Soulful Prairies

Some of you may already aware of this exciting news, but for those of you who aren’t…

We are fine-tuning the details for our 1st Annual Retreat at SOULFUL PRAIRIES in Woodstock, Illinois. This venue is amazing! You’ll be enlightened just visiting this magical farm.

Please navigate to the SOULFUL PRAIRIES website at SoulfulPrairies.com to feel the transformative energy that you’ll experience with us this summer.

  • Have you experienced the joyful energy of horses? 
  • Gong in the barn? 
  • Networking with like-minded, passionate people that create a collective, positive impact on our world? 

Brief overview, subject to change:

1) Friday, June 28th – Peace Education Workshop 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. This offering includes lunch

2) Friday, June 28th – Overnight accommodations at Soulful Prairies — limited to 11 overnight participants. This offering includes dinner, evening group session, and Saturday breakfast.

3) Saturday, June 29th – Business of Being / Living Fully Workshop 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. This offering includes lunch.

Saturday will offer additional options for one-on-one sessions of Reiki, Equine Therapy, and Reflexology.

When registration opens, you can sign up for 1, 2, or all 3 options. It’s up to you!!

SAVE THE DATE(S) — more details to follow

For Planning Purposes
If you’re interested in the 2018 Build-a-Retreat (or a retreat on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas in January of 2020), please send me an email (laurie buchanan at me dot com) with “I’m interested” in the subject line, and which retreat(s) you’re interested in. Your response does not imply obligation.

Where was the last retreat you attended?


This photo was taken at Soulful Prairies this past summer when I was in Crystal Lake, IL for the picnic-style book launch party for The Business of Being: Soul Purpose In and Out of the Workplace. I can tell you experientially that Soulful Prairies is amazing!

© lauriebuchanan.com

29 thoughts on “Soulful Prairies

  1. It sounds amazing, although it is a bit far away for me. I attended a retreat in the outskirts of Oxford (a Catholic convent), about Mindfulness, a few years back, and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to hearing more about what you have planned. Good luck, Laurie.

  2. The retreat sounds wonderful! Unfortunately I’m not able to travel that far right now, but I will be sending positive energy. The last retreat I attended was for “rural women” held in Hutchinson KS. The regional farmers organization decided to have a a women’s retreat and the women organized it. They did a great job! There was a good turn out ranging in age from older teenagers to great grandmas with different faith groups represented. There was also a nationally known speaker, who discovered that deep down rural women aren’t that different than city women.. As we used to say, “a good time was had by all.” Sending blessings for your retreat.

    • Shirley — I think that the equestrian part is going to be the biggest draw. I’m so looking forward to spending time with the horses. There are a couple of dozen (at least), and many other farm animals as well. I can hardly wait! 🙂

  3. Laurie, I am blessed to have had a lifetime of trips to the barn, a thoughtful consideration of horses, I am surrounded by them here in North Georgia horse country. If I had a better arm I could hit the new Equine Hospital that I can see from my back deck, I love to listen to the mule that sounds off when the mood strikes him, it sounds like the ripping of sheet metal. As for me, I have never attended an organized retreat, when I retreat, I head to the Gulf of Mexico and let the turquoise water wash my troubles away. Looks like I am due a trip as soon as the weather warms up.Hoping to hear you have a full house and tons of fun.

  4. Haven’t been to a retreat in many years now, but I always have enjoyed the experience. I am working on what do I want to do for my70th birthday celebration. I have looked at several retreat possibilities. Right now my budget seems to be maybe a massage and a facial ? My husband rented a cabin at the ocean and the whole family came for 5 days and he walked the beach and painted. So relaxing and then that painting sold for $500.00 What one can accomplished when so relaxed!!! We have to work on getting surgery for his knees this year….tough choices. We are dependent on his knees so….
    I am going to a half day training on coping with anarchists in your community because the death threats are still coming even in the midst of wind and rain storms and power outages. I am glad I have a whole group working on this issue – when they totally destroyed the house 4 doors away from our house 4 years ago I was alone in my pursuit.
    I am also getting ready to review a book about President McKinely’s problems with his health and his anarchist dilemma.

    • Patricia — I think a day-spa retreat sounds delicious! I hope that your husband’s knees mend quickly after his surgery. I’m glad you roused the concern of your neighborhood and are going to training on coping with anarchists in your community. I wish you well in your endeavors to make a positive change.

  5. I have never been on a retreat I would love to though , a yoga , writing or art retreat would be lovely . I am pretty good at taking myself off on a personal retreat it usually involves a good book, yoga mat or a big bottle of bubbles … they have always served me well .

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