A Mid-Summer Retreat — Together
This July with the new moon in Cancer, we held an intimate retreat for 3 nights and 4 days to dive deeper into the waters of Cancer.
We gathered to embark on a mid-summer dream by allowing our hearts to be present. By dwelling in the now, we formed deeper connections with ourselves and with each other. Together, we listened, shared stories, absorbed the energy of gentle waves and laughed in the salty air. A journey that cleansed and awakened a deeper sense-perception.
Finding the present moment in the collective
The women traveled to the North Fork of Long Island, a country and sea setting, to retreat at a historical Inn. The gathering was inspired by the palette and feel of the rich farmland and coastal seascape, with the laid-back and cheerful vibes of the East End. It was a weekend where we could unwind, relax and be with the present moment.
Cleanse the senses
An immersion of layers are felt. Layers soft like cake, others hard like chalk. As the hours pass, the creative process unfolds, and a carefree spirit emerges. With the company of others, nothing else really matters because we have each other. A harmonizing dance of voices, playing in the excitement to be together, allows an exploration to unfold that becomes an adventure. To breathe again. It’s the air that is different. To feel the rays of the sun, and see how it reflects a brighter color. Looking above, the sky is limitless with variations of pigments in blue. It shows us an opening into another world view.
Forgetting the past, a laugh brings us to the present. There on the horizon the future seems distant, but there on the other side we see ourselves. But now, sharing meals with fresh grown goodness nourishes the sensation of taste and the appreciation of good food relishes the mood with gratitude. Stories flow. Conversation sips.
A fallen eyelash is a wish that could have been missed. The creativeness exist in a scoop of honey. Whip the creme and . . . thank you, wild strawberry.
“”Let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we see.””
sensory communion with nature
Time dissolves because the days are ours to claim. Rest and rejuvenation quiets the mind and surrenders towards a sandy path. The birds sore high above catching the wind on their wings. Below the sand doesn’t feel dirty, rather a detox for the skin - clean again. A snake isn’t so evil, and knows how to shed its skin, becoming renewed. The wildflowers sparkle around him in the grass and together the support for an ecosystem so vast. Our soles connect to the earth more deeply the second time on the path back home again. An interconnectedness is here and an additional ease sets in. Serenity now. The lasting pleasure of the rolling ocean and whispers of the sea - we keep the windows open.
Spoken words, reflect with such brilliance that we are inspired to stay the course, discovering a lost treasure. Then a sign. Toe in the water…and then a dive. A healing crash of water- head first, feet last. The joy of a midnight swim with nothing but the stars and a dark night sky. Feeling the emptiness, yet a knowing -we tred together, splash and swim.
Breakthroughs bring bliss. A revelation - how was it missed? A spritz of mist. Spending time together, brings us connections we can not get on our own. An authentic luxury. A canvas interlaced with the field of life. Elevating the heart with a peace that is a spell for the pattern. A new idea transcends like the flutter of the wings on a butterfly en plein air.
We aren’t static. We turn the leaf, create the color, change the channel and emerge with an encore. We are made to create. Together, we root for you. Always come back to you.
July 2023 Retreat Itinerary
All activities were optional with personalized suggestions upon request.
Day 1 - LONG LOST AND FOUND
Afternoon Arrivals
See the countryside. A biking trail.
7:00 PM Vineyard Barn
Picnic and a bottle of wine.
Golden Hour Oceanside
Sunset and dance.
Day 2 - ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT AND BE PREPARED TO RECEIVE IT
Morning
Breakfast & tea by the sea.
Day
Vintage shops.
Site bird-watching trail.
Seashell searching seaside.
5:30-6:00
Circle on the lawn
6:00-8:00
Dinner and Fire Artistry
Day 3 - SHAPED BY WATER
Morning
Morning Yoga at the flower farm
All Day
Sailing Gardiners Bay
Lunch on Shelter Island
Swim & Sea Explore
After 5:00
Sips... and singing
7:00
Bayside Farm to table dinner
Later
Live music and Stargazing
Day 4 - LOVE IS OUR COMPASS
Morning
Walk in the field of lavender.
Afternoon
Free time
5:00-7:00
Another immersion with water.
Evening on...
Midsummer night dinner and dreams. New moon celebration. All fire flies welcome.
Our retreat was a blend of synchronizing with nature, heart-felt pleasures, and enjoying the company of others.
The activities were thoughtfully curated to create an atmosphere for presence, encouraging us to participate with our senses and awaken a new campaign of the heart. Activities were complimented with conversation, journaling and spontaneous surprises along the way. By taking time to pause in the art of now, we left feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and with renewed intentions to place upon the clouds. We lived to laugh out loud.