Knifemaking Workshop and Inner Work Weekend
**The cost for this two day retreat is $525. A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required upon sign up. The remaining balance will be collected 2 weeks prior to the event. A few sliding scale spots will be available for those in need**
Join us for a unique weekend of craftsmanship and inner work. Over the course of this immersive retreat, participants will learn the art of fixed-blade knifemaking using the stock removal method, crafting their own personalized knife from start to finish. Beyond the craft, we’ll engage in deep self-exploration through altered-state breathwork and a guided campfire circle, using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach to understanding the different facets of the psyche. This weekend offers a space to connect with yourself and others while camping on the land and cooking over an open fire.
Open to adults 18 years and older.
Day 1: Forging Intentions and Steel
Opening Circle – Welcoming, introductions, and intention setting. Overview of the weekend structure, knifemaking process, and IFS therapy framework.
Design & Sketch – Each participant will begin by envisioning and sketching their own unique knife design, connecting outer form with inner meaning.
Stock Removal & Shaping – Using 01 tool steel and the stock removal method, participants will saw, sand, file, and begin to shape their blade.
Beveling & Handle Prep – Grind the bevel, smooth the blade, and prepare materials for handle attachment.
Lunch & Midday Circle – Group meal and a facilitated check-in to reflect on parts that are present and emerging through the hands-on work.
Heat Treating – Using a small forge, blades will be heat-treated, hardened, and tempered—bringing symbolic heat and transformation into the physical process.
Dinner Break – Time for nourishment, rest, and personal reflection.
Evening Breathwork Session – Guided Parts Work Breathwork journey to access expanded states of awareness, release emotional tension, and support integration of the day’s insights.
Day 2: Sharpening Edges, Honing Self
Open Fire Breakfast – Communal outdoor breakfast to ground and nourish.
Morning Circle – Deeper check-in and emotional processing through an IFS-informed lens.
Blade Refinement – Sanding and polishing blades to a fine finish, with time to reflect on the process as a mirror of personal transformation.
Handle Attachment & Shaping – Affixing and carving handles to fit the hand—and the maker.
Sealing & Finishing – Applying oil or resin to seal the handle and give the knife its final touch.
Lunch Break
Sharpening & Honoring the Blade – Bringing the blade to life with a razor edge, while considering how this newly forged tool reflects the journey taken.
Closing Circle – Final reflections, group sharing, and space to acknowledge what has been uncovered, crafted, and carried forward.
*All tools and materials will be provided. There will be ample covered and uncovered space for camping. Participants provide their own camping gear. Breakfast will be provided on Saturday morning. Participants will provide their own meals for lunch and dinner on Saturday as well as breakfast and lunch on Sunday. An open fire pit and grill will be available for communal cooking.
**The cost for this two day retreat is $525. A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required upon sign up. The remaining balance will be collected 2 weeks prior to the event**
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