If you are a woman who's questioning your life right now,
feeling burnt out, craving deeper self- connection, and wanting to stand more confidently in your power...
then join Angela Bruzzese and Kathryn O’Brien
on a heart-led journey with the elements in Costa Rica!"
... the warm breeze caresses your face and the sweet scent of tropical flowers gently fills your awareness.
You breathe in deeply. You feel your body connect down to Mother Earth.
You feel held, and supported to be fully you.
The sound of the waves lulls you into a deep peace. Surrounded by the elements of fire, water, earth and air you know you are whole.
As the sun begins to rise, you look around the circle of like-hearted women and you feel reconnected to:
You know that the next chapter of your life is going to be powerfully aligned, co-created with the divine and full of magick!
Yes! It’s time to boldly claim your joy, your power and your purpose, to stop living the life you think you should and to dive into a magnificent life fueled by the magick of the elements.
The fire element has had a powerful role in shaping this land as 66 volcanoes created this small country. Costa Rica lies on one of the most volcanically active areas on the planet. A land forged in fire speaks of the magick of passion and creativity!
Water is a constant reminder of the need we have to flow, to tap into our emotions and to create life giving spiritual practices. As the nesting grounds of the sea turtle, this water animal reminds us to go with the flow and symbolizes longevity, patience, wisdom, and endurance.
Home to one of the world’s most unique environments, the cloud forests of Costa Rica are a magickal combination of wind and geography! The element of air holds the endless possibility of the imagination. When the trade winds from the North combine with the warm air of the Caribbean the imagination of the Creator shows itself in many forms including the hummingbird. Who reminds us to take time for ourselves and our needs and teaches us how to celebrate all the blessings in our lives, all while showing us how to
open our heart and mind to the possibility of magick.
More than a quarter of the land of Costa Rica is dedicated to national parks, reserves and refuges - this land is diverse, vibrant and protected - which speaks to the value placed in this sacred connection with the element of earth and the nourishing security of Mother Gaia. The national tree is the Guanacaste, or Elephant Ear Tree, a symbol of stability, strength and growth.
Welcome to our home away from home - The Goddess Garden, where the rainforest meets the Caribbean Sea. The Goddess Garden is an eco resort, nestled between the lush rainforest and a long private beach on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.
On 14 acres of jungle we will be able to unwind and relax poolside and listen to the stillness of nature. Located in the beach town of Cahuita Costa Rica, home to the leatherback sea turtles. The rooms are comfortably Caribbean with beautiful patios to unwind and enjoy some quiet time after our excursions. And the pool is a sanctuary to sink your weary body into for some serious rejuvenation!
The Gardenia Room has two separate Queen beds with first class mattresses, an elegant bathroom and a natural air flow system to keep the room cool. Located on the second floor, don’t miss the lush garden view from the spacious porch.
Here you’ll experience the finest of Costa Rican pura vida – whether you want to swing in a hammock beside a sloth, dip your toes in the pool while you journal, or walk along the beach and chat with one of your new friends.
The Goddess Garden Retreat’s spiritual centre has two floors, where the view of the rainforest expands to almost 360 degrees. It is designed to bring you peace, putting you in touch with nature during our retreat.
Be prepared for your mouth to water in anticipation of each and every meal.
Featuring homemade Caribbean inspired organic and local food, mealtime is an experience in and of itself. All your senses will be delighted by the homey atmosphere combined with the exquisite new friendships and perfectly spiced sweet and savoury dishes such as curries, seafood, chicken, and homemade breads, local organic fresh fruit and vegetables and of course Costa Rican Coffee and Cacao!
Can’t eat this or that? Vegan, vegetarian, gluten or dairy free? No problem – we’re happy to accommodate any of your food preferences and all food is handled using American standards.
How long have you had that tiny voice in your head, or that feeling in your gut that there is something more for you out there?
Have you been searching for a simple way to step into your power?
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Felt supported by a like-hearted group of women who you knew had your back?
Is your life changing so fast that you find yourself needing a new community that can see you for who you are becoming and not who you were?
Our journey takes you through guided meditations, fun excursions and nightly ceremonies to discover your elemental makeup! Imagine knowing how fire, water, earth and air are embodied within you and how to use their strengths in creating a life that is balanced with lots of time for joy, rest and fun!
