Tag Archives: women’s retreat

November 17, 2023

Persephone Unleashed | Maui Retreat

When I first started down the path of realizing my dream of taking Persephone Unleashed to Maui, the first thing on my to-do list was to find a venue. This task turned out to be much more difficult than I anticipated. For weeks, I scoured the internet for retreat venues, but the only ones that fit what I was looking for were outrageously out of my budget. Then one day, I found myself thinking about a beautiful banyan tree on Kauai that I visit often in my mind. Suddenly my fingers were typing “Banyan Tree Vacation Rental Maui” in the search bar. And there she was. Something much greater than myself paved the path, pulled the strings, and I watched the most incredible retreat start to take shape before my very eyes.

Nicole and I arrived to the venue one day early, and we were barely inside the front gate before we were kicking off our shoes and being magnetically pulled to the far side of the house where we beheld the very tree who called me to me through the ethers all those months before. As I placed my hands on her roots, silent tears fell down my cheeks. For 12 whole months, I had planned this retreat from across the ocean, but it never felt real. Until that moment. Until the tree whispered to me, “You made it. I’ve been waiting for you. You did the planning, now let me do the rest.” And oh, how she did.

I will never be able to find the words to aptly describe what transpired over those 5 days. The healing, grounding, connection, and unconditional love we received from the island herself as well as the women around us. This particular group of women ranged in age from 30-somethings to 70-somethings. We had three mother-daughter pairs, myself and my mama included among them. Sharing Persephone with my mom is experience I won’t soon forget.

We floated in the ocean, swam with sea turtles, danced in the rain, soaked in the sun, and were wholly nourished body & spirit.
Thank you, Maui for inviting us onto your shores. For giving us the gift of your medicine. And just weeks before you experienced a great, fiery trauma.
I can only hope we gave back to Maui in some way while we were there. Because she gave so, so much to us.

If a retreat of this magnitude tugs at your heart strings, consider signing up for the Earth Medicine retreat on Whidbey Island in May.
This is the stuff that can change the whole course of your life. I can’t explain it. But I’ve seen it happen, time and time again.
And it can happen for you, too.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE TEAM WHO BROUGHT THIS RETREAT TO LIFE (especially the local babes!):
Venue: Banyan Bed & Breakfast | Private Chef: Kyra Bramble, Lotus Chefs | Florals: Tara Lei | Vintage Chairs & Styling: Kelsi Van Velden | Yoga: Danielle, Maui Mobile Yoga
Massage: Alchemy Therapeutics | Hair & Makeup: Rozetree Bridal | Shamanic Healer: Jade Lotus | Stationer & Hype Girl: Nicole Joy

>> EXLORE 2024 PERSEPHONE UNLEASHED RETREATS <<

March 29, 2023

Persephone Unleashed Fall 2022 | Casitas Estate, California

Welp. This post is waaaaaaaaaay delayed. But oh how sweet it was going back through these images from last September!

I closed my 2022 retreat season with this beautiful circle of goddesses at The Casitas Estate in Arroyo Grande, CA. And what a circle it was.
We were fortunate enough to have a silversmith in our ranks, who opened our circle with an amulet workshop — where we got to piece together an amulet necklace with chosen crystals and elements.
(Do yourself a favor and check our her work and shop)

The weekend was rich with deep soul-dives, kindred conversation, creativity, glitter, crowns, laughter, and learning to live life unapologetically.
The POWER that emanated from these goddess’ photo shoots was electric.
But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself….

The Goddess Gang that Made it Happen:
Venue: The Casitas Estate
Catering: Flora & Fauna Fine Food
Tabletop Rentals: All About Events
Lounge Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals
Amulet Workshop: Marisa Martinez Jewelry
Yoga + DJ: Yoga & Mixtapes
Shamanic Healer: Jade Lotus Chen
Florals + Stationer: Nicole Joy
Hair + Makeup: Rozetree Bridal
Wine: Ruby Cellars
Coffee: Spearhead Coffee

>> There are still THREE OPEN THRONES for our Spring retreat, May 8-11th, in San Luis Obispo, CA. Registration closes Saturday April 1st <<

January 29, 2022

Persephone Unleashed | Leah’s 40th Birthday Retreat | Whisper Valley Ranch, Santa Margarita

Back in November, I had the distinct honor of hosting a special edition of Persephone Unleashed for a retreat alumni’s 40th birthday. This gaggle of goddesses welcomed me into their girl squad like I’d been there the whole time.

