Click Here to Download Flyer Eheytys-10v.-englanniksi

Sponsored by Polvijärvi AAL, FIN040

August 13 - 15, 2021

From shame to recovery August 13 - 15, 2021

10 years of ACA retreats in Eheytys, Finland

Eheytys (= Recovery) is Liisa's home, an old school building in Eastern Finland, Polvijärvi, 400 km from Helsinki. Local ACA group has organized 72 ACA retreats between 2011-2021. We have had over 550 ACA fellows attending, from all around the country and abroad, and spending over 1100 nights in Eheytys.
We have had retreats with many different themes. Mostly on ACA steps, promises and traditions, but also on hate, fear, abandoning, intimacy and pleasing. We have had treks of promises and steps on nearby Koli national park. The longest trek took four days and covered 40 km on scenic route through primeval forest. Finnish ACA has had a national ABC meeting here, and we have celebrated national and regional little Christmas here.
ACA retreats in Eheytys are for facing the bitter memories in understanding and warm atmosphere. Together we seek recovery and personal growth. We draw, dance, play and sing. Our confidential connection allows us to rejoice on increasing understanding, love and peace. Each day allows all to share their thoughts in an ACA meeting. Everyone has 5 minutes to talk, and we use a timer. The order of talks is free.

You'll find more information of the venue at www.eheytys.fi.

If you wish to help with organising, please join us on Friday. We'll eat vegetable soup and have an ACA meeting.

Saturday August 14, 2021

12:00-13:00 Open doors for public and press: What is ACA? Why do we talk about adult children? Why are we anonymous? How your adult life can be shaped by growing up in a strange family? Fear, anger and frustration suffered in childhood can be reborn much later. What can you do about it?

13:00 ACA Workshop Shame
We set a huge white canvas on the ground, and bring around bowl with natural colours, f.ex. blueberry and beetroot juice. Then we all paint together a picture of shame, using only our feet. We work in silence, without commenting others.

Finally we sit around the work, and every one can share for a few minutes what we have experienced or thought of what we see in the picture, or what we have left behind.

15:00 Cakes, coffee and soft drinks

16:00 Forest dance, From shame to recovery
We dance warm up in a circle, and then every one seeks their own tree to dance with. You may ask help from the wheel of Fortune to find your right site in the forest. You may use the image of an animal or a fantasy character if you find it helpful. Your dance may tell your story even when you move only your fingers – the tree may respond with twigs.

18:00 Bonfire by the pond
It's time for barbeque, swimming, dancing, playing, singing and remembrance. Sauna bath is available when using bathing suits.

21:00 ACA meeting in the gym: Gratitude
We start by joining in a sardine-tin play. For the purpose of ACA meeting, we take mattresses and lay down peacefully to share our thoughts about Gratitude.

Sunday August 15, 2021

10:00 -11:00 Workshop in English: How to organize an ACA retreat?
Could I do it? What is worth knowing beforehand? What is the history of retreats in Finland? Experiences, hints, tips and tested guidelines are shared and discussed.

11:00 – 14:00 Sponsor walk
If you wish to talk privately to a Fellow Traveller, write your name on a piece of paper. We draw two papers from the hat and let Higher power choose who will walk with you. We walk about 2 km, 30 minutes to a fire place, and fry sausages to eat. Please bring sausages you prefer.
By the fire we'll have an ACA meeting: What do I want to remember of this weekend? What will I take home with me?
After meeting we return back.

At Eheytys we clean the house, and have a cup of coffee before saying goodbye around 16:00.

The venue is Eheytys, Varosentie 54, 83835 Ruvaslahti, North Karelia, Finland, EU.
If you wish to have enouhg cakes, sleep inside and have breakfast (40 € for the whole weekend), please contact Liisa [email protected], tel. +358-50-547 6548.

If you prefer sleeping elsewhere, you can join us for Saturday and Sunday, but please, let us know that you are coming. It's important to make enough cakes for all of us, right? All food is vegetarian, lactose-free, and may contain milk, eggs and cheese, and some of the cakes are glutein-free.

Most Finns speak and understand English, so feel free to use it. Some may choose to share in Finnish, as the Inner child speaks the mother tongue. Saturday is mostly outside activities, and we'll all blend in just fine. The workshop on Sunday will be in English.

For more information of the venue, www.eheytys.fi, please scroll page down for the text in English.
Finnish ACA www.aal.fi

You are very welcome to join us!
Sie sind herzlich willkommen, und wir sprechen etwas Deutsch! Liten svenk också! Also russian!