Host and facilitator Karen Hansen-Downey is a mother of 3, she has worked as a childbirth educator, birth assistant (doula), assistant teacher with children, and has been studying intuitive energetic healing arts since her early years. She was gifted with a mother that came from the Wise Woman Tradition of indigenous Central America. In her teenage years she was debilitated with a serious illness which led her deeper into alternative healing studies. Her healing journey solidified a belief in the possibility of regeneration within the human body. With the Grace and Wisdom of both inner and outer Teachers, she has cultivated the Sacred Teachings of her Ancestors and personal experiences and offers retreats, workshops and private sessions. In ancient cultures and spiritual traditions the Potential of the synergy of the human body vehicle and Divine Presence within was honored and respected. This is the root of Karen's work and what she shares. Whether it is working with pregnant mothers and welcoming a child's Becoming in utero and birth or honoring your personal Soul journey, her hope is to enrich and feed your Remembrance of who you really are and your Soul Purpose.

After many years as a professional musician, Leo Downey initiated Sanctuary Wilderness Journeys and began guiding people into the San Raphael Wilderness of Southern California where he also worked with the California Condor Recovery Project. He has lived in the wilderness for months at a time, alone, under extreme conditions, with little food. He has learned many lessons and experienced miracles through these experiences. His own vision quests moved him to offer this opportunity to others.

Now after 13 years in Canada his focus returns to his music. You can learn more at www.leodowney.com

Leo has ranching in his blood from his Hilger family line. They were one of the first cattle ranchers in Montana. Karen has loved gardening her whole life. This combination with the desire to learn has helped turn them into ranchers and farmers. They are still learning. At Sanctuary they offer...Nature retreats as food for the soul and naturally raised buffalo meat.

Buffalo like the California Condor, that Leo worked with in Santa Barbara were central to Native American culture, and on the verge of extinction. When European settlers arrived in North America, somewhere between 60 and 125 million bison lived here. In 1889 approximately 1,000 bison remained. Conservation efforts have enabled the buffalo population to rebound in National Parks and private herds and the population continues to grow at approximately 40% annually.

e-Mail Address: sanctuary@redshift.bc.ca

Address: 1739 Oberg Johnson Rd., Golden, British Columbia V0A1H1

Toll Free Phone Number: 1-866-400-8400