Sage and Elissavet are the co-facilitators of this retreat, along with local island host Anita Pataga who lives on Aegina and is a somatics and energy healing practitioner. Sage, Elissavet and Anita met right before the beginning of the pandemic at module 1 of the first Somatic Experiencing cohort in Athens, Greece. On a visit to Aegina In June of 2022 Anita brought Elisavet and Sage to Oikia Karapanou and we planted the first seeds for this retreat. Since then they have deepened their friendship and collegial relationship and have discovered a shared vision to create generative space and restful space in Greece for practitioners from around the world.
Dates / Time
This retreat begins Sunday afternoon June 23, 2024 and ends at noon on Sunday, June 30th, 2024. It is a total of 7 days/nights. You are welcome to arrive anytime after 3pm / 15:00 on June 23rd. We will have our first dinner together that evening. Check out time on the 30th will be 12.00.
LOGISTICS
SPACE: Oikia Karapanou
An hour by ferry from Athens (Piraeus port)
Oikia Karapanou is a beautiful mansion from the 19th century, surrounded by a huge garden close to the sea. It has been restored to provide an atmosphere of peace and inspiration, an oasis on the soul's journeys.
Oikia hosts and organizes workshops, retreats, trainings, art residencies and all kinds of events aiming at a happier, more conscious life on Earth.
There are 10 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, numerous terrasses and balconies and of course the spacious and magical garden.
Lodging options: 6 shared double rooms, 2 singles.
We have space for 14-16 participants to stay at Oikia
There is no air conditioning at Oikia Karapanou. During our dates the average temperature is 79 degrees. We recognize that for some bodies this may be too warm and wanted to let you know.
Roommates can be figured out with care. We will have at least 2 group gatherings via zoom for folks to get a sense of each other. We will also collect specific roommate preferences (ie. snoring, up early, up late etc. / sleep needs on the google doc we will ask you to fill out after paying the deposit.
MEALS:
Per Oikia’s website: Meals at Oikia are heartwarming experiences – tasty, festive and nutritionally balanced. Our cooks only use fresh products, on season and as much as possible organic. They will be at your disposal to adapt the menus to your needs. The food is based on vegetables, pulses, grain and dairy products – basically semi-vegetarian, with poultry and fish on offer every two to three meals if you like.
When you fill out your retreat info sheet we will ask you about food allergies, sensitivities and needs.
RETREAT COST
We are interested in this retreat being as accessible as possible while balancing our expenses. We have set up a pricing tier and ask that you consider what level you can afford while staying in alignment with your budget. In addition, we know flights/travel are additionally pricey and we imagine that some of you might be able to reach out to your communities to ask for financial support to support this journey.
Your retreat cost covers:
Cost tiers:
Tier 1: 1000 euros (4 spots available)
Tier 2: 1250 euros (4 spots available)
Tier 3: 1500 euros (4 spots available)
Tier 4: 1750 euros (4 spots available)
For currency translation, go here.
To book your spot, we ask for a 200 euro deposit. On the deposit payment link we will ask you to indicate what payment tier you are choosing. Balance in full is due by May 11th which is 6 weeks before the beginning of the retreat. You can indicate in your deposit if you’d like us to send you an invoice for balance in full or split up into four payments.
PAY DEPOSIT HERE.
If you need help deciding what tier to choose, here are two resources which can help you decipher your payment level:
“The sliding scale represents the idea that financial resources, including income, are not and should not be the only determining factor in whether or not someone can access services/care/etc.
Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher ticket prices, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. It also respects the work of teachers and creators.”
TRAVEL OVERVIEW
We’re more than happy to offer some travel planning support. We will set up a closed event facebook page so that our group can coordinate travel together if that is your preference.
Arrival in Athens:
There is no airport in Aegina. The closest one is Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos", which receives both domestic and international flights all year round. Upon your arrival at the airport of Athens, you need to reach Piraeus port and embark on the ferry that transfers you to Aegina. The ferry trip is between 45 minutes - 1 hr and 15 minutes.
Participants coming from other countries will fly into Athens International airport. If helpful, we can help you coordinate your travel from the airport to Piraeus port. You can travel quite reasonably by train or shuttle bus from the airport to the port where you’ll catch the ferry. Taxi from airport to the ferry is another option but more expensive. Check out here for more Athens travel info.
Flights to Athens:
We recommend using a fare watcher with your dates and cities. Google flights and hopper are great options.
Ferry to Aegina from Piraeus.
Check out ferry schedules here: https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/.
We will pick you up at the port in Aegina and provide transportation to Oikia which is a short 7 minute drive. We will also provide transportation back to Aegina port on departure day.
