Retreats in Portugal - Awakening Spirit

You can’t afford to miss Awakening Spirit if you are a woman who:

• is ‘finding herself’ as a result of bereavement, divorce or an empty nest
• knows there must be more in life but can’t yet see it
• has accomplished much yet still feels empty inside
• is looking to the future and is unsure how to create a meaningful one
• is carrying baggage from earlier years and knows it is time to let it all go
• wants to explore her spiritual side but isn’t drawn to religious conformity

What you can expect to get from Awakening Spirit:

• a very clear and direct exploration of life’s meaning and purpose – as you personally define it
• clarity as to how the specific issues and problems you’ve had in your life are invitations for Self discovery  
• claiming for yourself what you secretly know about the immensity of your potential that you’ve been down-playing or hiding from for years
• skills to self manage stressful situations
• tools for being able to create the kind of life you’ve always dreamed about
• a powerful new beginning for the rest of your life

How will I be able to achieve these kinds of results from Awakening Spirit:

During the first week, there is very little structure, although I am present at all times for ad hoc coaching conversations, as a tour guide and for general support.  By design, the first week is to help you to disconnect from your existing life. It acts as a pattern interrupt that invites you to switch your focus from the outside world, and from being focused on taking care of the needs of others, to a focus on the inner world, your inner world and all about that inner world that delights you, scares you or that you are curious about.  You also use this time to get to know other participants at your own speed, in your own way (and choosing to not get to know them is also perfectly OK!).

During the second week we get together as a group on a daily basis. As your facilitator, I offer up a series of models or ways of thinking about life, as well as a series of guided meditations.  Each participant will have her own desired outcomes and the retreat process is a weaving together of individual needs and interests through a series of intense conversations and ‘personal processing’ moments.  This is a difficult process to describe because it is a deeply individual, personal and often mystical experience for participants.  While not overtly religious, it definitely touches people in profound ways, often leading to big insights and an acceleration in how people choose to live their lives.

Some of the explorations you’ll typically be invited into during Awakening Spirit are:

• What is my personal definition of purpose and meaning in life?
• If I were to be completely honest with myself, these are the things I know I can do but I don’t because I am afraid of how others will judge me.
• My greatest fears in life are …
• I feel safest when the following conditions are present
• If I could become anything I wanted to become it would look like …
• The secret I have about myself that is holding me back …

These are all deeply intimate explorations. And yet, you’ll discover that the process we use allows you to explore them in full privacy, with no need to share with anyone else the details of your life history or search. What it takes is a willingness on your part to allow yourself to be guided into areas of awareness you may never have explored before: to be willing to be totally honest with yourself about yourself.

Tell me more specifically about the retreat process:

• A private pre-retreat coaching session is scheduled with each participant to clarify individual intention, objectives and expectations
• Participants are personally met at Faro Airport and guided to Villas D’Agua Resort
• Welcome Breakfast and Reception, followed by check-in and free day for exploration and relaxing
• Monday-Friday: Self-directed exploration and sightseeing as you settle in and claim your space. Daily Group Open Forum at 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: Self-directed exploration continues. No Open Forum.
• Monday-Friday: 1-6 p.m. Daily Educational Workshop
  • We use an ‘emergent design’ process, i.e. WEL-Systems® content is offered based on the topics, issues and challenges raised by participants. At ‘Feeding the Muse’ this is when we paint.
  • The purpose of the Education Workshop sessions is to offer new ways of thinking so that you can rapidly and easily move beyond existing limitations
  • ‘Inductions’, ‘Guided Imagery’, and ‘Light Trance’ approaches are also included as a way of discovering aspects of Self or Spirit not readily accessible to the conscious mind and as tools for use in post-retreat life
• Saturday: Final day of Self Exploration. Closing Reception
• Sunday: Guided to Airport and return home flight
• A private post-retreat coaching session scheduled 2-3 weeks after the retreat to summarize results, consolidate your learning and to establish future pathways.

Testimonials for Awakening Spirit retreat »