WELCOME TO
HOUSE OF BEAR
North Karelia with Heart and Nature
COURSES AND RETREATS * GUIDED JOURNEYS TO SACRED NATURe SITES * FINNISH SAUNA TREATMENTS
* MENTORING & CONSULTATIONS * CULTURE PRODUCTION * CULTURAL RESEARCH
with Helena Karhu
The purpose of House of the Bear is to offer courses, retreats, and other services in connection with nature and culture for well-being and inspiration. We have special expertise of North Karelia.
CONTACT:
Helena Karhu
info@karhuntalo.com
Tel. +358405148788
THE WELCOMING MESSAGE
FROM HELENA KARHU, THE FOUNDER OF HOUSE OF BEAR:
Welcome to my home page! My name is Helena Karhu, and in this page you can find a short overview of my work. My heritage is completely Karelian, and it is at my heart to offer you authentic, friendly, and earthy connections to my ancestral homeland. My last name “Karhu” means in Finnish “bear”, and this is where the name of my company comes from. Bear is the most important totem and symbol for the Finnish people, symbolizing strength and our connection with all that is. Finnish people have had rich folklore celebrating and singing to the bear, which has considered to have a sacred relationship with human being.
North Karelian nature and culture is the most important source of joy and strength for me and my team. We greatly value our cultural roots, heritage of our ancestors, and sacredness of local nature. Local lakes such as Pielinen, Pyhäselkä, and Höytiäinen, or the mighty rocks of Koli with their influence and ancestral spirits, are sources of strength and inspiration for us. Our passion is to connect you more profoundly with the North Karelian and Finno-Ugric traditions, such as sauna traditions, traditional Finnish oral poetry singing and spells, knowledge of herbs, traditional handicrafts, and ancestral ways of connecting with nature.
My life purpose is to connect human beings to the wisdom of nature, and to find a way to our balance within ourselves in nature. I trust the thousands of years old ancestral traditions as our pathways to peace and wellbeing. I find the ancient animistic, shamanic traditions to be the most authentic cultural layer of North Karelia. We are blessed to have some of the most important sacred nature sites, Koli mountain and the lake of Pielinen near to us.
One of the important ways of expressing the beauty and wisdom of the ancestral culture is by handicraft and art work. I recommend also the book by Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle: Sisterhood of the Enchanted Forest: Sustenance, Wisdom, and Awakening in Finland’s Karelia (2021, Pegasus Books), which shares beautifully some experiences of our home region and where I am part of the story.
I am based in Joensuu, but I am travelling for work across North Karelia and Finland. You are most welcome to contact me by info@karhuntalo.com and ask me about the courses and retreats, while you are in Finland.
Warm welcome to North Karelia!
Kind regards,
Helena Karhu,
M.Soc.Sc., cultural producer and researcher, retreat guide, and founder of House of Bear
CONTACT:
Helena Karhu
info@karhuntalo.com
Tel. +358405148788
Welcome to join a nature retreat in a unique destination in Lakeland Finland! Two experienced Finnish retreat guides are with you during the summer weekend and guide gentle yet profound practices suitable for everyone.
The retreat takes place at the beautiful Haapasaari Island in Saimaa, which is located near Imatra, South-East Finland. We are staying in an ecological forest village on a private island under the protection of a pine forest. Forest Therapy Center is a place dedicated to forest yoga, nature connection and forest therapy in the middle of Saimaa's most beautiful nature.
MYTHICAL KOLI – THE SHAMANS, WITCHES, AND WISE ONES OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN
As long known, Koli mountain, in North Karelia region in Finland, has been the sacred natural power place of the shamans, healers, and witches who have inhabited the region. The old name of the Koli mountain is Mustarinta or Mustarinda – meaning the Bear, which is the most venerated ancient totem of the region. The mythologies connected to the Bear are connected to the spirit of Koli. – perhaps the strongest ones.
Please read more about the mythical Koli from this blog page:
RETREATS AND COURSES COMING UP
Welcome to join
Sacred Journey and Shamanic Pilgrimage
around Koli and Lake Pielinen in 10.-16. June 2024
with Helena Karhu & Anna-Katariina Hollmerius
This is a week long pilgrimage at one of the most powerful shamanic destinations of the world in Northern Europe. Koli is a sacred mountain that is the oldest bedrock of the whole European continent. Its white quartzite stone base has been venerated by local shamans and sages for centuries. By this old mountain, there is a sacred lake, Pielinen. We make a pilgrimage around the lake, offering water ceremony in each direction. You will visit ancient sacred nature sites and cultural historical specialities.
TRADITIONAL FINNISH SAUNA TREATMENTS
I offer traditional Finnish sauna treatments.
