About Us

Summertown, Tennessee, United States

community - nature - arts - Healing in Middle Tn

About Us

Intention and Mission

Our team created Swan Center TN as an environment where you can truly enjoy Nature in all her glory and reconnect with your Divine nature. That's the reason we created this place. When we tell people that, they usually nod their heads and smile. We therefore assume it meets a universal spiritual need. We intend for every aspect of this space to support expanded awareness where healing and growth may occur. This is the sole-soul purpose. If you want a simple, restful break, come home to your Self, for recovery, recharging, renewal, in your own way…there’s lots of good "Rs" you can do here.

Conceived to be a comfy gathering space, a retreat from stress, an example of simple, sustainable construction and of permaculture principles, it remains a work in progress. (Ie, expect some weeds and possibly unfinished projects. The plant growth is a bit much to keep up with in this subtropical rain forest.) We follow certain principles, such as collaborative team work, encouraging creative expression, finding inspiration and benefits from forest and plant therapy, soil building, repurposing whenever possible to conserve resources, stacking functions, co-creating with Nature to build more beautiful surroundings, and supporting Amish and other local trades people and suppliers. We are cultivating an Art Walk for further inspiration. Mother Nature is cultivating numerous edible and medicinal foods here, so foraging in the fields and gardens is an adventure in discovery!

We hope you will stay awhile, and that when you leave here you feel more grounded and centered in your awareness of yourself, more alive and vibrant.

We consider the grounds and buildings as sacred spaces. If you choose to be in silence, we can honor that, and allow for privacy. In this space it is OK for you to experience what feelings arise due to your interaction with the high energy here. We ask that you treat yourself, others, the buildings and the land with respect.

The Association for the Integration of the Whole Person (AIWP)

While Swan Center is a woman-owned business. Swan Center of AIWP is a congregation, a legal not-for-profit religious organization which allows for a free expression of Kathleen's passion for peace, beauty, and harmony. Tomas Heikkala is the treasurer, and is partnered with her. She is an ordained Minister of Healing of AIWP, which recognizes her gifts and desire to share them. Kathleen is also a licensed massage therapist and an experienced communication skills coach. Over many adventurous decades she studied and acquired knowledge, encountered and embraced the ways of wise men and women, worked out in "the real world," and raised children. Mystical experience, intuition, nature connection, the arts, and a deep love for God influence her life choices. Currently, she offers bodywork and energy sessions, hospitality, and coaching in various methods for intuitive awareness, self-care and self healing for individuals and groups. We are supporters of the fine arts, and help fund public art to "Heal the Wounds" imposed upon the indigenous cultures by the colonialists.

YOU CAN HELP US SPREAD THE GOOD!

Tax-deductible donations to Swan Center of AIWP benefit local arts projects, improvements to the facilities and gardens, community wellness projects and local charities. Donations of certain supplies and volunteer effort are welcome. We feel that acts of stewardship for the environment and service to others contribute to vast pool of the Greater Good from which we all derive benefit. We strive for not only sustainability but practice regenerative methods in order to be helpful to the local and planetary community.

Guidelines

We abstain from alcohol, recreational drugs, and smoking on site in order to practice awareness, allowing the senses to be attuned to the subtle. A natural “inebriation” comes from savoring the “nectar” of Presence. When grace arrives, it’s often quick, and we don’t want to miss it.

Please leave pets at home so there is less distraction for you and other guests, and peace of mind for the bunnies and other critters.

Clean up after yourself, and leave the house swept, with bedding in laundry bin or washer. In the kitchens there are drip coffee set ups and organic ground coffee. If bringing in animal protein, please have it precooked so as to minimize the cleaning required by animal fat residues. Pour all food scraps, leftovers, and residual fats into the compost container or trash, not down the drain. Remove from refrigerators all your food to compost it or take it home.

Observe quiet hours between 9 PM and 7 AM, and also allow other guests to be quiet per their request.

Check in and departure times will depend upon your agreement with Kathleen or another host.

Feel free to read any of our books, or use our collection of oracle cards, returning them where you found them before leaving. If staying for a private retreat, you may sign out our electronic media, taking good care of all of our educational resources. Subjects include nature, permaculture and gardening, spiritual growth, holistic health, diabetes, brain health, energy healing, qigong, plant medicine, peace studies, Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique), empathy training, dying well…

Walking on the 11 acres of land can be beneficial, but do observe the posted boundaries and step slowly and mindfully. Stay on mowed paths and fields for best visibility of what the ground surface is like. Holes, uneven terrain, critters, biting bugs, honeysuckle vines, vines and plants with thorns, and poison ivy are some of the hazards, so if you walk or hike do it safely. Check your body and spray in tick season. We suggest to change clothes and shower after a hike.

Please leave the wild plants where you find them. You may, however, be invited to paint and take home a river rock or two, or to dig and repot a small sapling of one of our many types of hardwoods. Ask about eating small amounts from the gardens and edible weeds. If you feel called to put your hands in the soil, please do weeding only under supervision so you don’t pull what we might consider a useful plant. Contributing to soil building by composting weeds is a sustainable activity, so we are happy to have you join the weeding or plant cultivation crew.

No illegal substances on the property, please.

We do offer wifi, but the idea is to UNPLUG, as in "Being Here, Now."

Transform Your Life with Swan Center

Try this juicy twist to your paradigm:

IT'S GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME....The energy on Earth is shifting as more people wake up to our amazing powers as humans. I like to offer the following ideas upon meeting random people and note their response.

1. What we are really supposed to be doing is seeing the Divine, in each person and in ourselves.

2. We are learning how powerful we are as humans.

3. We can choose to be beacons of Light, spreading love to everyone everywhere.

4. It’s good for the planet for us to live in Joy.

5. Gratitude allows Grace to enter. It's the gateway to receiving from our Source.

6. All are individuated aspects of the Divine, with God-like attributes and gifts.

7. It’s our job to recognize, develop, and give of our God-given gifts.

8. Our children are our teachers. We need to give them every possible opportunity to develop their gifts.

Since, in my informal “consciousness survey" 99% of people agree with these concepts, I extrapolate the percentage to the greater population, and so I have reason to believe that things are improving. Now. For Real.

Sharing with love and blessings,

Kathleen Rosemary, LMT at the Relaxation Station PASS IT ONpractitioners will help you balance your mind, body, and spirit.