
Magical Solstice Retreat
Tradition inspired journey with a shamanic touch for witchy women
December 15 - 17, 2023
Make a break from an ordinary life
Learn the wisdom of traditions
Treat your body and soul
Relax in Ardennes Nature
Create your 2024
Dear Ladies
I am happy to invite you for a jorney filled with
wisdom and magic of ancient traditions.
You will live a unique experience sourced from my skills and experience
as a doll maker, a rite thinker and a shaman.
With Love,
Diana

As usually, this third edition of our retreat happens
just before the Winter Solstice Day.
Traditionally, all ofer the world, this time of the year is dedicated
to set intentions and wishes for the next year.
We profit the moment to make a protective doll full of symbols
and charged with your energy.
You will take your doll with you as a house protection charm.
And apart from that you will....

disconnect from your daily routine in deep Belgian Ardennes
you will stay in a former bakehouse of our old Ardenne farm, a perfect place to retreat from the world and to ground yourself behid the thick walls
clear the mindset with the help of shamanic tambour
to help switching your rythm and space, participate in a transitory session with my tambour that came from Lakota lands of America


relax your body in a sauna with a traditional slavic rite
i prepare for you a full Russian Rite with herbal teas, leaf massage, homemade scrabs and of course clouds of aromatic steam in our wood-heated sauna hidden behid the bushes
discover the richness of traditional dolls
during this unique opportunity, you will see a part of my traditional dolls collection with compete explanations and full immersion into traditional dollmaking, a real tool of wisdom and magic


learn the magic of doll creation in a hands-on workshops
we will have two sessions of dollmaking.
first, you will learn the approach and the gestures making a small Kouvadka doll.
the last day, after the intention setting, you will make a house keeper protective doll, Koliada, integrating your wishes for 2024
Venue : Graide Retreat Lodge
Our venue is an intimate hideaway lost in Belgian Ardennes. This charming and unusual place, a former bakehouse of an old farm, is the integral part of our retreat thanks to its simplicity and authenticity.
It was renovated to help visitors to get away from routine and to resonate with inner transformations and concentration on essential values in their lives.
The Lodge has three preson sleeping capacity in a shared mezzanine bedroom, a romantic fire stove and a stylish and unique artistic design

Your Host: Diana
I am an active spiritual coach and mentor, helping people to find reconnection with inner self and to develop a light and joyful attitude to life. I propose a program of developing spiritual habits.
The Russian-Siberian origins connect me deeply to the Slavic-Vedic roots that source my knowledge and guide me on the spiritual path.
During this retreat, I am happy to share with you my fifteen years experience of traditional dollmaking, as an artist and a teacher. The experience of my different roles in life, from a corporate analyst to a chaman, a Reiki healer, a tantric, a rite keeper and a mom of two, they all are placed at your service during this weekend.

I look to create a space of soul comfort, non-judjment and love.
About the Retreat
Are you a woman that feels a deep inner maturity ?
Are you looking to extend the way of communicating with Life ?
Do you want to create cosciously your reality?
Do you beleive that traditions carry an ancestral Life knowledge?
If these questions make you feel engaged and curious, than this retreat is dedicated specially to you.
We spend few days in a quiet authentic atmosphere that invites to introspection and consciousness. The Solstice and raising moon are our allies to work on desires and wishes for the next year and to make a step towards their realisation.
To confect a traditional doll, you are not required to have any knowledge of sewing or even a capacity to hold a needle.
Tempted Schedule
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Friday
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afternoon: arrival & welcome
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initiation to traditional dolls
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evening: shamanic drum session
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welcome fire
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Saturday
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morning: making a first doll
- afternoon: intention setting with associative cards and Japanese calligraphy
- personal time to reflex and to relax
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evening: sauna rite
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Sunday
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morning & early afternoon: making housekeeper doll
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What is included
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accomodation in the Lodge bedroom for three person
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full boarding: breakfast, lunch and dinner
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acces to the sauna (with all necessary stuff for the rite, homemade coffee scrub & herbal tea; local honey)
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all materials and equipment for doll making
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transfer from Graide train station, should you arrive by train OR parking place on premises
What is not included

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travel to Griade Village
Cuisine
We organise a 3-meal boarding with snacks and tea/coffee through the days.
Expect one open fire meal and one stewed in a pot in our wooden-heated stove.
We will take into considerations your dietary restrictions.

Delights
Have a rare special treat in a relaxing Russian Sauna, while cooling under the trees and starts, purifying with scrabs and herbal tea, with a traditional leaf massage and some local honey. The Russian way of deploying the sauna aims less heat and more steam compared to a Finnish one, which is easier supported by the body.
Make a real talisman, a doll on a birch log, all by yourself and bring it with you as the best souvenir from the retreat.
And because the sensaions, emotions and experiences are truly delights of our lives, you will have plenty here: sit observing the fire in the Lodge stove, listen to the church bells, take a reflective walk or simply sip your drink sourunded by the birds and nature.

Some memories from previous ceremonies and retreats
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