Persephone Unleashed

Staring at a blinking cursor, wondering how in the world I could ever put this experience into words. It all started with a wish that floated around in my imagination for years, and now staring at these photos I see the transformation of a wish given breath. And I am undone. It will be absolutely impossible to rightly express the divine magic of this retreat, but I will do my damnedest. Here it goes. 

When I first discovered boudoir photography, I was enraptured. It began with taking photos of women to gift their betrothed on their wedding day. But it evolved into so much more. I found that women had so much more within themselves than they even knew, and camera in hand, I had the key to unleash it. My boudoir sessions became “Bare Sessions” — empowering outdoor photo sessions, where women were invited to shed their layers and befriend the light and shadows within. After 10 years of doing these sessions, a 3 hour photo shoot just wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to give them more. And thus, Persephone Unleashed was born. A three night, four day getaway to a magical oasis where women could leave their check-lists and comparisons at the door, and enter into a space to find nourishment and connectivity with kindred spirited women. 

We soaked in the elements, danced in the sunlight and, swam in the moonlight. We held one another through both laughter and tearful releases. We embraced the goddesses within each other, and held space for the shadow selves we found. We tuned in to nature and the elements in new ways, and felt the unconditional love Mother Earth freely offers. We were even visited by an owl on our final night together, who bathed us in her wise energy as a meteor shower began in the skies above.

There is something inexplicably life-altering about the magic that unfolds when women gather. I can’t describe it, but if you know YOU KNOW. And if you don’t know, I invite you to join me at one (or more) of the three retreats in 2021 — so you CAN KNOW. 

And of course, none of this would have been possible without my badass Goddess Gang of collaborators: 

Venue: The Casitas Estate | Coordinator/Stylist: Spark + Sparkle Events | Photographers: Sarah Kathleen & Heather Farias
Caterer: Flora & Fauna Fine Food | Linens: BBJ Linen | Florals: Events By Lilies of the Field
Hair & Makeup: Rosetree Bridal| Specialty Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals | Rentals: All About Events
Stationer: Nicole Joy | Wardrobe: Blackwater | Yoga: Hillary Kusko | Sound Healing: Jena Baird 
Dance Healing: Danielle Small | Self Love DIY Mask Bar: Fable Soap Co. | Heart of Gaia Workshop: Jen Chen
Coffee: Spearhead Coffee | Wine: Ruby Cellars