Whisper Valley Ranch set the perfect space and backdrop to our retreat — complete with zero cell service and not another soul or house for MILES. This being a birthday party, we opted for a more playful approach to nourishing ourselves, vs. the spiritual & emotional healing of Persephone’s past. We leaned into creativity and sisterhood, and laughed from sunup to sundown every single day.

As always, the photo shoot portion of the retreat blew my mind and filled my heart. I watched as each of these 6 women dropped out of their heads and into their bodies, releasing a lifetime of social expectations, shame, fear, and self-hatred. I watched as they stepped out of fear and into their own power, and it. was. epic.

This retreat wouldn’t have been what it was without the incredible team of women who brought it to life:

Whisper Valley Ranch, for inviting us into their sacred space and land.
Flora & Fauna Fine Foods, for making the trek out into the middle of nowhere to feed us 3 times a day.
Rozetree Bridal, for treating these women like the queens they are and enhancing their natural beauty for their photo shoots.
Events by Lilies of the Field, for helping us make floral crowns fit for forest nymph royalty and supplying stunning florals for our dining experiences.
All About Events, for bringing elegance to our dining ambiance, making every meal feel like a royal banquet.
Beauty Poet, for loving on these weary goddesses’ bodies with the healing touch of therapeutic massage.
Fable Rune, for making our skin glow from day one with their natural ayurvedic facials and clay mask bar.
Jena Baird, for guiding us through morning yoga practices and bringing healing through both movement and sound.
Jennifer DeTrèglodè, for teaching us the ancient methods of Shibori Dye and allowing us to stretch some creative muscles.
& Nicole Joy, for painting these stunning portraits of our goddesses, something they will treasure forever.

There are still a few seats available for 2022 retreats (registration for the March retreat closes Feb 1st!) — I invite you to say YES to yourself in this big way and claim one of those seats for yourself.

October 19, 2021

Persephone Unleashed | Fall Retreat 2021

“Rested Bitch Face,” quickly became the tagline of the Fall Equinox Retreat last month. It never ceases to blow my mind how a group of strangers can all be holding each other through both tears and belly laughs by the end of day one. This group was no exception. We had women from 27-58 years young, hailing from 4 different states. And it’s like they were meant for one another. Meant for me, too. Each retreat clarifies my vision of what Persephone’s importance in this world. Now more than ever, I am absolutely positive of my place and purpose in this beautiful Collective. And I’d like to see you try to stop me.

Details for the 2022 Persephone Unleashed Retreats will be coming together this winter.
Be sure to join the mailing list to be the first to know when registration opens!

COSMIC COLLABORATORS of CREATIVITY:
Photographer + Hostess: Sarah Kathleen
Venue: Flying Caballos Ranch
Florals: Lilies of the Field
Catering: Flora & Fauna Fine Food
Hair + Makeup: Rozetree Bridal | Rhyan & Juju
Stationer + Artistry: Nicole Joy
Yoga + DJ: RyToast | Yoga & Mixtapes
Shamanic Healer + Workshop: Jen Chen
Spa: Fable Soap Co.
Vintage Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals
Table & Tabletop Rentals: All About Events
Wine: Ruby Cellars
Coffee: Spearhead Coffee
Massage: Kate Cody
Sweatshirts: The Pine Torch

DAY ONE arrived with the last Full Moon of Summer…
And with temperatures in the low 80’s, it truly was the last remnants of Summer. The ladies arrived to Flying Caballos Ranch and the cutest yellow farm house settled before the rolling hills of San Luis Obispo, which would be their home for the next 3 nights. Upon arrival, they were handled a cocktail and invited to indulge in the bounty of delicious snacks. After we opened our circle with introductions, we migrated to a table laden with floral pretties and guided through a floral crown workshop by Ranay from Lilies of the Field. Rose was poured, laughter started to bubble throughout the space, and Joy was unavoidable. Next, we slipped into cozy evening wear and were treated to a skin and self care session with the lovely ladies of Fable Soap Co. Our time with Jeriel and Bobbie reminded us how important and truly simple loving our skin really is. As the sun set and the twinkle lights came on, we moved inside and treated our tastebuds to a build your own nacho bar — a genius slumber party inspired meal by Flora and Fauna Fine Food. The Harvest Moon rose above the hillside and a few of us slipped out and just watched her in sweet reverence, sipping on glasses of red wine. And it was a perfect day.

