EMERGE: A Spring Equinox Retreat

What is EMERGE?

EMERGE is a consciously curated space for women who feel called to experience the mythological depths of the Heroine’s Journey. A space that is carefully held with intention, integrity, care, and ceremony. One that honors the mystery of the journey, a journey which requires us to be Medial Women, to walk between the worlds of the sacred and the mundane, to access the innate wisdom that is ready to be revealed and most useful for our next steps along our path. EMERGE is a 4 Day / 3 Night residential retreat where together, on this journey, we’ll use creative methods for healing and growth: myth, image, dreams, expressive arts, discussion, gentle movement, somatic exploration, sound, breath, writing, play, and ritual in a gently supported, sacredly held container to access the inner experience, the inner life.

Who is EMERGE for?

EMERGE retreat is for women who are seeking a deeper dive, willing to journey on an embodied exploration, into psyche and soma to access wisdom within. It is for women who prefer an intimate space for sharing this brave exploration together, as witness, mirror, and in support of one another with experienced facilitators guiding the process. There will be space for solo exploration, as well as time spent in circle with other participants.

Why gather with us at EMERGE?

Too often, women are the emotional, physical, and psychological holders for their beloveds, friends, families, coworkers, communities. Making space for any amount of soulful inquiry or tending to the inner soul life and carving out time can feel challenging as we often feel the need to put everyone, and everything else, first and ourselves last. At EMERGE, we want to shift that narrative and guide women toward cultivating their own inner life while in a community setting. We believe that we need each other more than ever and making space for our own personal growth work will exponentially ripple healing to all those in our lives.

When is EMERGE?

Spring Equinox 2026

March 19th - 22nd

Thursday 4pm until Sunday 2pm

Spring is the time of burgeoning energy, of what’s been quietly, slowly composting, nesting, nurturing itself, reviving, transforming, which is now, at this time, ready to awaken, to reveal itself, to the light, to EMERGE; wisdom and conscious awareness to be integrated in your waking life. We invite you to join us for Spring Equinox 2026 to consciously EMERGE from the depths of Winter.

What’s included?

* 3 nights' accommodation in a cozy private room to recharge after gatherings

* 9 Healthy Meals (Thursday Dinner - Sunday Lunch)

* All BreakTime snack & beverage services

* Art supplies

* 9 curated and guided sessions, including and not limited to:

-mythical experience

-embodied dreamwork

-storytelling

-movement & somatics

-creative expression

-ritual

* Follow up group integration session via zoom (April 8th at 6:30pm)

Where is it held?

Pendle Hill

338 Plush Mill Road

Wallingford, PA 19086

(10 miles from Philadelphia Airport)

www.PendleHill.org

The historical Pendle Hill Center was founded nearly 100 years ago in 1930. Located on 24 tranquil acres in a lovely wooded setting in the heart of a Quaker community, nestled just 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia City Center, Pendle Hill provides a relaxing “world apart” yet is within easy reach by car, plane, bus, and train. Pendle Hill offers a dedicated, friendly staff and extraordinary hospitality.

Pendle Hill campus features over 140 different trees and plant species, a Labyrinth, a mile- long wood chip walking trail, an Arboretum that houses a variety of exotic and native trees including an American Beech that is well over 300 years old, hearkening back to the time of the Lenni-Lanape Territory, a native Meadow, wetland, Koi pond, organic vegetable gardens for dining, a Library, an Art Studio, a Bookstore, a learning and study center, Bed & Breakfast, and historic buildings from the 1800s.

Pendle Hill is a mission-driven organization that embodies Quaker values and welcomes individuals from all walks of life to join in pursuit of: spiritual enrichment, living simply and sustainably, social action and justice, working to be inclusive, respectful and supportive of all people striving for peace and justice, and transforming lives through learning opportunities.

Pendle Hill has hosted the Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology for many years. The Conference's 80+ year legacy is a place for experiential learning dedicated to intellectual curiosity, the soul work of healing and flourishing by integrating Quaker teachings, the spirit of Carl Jung, and insights from other Depth Psychologies. Notable speakers in this field have included: Joseph Campbell, Marion Woodman, Robert Bly, Joanna Macy, David Whyte, Robert Johnson, Sylvia Brinton Perera, Michael Conforti, Christine Downing, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Donald Kalshed and more. The Friends Collaborative on Spirit & Psyche embraces a mission to Inspire Inner Journeys for Change in the World.

