Day 1: Arrive in the “City of the Gods”
The city of Athens is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Often depicted with an owl or snakes, she is the epitome of strength. The powerful blue eye of Athena, which you will see almost everywhere you go, is a symbol of protection and good luck. Though Athena is the patron goddess of Athens, locals name it the “City of the Gods” because numerous gods and goddesses have been revered here throughout time.
The effect is palpable. You cannot help but walk on the streets of Athens and feel the history, the mysticism, the sacredness of each step you take.
After you arrive and get settled, we will gather in the evening for a rooftop dinner with a view of the ancient Acropolis. Our hotel is situated at its base, a mere 10-minute walk away. As we get to know each other and clink our glasses in honor of the Sacred Feminine Power journey about to begin, we will open to receive the blessings and guidance of the goddess.
Day 2: Enter the Temple of the Goddess
After a nourishing night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel, I will lead us in sacred circle to connect with the land and ceremonialize the beginning of your initiation into Sacred Feminine Power.
Simply standing among the ancient temples, which have been preserved for thousands of years, is a wonder in and of itself. Yet, it is one thing to simply walk among the remains as a tourist. It is another to open your heart to receive the wisdom contained within the land. Daily, you will be guided to open the physical and energetic centers connected with each sacred site either before we begin or at the site itself.
On our first full day, we will explore the ancient Agora and receive a guided tour of the Acropolis, which contains the infamous Parthenon – a Temple to Athena – as well as several smaller temples. You will enter the world of Greek mythology as the ancient mysteries begin to awaken your own felt sense of magic.
Day 3: Walk the Ancient Paths
You’ll put on your walking shoes for a 6-hour guided tour around Athens from a licensed tour guide in Greece, learning more about its ancient mythology and visiting the archaeological remains that abound, including:
* Temple of Olympian Zeus & The Arch of Hadrian
* Old Town of Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens that has been continuously inhabited since neolithic times
* Areopagus Hill & the Hill of the Muses and the Nymphs
* Apostolou Street and Thiselo neighborhood
* Kerameikos Ancient Cemetary, which is the beginning of The Sacred Way that leads to the largest religious center of ancient Greece in Eleusis, which we will visit later. It’s one of my favorite sites in Athens!
You will step onto the beginning of an ancient path that leads to the heart of the ancient mysteries. P.S. Don’t worry, we’ll stop for coffee and a snack in between sites!
Day 4: Be Mesmerized by the Sea
After a group breakfast gathering, you will have free time in the morning to wander around the Monastiraki Flea Market, hike up Lycabettus Hill for amazing views, browse through art galleries, or visit the Acropolis Museum on your own. You may even choose to sip a traditional Greek coffee (a must-have experience!) or sunbathe on the rooftop.
After lunch, we will be transported to the majestic Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, which was erected in the 5th century B.C. It sits on a cliff at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula in Greece overlooking the Aegean Sea. Cape Sounion is infamous for its sunsets.
After walking among the ancient remains of the temple, we will visit an even older temple to the goddess that existed in the same area. You will be guided to open to the wisdom of the Mother of All of Life: The Living Waters. Before returning to Athens, we will enjoy dinner at a local taverna with a glass of wine, mesmerized by the view.
Day 5: Beheld in a Sanctuary of Love
Upon departing Athens, we will be escorted to the ancient sanctuaries of Aphrodite in Corinth, which were built in the 8th century B.C. It was her chief place of worship in Greece. Recognized as the goddess of love, beauty, sex and desire, Aphrodite was their protector deity. She is linked around the world with Venus, Inanna, and Ishtar, among others.
We will visit the Acrocorinth as well as the archaeological site of Ancient Corinth, which include a Temple to Apollo and the Sanctuary of Demeter from the 5th century B.C. to access the energies imprinted within the land by the ancients. You can enjoy lunch at one of the nearby tavernas overlooking the archaeological remains.
Our next stop is Heraion of Argos to visit the Sanctuary of Hera, known as she who blesses abundance and protects from war. Though the temple to Hera was built in the 8th century, it is suspected that the earth goddess was worshipped there even earlier. You will open to receive the infinite love and blessings of the goddess. Finally, we will arrive in Nafplio, the original capital of Greece situated right on the sea, to stay in a charming boutique hotel.
Day 6: Pass through the Lion’s Gate
We will travel even earlier in time to the Mycenean civilization, which lasted from approximately 1750 – 1050 B.C. They are considered the first advanced civilization of mainland Greece.
The Myceneans were heavily influenced by the Minoan civilization on Crete, an island south of mainland Greece, who worshipped a powerful earth goddess. They knew feminine power. Perhaps you have seen pictures of a Minoan goddess, often depicted holding a snake in each hand. For millennia – as far back as the Sumerians and Egyptians – the goddess has been represented by snakes, owls or other birds, and lions
Our trip will take us to several Mycenean sites, including the Lions Gate built in 1250 B.C. You will be amazed by the picturesque beauty that surrounds you, not to mention the impressive fortified walls, water reservoirs, and palace complexes. The snake magic of the ancients will reveal itself to you.
In between sacred sites, we’ll rest our feet at a gorgeous vineyard for a tasting of locally produced wines and lunch in Nemea, a popular Greek wine region.
