Returning to Radiance retreat Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica February 1-7, 2023: The Back Story

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It all came to me in a dream.  Truly.  The rosebud of Returning to Radiance was fruited from a dream I had about a dear friend, Katie.  She was sitting on her heels over white sand by a pristine blue ocean.  The beach was surrounded with slope-y, feminine feeling sculptures reminiscent to some set design of Stanley Kubrick.  Katie was silently summoning a divinely-guided group for a retreat there.  Her radiance was emanating outward to those intended to arrive and pulling inward to her own heart.  It was a beautiful magnetism to watch and witness.  Like ebb and flow of the ocean waves surrounding her.  For some back story, Katie also lived in Costa Rica for two months last winter.  In the dream, it was promised and felt the arrival of these folks in whatever forms but I awoke before it happened.  That aspect seemed to want to manifest all on its own in waking reality.

I naturally contacted Katie to tell her about the dream and in my sharing what may seem to be an obvious a-ha came to the forefront of my mind.  I asked if she wanted to collaborate on co-creating retreat by the sea.  Through various discussions we landed on the intent to bring people back to their true selves.  The idea is to shed the day-to-day roles and expectations that our fabricated realities can entrap us.  In this special window of time, we will live in mindful interconnection with the elements while also enjoying a good surf, smoothie and heat from the radiant tropical sun.  

Katie and I met for coffee to discuss further and she mentioned her good friend and collaborator with whom she had just finished another retreat in Vermont.  She asked if she could be included.  It felt like a positive line-up so we all went for it.  And it truly is!  Amber is wonderful at keeping on-task and organization, the type of thing my mind innately avoids.  She has a sweet spirit. I am very confident and excited about what we will alchemize together as a group of three (Jen who plays the Gong with Align Retreat).  Now we are all in process of polishing off the loving details for the itinerary of our first retreat together!  Returning to Radiance is born.

This is my fourth time hosting a retreat and first international location.  Costa Rica is also the first country I visited outside of the United States and Canada!  Now I have about twelve under my belt, but zip lining the cloud forests in Costa Rica is the first in my travel book.  One of the elements to this particular retreat that I am most excited about is the setting: Vida Asana yoga retreat center (where we will be lodging and enjoy organic gourmet meals) is a 5 minute bike ride (available gratis on-site) to the beach!  Not just any beach, but it is one of the few areas of the world that the ocean and the Jungle meet.  Magic!  Also very potent is that Returning to Radiance will build up to a cacao-infused, heart-centered dance under the full moon then we will take the rest of the retreat to integrate with peaceful offerings such as yoga nidra and journaling into our subconscious.  We will shed our layers of expectations and allow ourselves to be free under the luminescence of the moon together!  Every aspect of this retreat is so thoughtfully tailored to the cycles of the season and to the moment.

What is so special is that Returning to Radiance begins on February 1, which is known as Imbolc in ancient Celtic tradition. Imbolc is the midpoint between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox.  I've seen it translated from Old Irish meaning “to cleanse or wash oneself” and also as “”in the belly of the Mother,” referring to the seeds of spring rooting and beginning to stir in the Earth.  The intent is that you will identify and plant your seeds for this solar cycle while together in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica.  We will take the time to further distill what you intend to sow through mindful practices including daily movement and stillness-based yoga, sound transmissions, special ceremonies and subconscious journaling.  Even though Imbolc is clearly taking place more prominently in the northern hemisphere during February, it is pertinent relative to all in the world given the placement of the Earth in relation to the Sun.  For example, in the southern hemisphere this is Beltaine or May day!  The beginning of seeing seedlings beginning to flower and fruit!  We are taking in the indigenous traditions of Costa Rica to honor the people and land.  There will be an option for a Temezcal traditional sweat lodge which will be facilitated by an indigenous person.  We will also be participating in ever-loving cacao meditation.  Exploration of the lands will be done in a mindful, honorable way as well.  Vida Asana Yoga retreat center where we are staying is heavily eco-conscious with compost and recycling prevalent on-site to respect the surrounding lands.  

Taking into consideration many of the retreatants are arriving from the chilly northern hemisphere, time for reflection and relaxation in the sun will be optimized!  We are allowing total flexibility with how one wishes to curate the days at Returning to Radiance.  We want everybody to enjoy and explore Costa Rica to their individual depth and degree of interest with the guidance of this safe, eco-conscious resort we have chosen.  Everything is ultimately optional so skip out on a yoga session if you would rather swim in the pool or be by the ocean or just need some space to rest!  A typical day will vary greatly and be largely the decision of each person.  A sample day for someone looking to relax and rejuvenate themselves could include breakfast, morning yoga, taking a bike ride to the beach for the late morning, returning for lunch, enjoying a complimentary mud mask, dinner then evening yoga, sound meditation and subconscious journaling.  A sample day for someone looking to adventure and explore the depths of Costa Rica could include breakfast, morning yoga, surfing lessons, lunch, hike at Nayaca waterfalls, dinner, evening yoga and programming.  One can mix and match their days to their liking!  That is the point of a destination retreat: enjoy the surrounding area and unique part of the world to one’s comfort level while also receiving a total boost to one’s wellbeing through nourishing healthy meals, mindful movement and reflection practices, sound immersion and earthy connection.

As someone that has traveled to different countries on retreat (Costa Rica and India!) I found it to be a very user-friendly crash course to international travel while not feeling like a fish-out-of-water.  Being a single person at the time, I explored with old or new friends and had some of the most beautiful experiences on unexpected excursions.  I also thoroughly enjoyed the grounding aspect of lodging being covered, participating in a yoga class at the beginning and/or end of the day and of course not having to think at all about the food.  Being able to optimize my wellbeing through nourishing meals and daily mindful movement helped me to root and connect when traveling can be easily disorienting, especially when it is out of your home country.  It was my beginnings to traveling internationally solo.  If you are someone looking to learn how to travel internationally, this was my stepping stone and I would highly recommend it as one for you!  When I went to Costa Rica, I went with a friend to a retreat center of which we knew through our home yoga studio.  It was as familiar, safe and worry-free an experience as possible.  When I went to India with an organized tour, I ventured off with a seasoned traveler and learned a lot through being with her on our own adventures.  Returning to Radiance will afford you the opportunity to take a variety of excursions and likely meet a friend along the way if you are intended to travel solo and looking to expand your horizons!

A few married and long-term couples have already registered for Returning to Radiance.  What a beautiful opportunity to reconnect outside of the daily grind and routine!  There is something to be said about bonding over the thrill of adventure or peace of respite together.  We have added a deal for a couple of people, whether together or platonic, seeking a private room with one bed to share: one person registers as private accommodation while the other registers as shared.  This allows for a price break while also providing sweet private sanctuary!

Needless to say, the three of us are very excited to co-create this luxurious, fun and restful retreat experience for anybody looking to hard stop, unplug and have some space from their daily life to reflect upon what is to come in this year’s cycle.  All while receiving a total reboot to your whole being.  The timing couldn’t be more perfect!  Early bird special ends on December 1, 2022.  Reserve your sliver of peaceful relief and freedom in a time of non-stop notifications and stress!  You deserve a restful pause from your day-to-day.