Upcoming Retreats
Dates: Sept. 27, Oct. 11, Nov. 8
Time: Varies
Location: Grant Park, Lapham Peak
Price: Sliding scale $75 - $125 or $250 for all three
Join Gwen of Intentionally Outdoors and Olivia Flood of the Awakened Alchemy for a day retreat in nature. The retreat will feature a guided Forest Therapy walk in nature led by Gwen and a nature-based ceremony led by Olivia.
This is a series of outdoor retreats to support the transition into fall. Each excursion will explore an element in nature and our inherent connection to it. You are invited to connect deeply with the land through your senses, explore your own earthly rhythms within and embrace change through the power of the elements.
By journeying through the elements of nature, you are invited to transform through embodiment and cultivated presence with each aspect of nature. Each alchemical element offers its own energy that encourages and brings change and its through honoring each of these elements that change flows seamlessly.
Please see details for each nature retreat below. You may join for one retreat or all three.
The Waters Within: 9/27, 12pm - 3pm at Grant Park
Rooted in Reverence: 10/11, 10am - 1pm at Grant Park
Ember Rising: 11/8, 9am - 12pm at Lapham Peak
This retreat series is designed for adults aged 18 and older. Note that this series is held completely outside and recommendations on clothing to wear and items to bring will be emails to participants prior to the retreat. Please register and pay in advance, as only registered participants can join. The walk and ceremonies are gently guided and designed for all activity and experience levels.
Sacred Rhythms
(Click images to reserve individual retreats)
Meet Your Guides
Olivia Flood, The Awakened Alchemy
Olivia is an intuitive space holder with a deep Sacred ceremony lives in our bones. With The Awakened Alchemy, ceremony often weaves together energy healing, plant medicine, and mindfulness. At the heart of this practice is Tea ceremony—a gentle and intentional space that invites deep presence, reflection and inner connection. Each gathering is created with great intention to gather in community—to celebrate, grieve, witness, remember and nurture shared presence. These gatherings invite introspection, healing, and connection—both within and within community.
Gwen Ripp, Intentionally Outdoors
Forest Therapy, inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku or forest bathing, involves immersing yourself in nature through all five senses. Gwen, a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide leads you through a series of sensory based invitations that encourage mindful interactions with nature. These walks are not a traditional hike, exercise or naturalist walk, instead Forest Therapy focuses on nurturing your relationship with nature and yourself, fostering relaxation and rejuvenation. It is a practice where we slow down, awaken our senses and reconnect to the land.
Date: Oct. 3
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Collective Flow
Price: $125
Steeped in Samadhi
Vedic traditions describe Samadhi as, “the state of bliss achieved from focused concentration” and is described as wakeful consciousness. It is said that the state of Samadhi reveals the mystery of life - it is only in this state that the truth of life may be revealed. Many books and traditions try to describe this state of being but some things are better left to experience.
Steeped in Samadhi invites you to retreat into the senses and explore the mysteries and truth through the threshold of bliss. Led by Jess Chirchirillo and Olivia Flood, this evening retreat is one of realization through the valleys of the unobstructed mind. Join and leave deeply steeped in samadhi.