I have been learning about sauna culture and therapy since a little girl from my grandmother Tyyne, who lived in Liperi in North Karelia. My grandmother was born in a sauna, and she knew all about it. My childhood circle of life at my grandmother's cottage was strongly centered around the sauna. I am offering traditional Finnish sauna treatments based on this lived experience and knowledge that has been naturally part of all my life.
My sauna-therapeutic work is simple, down-to-earth, intuitive, and based on tradition. I trust the relaxing world of the sauna, which promotes holistic well-being and cultural traditions.
Pictures above: Some memorable sauna experience at Fiskars Village Sauna, Korven Kota smoke sauna at Koli, and the smoke sauna of Tarina-aho at Kelvänsaari Island.
Sauna destinations in north karelia
I offer services in the saunas of my local business partners. For example, the beach sauna of Vainoniemi villa in Joensuu, the smoke sauna of Korven Kota by Koli National Park, the sauna world of Kotakylä in Juuka, the saunas of Metsäkartano in Rautavaara, and other wonderful saunas in our region are favorite destinations. We have focus on comfort, cleanliness, and atmosphere of the sauna for your relaxation and well-being.
Ceremonial sauna evenings
You can also ask me about more ceremonial sauna evenings, such as bridal saunas.
Contact
You are welcome to write to me and ask for further information. I offer services primarily to small groups and gatherings. The price of my services depends on duration and location of the event.
CONTACT:
Helena Karhu
info@karhuntalo.com
Tel. +358405148788
What is the ancient cultural tradition in North Karelia about?
According to the Finnish folklorists, the oldest form of Finnish culture and folklore is shamanistic, animistic wisdom culture. By studying rock paintings and carvings, we can travel back thousands of years in time. The latest evidence of the shamanistic practice is the 4,400-year-old shaman wand found in Humppila in June 2021 by the archeologists of University of Turku. It is a ritual artefact dating from the Neolithic Stone Age. North Karelia is an archaeologically significant area, and here you can find, for example, Heinävesi rock paintings, as well as numerous footsteps and table stones. The ancient power place of Koli mountain and the sacred lake of Pielinen offer world-renowed destinations of spiritual awakening and renewal.
Nature-mindedness means deep respect for nature. Each entity of nature has its own purpose, its own life, and its own soul. So has each human being. Finding one’s own nature and true essence is a process in which a human being experiences wholeness. Integrity is found and arises from respecting and nurturing the well-being of the body, emotional life, spirituality, and mind.
CONTACT:
Helena Karhu
info@karhuntalo.com
Tel. +358405148788
Connecting your uniqueness – Trusting your nature – Being yourself
Discover the beauty of yourself through the earth honoring methods. Learn about the local wisdom culture of North Karelia.
House of Bear is born from ancestral roots deep in the soil of the North Karelia. The basis of our work is both the Karelian and Finnish nature-based cultural heritage, and its time-tested practical methods of natural well-being and wisdom. We honor the cross-cultural and contemporary approaches to shamanic practice.
COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF
Photo: Lingonberry flowers at Kontiolahti, Finland. Photo by Helena Karhu.
Have courage to laugh at yourself, expand yourself beyond your own self beliefs, patterns, and doubts. Have courage to look deeply down to your ancestral roots, and learn further where you come from, what is the lineage where you belong to. Some of this work is inspiring, some of it might feel uncomfortable, as you become aware, learn, and evolve: But it is worth it! We can liberate ourselves from our limiting conditions towards true happiness and sense of personal freedom. The purpose of our work is to appreciate this unique human life we get to live. The purpose of House of Bear is to support you on your self-discovery in your very own unique potential and purpose in this world.
TRUST YOUR NATURE
The practices and methods that we use here in House of Bear, are applicable to your local environment and culture. The purpose of our work is to inspire you to connect with your own natural power places, ancestral connections, and to awaken you to appreciate both who you are and where you live.
“This was the first time that I tried a shamanic consultation. I didn't expect anything, was just open to whatever might come, and was so deeply touched and gifted. It is impossible to put in words what I experienced during our session. Afterwards, I felt lighter, freed, and touched in the soul. I got a lot of strength and support for my life path from our session. Also, the words and energies that came up have been etched in my mind and are a compass for my path. From the bottom of my heart thank you!”
- Feedback from a German client
You guide in culture and nature
Helena Karhu
As the retreat guide serves a 44-years old Helena Karhu, M.Soc.Sc. (with advanced studies in Tourism Science), a North-Karelian retreat guide, culture producer and reasearcher. Helena’s life project is Karhun Talo (House of Bear), which aims to promote self-awareness through folk cultures and wisdom traditions. She is born in Joensuu, North Karelia, Finland, and both of her parental lineages have deep roots in North Karelian soil. For the travelers, she wishes to show the beauty and wisdom of her ancestral land and culture, and to invite to rest in nature.