Accommodations:

Brinton House

We've reserved the entire Brinton House for our time together. It’s located across the street from the main campus, a secluded large stone cottage nestled back in the woods of the Ash, Maple, and Gum Trees, complete with 16 bedrooms for our group, a cozy Living Room with stone Fireplace, a Yoga Studio with radiant floor heating and wrap around windows, a multipurpose room and a commercial kitchen.*

* Our meals will be prepared for us and served on the main campus, in the private Tree House Room, which is a 3-5 minute walk from Brinton House on a paved surface.

Most rooms in Brinton House are private single bedrooms, there are just two rooms with shared accommodation. Each room has a desk and a sink. They offer the simplicity of Quaker taste and the luxury of quietude to integrate your processes. There are ample shared hall baths. Rooms with a private bath are limited. Shared rooms are also limited. Please inquire with us.

Our Gathering Space inside Brinton House:

The Conlon Room, where we'll do much of our work, features a natural hardwood floor with radiant heat, vaulted ceiling, large wrap around windows providing warm, natural light overlooking the woods and a bamboo-surrounded wetland frog pond. Chairs and backjacks are also available for our time here.

The Conlon Room in Brinton House overflows into a cozy Living Room area with a stone fireplace.

The Firbank Art Studio we’ll play in 🎨

Dining at Pendle Hill: Meals/Cuisine 🍜

Breakfast: 7:30-8:30 am

Lunch: 12-1 pm

Dinner: 6-7 pm

We will share our first meal together at 6:00 pm Thursday Evening and Sunday Lunch will be our last shared meal. In addition to our Tree House Dinning meals, we will have several snack & beverage services provided throughout the day served in our Brinton Home. There is a refrigerator and microwave available for use in Brinton House so you may bring additional personal food or beverages as you prefer. Please note your dietary preferences when registering: Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, etc.

*We will dine in the private Tree House Room on the main campus, which is a 3-5 minute walk on a paved surface from Brinton House.

Food Philosophy at Pendle Hill

The Cooks at Pendle Hill see their job as a ministry of love and concern. They try to promote good health and a sense of well-being by serving nutritionally balanced meals, using a limited amount of processed foods. Most foods, including bread and other staples, are homemade, and they make extensive use of organic fruits and vegetables from their garden. Many dinners are vegetarian and include protein sources from grains and beans. Other dinners include free-range meat or poultry, or fish chosen with conservation in mind.

Cooking from scratch

We cook from scratch as much as possible, making our own bread, granola, organic yogurt and salad dressings. Organic fresh fruits and vegetables are used extensively, including seasonal offerings from our garden.

Delicious, varied meals

Dinner menus are planned by the community of cooks in a monthly meeting. They rotate entrees to include fish, fowl, meat, and Vegetarian dishes. For those who prefer to eat only Vegetarian or Vegan food, an alternative dish is available at every meal.

Small planet, finite resources

Because Pendle Hill sees us as members of a very small planet where people are hungry every day, we try to eat as low on the food chain as possible. This means limiting our use of meats, which require far more acreage to produce a given amount of protein than is the case with the production of vegetable protein foods. We enjoy exploring the wide variety of delicious vegetarian foods available; many of the meals we serve are meatless. The meat and poultry that we serve is free range, without antibiotics or hormones. We continue to seek out sources for our fish with a concern for our oceans and rivers as well as the preservation of fish species.

Who are your EMERGE Guides?

Your facilitators are drawing from years of personal and professional studies and experience, including but not limited to: Mental Health Counseling, Somatic healing, Body Therapies, BodySoul Rhythms®, Shadow Work®, BodyDreaming®, the Expressive & Creative Arts, Depth Psychology, Organizational Leadership, Institute of Archetypal and Cross Cultural Studies, studies with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Fire Ceremony, Breathwork, Women’s Mystery School, Women’s Circles and Red Tent spaces.

Each has over 15 years of experience working with women. Read their stories below and feel welcome to reach out personally.

Katie Chiaravolloti

See bio below

Laurie Martinez

See bio below

Kristin Wilson

See bio below

Katie Chiaravolloti

Katie Chiaravolloti is a commitment to unearthing true self and bringing forth consciousness with curiosity and love. She is a queer, cis-gendered Soul Guide, an Emotional Baggage Hander and a Creatrix of Sacred Space. Having studied under Ann Sousa, an initiated elder of the West African Dagara Tradition, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Réyes, ALisa Starkweather, and within the teachings of BodySoul Rhythms® (Marion Woodman, Anne Skinner, and Mary Hamilton) through Janice Steiber-Rous, Jean Ester, and Polly Howells, Katie believes that making space for one’s own inner wisdom (especially in community/groups settings) weaves the path toward healing. Katie walks as a witness and guide for folks to discover and harness the gold that lives hidden in the shadowy places. She is a Shadow Types® Practitioner and Shadow Work® Facilitator and Coach. It is her hope and prayer that as one integrates one’s own healing, the ripples of love and care will blossom out to family, friends, and community.