DAY TWO arrived with the last day of Summer…
We awoke to the smell of coffee and a beautiful breakfast spread, before circling up on the lawn for our first yoga practice with Ry (owner and founder of Yoga & Mixtapes). This was my 2nd retreat with Ry (who also happens to be my cousin), and I love hearing the women’s experience of her. So many women have arrived to the retreat having never taken (or perhaps never enjoyed) a yoga class before. And Ry is the perfect guide into the sacred practice of observing our breath and bodies. She doesn’t take life too seriously, and loves to weave fun, laughter, and exploration into her classes like I’ve never seen in my 12 years of practicing yoga. Not to mention her playlist BUMPS.

It was a fluid transition out of yoga into our part one of a ‘Release to Receive’ Workshop with Jen Chen, Shamanic healer and now dear, dear friend. These energy workshops are absolutely impossible to describe through words alone, and really beg one to experience her work firsthand to KNOW the powerful healing she brings to the Persephone experience. If you know, you know. And I would LOVE for you to Know. Day one was dedicated to Releasing fears that no longer serve us, to make room in our heartspace for what was to come the following day. And boy, did we let that shit go.

Rhyan and Juju, the badass babes of Rozetree Bridal arrived ready to pamper and glam five women for their bare sessions. All the while being musically hyped up by DJ RyToast, the vibe queen.

I guided five women through their bare session journeys, and witnessed each and every one of them transform before my very eyes. It’s like watching a terrified kitty cat evolve into a lioness, as they dropped in and took a piece of their power back. These sessions are another thing that is impossible to describe to someone who’s never done it. And if I have my way, every woman will Know this one day.

As day two came to a close, we gathered around a beautifully set table for an Indian inspired meal by chef Heidi of Flora & Fauna. After such a big day, we all wandered off to bed early to get some rest before doing it all over again.

DAY THREE arrived with the Fall Equinox…

Women woke with the shifting of seasons, and I found them scattered amidst the property soaking in the magic of this first day of Fall.
After another glorious breakfast, we joined Ry for our 2nd yoga practice. More laughter. More juicy movement.
Part Two of our ‘Release to Receive’ workshop with Jen Chen brought with it joy, singing, dancing, and a reception of ALL THE GOOD THINGS we made space for the day before.

Four women were photographed this day, and it was just as powerful. Watching women give voice and movement to their truths is the greatest gift, and I will do this until the day I die.

To celebrate the Fall Equinox, we dressed in our fanciest wares for a Goddess Feast and gathered around a bountiful table set by the lovely ladies of Flora & Fauna. We dined on comfort foods and drank deeply of conversation, belly laughs, and delicious red wine. We ended the night with a spontaneous rap show by RyToast and danced in the moonlight until our bodies could dance no more.

DAY FOUR arrived with the foggiest of mornings, Fall had truly arrived…

A group of women who started as complete strangers was now faced with the difficult task of saying goodbye (for now).
After a gentle, seated yoga practice where we just loved on our throat chakras (they did WERK) and gave ourselves the most intentional of hugs, we sat down together for one final meal: BRUNCH.

With full bellies and fuller hearts, we departed one by one.
And it’s so good know that we’ll all find our way back to one another.
Because I’ve only just gotten started.

April 10, 2021

Persephone Unleashed | Spring 2021

With each retreat, I dread the question, “How was your retreat??” Because there really is no possible way to answer it, apart from inviting that person to experience the retreat for themselves. But instead, I just shake my head as a slight smile creeps across my face and say, “It was everything.” And by ‘Everything’ I mean: powerful, life-altering, exhausting, invigorating, empowering, false-belief-shattering, and more incredible than I could have possibly dreamed.

But you can’t KNOW, until you KNOW. And once you do, you’ll never be the same. And if you don’t believe me, you can ask any one of the 9 women that attended the Spring Retreat last month.

You see, Persephone Unleashed isn’t just about getting away and having a sexy photo shoot with yours truly. It’s about escaping to a magical circle of women where you and your mess are welcome, held, and seen. It’s about nourishment, restoration, and sisterhood. It’s about awakening our creativity, challenging lies we might believe about ourselves, and releasing what no longer serves us in order to make room for beautiful new things. And yes, the photo shoot plays a piece in that — but it is just one of many pieces that make up the healing and powerful experience that is Persephone Unleashed.