Day 7: Receive from the Healing Temple
In the morning, we will travel to the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Built in the 4th century B.C., it seats up to 14,000 people. You’ll be able to climb up the stadium, which is renowned for its acoustics and aesthetics. The Theatre is located near the end of a sanctuary dedicated to Asklepios, known as the Greek god of medicine. People traveled from far and wide to visit his healing temple.
Once there, seekers were asked to bathe in the ancient spring and pray for dreams for the gods for their healing. The roots of the caduceus – a symbol of medicine still widely recognized today with two serpents wrapped around a staff – can be traced back to Asklepios. The snake represented healing and rebirth (not to mention its ancient association with the earth goddess). Tap into this wellspring of healing to receive the messages that await you.
Following our time in the ancient healing temple, you will have the afternoon free in Nafplio. You can choose to walk the 999 steps up the Fortress of Palamidi, swim at the Arvanitia Beach, visit the Nafplio Archaeological Museum, or walk the cobblestone streets amongst the artisan shops. We’ll gather in the evening for wine and a sunset dinner in this ancient seaside town.
Day 8: The sacred way of the initiates
After a delicious spread of locally-made products for breakfast, we’ll make our way toward the magical Delphi, considered the navel of the world. En route, we will stop at the archaeological site of Eleusis, the heart of the Eleusinian Mysteries. “Eleusis” means “arrival.” It was the ancient religious center of Greece infamous for its worship of the goddess Demeter.
Initiation festivals took place there each fall. They began from Keramikos (a site we’ll have visited in Athens) and traveled along the “Sacred Way” for 20 km to Eleusis. The Initiation Rites were open equally to women and men. In fact, anyone could participate in them as long as they were Greek and had not been convicted of murder. Your heart will be opened to the mysteries that reside within.
Several restaurants sit next to the archaeological remains where you can enjoy typical Greek fare. After lunch, we will traverse a large mountain range to reach the seaside mountain town of Delphi. We will be wined and dined on the terrace of our boutique hotel, which overlooks the valley below. Each sunset in Delphi will remind you of the inherent beauty of life.
Day 9: Be nourished by the navel of the earth
The gorgeous views of the sea and valley below the terrace where we’ll have breakfast each morning are enough to keep you entertained for several days. However, the energies of the ancient temples and sacred spring of Delphi cannot be missed.
In the morning, we will visit the sacred Kastalian Spring of Delphi where the ancient oracles and priestesses gathered water and where those who came to seek their prophecy cleansed themselves before climbing the mountain to the Temple of Apollo. Then, we will walk through an ancient grove of olive trees where we will connect our wombs to the womb of Gaia. You will connect your womb to your throat to be a voice for the wisdom that resides within you.
Following a group lunch, a licensed tour guide will show us the archaeological site of Delphi while providing an overview of the ancient oracles and how they worked, as well as myths of the region. You will then have time alone to explore the site, going where you feel called, and to visit the nearby museum before we gather again for dinner.
Day 10: Receive the living waters
Our day will begin with a ritual next to the Kastalian Spring at the base of Mt. Parnassos. We will then enter the Temple to Athena, which was built in the 8th century B.C. However, it is recognized that those who originally occupied the land worshipped the earth mother goddess. Afterwards, we will sit in an ancient cave on the slope of the mountain to open your own oracular vision. The gift of prophecy has been intimately connected with feminine power for millennia.
In the afternoon, you will likely want to wander through the boutique shops and art galleries that line the streets of Delphi. You can also step on the ancient path that was walked from the port Kirra to Delphi by those who sought prophecy of the oracles. Or, you can sit on the side of Mt. Parnassos near a bubbling spring.
Delphi is a place that asks you to simply be. It speaks through the wind, the earth, the sky, the moon. You will have time to open your heart to hear the messages that await you.
Day 11: The end & the beginning
As our tour of the ancient temples comes to an end, your own journey will just begin. You cannot return as the same person when you arrived. You will have received the codes of each site, and they will continue to activate your feminine power with each step you take. The wisdom gained will remain forever in your heart and body. The remembrance of your soul’s deepest truths, gifts, and abilities will be carried forward into how you live your life. Not to mention, you will have developed connections that can travel with you.
After we are driven back to Athens from Delphi, you will have the afternoon free to roam the city, buy any gifts you wish to take back to your home country, or make a final visit to your favorite spots. In the evening, we will gather for our last group dinner on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Acropolis, followed by a stroll at its base. Walking around the Acropolis as it is lit up at night is an experience you won’t want to miss. Before saying goodbye, we will circle in gratitude for all we have received and anchor our heart’s intention deep into the earth.
As a channel & conduit, I will intuitively guide you into energetic activations at each sacred site. Not only will you visit the ancient temples of the goddess, you will BECOME a living temple.
Things to Consider:
You will need to be moderately fit, able to stand on your feet for a long time and do a lot of walking. Many of the archaeological sites have hills, mountains, and steep climbs. The paths are often gravel or dirt. Towns like Delphi require you to walk a big set of stairs simply to go from one street to another.
All hotels are nonsmoking, which is very common in Greece, and no smoking is allowed during or near group activities, including meals.
We have five guided tours scheduled during the Sacred Feminine Power Retreat. These are designed to provide a general overview of the applicable history and mythology that will help us deepen into the wisdom available at each site. However, do not be concerned if you don’t like to be rushed (as neither do I!). Though we all enter together, you will have time at each site to walk at your own pace and soak up the energy.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change