At the Turning

A Summer Solstice Gathering for the IFS Community

The light is reaching its peak. Soon will come the longest day of the year—the sun at its height, the world in full green, the year at its own kind of fullness.At the height of the sun, shadows shrink—closest to you, hardest to see. The parts we carry don't disappear in the brightness. They simply draw near.And at the same time, a turning is also here. The days will begin, at first imperceptibly, to shorten.At the Turning is a quiet online circle for the IFS community—a space to pause in the fullness of the season. Not to rush toward what's next, but to be here, in the long light, with whatever we are carrying. Before the earth continues its transit. Before the days grow heavy with heat. Before autumn whispers its first rumors.This isn't about doing, fixing, or even changing. It is about meeting our parts in the height of things—the ones burning bright, the ones already weary, the ones who long to rest but don't yet know how.Together, we will make space to:

Witness • See what is growing in us—without needing to harvest it yet.
Tend • Offer care to hard-working parts and their tender charges.
Rest • Find the still point inside the longest day—the pause before the arc bends.
Turn • Welcome the turning as sacred, trusting what is already in motion.

We'll offer a container, some inspiration, a little gentle guidance, and time for connection. There is no pressure to perform; just an invitation to be together. You are welcome to journal, draw, or simply rest in the shared silence.Sharing is a gift, never a debt. Your quiet presence is enough.Come as you are—lit up or running low, overflowing or quietly depleted. All of it is welcome.

Details

Saturday, June 20, 2026
1:00 pm EDT | Find your time zone
90 minutes | Zoom
The gathering is a gift, but please register here.

Elements of the Gathering

Registration

This offering is a gift for all IFS Community Members.
If you plan to attend, please click this link so we can plan for Zoom capacity.
Questions: Email [email protected]

Our Story and Inspiration

Big Self Energy conspired for us meet and bond at "Shame Camp" (Martha Sweezy and Toni Herbine-Blank's Shame and Self-Compassion Retreat) in January 2025. We did some deep work together in a magical place, laughed and cried a lot, and felt inspired to pay it forward by creating similar spaces for others. We realized our parts deeply need community and companionship on the journey—especially our tender parts who wrestle with shame, grief, fear, and anger. Kara's cowboy boots inspired our original, more (ahem) colorful name, but "Shadow Wranglers" captures the spirit of what we experienced and hope to offer you—calling in the parts of us that get a bad rap, gathering by the fire to be with, love them, and laugh together. We're starting on Zoom, but we hope to host some in-person retreats in the not-too-distant future.

The Shadow Wranglers

Kara Edge (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker and Level 3 IFS therapist living in Portland, Oregon. She truly loves building community to support emotional and spiritual growth, all while embracing a spirit of creativity and playfulness in inner exploration.

Maureen McGuire (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker working in DC and Maryland, she lives in Baltimore. She sees many LGBTQ+ clients and her focus is trauma and CPTSD, she is Level 2 IFS and Somatic IFS trained. She often feels close to the fires of this country and knows Being With parts and each other is healing, connecting and exactly where we need to be.

Aaron Lauber (he/him) is a licensed mental health counselor, Level 2 IFS therapist, and 12-time IFSI PA living in New York City. Queer, neurodivergent, and a lifelong spiritual seeker, Aaron found a home and community in the IFS world and is devoted to bringing the power of communal Self-energy to others.