountable and fully present to what it is that I say I am here to be.
Common Threads
So, what did we do to support ourselves on this journey of living out our dreams?
We quickly found mentors in the very different realms of business and spirituality and surrounded ourselves with a community of women who saw our full potential, supported us and held us accountable.
We anchored regularly with spirit and began connecting to larger-than-life feminine archetypes that could support us to expand into greater-than-imagined possibilities. And we kept paying attention to the synchronicities showing up in our lives moving through the fears and saying YES!
And more quickly than we expected, our Soulful Women Wisdom School was born. The Inspiring Women Summit was born. Devaa’s Sacred Alchemy album was born (and just released!) Elayne’s first published piece in a book “The Unbreakable Human Spirit” will soon be released.
A new community of amazing women was born. And now we are filled to the brim with opportunities to give our gifts and support others to do the same. We are both deeply blessed to be living into the potential of our greater than imagined. !
Birthing Your Soul’s Calling
When we first met one another, we began working with groups of women helping them birth their soul’s calling. Through years of testing and honing the process we’ve used to guide hundreds of women into their greater-than-imagined lives, we created a step-by-step process to help YOU in Birthing Your Soul’s Calling.
This process is one that creates a sacred space in which you are held by a community of other women - as you become experts in midwifing yourselves and each other into your deeper soul’s calling. The truth is that we are not designed to give birth alone. Each one of us needs holding, support, guidance, nurturing, and soulful presence as we bring new life into being.
So it is our honor and delight to be with you in this process so that you don’t have to go through the birthing process all alone. And why should you? You’re meant to do this within a supportive community (think of all the women for thousands of years who gathered around the mother who is about to give birth to her baby).
It’s much easier, more potent, more comforting - and much more fun - to have a team of soulful midwives supporting you in your birthing process every step of the way, holding your hand and celebrating your successes - however big or small.
So that’s why we’ve created this initiatory journey into Birthing Your Soul’s Calling. In these 5 days, we will take you through the first phase of the birthing process, opening the space to invoke the greater than imagined possibilities for your life.
Together we will stretch our collective mind out of its slumbering predictability and help you invite in miracles for your personal story - and for our planet as a whole.
As our world is also preparing for a major shift, we see a deep need for what we call “planetary soulful midwives” who can skillfully help hospice out a dying world and usher in the new. These midwives are needed for the larger collective birth process that’s underway. But they are also needed to help each of us to find our own unique piece in this bigger puzzle.
These soul midwives are among us. In fact, we (Devaa and Elayne) know that playing this role is part of our sacred function in this lifetime. You may be a soul midwife yourself.
And as midwives, we are here to show you a way through and provide you with a safe container in which to birth the bigger story of your life-and your soul’s true calling.
We are calling you to imagine beyond the confines of what you think is possible and stand in the truth of YOUR MAGNIFICENCE. Join us, and we will lift you into your greater than imagined life!
By attending this Retreat, you will:
- Expand your vision for what you are can accomplish - to a Greater than Imagined possibility
- Clarify your soul’s calling, taking it into a fully embodied vision for your life and how that benefits our world
- Remove, dissolve, and alchemize barriers in yourself to manifesting your calling
- Open your heart and infuse more passion into your lifework
- Receive the support, love, and blessings of a circle of sisters, helping to heal any wounds you have around other women
- Learn to open your consciousness into higher states for guidance, insight, and hearing the whispers of your soul
- Create an action plan that is doable, achievable, and joyful
- Activate the archetype of the Soul Midwife in you - an ally for yourself and others
- Weave your vision into a larger vision of healing and transformation for our world.
- Recharge, renew, and play in a beautiful environment, complete with sumptuous food... ahhh!
Retreat Overview
Friday - Daring to Dream
- Creating sacred space together
- Heart-centered devotional chanting
- Building our collective altar
- Creating shared agreements
- Seeding a vision of greater than imagined possibilities
Saturday - Soul Clearing
- Women's Sweat Lodge or Release Ritual (depends on weather)
- Sitting in the womb of surrender
- Listening to the voices of the mystery
- Evening Drum Journey
- Dream incubation
Sunday – Sacred Visioning & Taking a Stand
- Soul Sharing Circle
- Standing in Your Magnificence: Crossing the Threshold Process
- Mapmaking art journey
- Sisterhood circles to gather input and support
- Charting the Journey Ahead
Monday – Planning & Celebrating the Journey
- Identifying your mile markers and action steps
- Committing to stay the course
- Releasing our collective altar
The Stunning Location
EarthRise Retreat Center in Petaluma, CA
EarthRise at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) is housed on 200 acres of beautiful rolling hills of Petaluma where hiking trails meander through pristine native live oak woodlands, and the surrounding open space offers panoramic vistas of the California landscape. It is located just forty-five minutes north of San Francisco. It is easily accessible from the East Bay and North Bay, as well as from San Francisco, making it one of Northern California's premier retreat sites.
Special features at Earth Rise include a beautiful vegetable garden that provides fruits and vegetables for our kitchen, a labyrinth, a meditation hut nestled in a peaceful oak grove, a tepee for group rituals and classes, and sitting areas for quiet contemplation.
