Crossing the Threshold

a one and a half day retreat

Welcome.

Congratulations on taking the first step toward Crossing the Threshold with Birthing from Within!

Your registration and payment have been received, and you are officially enrolled in this nourishing weekend retreat.

Your journey begins soon. Logistics such as the dates, times, instructor, and link to join will be emailed to the address provided.

In order for you to get the most out of the experience, we encourage you to imagine your participation as if you were attending an in-person retreat. Clear your schedule entirely, arrange for childcare, identify the physical space from which you’ll join the sessions, and prepare to drop in for the entire time.

Attendance in full is required if you are planning to certify as a Birthing from Within Childbirth Educator or Doula. Recordings and make up times are not offered. and make up times are not offered.

Please see the Questions section below for information about transferring or last minute cancellation, if needed.

If Birthing from Within needs to cancel or reschedule an event you will be contacted about options to transfer for no fee. Please read our full cancellation policy here.

This retreat is presented in spoken English. Automated captions are available. We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Lauren at Lauren@BirthingfromWithin.com, or call (505) 585-1823. Please submit accommodation requests at least two weeks in advance of event for seamless access.

Before the retreat

  1. Get an idea of Birthing from Within’s style and philosophy by checking out our blog, Instagram, and Facebook.

  2. Our monthly newsletter is a great way to stay up to date on the most current happenings, information about upcoming trainings and events, our newest blog posts and organizational highlights. If you already signed up from our website, you’re in! If you didn’t and would like to sign up now, you can do so here.

  3. Check out the books Birthing from Within and/or Ancient Map for Modern Birth, if you haven’t already. If you are curious, you can also browse the books on our reading list for our Doula and Childbirth Educator trainings on this list.

  4. Make a plan for the physical space from which you’ll join the sessions - identifying or arranging for a space that will be quiet, comfortable, and have room for you to move around a bit so that you may drop in for the entire retreat.

  5. Gather items from the supply list now so you have plenty of time to source the items needed.

  6. Read our Mindful Engagement document for guidelines on how to constructively participate in the interactive aspects of our online courses.

  • - water bottle

    - snacks

    - floor covering (sheet, tapestry, etc. to keep pastel dust off your floor)

    - pens, and any additional writing utensils or art supplies that you may enjoy

    - a small set of chalk pastels (not oil)

    - art paper (at least 11" x 14"). You'll need at least two large pieces of paper.

    - journal

    - 6-foot piece of string or yarn

    - a sweet to eat

    - markers

    - tea light

  • While we strive to follow the schedule below, there may be slight variations in session end times, due to the interactive, dynamic, and individual nature of our workshops. It is, however, important that each session begin on time. Please commit to attend the entire workshop from start to finish. Participants who join late or leave early will miss vital information, and complete attendance is required for certification in our Birth as a Heroic Journey training programs.

    We begin on a Friday or Saturday night. All times listed here are Pacific Time (please see email for exact start day and time).

    Session One/Day One: 4 hours

    We continue for a full day on Saturday or Sunday (please see mail for exact start day and time)

    Session Two/Day Two:

    9 am-1 pm

    1-2 pm Lunch Break

    Session Three/Day Two:

    2-5:30 pm

    5:30 pm Adjourn

  • Please make sure that you have a stable internet connection and electronic device for joining the retreat. The retreat will be hosted on Zoom (a web-based video-conferencing tool, you can sign up for a free account here.

    While a phone or tablet could work, a laptop or desktop computer with audio/video capabilities is ideal in order to be able to see the facilitators and other participants clearly, and participate fully in the workshop.

  • What is the attendance policy for CtT if I am using it towards certification?

    We require you to attend CtT’s in full. CtT’s are not recorded. In case of emergency, we have a grace period for this requirement, as follows:

    If you miss over two hours, we require that you transfer to another CtT and attend that event in full to complete the certification requirement.

    Please complete the CtT Transfer Form for any transfer requests. You will be required to pay a $50 transfer fee. 

    What if I get called to birth or have another last minute need that prohibits me from attending?

    We understand that the nature of birth, and sometimes life, is unpredictable, and we want to accommodate you as best as possible! Space in CtTs is limited; having people cancel last minute impacts our ability to fill the event, as well as impacts other participants' experiences.

    If you are unable to attend, please email contact@birthingfromwithin.com as soon as possible. Then fill out the CtT Transfer Form and we will do our best to transfer you into another CtT. You will be required to pay a $50 transfer fee. 

    Reach out to Robin at contact@birthingfromwtihin.com if you need any support.

After the retreat.

Welcome to the community! We have many offerings for continued growth and learning, wherever you are in your journey. You can explore more upcoming Continuing Education opportunities browsing our Course Catalog or Calendar.

Become a member of Birthing from Within.

Membership benefits include free monthly continuing education, a listing on our directory, monthly anti-racism education opportunities, discounts, use of the BfW logo, and more. In order to become a member, you must complete the course Foundations of Birthing from Within: Heart of Mentoring. The course fee ($200) includes one year of membership.

If you’re not already taking this retreat as part of Birth as a Heroic Journey, our Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator training, we welcome you to continue your path. This 7 module self-paced course offers the opportunity to certify as a birth doula, a childbirth educator, or both! It includes an online course with live interactive calls with an instructor, so that you are supported through each step of your learning process.

We offer 12 CE credits for the completion of Crossing the Threshold. Please complete the form below to receive your certificate.

Evaluation & Certificate Request