Sacred Portal Retreat
April 24th-26th in the beautiful Ashland City, Tn
Do you long for ritually tended space, gentle movement and embodiment education, herbal knowledge and lore, and the kind of deep quiet necessary to return home to your heart? Us too. And we’re calling together a group of kindreds to help us create it.
During this quiet and contemplative retreat, we will dive deeply into the art and practice of creating ceremonial space for ourselves and small groups, study the anatomy and mysteries of the sacrum and pelvic bowl, enjoy native plant walks, explore sacred time-keeping practices, and hone practical herbal medicine skills.
The Art of Ceremony + Ritual Space-Holding
Inside a circular, earthen roundhouse called The Well, we will journey together on the wings of sacred sound—offered with medicine drums, rattles, crystal singing bowls, stringed instruments, voice, and more. We will explore plant spirit communication and inner sight with the help of a sacramental brew of Ganoderma tusgae (reishi mushroom) and ceremonial grade cacao. We call this offering "Reishi as Sacrament," and it is truly beautiful. This direct experience of creating ceremonial space together will flow directly into a deepened ability to hold this kind of space for yourself and for others.
The Mysteries and Power of the Pelvis and Sacrum
The pelvic bowl is the seat of our feminine power—our intuitive knowing, our storehouse of memory, our primary altar of cyclical release and renewal, and the fertile ground of all creation. Our study will be from a modern therapeutic perspective as well as from a sacred tantric perspective, with a final aim of fully embodying this sacred region. We will learn techniques to bring our pelvis and sacrum into alignment, release holding patterns of tension, and gently fortify and strengthen the stability of our sacrum and pelvis. Through conversation and ceremony we will invite our attention to any patterns in our lives that are clouding the basic truth that our bodies are sacred temples.
Sacred Time-Keeping
This gathering takes place at the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. This time has been marked by celebratory gathering, magical foods, and ceremony since Neolithic times. Directly across the Wheel of the Year from All Hallow’s Eve, this is a moment when the veil between the seen and unseen worlds thins and a portal opens into the subtle realms. It is in this elevated, liminal space that the feminine mysteries and sacred sexuality come into fullness. Our ancestors felt these tides gather and swell, and now we are remembering. Gathering together during this potent time not only nourishes our capacity for healing and transformation—it lives in our very bones.
We will explore the circular nature of time and focus on developing our capacity to more deeply perceive and embody the rhythms of the earth and her seasons with lunar charting and solar wheels.
Reclaiming Herbal Wisdom
Knowing the blessings of the plants that grow around us is a birthright. Reclaiming this wisdom is a radical act of remembrance that divorces us from systems of oppression that would rather have us disconnected from ourselves and the world around us. We will venture into the forest together to meet a variety of spring wildflowers and budding trees, explore the meadows for common and abundant edible and medicinal plants, and learn practical, effective, safe, and respectful ways to work with them.
Our Shared Space
Penuel Ridge is a contemplative, interfaith retreat center located on 135 beautiful acres in Middle Tennessee. We will have the entire grounds to ourselves, ensuring both practical and energetic privacy. When we feel safely held by a place, we are often more willing to dive deeply into our personal work.
Open for exploration are miles of hiking trails where we will enjoy native plant walks, a spring fed lake, an 11-circuit stone labyrinth, a waterfall, a fire circle for our Beltane bonfire, and a large meadow that is home to the circular prayer and meditation space called The Well where will hold our ceremony work.
Nourishment
Meals will be prepared based on tenants from Ayurvedic and western herbalism traditions. A full menu will be emailed to all registrants before the event. Please reach out if you have any specific dietary needs and we will be happy to accommodate.
Accommodations
While rooms will be shared in this communal experience, everyone will have their own bed. There are multiple bathrooms and plenty of room to spread out. Beds will be chosen upon arrival, but please reach out if you have any special needs. You are also welcome to request a shared room with any friends or family that will be joining you. Camping in the beautiful meadow is also available for those who wish to sleep under the stars. It is our heartfelt desire that everyone feel supremely comfortable and at ease!
Dates and Location
The retreat will be held Friday, April 24th through Sunday, April 26th in Ashland City, TN. The retreat space is 30 minutes from Nashville and 2.5 hours from Chattanooga.