Wellspring Women’s Retreats
Self-Exploration and Self-Compassion
through Dreamwork, Yoga, and Fairy Tales
August 10 – 16, 20205
Torrita di Siena, Tuscany
For more information or to register, click here!
While you’re waiting for the retreat to start, consider joining me in Spinning Straw, my online fairy tale group for women!
The ancient hills of Tuscany exude a quiet magic. It’s the perfect place to spend a week inviting the unconscious to speak to us and share its wisdom.
This six-day retreat will feature yoga and massage with Jodi Mahony and fairy tales, and dreamwork with Jungian analyst and author, Lisa Marchiano. We’ll dive into tales of the feminine to unearth truths we didn’t know we knew. We’ll engage in nightly dream incubation rituals and morning dream groups, and we’ll experiment with group dream healing.
Italy will inspire our inner adventure and we’ll focus on Italian fairy tales and legends and even explore the mythology of the Etruscans, the ancient inhabitants of Tuscany. We’ll augment the work with dreams and fairy tales with outings, including a visit to the nearby Etruscan necropolis of Pianacce which features the Tomb of the Infernal Chariot.
There will also be plenty of time to enjoy la dolce vita. The villa is a short walk from Torrita di Siena, a medieval town perfect for exploring the area’s rich history — or enjoying an espresso, gelato, or grappa. There will be a free afternoon in the middle of the week for lounging beside the pool or venturing further afield to Florence, which is just over an hour away.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We will stay in Santa Gelsa, a spectacular 300 year old villa near Siena and Montepulciano. It is fully air-conditioned with a private swimming pool set on a travertine stone terrace that boasts a delightful panorama of the Tuscan countryside.
The spacious villa has been lovingly refurbished and features light-filled air-conditioned bedrooms, modern en-suite bathrooms and a myriad of charming living spaces, all across three floors (indoor elevator). All twelve bedrooms are configured with two twin beds and benefit the privacy of en-suite bathrooms
With extensive lounge and dining areas, Santa Gelsa has plenty of space for our goup to feel comfortable. On the ground floor, at the heart of the villa, is a loggia with vaulted ceilings, that runs the length of the facade.
The spacious, professional kitchen is accessed from near the loggia, while a glass door leads out onto a parasol shaded seating terrace, from where you can take your breakfast prepared by your private chef. At one end of the loggia, a door opens into a second dining area, while on the other side, a living room with TV.
Santa Gelsa sits on a private estate and farm, owned and managed by the homeowners. The farm produces Chianti, Merlot and Syrah wines, as well as Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and a variety of cereal grains.
MEALS
Private Chef services included
Daily continental buffet breakfast (8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) Monday – Friday
Dinner service for three evenings a week (beginning between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. lasting approximately two hours), on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday
Cooking Class (TBD)
Wine at the Villa
RETREAT DETAILS
Arrival at Santa Gelsa, Sunday, August 10th – 10:00 a.m.
Departure from Santa Gelsa, Saturday, August 16th – 10:00 a.m.
Sessions with Lisa*
Welcome & Closing Circles on Sunday and Friday
Fairy Tale Sessions Monday, Wednesday, & Friday
Dream Incubation Experiences
Yoga Sessions with Jodi*
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.
50-minute Massage with Jodi
Prior to the retreat, you will schedule a time for your massage. Available times will start on Sunday afternoon and occur through Friday afternoon.
Villa Experiences
Cooking class
Wine Tasting
Optional excursions available
Group Excursions*
Tuesday & Thursday: Travel via group transportation to nearby Tuscan towns by late morning
*Days/Times Subject to Change
HEAR WHAT PRIOR PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO SAY
“Wellspring Women’s Retreat was a truly transformative experience. To get together in nature with such a special, smart, generous and kind group of women of all ages is something so rare and such a gift. The outdoor yoga was magical and the meals were nourishing. Lisa’s sessions were engaging and thought-provoking, as was the discussion with the whole group. I found Lisa and Jodi to be very generous with their time and energy for the group. I left feeling inspired with my cup filled and joints loose (from the yoga!). I will be returning!”
“The group Lisa and Jodi brought together was remarkable. Their experiences are not my experiences, yet there is a common thread binding them all together: one guided by a genuine curiosity about themselves and the world around them. So refreshing in a world filled with so much binary thinking. These women have stirred in me something deep that is just beginning to grow and rise to the surface. They challenged me, impressed me, informed me, surprised me, and shared a sacred space with me.”
“The Wellspring Women’s Retreat was the best women’s retreat I have attended. Lisa Marchiano masterfully set the tone and led the work of the group, creating a loving container for self-exploration. Lisa’s gentle and supportive style immediately opened the space for me to relax and encounter my thoughts and feelings without judgment. The Fairy Tales and reactions to them inspired new and important insights. The program offered both flexibility and structure. The social times facilitated rich conversations that stimulated connection and sharing. There were ample opportunities for communing with nature, bodywork, and quiet time for introspection and rest. I am grateful to Lisa for providing this soulful space, and look forward to the next one!”