The Institute founded a transformative learning center that provides a gathering place to explore ancient wisdom traditions, supports experiential learning, and engages in modern scientific inquiry.
EarthRise on our campus has become a space where psychologists, educators, leaders, philosophers,frontier scientists, and spiritual masters conduct their work. We support intrapersonal and interpersonal consciousness work in a gorgeous natural setting.
At EarthRise-where cutting-edge scientific research is studied and conducted-guests can commune with the land and experience ecological awareness and transformational programs and practices that foster self-reflection and personal growth. The campus is a place where we integrate theory and practice, science and spirituality, as well as renewal and retreat.
Dining: The dining hall at EarthRise provides indoor as well as outdoor garden dining.
Local ingredients are the inspiration for our cooking and includes luscious organic fruits and vegetables, free range poultry, hormone-free meat and dairy products, and extraordinary cheeses. We use organic produce from local farmers whenever possible and draw upon flavors and techniques from around the world to create a diverse cuisine with alluring flavors.
Yes, Sign Me Up!
Birthing Your Soul’s Calling Retreat
| Dates: | |
| September 28 – October 1, 2012 Arrive in time for dinner Friday, 9/28, at 6pm PST. Leave after lunch on Monday, 10/1, around 2pm. |
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| Location: | |
| EarthRise Retreat Center, Petaluma, California | |
| Program Price: | $597 |
| Special Price: | $297 |
| Bring a Friend for a Reduced Price: | $197 |
| Food & Lodging: | |
| Shared Double Room (3 nights lodging + 9 meals): | $487 |
| Single Room (3 nights lodging + 9 meals): | $587 |
| Food & Commuter Fee with no lodging (3 lunches, 3 dinners): | $297 |
Note: If you are interested in camping during the retreat, you can stay at the nearby KOA campground and just pay the Program Fee plus the Commuter Fee. You will need to be responsible for booking your own camping reservations with KOA. Visit their website here.
About Your Facilitators
Rev. Devaa Haley Mitchell is the Founder of the Inspiring Women Summit and Co-Founder of the Soulful Women programs. She is a core part of the teaching faculty at the Shift Network and is an expert in women's awakening and leadership. She also works as a spiritual guide with ongoing programs through the organization she founded, Radiant Essence Services (www.radiantessence.com).
Devaa was ordained as an interfaith minister by the Chaplaincy Institute and also received a BA in Anthropology with Honors and an MA in International Development from Stanford University. She was awarded a fellowship from the Fulbright Foundation and was also one of 26 contributors to a book called Radical Spirit, which focuses on Gen-X spiritual perspectives. A core part of Devaa's path includes sacred music. Her debut album called "Sacred Alchemy" honors 13 aspects of the divine feminine is due out in the late Spring 2011. See www.devaa.com for downloads of her music.
Devaa also served as the Director of Member Engagement at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), an organization bridging science and spirituality. Previously, she was the Founder and Executive Director of the Full Circle Fund, dedicated to building a new generation of civic leaders. Devaa also worked as an Associate Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group where she offered management advice to Fortune 500 Companies.
Elayne Kalila Doughty MA, MFT, founder of Planet Breathe (www.planetbreathe.com) Co-Founder of the Soulful Women Program (www.soulfulwomen.com) is a Psychotherapist, Creative Arts therapist, Trauma Healing/Addictions Specialist, and Women's Empowerment expert. She has worked as in the field of Women's recovery, discovery and awakening for the last 20 years and has loved every minute of it!
Elayne has created diverse program's such as: "The SAFE Embrace" Seven Steps to Healing Trauma for women, and The Soul Spa Experience- Nourishing the Heart of Your Being, a guided meditation series to support women to awaken into their greater than imagined possibilities through soul renewal and replenishment.
Currently Elayne is working with Eve Ensler (the Vagina Monologues) and her foundation, www.VDay.org on co-creating the design and implementation of The Trauma Healing and Leadership Empowerment Program at the City of Joy in Bukavu, Congo. This transformational program will seed women leaders at a grass roots level throughout the Congo. Elayne has a private practice seeing in person clients in the Bay Area, and global clients via the internet. She is also a sought after teacher and speaker in the fields of, Trauma Healing, Addictions Recovery and Women's Empowerment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you tell me about the Community Site?
A: We will have a private community for all the participants in this Retreat, which will support you in keeping the connections between each other, sharing insights, engaging discussions, networking, and exchanging information about events and other activities. You’ll have the ability to blog about your ongoing experiences, practices, and growth.
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: Unfortunately, due to the hard costs of this retreat, your payment is nonrefundable.
Q: What are the benefits of telling my friends to join the program?
A: You can sign up as an Affiliate of The Shift Network and receive 20% for anyone that you introduce who registers for the Retreat. If you bring five friends into the Retreat, you can cover your own! Register at www.theshiftnetwork.com/affiliate and you’ll receive a promotional link to use.
Q: Are there scholarships available?
A: No, since we have a hard limit on the number of participants at the retreat site, we won’t have space for full scholarships. A few positions at a reduced fee for staff support are available.
Q: If I have any further questions, how can I reach Customer Support?
A: Email: orders@theshiftnetwork.com or call us at (415) 439-0003.