Discover Your Joy through Art, Guided Meditation, and Movement!
a Small Group Retreat for
Soul-led Women over 50 on
the beautiful island of
Crete
May 25-31,
2025
with Patrice Spitz, C.S.C.
Are you tired of coloring in the lines?
Would you like to go outside of what’s expected?
Your joy and authenticity are central to you living your life without regrets.
Would you like to discover your joy and deepen your connection to the Divine with other like-minded women?
Join us in Crete to engage in accessible, uplifting practices in a luxurious villa near the beach!
We will also enjoy the beauty and timeless energy of Crete on fun, private excursions with delicious food.
This is more than a retreat - it's an opportunity to kickstart or continue your personal and spiritual journey so that you can live a life more true to yourself.
The beach that is a 5 minute walk from our villa
Going deeper and farther on our personal and spiritual journey requires doing something out of the ordinary.
Spiritual travel deepens and accelerates our journey- sometimes exponentially!
The seafront of old town Chania, which we will visit
The seaside in old town Chania
Do you feel like it's hard to access your joy or maybe you've never even had it?
Have you had a major life change and want a renewed sense of joy?
Did you know that…
Joy is the counterbalance to stress, fear, and anger?
Deepening our joy and spiritual connection keeps us strong, grounded, and hopeful?
Joy increases our resilience and can bring us to our purpose?
The essence of the retreat
In this spiritual and supportive small group retreat for women over 40, we will explore our inner landscape while also enjoying the gorgeous outer landscapes of beautiful Crete, Greece.
Through intuitive art, guided meditations, and intuitive movement, we will each explore the depths of our human needs and wants, uncovering our capacity for joy and discovering how to get there.
The Intuitive practices we will enjoy are all about the process, and require no technique or skill. I will give guidance and support throughout.
If you have ever felt a preference for one color over another (even in your choice of T-shirt!), you can do this.
If you have ever swayed your body to music without thinking about how or why, you can do this.
Our guided meditations are profound and will lead you to a deeper connection with Universal Energy than you may have ever experienced before.
You will come away with:
-
a deeper connection to yourself in body, mind, and soul
-
a deeper connection to Universal Energy (aka God, Unconditional Love, etc.)
-
knowing how to reconnect with the joy that is your birthright in your unique way.
We will also go on private excursions to connect with the heritage, beauty, and sacred sites of Crete, and indulge in delicious and wholesome food with options for all dietary needs.
Join me and other soul-driven women to have fun, relax, and grow personally and spiritually on the beautiful island of Crete!
a little corner of old town Chania, which we will visit
Chania lighthouse
The beach that is a 5 min. walk from our villa
All aspects of this retreat are optional. You are welcome to engage in every portion,
or skip what you wish to.
More about the retreat
Old town Chania
In a glorious and relaxed setting, we will deeply connect to ourselves, the Divine (however you understand that: God, infinite intelligence, unconditional love, etc.), as well as nature, sacred sites, and each other. I will facilitate our inner exploration of what we really need in order to be more joyful and how to move towards that.
I will guide you using tools that have been life-changing and life-enhancing for me and many others: intuitive painting (and/or collage), journaling, intuitive movement, and profound meditations that connect us to a higher realm of guidance and inspiration.
Through the intuitive art process, you access your higher self and subconscious so that insights about yourself, your life, and how to best move forward are revealed to you.
There is no right or wrong way to do it, and no end result that is better than another. If you have ever felt a preference for one color over another (even in your clothing choice for the day), you can do this!
Intuitive Art is not about making art that is appealing to others. It is about making art that has power and meaning for you.
Part of the intuitive art practice is journaling, which complements and expands upon what you receive through your art making.
Intuitive movement is similar in that there is no right or wrong way. It's about moving in whatever way your body wants to, with eyes closed and without words.
Through this mindful process, you also access your higher self and subconscious, move through emotions, and grow in self-acceptance, peace, and satisfaction.
An intuitive painting
These tools are centered around the process, not the outcome. It is about self-exploration and learning what we want and need and how we each can uniquely move towards that.
I will also be leading you in profound meditations to connect to the Divine (infinite intelligence, unconditional love, your higher self, God, or however you understand it) and receive energetic downloads. This part of the retreat is equally as important.
These meditations and downloads are an integral part of what has helped me and my clients grow and advance as much as we have.
Tuning into Divine energy in this way will provide you with a higher level of guidance, refreshment, and peace.
In our relaxed and supportive circles, we will naturally deepen our connections to each other, though there is never any pressure to share if you don't want to.
I will facilitate, and no skill or experience is needed!
Through these practices, I have seen amazing changes occur in myself and others, such as being more joyful, letting go of past hurts and forgiving others and oneself, more peaceful and loving relationships, increased self-esteem, positive steps forward in life and career, and more.
