About the conference, our group & the painting...

About the Painting "Namaste"....

This beautiful painting has been donated by a very special artist, Natalie Stokes.  It has been adopted as the official logo for this special event.........

A message from the artist of the painting “Namaste”

I hope you enjoy this painting  titled, NAMASTE; a Hindu word and concept meaning (to my understanding), ‘the sacred in me recognizes the sacred in you’.  Somehow, and this feels holy to me, as women, we gather together in a safe, sacred place,  sharing our sacred stories and are moved in sacred and deep ways; as   far-reaching as touching our  inner children and crossing borders to all corners of the world.  Our stories, no matter what language, represented by a golden thread running from storyteller to listener, join us together.  How we get together seems to be a very spiritual and sacred process involving an almost  other-worldly guidance, represented in the painting by two golden angels holding the hands of our heartbroken and mouthless inner-children (all still with their inner light intact) with the hands of a healed inner child inside of a healed Daphne whose broken heart falls to pieces as her inner light turns into a heart of gold, grows wings and is free to grow to be all she wants to be.  All of this happens in the nights of our unconsciousness with each story holding its’ own energy, forever changing the global consciousness of the earth, painted behind the Daphne in all of us.

My hope for all of us is that as we reflect upon our murky stories, some lurking in the muddiest of places, once exposed and brought into the light, we can grow and indeed blossom like the loveliest of lotus flowers, reaching heavenward.  Finally, I wish each of my sacred, lovely sisters (and your inner children) peace of mind and peace of heart by painting you doves with olive branches – to the four corners of the world.

Namaste - With Great Love
Natalie Stokes

O U R   M I S S I O N

Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services

We are a feminist organization dedicated to positively affecting societal attitudes in order to end sexual violence, by offering a creative range of services.

We recognize that sexual violence is a community issue - not solely a woman’s issue - and therefore strive to develop a strong community response.

We honour the experience of survivors, and include their voice in the creation of services.