T
his luminous Full Moon under Aries, has been pulling me out of my bed in the early waking hours. Moon bathing, soaking up its invisible yet powerful rays, has illuminated the way to honour and share one of my most healing medicines ~ Retreats!
My first retreat was back in 2021 with my inspiring mentor Chloé (eternally grateful for her). I vividly remember how moved I was the whole weekend. My being was vibrating with excitement and remembrance. I was tasting glimpses of my essence and also, recognizing the gift of the Scout movement I was part of as a child. My father was one of the leaders and so I felt quite involved. Every Friday evening we’d meet up for diverse activities and around twice a year, a whole weekend nature “retreat” was proposed.
~We explored different nature destinations. Welcomed by Mama Earth, we were held.
~A list of what to bring was shared and we were limited to just that. Back to essentials.
~No watches were allowed (what we could associate to our cellphones nowadays). It was always 9:15 for some reason. Time became an illusion.
~Playful and varied invitations were guided. Some moved us outside our comfort zone, offering space for self-expression and nature connection.
~Sleeping in bunk beds or tents led to intimate conversations and stories, creating unique and special bonds.
~Music playing, homemade food served by highly devotional parents who all had their own nickname, inspired by the Jungle book.
Togetherness.
Memorable and adventurous these weekends were, can I tell you. I treasure them, hold them so closely to my heart still today.
Since tasting such kinds of immersion as an adult now, under the umbrella of “Retreats”, there is something deep within me that feels called to offer such spaces. Full circle it feels. I believe we need them more than ever as adults, with our intensely stimulating somewhat disconnected lives, lost of vitality and individualistic ways.
To leave behind the familiar
To leave behind the concreteness of the city
To leave behind the thinking, highly entertained mind
To leave behind the partner/family
To leave behind the work & responsibilities
…for just a moment, a Sacred Pause.
What arises then?
A sacred space for reflection, enchantment, discovery, playfulness, curiosity, nature, relaxation, exchange, vulnerability… All qualities our inner child seeks, that our adult longs for. Invitations from various healing modalities to deepen our well-being and spiritual path also make room for a more intentional and heartfelt life.
Returning from such a journey, we Remember and are invited to integrate such teachings in our mundane lives. To re~member ourselves is to retrieve and reclaim lost and shattered pieces of ourselves that we forgot, left out, repressed, shut down, numbed or tucked away to protect ourselves. Ultimately, what has caused us to feel separated from our Truth, others and our place in this World.
And so retreats allow us…
To welcome the unknown
To welcome Mama Earth and her medicine
To welcome slowness, our body wisdom
To welcome deep, moving connections
To welcome our forgotten ways of being and from there, offer an opportunity for loving care and attention.
Going on a retreat is like traveling, journeying within, to heal, expand make peace within with other compassionate travelers that witness and support us, while being held by the arms of our grandest teacher & healer Mama Earth.
The Wild Feminine Way invites us to treat ourselves to retreats, to savour the delights and mystery of such profound portals 🌀