halcyon house

a worker owned holistic wellness cooperative

Happy New Year!
Leaving 2025 Behind: Fresh Intentions for a Better New Year
Who is glad to be officially done with 2025?
A new year always offers a powerful fresh start. It is the perfect time to reset your mindset. It gives us a moment to refocus on our true intentions. I completely understand the sentiment of leaving last year in the past. Many of us are looking forward to a brighter, much better 12 months ahead.
However, we should not erase the past completely. The last year brought a heavy mix of both positive and negative moments. There are many deep experiences that I simply do not want to forget. Both the highs and the lows shaped who we are today.
Growth happens when we look back with honesty. I hope to cherish the good memories we created. At the same time, I want to lock in the tough lessons. Ideally, we only need to learn those hard lessons once! We will see how that goes, as life always likes to surprise us.
Setting new goals requires reflecting on old challenges. Think about what worked for you. Acknowledge what dragged you down. By carrying the wisdom forward, we make room for real progress. A fresh calendar is a blank page, but your history is the guide.
Let us step forward with hope and resilience. We can build a stronger foundation for the months ahead. What are your main intentions for the days coming up? What are you choosing to leave behind? Let us embrace the future together, learn from the past, and make this journey truly count.
Josh Jones
2026-01-07
Uncategorized
mental health
Holidays
The Art of Wintering Well: Discover Hygge and Holistic Wellness at Halcyon House
Now that the busy holiday season is behind us and we are officially stepping into the new year, it is the perfect time to focus on rejuvenation, mindful rest, and personal growth. We are absolutely thrilled to announce one of our upcoming community events at Halcyon House: a brand-new, immersive winter workshop title The Art of Wintering Well.
Co-hosted by myself and wellness expert Sara Shepard, this unique event is designed to help you thrive during the colder months. We are combining our deep passion for nervous system regulation and sensory system health with the cozy, time-honored Danish practice of Hygge. Instead of a dry lecture, we will present this transformative health information in an incredibly relaxing, fun, and highly interactive environment.
Halcyon House inself is naturally filled with authentic Hygge charm. During this special workshop, we will intentionally use our preaceful space to help you physically and emotionally experience the profound beauty of this comforting lifestyle practice. You will walk away with practical, everyday tools to nourish your mind-body connection, manage seasonal stress, and cultivate deep inner warmth.
Our goal is to bring the neighborhood together through enriching local workshops that inspire lifelong vitality. Whether you are looking to soothe your nervous system, connect with like-minded neighbors, or simply enjoy a restorative afternoon, this experience is for you.
We cannot wait to welcome you to our upcoming winter wellness gathering! Space is limited for this special interactive event, so be sure to reserve your spot early. We hope to see you very 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
Halcyon House Welcomes Three New Cooperative Board Directors
Here at Halcyon House, our community thrives because of dedicated leadership. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome three new Directors to our Board: Robin Davidson, Kimberlee Grogan, and Kelley Minor. Each of these incredible individuals brings a wealth of unique knowledge, professional skills, and diverse life experiences to our Cooperative’s Board of Directors.
We want to extend our deepest appreciation for our board members, both new and returning. As a cooperative, our leadership team plays a vital role in shaping our future. They guide our mission, support our staff, and ensure we remain a trusted resource for wellness and connection. The commitment of our board ensures that Halcyon House stays deeply rooted in community values.
Meet Our New Board Directors
Our new directors join us at an exciting time of growth. They bring fresh perspectives that will help us expand our community impact:
- Robin Davidson adds unique experiential knowledge that enhances our holistic approach to local care.
- Kimberlee Grogan offers strategic skills that strengthen our cooperative development and long-term vision.
- Kelley Minor brings valuable insights that align perfectly with our community education and outreach efforts.
Grateful for Cooperative Leadership
Stepping into a board position requires a generous investment of time, energy, and heart. We truly cannot thank our board members enough for stepping up to serve. Their guidance helps us navigate challenges, celebrate milestones, and create a welcoming space for everyone.
Please join us in giving Robin, Kimberlee, and Kelley a incredibly warm welcome! We look forward to achieving great things together in the coming months. Thank you to our entire board for your unwavering dedication, passion, and support. You are the backbone of our cooperative family.
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.
Get involved
Be a part of the Selection Committee.
Apply here.
Donations
The generous donations from the community, our clients, and our staff fund the Wellness Access Initiative. 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
Finding Comfort in Community This Winter at Halcyon House
Winter invites quiet reflection and healing. For many, the colder months bring a natural time for grieving. It is a season to pause, remember, and heal. Recently, our dedicated team at Halcyon House experienced deep, personal losses. Navigating grief is never easy. However, sharing the burden makes the journey lighter.
During this difficult season, we lean heavily on our local community. We are deeply grateful for your continuous support. The kindness of our neighbors brings real warmth to these cold days. Truly, the strength of a community shines brightest during tough times. Your comforting words and presence mean the world to our staff.
As the holidays draw near, we invite everyone to slow down. The winter season often rushes by in a blur. Instead, we want to focus on meaningful connections. Let us cherish our loved ones tightly. Let us find true holiday comfort in simple moments together.
We welcome you to join us in creating a space for mutual support. Come share a warm cup of tea or hot cocoa. Sit by the fire and share a favorite memory. We can listen to one another, offer gentle smiles, and heal as a collective group.
Time with family and friends is incredibly precious. This winter, let us make the most of every single moment. You do not have to carry your grief alone. Halcyon House remains a place of peace, hope, and togetherness for all. We look forward to walking through this season hand in hand with our amazing neighbors. Thank you for being our pillars of strength.
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 Detox Tips for Minnesota: Why You Should Try a Kitchari Cleanse
A winter digestive cleansing routine is an excellent way to reset your health and start the new year fresh. While many people gravitate toward extreme juice fasts, freezing raw liquids can severely shock your body during a harsh Northern Minnesota winter.
Instead of depleting your system, an Ayurvedic kitchari cleanse rests your digestive tract while deeply nourishing your cells with warming, comforting nutrients.
The Danger of Winter Juice Fasting in Cold Climates
In Ayurveda, winter is a time to stoke your internal digestive fire (agni), not douse it with cold juices. Cold, raw fasting during a freezing Minnesota January can leave you feeling fatigued, ungrounded, and (more) sensitive to the cold.
Choosing a warm, cooked food cleanse preserves your energy while gently clearing out accumulated sluggishness.
What is Kitchari?
Kitchari (pronounced kich-uh-ree) is a traditional Indian healing dish made from split yellow mung dal (lentils) and basmati rice. Together, these ingredients form an easily digestible, complete protein that stabilizes your blood sugar.
A traditional kitchari recipe uses a strategic blend of warming spices to balance all five tastes:
- Sweet
- Spicy
- Salty
- Pungent
- Sour
This delicious combination kindles your metabolism, flushes out toxins, and soothes the nervous system. If you want to safely detox this winter, skip the cold juices and try this gentle alternative!
Here is a great recipe to get you started: Kitchari Recipe
Jennifer Montgomery
2025-11-29
Education, Recipes, Wellness
Ayurvedic, Seasonal