Katie is part of the transition team holding the thread of hope for the world we are creating. She can be found in South Jersey, weaving communities in healing ceremonies and is always up for an adventure. Katie has been partnered for over 25 years and is mama to three young men who have been catalysts for consensual parenting, living a vibrant life, and transforming generational pain and trauma into a lineage of love and liberation. She is a child-led, earth-based, secular homeschooling mama who has co-created and co-led various learning laboratories over the years. Co-creating embodied, healing spaces and ceremonies calls deeply to her being. Connect with Katie here:

emotionalbaggagehandler@gmail.com https://ahah.abmp.com/about-the-practitioner

Laurie Martinez

Temenos Creatrix

My dedication is creating space for women's gatherings, ritual, and intimate workshops with a focus in Somatic Exploration, Story, Dreams, Art, Movement, and Creativity utilizing an interdisciplinary approach for embodied processing.

I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling, the Creative & Expressive Arts, & Holistic Leadership and am a nationally board certified body therapist. My work has been inspired by BodySoul Rhythms®, a method developed by Jungian Analyst Marion Woodman, Mask Specialist Ann Skinner and Movement Professor Mary Hamilton.

In 2018, I founded a small, grassroots not-for-profit organization which brings this work to women who might not otherwise have access to it. Additionally, in tending the legacy and growth of BodySoul Rhythms® work, I'm in service as Board Member to the Marion Woodman Foundation. I'm also an assistant for the international professional development training program for BodyDreaming®; an embodied practice that helps to ground psychotherapy, and ensoul somatic practice, a unique methodology of a combination of the psychology of C.G. Jung, Marion Woodman’s BodySoul Rhythms®, Peter Levine's trauma therapy Somatic Experiencing®, Neuroscience, Attachment and Developmental Theory, developed by Jungian Analyst, and author, Marian Dunlea, Director of Training for BodySoul Rhythms® Europe.

For the past 10 years, I’ve had the good fortune to sit at the feet of a wise teacher, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Réyes, Senior Jungian Analyst and beloved author of "Women Who Run With the Wolves” in her residential study program at the Institute for Archetypal and Cross Cultural Studies. My study with Dr. Estés is the compass for my work and way of living; as well as my experience as apprentice in a women’s mystery school with ALisa Starkweather. My work is also touched by Advanced Training in Shadow Work® & Shadow Types®. I’m a Graduate of the Musea Center for Intentional Creativity and Consciousness and with a ceaseless curiosity of Depth Psychology, the Mythopoetic, Alchemy and Animistica, I continue my studies as student at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

I’m a native New Yorker, currently residing in Florida. My history includes working in International Finance on Wall Street, becoming a Mother and Homeschooling Mom, then in Hospitality Management, the Performance Arts, and Live Events Production Coordination before moving into the Healing Arts.

My current Archetype is Kitchen Witch, creating magic with a wooden spoon, Hearth Tender, Storyteller, Medicine Maker, living at the Forest’s Edge,….drop by the cottage for a cuppa along your journey.

Connect with Laurie via email here: hello@mywomenscenter.org

Kristin Elaine Wilson, LCSW

Kristin is a White Southern Appalachian American queer cis-woman of European ancestry committed to partnering with organizations, groups, and individuals seeking a greater holistic sense of well-being by implementing liberatory relationship-based frameworks.

Kristin has a long history as a therapist, coach, and facilitator working with individuals, families, and groups in healing from trauma, reclaiming one's power and "gold" from shadows (aspects that have been rejected, projected or repressed parts of oneself), and leveling up to grow and be in alignment living their best lives.

Kristin works nationally as a trainer and consultant for organizations, groups, and individuals with predominantly White identified people decolonizing and embodying a culture that aligns with liberatory values. She worked much of the past 9 years in Asheville, NC at Buncombe County DHHS, most recently as a Resiliency Coordinator and organizing member of the Racial Equity Group in Social Services, and Neutral Facilitator of Child and Family Team meetings in Child Protective Services to advocate for children and families and support social workers, community providers and supports to build a resilient, healthy community free of violence, abuse and neglect.

