At the Tapering
An Autumn Equinox Gathering for the IFS Community
Hello Fellow IFS Traveler,At the equinox, light and dark stand equal—and then the balance tips. The long brightness begins to taper, and we turn inward. This gathering will mark that turn—a time of harvest and gratitude, and of remembering the ancestors who walk with us.This is our fourth seasonal gathering, closing out a full turn of the wheel that began with At the Threshold in January. Whether you've been with us since then or are joining for the first time, you're welcome here.The session will include an opening grounded in the themes of the season, a brief awareness practice, time for silent reflection and connection in dyads, a ritual of gratitude and ancestral connection, and live music from Laura Ruas. As always, there's no obligation to participate in any part of it beyond your own comfort—your presence alone is enough.We'll close with group sharing and a few words to mark the end of our 2026 cycle of gatherings.
Details
Saturday, September 19, 2026
1:00 pm EDT | Find your time zone
90 minutes | Zoom
The gathering is a gift, but please register here.
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 Certified IFS therapist and Level 2 trained in IFS and Somatic IFS. She is a licensed clinical social worker in DC, MD and VA and lives in Baltimore. She works with those who have experienced trauma and various forms of oppression, specifically the LGBTQ community. She is an adoptee, queer, loves art and has strong interest in all things Ireland.
Aaron Lauber (he/him) is a licensed mental health counselor, Certified IFS Therapist, and 13-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.
Special musical guest Laura Ruas is a former professional classical double bass player who no longer performs professionally. She is originally from Bronx, New York and her career took her all over the world. She has called Baltimore home for over two decades, enjoys cycling, her pets and travel.