Nostos
When taken to heart and practiced, Nostos offers a pattern that awakens us from cultural trances and moves us through essential life lessons until we arrive home as humble, audacious warriors who are brave enough to risk ego losses in return for integrity or wholeness of one’s Spirit and Essence.
Honoring the whole of you
the nostos way
When life stops you, gets your full attention and asks,
What are you waiting for???"
...and you don't have a clear answer, but you long to be
Authentic • Empowered • Intimate • Creative • Present
consider Nostos Now, which is designed to help you live with greater purpose, restore a painful past, grieve tough losses, and connect with your deepest longings and desires, become a life changing, life inspiring, and life preparing resource for you and possibly another person, or persons that you care deeply about.
As in one, all. As in all, one.
the program
Ten Courses.
One Personal Journey.
The NOSTOS Now Series takes participants through a journey that is both internal and external, individual and collective, spanning personal well-being, vocational authenticity, financial empowerment, and sacred sexuality.
Programs are available online via video, in live Zoom sessions, and at select on-site venues, making them accessible and affordable for working adults at every stage of life.
Dr margAret pinder, ed.d.
For over 50 years Margaret Woolsey Pinder has followed her dream to work with people, as a personal advocate and resource who evokes and furthers their own destinies and dreams. From her youth, Margaret envisioned working with people from multiple nations, cultures, and perspectives. She chose a service profession, nursing, which led her to lifelong education and counseling. The settings have varied from health care institutions to universities, businesses, community groups, and professional associations, governmental organizations and more. Roles have varied from clinician, teacher, administrator, research director, counselor, keynote speaker, author, curriculum developer and deliverer, and more.
ABOUT DR. MARGARET PINDER
Educator, Mentor, Leader, Author, Speaker,
Accountability Partner
Ed.D., University of North Texas
RN
"True transformation occurs when wisdom and love translate into contemplative, courageous, and empowered actions.
Certified Dream Builder Coach
Never has Dr. Pinder regretted this path. In fact, now, rarely a day goes by without at least one or more ‘official’ encounters wherein these commitments are fulfilled. As Rosemerry Trommer says in her wonderful poem, For When They Ask, the word, ‘paradox’ is the word that contains the whole of life for her, Margaret chooses this word to describe her current ‘isness’. She further says that this era is perhaps the most transformative one of all for her. And, she still invites seekers from all perspectives to join her in this grand adventure of life when the offerings mentioned here resonate or call them to fulfill their envisioned or hoped for entelechy/destiny.
Clinical Fellow, AAMFT
ways to engage
Learning designed for where you are
Whether you are seeking individual growth, community connection, or organizational transformation, NOSTOS Academy offers a pathway that fits your life.
NOSTOS Now
Sacred Sexuality
Aging as Spiritual Practice
Leadership That Transforms
announcing the
Autumn Retreat 2026
“Personal Wellbeing as Strategy Number One”
Join an interdisciplinary faculty as we share the latest in mental health, aging, total wellness, and nutrition. Our program features cutting-edge research, evolving trends in assessment and treatment, and a deep exploration of professional ethics for the modern practitioner.
OCTOBER 16–17, 2026 | NEAR RUSSELLVILLE, AR
Sponsors: InSync Counseling & Nostos Academy
Participants may attend for personal learning or to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for mental health professionals.
Lodging Information
Lodging is independent of retreat registration. We will share a list of recommendations for VRBO, Airbnb, and local hotels in the Russellville area to help you plan your stay conveniently.
Watch this space for updates!
Tentative Schedule
October 16: Evening Session
October 17: All Day Workshop
Begin the Journey Home
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