This Spring, we gathered at The Holly Farm in Carmel, an otherworldly oasis who’s very land welcomed us into her arms and held space for us in her sacred earth. I want to tell you the whole story of the weekend, or at least try… but for starters, here is the Grove of Goddesses that brought the whole thing to life. It wouldn’t have been what it was without each and every one of these amazing vendors (many of them dear, dear friends of mine):

Photographer + Hostess: Sarah Kathleen
Venue: The Holly Farm
Stylist: Spark + Sparkle Events
Florals: Laughin’ Gal Floral
Catering: La Creme Monterey
Hair + Makeup: Rozetree Bridal (Juju & Rhyan)
Stationer: Nicole Joy
Yoga + DJ: RyToast + Yoga & Mixtapes
Energy Healer + Workshop: Jen Chen
Spa: Rozetree Botanicals
Vintage Rentals: Kiss Me In Carmel
Tabletop Rentals: All About Events
Table + Chairs: Chic Event Rentals
Wine: Ruby Cellars
Black Lace Lovelies: Blackwater
Matching Sweatshirts: The Pine Torch

Day One:
The ladies arrived one by one, and were each overwhelmed by the lush and wild, tropical landscape of The Holly Farm. After they settled in and got to know one another, we sat enjoyed a natural beauty makeup class led by the beauty Goddess herself, Rhyan Townsend. After we had learned a thing or two about seeing and enhancing our own gorgeousness, we wandered into the garden for a floral crown workshop with a Spring Goddess in her own rite, Amanda of Laughin’ Gal Floral. Adorned in queenly blooms, we then retreated indoors for a pajama party dinner & spa night — where we dined on flatbreads and did Rozetree Botanical face masks, and danced to 90’s music until our bellies hurt from laughing so hard.

Day Two:
After a previous two days of rain, the sun finally came out and breakfast was served (La Creme brought ALL the nourishment and delicious luxury to the weekend). We then started our morning with a divine yoga practice, led by RyToast (Yoga & Mixtapes) — her original “Wonder Woman, Super Girl” postures were EVERYTHING we needed. Yoga was followed by a powerful Release workshop with Jen Chen. Together we dove into our heartspace, held one another through powerful and tearful releases, and built a beautiful spiral out of foraged spring bounty. There is SO much more I could say about this workshop with Jen, but I know better than to try to convey the powerful thread of energy that threaded through our circle. So I will let the photos do the talking.

After many hugs and a refueling lunch, the bare sessions began. Hair and makeup queens, Rhyan & Juju, hustled like MAD to whip out look after look (4 shoots in one day, many with multiple styles). The women felt like royalty as their wine glasses were filled and their inner wildness & beauty was personified. Not to mention they had their own DJ — RyToast — to hype them up with their jams of choice while getting ready for their closeup. Needless to say, it was some kind of party.

It. Was. So. Fun.

We ended day one around a beautifully set table (styled by Spark + Sparkle Events) under a majestic oak tree. Glasses clinked, laughter rang through the air, and bodies were nourished after a long and magnificent day.

Day Three:
Sunshine. Breakfast. Tea & coffee. And all the yoga.

Part two of Jen’s workshop was all about Renewal. After the Release, there is always a welcoming of the New. And so we dove back into our heartspaces, and asked our hearts what it needed. Again, it is impossible to explain the magnitude of healing we experienced in that circle. But I will say, the seeds we planted that day will grow into beautiful reminders of what left in and took away from that spiral.

More photo shoots. More hair and makeup sorcery. More dance parties around the DJ booth. Oh! And I am so grateful to my dear friend Lisa (Hemlock House Photography) for snapping some BTS shots of little old me.

Both days, while I was photographing half the women, Jen worked lovingly on the other half, using her healing skillset as a Lightworker. If you are in the need of energetic healing and attention, I cannot speak highly enough about this woman. She is the real deal, and I am so grateful to know her.

On this, our final evening together, we dressed to the nines and feasted once more under the fairy kingdom of that beautiful oak tree. It was a truly a dinner fit for a Goddess. Many goddesses, in fact.

Day Four:
The final morning, and the most delicious chocolate croissants I’ve ever tasted.

After a lite and meditative yoga practice, we gathered in the stunning lounge (by Kiss Me in Carmel) one last time to close our circle. And then, we brunched. Because how else could you possibly end a weekend like this.

Overall, we began the weekend as strangers, and departed as sisters.
And I already can’t wait to do it again. And again. And again.

Three seats remain for the Fall retreat in September.
Maybe one of those seats is meant for you.
I would love, LOVE to meet you in this incredible circle.

Who knows what magic awaits us.