WHAT IS MATRIARCH RISING?

Matriarch Rising is an in-person art experience, workshop, and retreat for survivors by fine art photographer and artist, Winona Grey.

For many years, I identified and lived as a survivor.  Adopting the mentality of a survivor was an important part of my journey and took an incredible amount of perseverance and strength.  For many years, surviving was all I was capable of and while life sent me curveball after curveball, I kept the fire inside me alive, creating meaningful art and connections.  Being a survivor inspired many of the people around me to believe in themselves and helped them not allow their spirit to be crushed under the weight of their own difficult circumstances.

Because I am a child of trauma, I find that when things improve in my life, I experience depression.  Life becomes flat and gray and I struggle to engage.  Learning to survive doesn't always lead to a feeling of satisfaction and joy.  Even though I had strength and other people looked up to me, inside me there was a bleak and empty feeling.  I was proud of myself for getting through hard times, but I was not thriving.


One day, I was drinking coffee on my patio in the morning and looked out to the desert sky and felt something change.  As I searched for the words to describe this newfound emotion, one word came to me: rising.  I wasn't sure what was rising, but knew that if I followed that feeling, it would lead me out of my depression and into the lessons I was ready to learn.  The next day, I took my camera to a strong woman's house and photographed her dancing in her kitchen and meditating and living into her life with depth.  We talked about how something is rising in all women right now in this era and about how what we leave behind matters.  We walked into the alley behind her house and as I posed her against a flowered wall, the neighbor's giant dogs barked loudly and jumped up against the fence, trying to assert their dominance.  Instead of backing off, we decided to stand our ground and walk through the noise while ignoring their pushy behavior.  As I watched her through the lens, the second word for my new emotion came to me because I saw it in her as she walked toward me: matriarch.

There is a matriarch rising.  This is the name of the distinct energy that is growing in the world right now.  It is a universal experience and also a personal experience.  This energy is growing up and through my art.  After surviving through trauma, we are ready to rise up, not only to survive for our personal benefit, but to support the survival of others.  The energy of the matriarch is creation.  It is fertility.  It is Life Force so expansive that we have the ability create spaces for others to rest, heal, and grow.  Matriarchal energy is a form of leadership that our world is desperately in need of.  Matriarch Rising is a calling to expand on the work of the generations of women who came before us.

In this workshop, I seek to create space for my own matriarchal energy to help pull you from survival mode and into the next stage in your evolution.

xo,
Winona Grey

TUCSON, AZ
March 9th - 12th, 2018

INTIMATE GROUP SETTING
Three spaces available.  Application only in order to create an emotionally safe space for the very personal work we will be doing.

SELF PORTRAIT GROUP LESSON
I'll teach self portraiture as a tool for repairing fractured identities and how to build a trusting relationship between the mind and body.

ART MENTORING DISCUSSION
We'll root down into the heart and connect with the inner artist.  I'll teach what I know about the act of creation and following the heart.

PORTRAIT SESSION
One on one photo session where I will photograph you.  Includes five professional portrait files with printing rights.

HANDS ON GROUP LIGHTROOM AND PHOTOSHOP LESSON
With feedback and direction.

TAROT READING
I'll throw a ten card tarot reading to help give you clarity on your life path.

RETREAT
Time to relax and focus on self care.

LODGING
Three nights included.  We'll be staying together in a beautiful historic home in downtown Tucson, AZ walking distance from the best eateries in this magical town.

LUNCHES & SNACKS PROVIDED

VIDEO CALL SUPPORT
After you arrive home, we'll schedule two 90 minute follow up calls to support you as you continue to process and integrate the knowledge gained in the workshop.

The investment for this experience is $500. One space left.

For more information, schedule a video call to consult with me (link below).  On the call, we will go in depth together to determine if the experience is a fit and if it feels like a wholehearted yes.  We’ll talk about what kind of support you need and you can ask me absolutely anything.  It’s an absolutely zero pressure call - this is not the type of work that it would make any sense to push someone into.

FUTURE WORKSHOP LOCATIONS
Specific Dates & Locations TBD - Let me know where you'd like me to host my next workshop!
Columbia River Gorge, OR
Ruby Beach, WA
Estes Park, CO
Sedona, AZ
Joshua Tree, CA