"Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing." ~ Helen Keller

Adventure is an integral part of Women, Creativity and the Journey of the Soul. We will explore Florence and the neighboring countryside and, after the retreat, those of us who desire will go on to another adventure in Venice.

As grand as this will be, a greater adventure awaits us when we gather in our circle of creative, supportive women and journey inward guided by the deep intuitive wisdom of the Feminine.

The Feminine energy is our inner knowing. She is the stillness that allows us to wait, to let all manner of things that are yet hidden be born in their own time. She is intuition. The Feminine is serene and wild, playful and erotic, passionate and compassionate. She is the Triple Goddess of Maiden, Mother and Crone. She gives life, takes life and promises rebirth. Her energy is the source of an impassioned life. She is Woman Unto Herself.

What does Woman Unto Herself mean? Derived from "virgin", it had nothing to do with sexuality. Rather it referred to a woman complete unto herself, owned by no man.

Such a woman can be in any phase of life, young or old, married or unmarried, mother or childless. What is important is that she has smashed the distorting mirror of outer "reality" and experiences life through the private rhythm of her being, a rhythm whose source is the Mystery that flows through creation.

This journey into self is the adventure of the retreat. Through a variety of means including writing, ritual, myth, movement and meditation, we will explore and embrace the experience of Woman Unto Herself.

We will be staying at Il Grande Prato, a restored farmhouse in the extraordinary landscape of the Tuscan hills between Florence and Siena. Fueling our creative fire is fantastic food served three times a day with attention to individual preferences. Local wine is served at lunch and dinner; there is a swimming pool and we will have cooking lessons as well as a guide on one of our two days in Florence. Il Grande Prato has a gym and a hot tub.

This is the perfect setting for a gathering of women passionate about their creativity. With every need tended to, we will journey to embrace with love that Self for which our heart yearns.

For professionals seeking a rewarding sabbatical experience without traveling the world, the ARC Retreat Center near Cambridge presents an intriguing option. Only an hour from downtown Minneapolis, its secluded wooded setting nevertheless places it worlds apart from the stresses of city life.

One pastor wrote following her ARC sabbatical:
"In the month of May, I had the opportunity to live in God's time, to immerse myself in God's abundance, to develop a rhythm for my days. My calendar was locked in the trunk of my car, my cell phone was turned off, and I didn't check my e-mail, not even once." With a residential community of 3-4 staffing the retreat center, volunteers for weeks or months at a time are welcomed to share the life and the work of ARC. And those involved in intense head and heart work on a daily basis generally enjoy the rhythm of physical labor and rest at ARC. Time is spent preparing the mostly vegetarian meals, all cooked from scratch, gardening, and keeping the log house, cottage, hermitage and grounds clean and ready for guests.

Volunteers on sabbatical may choose how much time they wish to spend in solitude and how much in work and interaction with the community. For those entering into the work life full time, the fee may be entirely waived, with room and board provided.

Those interested in a working sabbatical in lovely surroundings may find out more by visiting the website, arcretreat.org, or calling Director Jan Wiersma at 763-689-3540.

Ladies, you manage a lot from day-to-day; you deserve a Spring Break too! Treat yourself to a well-deserved vacation and great girlfriends getaway...come relax, release, and rejuvenate at the Soul of a Woman Spring Retreat, April 17-20 at North Myrtle Beach, SC. Spend 4 days and 3 nights relaxing in beautiful, oceanfront accommodations; enrich your life with seminars for your mind, body, and spirit; enjoy fun social activities; and join soulful, woman-to-woman discussions with other dynamic women! Visit http://soulofawomanretreat.com for details.

Want a more personal, reflective experience? Begin to change your life by finally dealing with the truths of it at the Sojourn to Truth Spiritual Retreat in Nashville, TN. Enjoy a lovely, serene environment with no distractions, no judgment, and no excuses. Meditation, journaling exercises, & private coaching will help you find inner peace, attract new positive energy, and restore balance. Learn more at http://empowermentspa.com or call 1(888) 744-5559.

Kapaa, Kauai, HI
Fern Grotto Inn is located on the bank of the Wailua River on the beautiful Island of Kauai. It is a five-minute walk to the uncrowded, sandy beaches of Lydgate Park and Wailua beach. Surrounded by state park land on all sides, the property is situated in Hawaii's largest coconut grove and is just across the street from the historic Coco Palms Resort.

Sedona, AZ
All Sedona Spirit Yoga & Hiking vortex retreats are focused on tapping into Sedona's vortex energy to accelerate our growth. This year we are giving each retreat a theme.

ITALY
Join prize-winning author, Megan Don, as she leads us on this sacred pilgrimage through the life of Clare of Assisi. We will learn of Clare's relationship and commitment to God, her creation of a new women's community, and her sacred companionship with Francis of Assisi

Mill Valley, CA
What is PATH Fitness Retreat? It's a place where, for one week, you're disconnected from the stress, demands, and routine of your normal daily life. You live in a beauriful setting where the focus is on you.

Washington, NJ
This enlightening one day event will assist all spiritually minded individuals connect to the Heaven within. * 7 different Meditation workshops from Beginning to Advanced * Special Peace Pole Spiral Dance to aid the consciousness of world Peace and Healing * and more . . .

Dolores, CO
Experience the serenity of our sanctuary enveloped in the mountains. This quiet and peaceful Retreat Center, nestled in the mountains, opens to a world of recreational paradise and adventure. Let your heart be healed in this renewing environment where your every need will be catered to.

Charleston, WV
The West Virginia Institute for Spirituality is dedicated to providing space and opportunities for deepening mindfulness, prayer practice, interior peace, and for integrating moral and ethical values.

Orange Springs, FL
Here's a place where you can do just about everything under the sun. A magnificent 100 acre retreat site in the gentle rolling hills on the edge of Florida's Ocala National Forest and on the shores of a spring-fed lake available for year-round group rental.

Burlingame, CA
We provide a peaceful, contemplative, and holistic environment for groups and individuals seeking to nourish their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. Large conference rooms, smaller breakout rooms, and private meeting areas are available for your group needs.

New York, NY
The House of the Redeemer at 7 East 95th Street, New York City, is an Italian Renaissance style palazzo dedicated to providing peace and serenity for those who seek "a place apart" - the designation given to it by it's donor. The House is open to all faiths for prayer, meditation and spiritual renewal.