A beach a few minutes walk from our villa
All aspects of this retreat are optional. You are welcome to engage in every portion, or skip what you wish to.
Bring friends or come solo
and meet some kindred spirits!
Excursions
We will have two private half-day guided tours to explore the island.
One excursion will be a guided tour to old town Chania, which is a beautiful historic and multicultural town full of meandering alleyways with boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. We will have some time to shop in the boutiques.
Part of our tour will include visiting ancient houses of worship: A synagogue, a church, and a mosque. We will take some time to tune into these sacred sites and feel their powerful energy. We will complete the tour with a generous lunch at a Cretan restaurant, with options for your dietary needs.
Our second excursion will be to visit the mountains where we will breathe in the local scents and sights and return refreshed and renewed.
A gentle hike will bring us up a beautiful stone path to an ancient cave and church where where we can tune into the energy of the sacred site and the land.
Driving further into nature, we will visit a local organic avocado farm and last but not least, enjoy a delicious Cretan lunch with a wide variety of dishes at a small family taverna, with options for your dietary needs, and complimentary wine and raki.
Why Greece?
Greece is a place that transcends time and reminds us of our own ability to transcend anything
Greece transcends time because it's the birthplace of much of what we still hold as important and foundational such as literature, Western philosophy, mathematics, drama, and democracy.
This connects us to our own timeless nature and our ability to transcend anything. When I was in Greece, I was able to gently move through areas of personal difficulty that I felt challenged in shifting before. This made me want to bring a group of women so that you can experience this peaceful but powerful energy, too!
Crete has all the elements of a perfect Greek island - it is one of the most verdant Greek islands, it has beautiful beaches and nature, ancient sites, and of course, warm and friendly Greek people and fantastic Greek food!
Our villa!
Accommodations & Cost
We will be staying in a luxury villa a 5 minute walk from the beach, shops, and restaurants, in the Almyrida area of Chania, Crete.
The villa is decorated in a warm and organic style, with an expansive kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining areas, indoor and outdoor living areas, wifi, a billiards room, a large screen tv, a laundry room, and air-conditioning.
The dining and kitchen spaces, as well as the adjacent living room, include full-wall patio doors leading to the outdoor living spaces with stunning views of Crete’s mountainside.
Once outdoors. the beautifully landscaped terrace boasts a sitting area for one to enjoy a morning coffee, an afternoon respite, or an evening beverage. Beyond the sitting area there is a large dining space featuring an outdoor kitchen area equipped with a sink and barbecue pit, a wood-burning oven, and a Smart TV for full on entrainment experience.
Beyond the dining space is a saltwater pool, an adjacent kid-sized pool, a six-person jacuzzi spa with a view of the sea, and a shower for convenience.
Option 1:
Share a room with 1 other woman.
Private bathroom for the shared room.
$3899 per person - full cost of retreat
(1 shared room available)
Option 2:
Private room with private bathroom
$4199 - full cost of retreat
(3 private rooms left)
Our hot tub and saltwater pool
Our living room with views
Join us to have fun and open to new ways of thinking and feeling about yourself
Food
Our delicious daily breakfast buffet is included, will be locally sourced and will have options for any kind of diet you request, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy-free, or paleo. (Just let me know when you reserve)
All snacks in the villa are included and will be available at all times.
2 lunches (on excursion days) are included, and will be at traditional Cretan family tavernas with a wide variety of dishes, with options for your diet.
3 lunches and all our dinners (not included) will be at your choice of restaurants. There are several delicious restaurants to choose from within walking distance, many on the beach. Most Greek restaurants have options for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo diets.
Let me know when you register if you have any specific dietary needs, so that I can have delicious breakfast and snack options for you daily, as well as delicious options at the restaurants for lunches on excursion days.
The villa has a kitchen, and you are welcome to bring in any food that you would like. There are several grocery stores and a bakery within walking distance.
Retreat Itinerary
All activities are optional. You are free to participate as much or as little as you want.
Schedule is subject to change.
Opening night: Sunday
Exact time TBA
Welcome circle with guided meditation
Intention setting
Dinner (not included - at our choice of restaurants)
3 Non-excursion days: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
8- 9 Breakfast Buffet in the villa (included)
A spread of delicious local foods catered to your dietary needs, which may include yogurts, fruits, eggs, cheeses, locally baked breads, honey, coffee, herbal teas, juice, and more.
9:15 - 12:15 Morning Circle
Guided Meditation with energetic downloads
Guided Intuitive Art (no skills necessary)
Journaling
Guided Intuitive Movement
Sharing and/or listening
12:15- 2:15 Free time and lunch (not included)
Lunch at your choice of several oceanside restaurants within walking distance. Go to the beach (a 5 minute walk), nap, hot tub, read by the pool, or whatever you wish.
