halcyon house

a worker owned cooperative holistic wellness center

Blog

Holidays
Now that the holidays are past and we’re moving into a new year, I’m excited about a new workshop that Sara Shepard and I are planning. It is called the Art of Wintering Well. We are taking our love of the nervous and sensory systems and combining them with a Danish practice of Hygge. We will present this information in a relaxing, fun, and interactive way.
Halcyon House itself has a lot of Hygge going on and we will use this to help you experience the beauty of the practice. We hope to see you soon!
Robin Davidson
2026-01-07
Education, Wellness
Classes
Change
The only constant is change. Even in stillness there is much movement happening within. Every breath is a new beginning, a chance at starting over. Following the breath through the body to discover what holds you back from making real change in your life can be daunting. Sometimes the shame, self loathing, and inner critic wins, but with each new breath comes a new opportunity to move that stagnant prana. Take a walk with the woods and become one with the breath that is one with the forest. Inhale the exhale of these Northern woods. Exhale the inhaled breath of the trees. In this way you become part of the forest, not just an observer. Life becomes more vibrant one breath at a time.
Jennifer Montgomery
2026-01-07
Wellness
breath, mental health
Winter Congee Recipe
a winter TCM recipe to warm and heal your gut.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of jasmine rice
- 8 cups of chicken stock, vegetable stock, or bone broth (this makes a medium consistency congee, for a more soup-like consistency, use 10-12 cups.
- pinch of salt
- pinch of white pepper (warming herb)
- 1-3 inches of chopped ginger
- 3/4 cup of enoki mushrooms
- 3/4 cup of thin slicked shiitake mushrooms (dehydrated work nicely)
- 3/4 cup of thin sliced woo-ear mushrooms (dehydrated work nicely)
- Optional: Shredded chicken
Option ingredients to top at the end:
- Splash of soy sauce
- a few drops of sesame oil
- thinly sliced scallions
- cilantro
- chili flakes
Preparation:
Rinse the rice and soak in water for 30-45 minutes. This allows the rice to break down easier during the cookie process. (you can forgo this step if you’d prefer to just rinse)
Add all the ingredients to a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil then simmer on low heat, with the lid half covered for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom.
Congee is done when the grains disintegrate into the liquid to reach a uniformly dense texture. (You can also use a slow cooker or instapot. Instapot has a porridge setting!)
Congee can thicken a little as it cools. Add optional ingredients from the topping list above.
Jakki Overby
2026-01-07
Recipes
Cold, TCM
Welcome our newest board members
We’re excited to welcome three new Directors to our Board! Robin Davidson, Kimberlee Grogan, and Kelley Minor, each bring a wealth of unique knowledge, skills, and experiences to our Cooperative’s Board of Directors. Thank You!
Robin Davidson
Kelley Minor
Kimberlee Grogan
Josh Jones
2026-01-07
Cooperative
board
Introducing the Wellness Access Initiative
The Halcyon House Wellness Access Initiative is a community funded program to help offset the costs of our services for the people who need them the most. Selection for the program is based on financial need, physical need, treatment goals, and recommended individualized treatment plan from our staff. We believe that the wellness services we provide are beneficial and even a potentially necessary part of healing and well-being. It is our hope that this wellness subsidy initiative will provide an avenue for access to our services for people who would otherwise not have the resources to afford them.
Selection Process
Applicants will fill out an online application to collect information about financial need, physical limitations/impairments and how their individual situation interferes with daily life. They will also have at least one session or consultation with one (or more) of the Halcyon Wellness Team, who will report on their need for services, create a treatment plan that includes goals, frequency, services, and durations. This de-identified information will be provided to the selection committee.
The selection committee will be composed of three to five individuals with at least one member-owner from Halcyon House. We ideally would like the majority of this panel to be composed of independent community members and donors. The member-owner from Halcyon House is a liaison between the selection committee and the cooperative, and is responsible for making sure all identifying information about applicants is removed and all information available for the committee to access is HIPAA compliant.
