Women's Somatic Healing & Divine Feminine Awakening Retreat in Umbria

The Mysticess Retreat is a deeply immersive five-day experience designed specifically for women seeking empowerment, healing, and creative awakening. Drawing inspiration from the lives of Umbria's legendary female mystics—Saint Clare of Assisi, Saint Angela of Foligno, Saint Rita of Cascia, and Saint Angelina of Marsciano—this retreat invites you to explore how themes of silence, devotion, rebellion, and inner authority show up in your own body and life story.

This is not mysticism for its own sake, but rather an embodied investigation into the historical erasure of women's stories and a powerful reclaiming of their relevance today. Through Somatic Mythwork™—a unique process combining storytelling, creativity, movement, and nervous system-informed practices—you'll safely access and process stored stress or trauma, gently shifting out of survival states and into connection, clarity, and embodied self-trust.

Each day unfolds with grounding rituals including breathwork, gentle movement, and orienting practices designed to bring the vagus nerve online and promote a felt sense of safety. Archetypal embodiment sessions explore figures like the Maiden, Mystic, and Wild Woman as embodied neural patterns, while mindful creativity practices—including mirror work, altar-building, intuitive writing, and symbolic art—engage the imaginal realm for deep integration and healing.

The retreat also incorporates land-based practices including silent walks and geothermal bathing, connecting you with the sacred landscape of Umbria and restoring ancestral memory. Each evening concludes with communal rituals of celebration—sharing meals, sensory experiences, and cultural offerings that stimulate the social nervous system and anchor transformation in pleasure, connection, and joy.

Led by Dr. Ellie Chadwick, an academic and somatic therapist with over 15 years of experience in storytelling and performing arts, this retreat offers a rare blend of intellectual depth and embodied wisdom. The approach is grounded in Jungian-informed archetypal work, polyvagal theory, and expressive arts therapies, creating a container for profound personal and spiritual transformation.

With intimate group sizes and a trauma-informed, shame-free environment, this retreat welcomes women at all stages of life who are ready to break free from inherited expectations, heal both personal and collective wounds, and step fully into their creative, powerful, authentic selves.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in a historic Tuscan farmhouse - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with nourishing, locally-sourced cuisine - Water served throughout the day - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Specialized somatic workshops and archetypal embodiment sessions - Group excursions and land-based activities - Course manual and retreat materials - 6-month Wanderess Circle membership with ongoing group somatic coaching - Fortnightly online support sessions post-retreat - Pre and post retreat support from the team - Transportation during the retreat - WiFi connection - Sacred rituals and ceremonies - Mindful creativity supplies and materials

What's not included

- Airport transfers - International and domestic flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional spa treatments or private sessions - Personal expenses - Alcoholic beverages beyond those included with meals - Gratuities