How I started to create retreats
How I started to create retreatsWhen I arrived in the south of France (Ardèche) in 2003 my husband and I knew right away that we wanted to bring people here from all over the world and create amazing retreats. We truly believed that they would fall in love with the wild rivers, majestic mountains, magical caves and enchanted forests. Just like we did.
In 2013 when I was holding a weekend channeling workshop in magical Kuranda, Australia (after having received a vision of this place) the land told me to bring people to sacred sites in the south of France.
I knew this was my calling.
Many of my friends and colleagues told me to create retreats over the years and I visited many sacred sites here with different friends. In 2022 I had the great pleasure to support the amazing Jennifer Kem and Sarah Paikai on their Femmefluence Leadership Retreat in the south of France. I LOVED it and thanks to their support and guidance I finally took the leap.
It took me 10 years from that first call in Australia but I am so glad I said YES. This year I’ve created my 6th retreat. My husband Olivier and I have so much fun creating retreats in the most magical parts of France (Provence, Aude, Ardèche).
How I create magical retreats
It all starts with a vision and a deep inner call. Listening to this and saying yes is everything. The vision for each retreat guides me in the whole creation process and I try to honor it (even when it’s challenging or not what I had in mind). From choosing the sacred sites to the house where we’ll stay and every part of the week together.
I channel everything I create in my sacred business, including all my retreats.
I connect with the soul of the retreat and ask it what it wants to become. From this deep connection I channel the name, the energetic signature and every part of it. Everything I create starts in the subtle realm and grows into its physical form.
It’s so important to me that every part of the retreat is grounded in loving, respectful and reciprocal relationships. This means that we carefully choose the house, the food and every activity with this in mind. We spend weeks cultivating relationships with the locals and their love and care for what they bring is felt deeply.
Our soul clients love to eat cheese from the adorable cheese lady in Limoux and delicious dinner on a site with a private underground dolmen in Provence (yes, really). We bring every part of French culture into the way we curate our retreats. We focus on local produce and homes created with love.
If I’m supporting someone else to create an amazing retreat it’s a co-creation and we do this work together, every step of the way.
All the logistics (there is so much)
Creating a great retreat is so much work! Every time I have at least one moment when I start doubting everything and swear I will never do this again ha, ha. Then as soon as the retreat starts I am in love with the beauty and magic of it again.
finding the right house
We always rent a house (or castle ;) and this is one of the key parts of creating an amazing retreat. Finding the right house and anchoring in where we’ll stay is so important. From this house we choose the locations for the whole retreat.
The perfect house has to be warm, peaceful, healing and beautiful. The energy has to be great because our soul clients are highly sensitive and this matters deeply to them (and us).
We always meet the owners and spend time sharing our vision for the retreat and get to know each other. It’s so important to us that the owners are good people and welcome our presence. We’ve rented some amazing houses and met incredible people this way.
I always spend a lot of time connecting and co-creating with the soul of the house. I ask for guidance, receive visions of how to set up the altar and who will stay in each room. I also give back to the house and make sure our presence is as much of a blessing to the house as it is to us.
Of course it takes time, energy and awareness to work like this but it’s so important to us and it’s always worth the investment.
Mapping out the retreat
I tune in to the retreat and map out every part of it: from when we pick everyone up at the closest train station to when we drop them off.
The key parts are: the house, the places we’ll visit, all the meals and tailor-made support for each person who joins us.
We lean into our decades of experience living in the south of France, our intuition and our love for creating connections wherever we go. We also weave in plenty of spaciousness and time to explore each sacred site, enjoy a delicious meal and do energy work together.
Joy, pleasure and nourishment are at the core of creating amazing retreats. There is always time to take a nap or go off on a spontaneous adventure. Each retreat is tailor-made to suit each person who joins us.
the food (OMG!)
It goes without saying that eating delicious food every day is one of our top priorities (welcome to France!).
My husband Olivier LOVES to cook amazing, vibrant and nourishing food, made with high quality local and mostly organic produce. He chooses every meal with so much care for each person joining the retreat and caters to all allergies and sensitivities.
He treats us to a variety of 3 course meals at home, delicious picnics when we’re on adventures and makes sure everyone feels taken care of. We also choose 1-2 of our favorite restaurants.
If you’re a foodie you’ll LOVE our retreats.
sacred sites and nature
Being a channel and intuitive I love connecting with nature and sacred sites. This is a huge part of our retreats.
I tune in and ask what places we’re called to connect with and there have been so many miraculous moments on sacred sites at Montségur, Sainte Baume and more secret sacred caves and mountains.
Again, I spend a lot of time connecting the these places and doing deep energy work. I work with the sites, the spirits of the land, the weather and so much more. I ask for guidance and support so we can create right relationships with these places and give back as much as we receive.
Sacred sites are living beings and they deserve our love and respect.
My intention is always to leave them more beautiful and cleaner than when I arrive. if you’ve been to some of the most well known Mary Magdalene sites you know that unfortunately this isn’t always the case.
energy work is a vital part
I spend months tuning in to the energy of the retreat, the house, every place we’ll visit and our group. I support the retreat by clearing the energy, asking for guidance and calling in what’s needed for the retreat to be amazing for everyone.
Energy work is at the core of everything I create. It supports me and makes every part of the retreat creation feel sacred and magical.
Our schedule
We have a general outline for the weekly schedule and then we stay flexible. Our days depend on the weather, energies of the places and the people who join us.
It’s so important for us to stay very open to their needs and desires. We prefer to do less things and have more space for each activity. Rest, nourishment, pleasure and integration times are so important.
How I fill them with amazing people (who keep coming back)
I believe that the places that call us also long for us. On each retreat the right people know that this is where they are meant to be. I trust this fully and spend a lot of time calling them in and supporting us all.
I also write a lot about my retreats and share lots of photos and videos of the magical places that we go to. I show up regularly for months before my retreats on my social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. I also write several weekly or monthly newsletters.
If you want to be on the waitlist for my retreats and know all about them first – sign up here.
Want to come to my next retreat?
I would love to welcome you to one of my retreats. You will experience so much magic, adventure, joy, powerful transformation and wonder. I can’t wait to support you and your dreams.
My retreats this year:
September 13-20: Circles of Magic, On the Path Of Our Ancient Ancestors. A unique Nordic shamanic retreat with Korpmor / RavenMother (Ardèche, France). Find out more here.
September 27-October 4: CREATE Sacred Retreat. A soulful retreat to savor the pleasures of France & channel your next creations to life (Ardèche, France). Find out more here.
do you want my help to create your retreat?
If you have a dream to create a retreat or other event here in France, I’d love to support you. Please book a time here and let’s talk.
If you want me to support you energetically to bring your next creation to life (retreat, program, workshop…), please book a 1h private session here and let’s do it together.
I wish you a beautiful day and a love-filled week!
Sending you waves of love and deep gratitude,