Helena is currently writing a Ph.D. research on Cultural Anthropology at the University of Eastern Finland. She is a chairwoman of a local association called Pielisen Tietäjäkeskus ry., which aims to promote, strengthen, and live the ancestral wisdom traditions of North Karelia. Helena has about 15 years of experience of meditation and mindfulness practices, and she has guided meditation for groups about 10 years. She has experience of cultural production for over 20 years.
Helena has vast international experience, as her international career took her to live over 13 years in Denmark. Besides her long-time residence in Copenhagen, her world journeys have taken her across the Northern and Arctic regions in her quest for life. She has lived in Greenland and in Fairbanks, Alaska. Helena’s passion is to bring forth the light-increasing, co-operative, and empowering aspects of the ancestral practice, where everyone can rest as they are, yet have freedom to become who they are. Helena is known for her inspiring and positive guidance, where simplicity and naturalness of life are the key focus.
“I hope that our retreat time together will bring you closer to the essence of this land, the beauty, and balancing strength of North Karelia. The purpose of retreat is that the effects and practices can be integrated to your home environment and everyday life.”
Practical:
The retreats are suitable for everybody. The program can be adjusted according to the needs of the each group and individuals. It is possible to make a retreat with additional days. The retreat can be as many days as possible for your group.
The guidance languages available are English, Danish, and Finnish.
The day programs can be ordered to any destination within North Karelia. If you need assistance in finding a suitable retreat location, please send a request. We are happy to coordinate and help in finding the most suitable location for your group. It is also possible to ask day retreats outside of North Karelia, to any destination in Finland. Please ask a separate offer for the rates for the retreats outside of North Karelia.
The price:
Please ask an offer for your group, or ask for available on-going retreats. The prices will include the guidance, the travel costs of the guide, and 24% VAT. If the retreat will include overnight accommodation and meals, the accommodation and meal costs will be added. The group takes care of its own travel, accommodation, and meal costs. Please ask a separate offer for the rates for the retreats outside of North Karelia. Additional sauna ceremony for the retreat day can be added to the program. Other additional programs such as traditional Karelian poetry singing, programs of natural herbalism of North Karelia, and other, can be added on request.
Contact:
Helena Karhu
+358405148788
TESTIMONIALS OF OUR WORK:
“I am grateful for the work you do, it is valuable and wildly inspiring. Things suddenly start to fall into place and I feel like I'm on the verge of something bigger and amazing in life. For the first time, I dare and trust more than ever before. Thank you for your warm and authentic way of dealing with people, as well as your wisdom and courage.” - A Finnish participant for a retreat
“Captivating teacher, who delivers from the depths of the heart. The contents of the retreat were wide-reaching. I discovered the joy and freedom of being, that everything necessary is already here and now. I feel relaxed and inspired. ”
“Helena is magical teacher, who is able to guide everyone the way they need.”
House of the Bear is official partner of Koli National Park.
More feedback for the work of House of Bear:
“I still haven’t sent you feedback about the Summer Retreat. It is hard to put into words all that it meant to me. The weekend brewed for a long time in my mind and body afterwards. And I still feel it. It was great and gentle program. I was impressed with the tasks and everything we did. It was wonderful, and really important to be able to see and experience how attentively and with gentleness and at the same time comfortably you guided the course and what we did. I enjoyed how different traditions came together over the weekend. I found it really empowering to be among two sensitive and powerful sages. I am happy and grateful that I found you. Thank you for being there and doing your valuable work. ”
“The retreat weekend gave me more than I could have expected. Clearly I was supposed to be involved in this and right now! My self - knowledge and also my self - esteem got a completely huge boost and this has brought big things into my own life right now. Also my life mission and what I want to do got more confirmation. That's the way I am, but now that too was further confirmed and reassured that I am on the right road. I'm not in the goal, but now I enjoy this trip and whatever it brings to me. :) It felt like the forces and energies in us moving over the weekend could have even move the mountains! Now I feel liberated and grateful as well as happy! thanks thanks thank you!"
“We were like flying in the air the whole return trip to Helsinki, we were in such wonderful feelings and sensations. Thanks for a memorable weekend! This will continue to live in our hearts and lives forward. Grateful. Thank you both, wonderful shaman women. It was lucky to be involved, I really hope the roads still meet. ”
CONTACT
Helena Karhu
+358 (0)40 5148788
info@karhuntalo.com
Based in Joensuu, Finland.