2:15 - 5:15 Afternoon Circle
Guided Meditation with energetic downloads
Guided Intuitive Art (no skills necessary)
Journaling
Guided Intuitive Movement
Sharing and/or listening
5:30 - 7:00 Optional Private Personal Development Session with Patrice (not included)
Optional private session ($150) to dive deeper on anything that may have arisen for you. There are 5 slots available (one per day on Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri)
7:00 Dinner (not included) at our choice of local restaurants!
2 Excursion days: Tuesday and Thursday
Same schedule except Morning Circle and part of Free Time will be replaced by an excursion.
Lunch with soft drinks, wine, and raki included at traditional local restaurants
~A private half day excursion to the old town of Chania, including the seafront and 3 houses of worship (Jewish, Greek Orthodox, and Muslim). We will tune into the energy at each. We will have time for shopping at the boutiques. Lunch at a seaside restaurant is included, with wine and raki.
~A private half day excursion into nature and an opportunity to absorb the healing energy of the land and a sacred site. Lunch at a traditional restaurant is included, with wine and raki.
Final Morning: Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast Buffet in the villa
A spread of delicious local foods catered to your dietary needs, which may include yogurts, fruits, eggs, cheeses, locally baked breads, honey, coffee, herbal teas, juice, and more.
9:00 - 11:00 Closing Circle
Integrating and sharing
11:00 Check out of villa
Are you feeling called to join us?
May 25-31, 2025 in Crete, Greece
Our retreat is limited to 5 women to create an intimate supportive container
$3899 or $4199 (depending on room option)
What's included
-Intuitive painting (and/or collage) and journaling sessions to receive deep insights about what you want and need.
-Profound meditations to connect with unconditional love and infinite intelligence (God, Source energy, or however you understand it), and energetic downloads.
-Intuitive movement- a way to move our bodies without shame or judgment to become more clear, grounded, and self-empowered.
-2 private half-day excursions to connect with the beauty and energy of the old town of Chania and the White Mountains.
-6 nights lodging in a luxurious private villa with hot tub, pool, and sea views a 5 minute walk to the beach
-Delicious daily breakfast buffet catered to your dietary needs
-Snacks daily (available at all times)
-2 generous lunches with a variety of dishes to suit your dietary needs on excursion days.
-Group zoom call before the retreat to connect and prepare
-Group zoom call after the retreat to share and help integrate what we've learned into our lives
Not included
Airfare, ferry (if used), taxi to/from villa
3 lunches and all dinners
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Private personal development session with Patrice. 5 slots are available during the retreat at $150 each.
Spa treatments, including massage, at the spa which is only a 6 minute walk away.
Transfer to and from the airport or ferry port can be arranged for a fee
$3899 per person for shared twin room and bath
$4199 private room and bath
Allow yourself to take in all the joy that you can squeeze out of life
FAQ
Don't see your question answered here? Contact me
What will the weather be like?
While the weather can’t be predicted, May in Crete is an ideal time to visit. The daily high temperature averages 78 degrees, and it’s usually sunny with almost no rain. Mornings and evenings can be chilly, so bring some layers.
Can I come earlier or stay later?
Yes, you can stay before or after the retreat in a local hotel. Let me know if you would like a recommendation and contact information.
You might want to arrive in Greece a couple of days early in order to get over jet-lag before the retreat.
How do I get there?
To get to the retreat, you will need to catch a flight or ferry to Chania, Crete.
There are flights available to Chania from many cities in Europe, such as Athens, London, and more.
The retreat is in Almyrida, which is approximately 35 min. from Chania airport.
It is easy to find a taxi when you arrive in Crete at either the airport or the ferry port, but if you give me your arrival time, I can arrange for a taxi for an additional fee.
Let me know if you have questions about the transportation.
What should I bring?
When I receive your deposit, I will send you a list of art supplies to bring. The list will basically consist of a small watercolor kit and 2-3 brushes, a mixed media or watercolor journal (9x12), a tube of white gouache paint, a small set of watercolor crayons, a few watercolor pencils, a few markers, glue stick, scissors, and optional magazine(s) for collage.
Also bring sunscreen and shoes for walking on uneven pavement and on gentle trails in nature
About Me
I believe we are each here to make the best life for ourselves by getting out of our old stories, getting in touch with what we really need and want, and moving steadily towards it.
It wasn't always easy for me to allow myself joy. I wasn't taught that I mattered or that my needs or my joy matter. That is why I want to help other women to realize that their own joy matters, and help them find a path to getting there.
The experiences I will facilitate for you use tools that have been gathered through many years of training and practice, including certifications as an Intentional Creativity Method® coach, Spiritual Counselor, ThetaHealing® practitioner and instructor, and more.
All our activities and processes are for you to participate in and enjoy without any pressure or experience needed.
Join me for this opportunity to discover your joy and connect to yourself, Divine presence, and other soul-driven women in a beautiful part of the world!
(More about me here)