The Selection Committee will use this information and these tiers to decide the amount subsidized:
Tiers of subsidies:
Tier 1 is our highest support level. 90% of the cost of treatment is covered. The financial guidelines are up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level ($48,225 for a family of 4).
Tier 2—70% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 175% of FPL.
Tier 3—50% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 200% of FPL.
Tier 4—30% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 225% of FPL.
Tier 5—10% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 250% of FPL.
Would you like to be involved in the selection committee? Apply here.
If you would like to support the Wellness Access Initiative, donations can be made at the front desk or online.
Robin Davidson
2026-01-07
Wellness, Wellness Access Initiative
community, donation, sign-up
Tracy Murphy – Winter 2025-Spring 2026 featured artist
Through vibrant color and fearless emotion, Tracy Murphy turns her own story of survival into art that heals and connects. Murphy is a contemporary oil painter and cancer survivor from Western Wisconsin, and an alumni of the University of Minnesota Fine Art Program and the Milan Art Institute. Her emotionally charged works invite collectors to see themselves reflected in her paintings, and to experience art as a journey of healing and transformation. With bold contrast and expressive compositions, her paintings become a visual story of the beauty of transformation. Each painting reflects her belief that art has the power to heal, both the maker and the beholder.
Check out her website at:
www.tracymurphyfineart.com
Want to find out more about our featured artists?
Featured Artists
Josh Jones
2025-12-20
Art
featured artist
Winter grieving
It has been said that winter is the time for grieving. We at Halcyon House have experienced some personal losses recently and are thankful for the wonderful community around us.
We hope to cherish our loved ones during the holidays, share some tea and hot cocoa, and make the most of our time together.
Josh Jones
2025-11-29
Wellness
Seasonal
What is neuro-regulation?
Neuro-regulation is using different tools to modulate your nervous system.
How do we know that we are in a fight or flight (sympathetic) nervous system?
- Rapid heart rate
- Shallow and/or rapid breathing
- Chest breathing
- Poor digestion/elimination
- Tense muscles
- Scattered/unfocused thoughts
- Decreased memory
- Angry or agitated emotions
- Feelings of wanting to run away/escape
What are some tools we can use to move our nervous system toward more ease?
- Diaphragmatic (belly) breathing. Think low (in the body) and slow. Subtle/smooth.
- Extended exhale breathing. Breath in through the nose and slowly out through pursed lips.
- Gentle movement (like yoga or stretching). Especially twists!
- Rocking or swaying.
- Calming music, lighting, smells.
- Relaxation using guided apps such as “Insight timer”
- Grounding: feeling your body on the chair, bed, or floor.
Robin Davidson
2025-11-29
Education, Wellness
neuro-regulation
Winter Digestive Cleanse
Winter digestive cleansing is something that many people want to do to start the new year fresh. The tendency is to want to juice fast; however, in the winter that is very hard on the body—especially in Northern Minnesota. My suggestion has always been to do a kitchari cleanse to give your digestion a rest while nourishing your body in a gentle way. Kitchari is an Ayurvedic Indian recipe that uses split lentils and rice to make a complete protein. Spices are balanced between all five tastes: sweet, spicy, salty, pungent, and sour. If you are feeling the desire to fast this winter, try kitchari cleansing. Here is a great recipe to get you started: Kitchari Recipe
Jennifer Montgomery
2025-11-29
Education, Recipes, Wellness
Ayurvedic, Seasonal
Winter
As winter approaches, we find ourselves in the most Yin time of year. This is a season of going inward, conserving energy, slowing down, and honoring rest. Let these months guide you back to yourself. Find your rhythm in the season: seek out warmth, joy, and light while not overextending yourself. A mindful balance of activity and introspection will help keep the yin and yang healthy.
Jakki Overby
2025-11-29
Acupuncture, Wellness
Cold, Seasonal