When we practise incorporating each of the elements into our lives we step into a grounded power and it becomes easy to flow between the elements. Knowing that you are made up of these 4 elements of nature that naturally flow and cycle will help you see that each cycle in our life also has beauty, purpose and strength.
Imagine sitting on the beach in a circle of women all gathered to step into a new version of themselves. As we set our intentions for the week we tune into the wisdom of the elements to guide us.
In this sacred circle you:
Each day during the week will be dedicated to one of the elements. We will explore the element sitting in circle in the beautiful outdoor palapa.
Learning:
Next up - we play with this element
In the evenings we will gather in our sisterhood circle to share what is on your heart.
Connecting with other women is a huge way we process:
Time to feel our emotions whether it’s laughing till we cry, crying till we laugh, or dancing the feels away, these sacred evenings over cups of heirloom cacao will heal our souls.
Just because we care, you’ll also receive:
Because we love to love you!
HELLO BEAUTIFUL SOULS! My close friends call me Ange, so please feel free to call me that when you reach out as I already feel that you are a friend.
I consider myself a perpetual student of life. I love to learn new things and share my knowledge with others. I have multiple degrees in Ancient History, Psychology and Human Resources but that wasn't filling a void for me. About 8 years ago, I was feeling stuck and disconnected from myself which meant I didn't have any motivation to do anything except sit on the couch. I found a womens retreat in Ontario and though I was scared, I was also excited because I knew I was doing something to help get me unstuck. I connected with like hearted women and the idea of Core Magnificence was born. I realized that everyone is born magnificent; therefore there is magnificence at the core of each of us. Over time we lose connection with our magnificent selves which causes us to feel disconnected from who we really are inside. This may reveal itself in negative behaviours that lead one to dis-ease and depression instead of well-being and creation.
I returned home and became a certified life and wellness coach. My life’s purpose is to coach people worldwide to rediscover their core magnificence, through incorporating play back into their lives.
One way I play is through dancing and music which allows us to release pent up energy so I searched for ways to include this in my offerings and became a certified sound healer which then lead to healing as an Aboukra energy healer. I have added some depth to my ability to help others clear blockages preventing them from living a fulfilling life.
I am a firm believer in positive thinking and that when you envision yourself as a successful and happy person, you will achieve your life’s goals.
You will normally find me dancing, laughing and plotting my next adventure on this spinning mass we call earth.
Hey there, most folks call me Kat, and right now I also live in Guelph, Ontario Canada. I've been on quite the journey to get to know myself at a deeper and deeper level for the past decade! And one of the things I've learned is that I love to help women know that they can transform their lives in magickal ways too! Without really realizing it at the time I even went to school to study body, mind and spirit transformation. (With a Masters of Health Science in Nutrition, an Honours Degree in Psychology and a minor in Spirituality). I've loved crystals and the moon and all things magick for as long as I can remember and I weave stone medicine, cacao and energy healing modalities into both small group and one to one work that I do. Living cyclically with Mother Earth, Father Sky and Sister Moon is the way I live and I love to help others remember that this wisdom is already in our bodies...we just need to reconnect with it.
In fact in the the last two decades I have realized that most of us are struggling with a deep sense of disconnection, from ourselves, our food, each other, our planet and our divine. Until we find reconnection - deep lasting transformation is almost impossible. Have no fear though - helping you reconnect is my passion and through a yummy combination of cutting edge science and ancient wisdom we will have you feeling in your joy and power again!
If you are looking for me, you will likely find me sitting by the ocean contemplating my next travel destination, lost in conversation with a crystal, or nerding out over science with my teenage son.
Choose your room type:
You must arrive into the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica (SJO) on January 27th by 10am and depart after 7pm on February 3rd, 2024. Round trip group transportation will be provided for you from the airport to the retreat centre at 10 am on January 27th and returning to the airport on February 3rd. If you are not arriving in time to be on those transports, we can help you arrange your own transportation to the centre (at your cost).
If you want to come earlier or stay later for some exploring – call Cathy Wassermann our travel planner extraordinaire. She can help you design something fabulous! Contact her directly at cwassermann@dt.com