Kristin has worked within the non-profit, private, and government sectors specializing in women’s empowerment, therapy, domestic violence, child protective services, anti-racism, spirit-centered work, LGBTQIA2S+ initiatives, youth work, leadership development, and holistic healing. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a MSW from Smith College School for Social Work with background studies in Shadow Work® and Naturopathic Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

Connect with Kristin via email: kristin@sacredpathways.care or through website: https://www.sacredpathways.care/

Are you called to your Journey? We are here to guide you.

Investment in yourself:

Discounted Early Bird pricing: $1500

Available until September 22nd with: $300 deposit

Balance to be completed by: Oct 31st, 2025

Pricing after September 22nd: $1800

A voice-to-voice phone call may be scheduled for participants new to this body of work and/or the facilitators.

$100 of the Deposit Registration is non-refundable but transferable if you have a friend who would like to take your space.

Share/Referral 🙏

If you're unable to go on this journey right now, would you consider sharing with women in your life who may find it useful? And if you are moved to write a quick line - to tell others about your experience working with us as guides, you have our gratitude. You can e-mail to: hello@mywomenscenter.org

If you are a facebook user you can share your love on our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CV6ff1R3G/

Thank you for visiting, we look forward to sharing this experience with you 💚

Testimonials

Working with Laurie

"Laurie has been absolutely incredible. From day one, I felt very comfortable with her. She brings such a peaceful presence, and the atmosphere she cultivates creates an open environment to be able to explore within. The creative outlets she uses are not only effective but also gives space to create and discover deeper aspects of self." - Andrew H, Filmmaker

"This work is a deep well of rich storytelling that invites the many part of ourselves to be welcomed back into our life…to be seen, heard and witnessed with a loving heart is so healing. I really loved this program and the wide range of activities that helped clear the surface for the deeper work." - Jess K, Sound Designer and Ceramic Artist

"Laurie is an amazing woman and has a real beautiful way of holding space. She is especially good at Dream work. I would definitely want to do more work with her if I am able." - Lisa B, Yoga Instructor

Working with Kristin

"Kristin has an amazing skill set. She facilitates and teaches from a grounded, intentional, present place that allows for the wisdom of the room to present itself. She navigates conflict and hard conversations with compassion. She is intuitive in all her work and finds ways to welcome authenticity for herself and others. Kristin deeply roots her practice in relationship. She is skilled at forging connection interpersonally and at an organization level. Our shared work has given opportunities for my own growth and validation and I am always excited when our professional paths cross.” - Allison Sturtevant-Gilliam

"I did not really know the depths of shadow work until my session with Kristin. I have been in therapy for years and read different things about the shadow and how to work with it. However, the time with Kristin brought my awareness to things hidden in plain sight. In just one session, she helped reveal a timeline of events that had shaped my life without me even knowing. If you want to meet your shadow with a safe and compassionate guide that has the skill, strength, and integrity to guide you there and hold that space beautifully, this woman was made for the job." - Renee Panter, RN, CH

“After years of cycling through therapy, I found myself stuck in a familiar pattern: intellectually understanding my issues but never truly integrating that knowledge into lasting change. Then I found Kristin, and the difference has been profound. What sets Kristin apart is her ability to connect immediately through her intuitive understanding, exceptional listening skills, and ability to process information with remarkable speed. I felt so deeply understood from our initial consultation that by my first actual session, we were already moving forward with meaningful work. Most importantly, Kristin’s invaluable observations, insights, and suggestions have helped me to feel genuinely connected to my healing journey. I am finally moving beyond intellectual understanding to true integration.” - EW

Working with Katie

“There are not enough words to describe how amazing Katie is. If you are looking to do deep soul work, she is an amazing guide. She has helped me consider points of view that were not even in my line of sight.” - L.G-S.

“I would like to start by saying, Katie is a breath of fresh air. She is deep rooted, intuitive, kind, soulful, and very playful and so easy to talk to. Katie honors self and space. Her knowledge about shadow work is incredible and the way Katie goes through all the details with you is phenomenal. Katie takes the time for breath and allows for space, movement and emotion through the whole process. I can’t thank her enough for her insight and compassion towards me." - A.D.

“Katie’s steady presence, commitment to truth, and uplifting insights are just a few of her beautiful gifts. In sharing time with her, it is easy to see (and feel) that her devoted personal practice, and the work that she shares in the world, are done with the deepest intentions to benefit all.” - N.N.

“So much gratitude for your wonderful talent. Today I stand differently. I feel shifted and more free. Your intuition always blows my mind a little bit - thank you for seeing me where I am. That was the most worthwhile self care I've given myself in ages. So glad I've committed to doing it again soon! “ - M.C.

The End 💜