An inward and outward adventure on a magical island
Awakening the Sleeping self is a 4-day, residential, fully-catered retreat in Greece 12 – 15 September 2026.
About the Retreat
The Hindu concept of the dormant soul, shamanic soul retrieval, Jungian ideas of denied parts of the psyche or shadow selves – these and many other traditions converge on the notion that our day-to day lives embrace just a fraction of our full potential. What if you have layers of selfhood waiting like inactive DNA for the right circumstances to awaken? What if these unusual and unsettling times are exactly what is required to access your untapped strengths?
Right now the world badly needs us all to show up as our most potent selves. We all have a valuable contribution to make whether this looks like activism, humour, or ‘simply’ a calm and loving presence. Are you ready to create the space needed to uncover your unique gifts-in-waiting?
You are invited to join an intrepid group of dancers on the stunning Greek island of Samothraki, to dance your incubating self into being. Moving with awareness of the possibilities, limits, and impact of personal power, we will step deeply into community for four transformative days. We will weave together dance and dream wisdom, silence and sacred intention, rest and reflection, to create a liminal space in which to nurse the seedling self and plan protective structures to help you carry your gifts back into daily life.
This will be deep work, AND it is also a holiday and opportunity for community building. There will be time to wander down to the beach, explore the island, or just lie in the sun. You may also want to factor in a little time before or after to integrate, relax, and enjoy Greece before you return home.
Meet the Team
Rachel will be supported by four assistants who will help ensure a smooth workshop experience.
Jo is an experienced movement and creative wellbeing practitioner who facilitates inclusive, accessible spaces where people can connect, move and thrive. She has developed and led a wide range of projects for educators, families, adults and young people. Jo has long-standing partnerships with local authorities, educational settings and charitable organisations. She continues to contribute to shaping inclusive, creative practices across communities.
Jo and Rachel have worked closely together as Co-Directors of Bare Toed Dance Company since 2001. Jo’s recent work includes intergenerational movement sessions for people living with dementia, student mentoring, and collaborative retreats at the Tree retreat centre in North Yorkshire.
Alongside her work in movement and wellbeing, Jo is sometimes a massage therapist and bodywork practitioner. Drawing on her understanding of the body, touch and holistic wellness, she supports people to reconnect with themselves, their bodies and their unique human experience. She is also a mum, mountain lover and loves adventures in nature!
Bringing together singing, movement, music, massage, creativity and her compassionate presence, Jo offers warmth, kindness, intuitive guidance and a playful spirit. She is committed to creating safe spaces where people are supported and empowered to be themselves.
Jules is a gardener of 20+ years with qualifications from the Professional Gardener’s Guild and Kew Gardens. His practical skills, capacity to see what’s needed and do it efficiently make him perfect for the role. His grounded presence and desire to help others make him a supportive contributor who brings a balancing masculine energy to the team.
A conscious dancer since 2017, Jules enjoys how dance opens up his creativity and brings personal insight and transformation. He is married to Rachel and begins the Open Floor teacher training in 2027.
Coraline Renaud is a creative soul currently traveling around Europe, sharing her gifts wherever she goes. She is a kinesiologist, artist and mother. In her support she uses a variety of approaches, including Educational Kinesiology®, the creative process, astrology, and movement meditation. Her years spent in the administrative, social and creative sectors have opened her up to a wealth of encounters and discoveries. She teaches, runs workshops and holds private sessions online.
Her guiding principle? Trust what your body tells you and follow your heart. It’s a joyful way to live in harmony with the world and in the present moment. She likes to describe herself as an expert in “thinking outside the box” approaches.
You can find her online @coralune.art
Marc is an international traveller, writer, and seeker of new experiences. It was through his recommendation that Samothraki was selected as the best possible location for a transformative retreat.
Marc has visited Samothraki several times and will be on hand to assist with you travel queries and to share his extensive knowledge of the island.
About Samothraki / Samothrace
Samothraki is a mystical island that is relatively undiscovered by foreign tourists and has been a centre for spiritual growth since antiquity. Its topography includes a mountain higher than Snowdon from which Poseidon is said to have watched the Trojan war. As a spiritual centre, Samothraki was second only to Athens for the Ancient Greeks, with secret initiation rites performed throughout the summer months.
There are a few small villages on the island. The ferry brings you to Kamariotissa, where you’ll find bars and restaurants, boat tours around the island leave from spa town Therma – close to our venue – and Chora / Hora is the main town, nestled on the hillside to hide from pirates (more here greektravel.com). Close to the venue you will find lush woodland, beautiful beaches and coves, stunning waterfalls, and natural swimming pools. We will work both in the studio and in nature.
This website has lots of useful information about the island.
Venue information
Accommodation
Rooms sleep 2 and have a small fridge and either a terrace or a balcony with either a garden or sea view. Single rooms are available for a supplement. Information about the retreat centre can be found at mariva.gr. It is possible to book additional days with bed and breakfast for €60 a night.
Wild camping is also an option outside the workshop dates.
Meals
Meals are provided from lunch on Saturday to lunch on Tuesday, using fresh local produce and catering for a variety of diets. Please indicate any specific dietary requirements when you book.
Travel
As we step out of our everyday lives and into the unknown, our senses are heightened and we encounter new people and experiences. Travel allows us time to transition, making it part of the overall adventure. While direct flights offer convenience, they also rob us of the time to adjust and reflect. For the Ancient Greeks the journey to Samothraki was a pilgrimage – a journey of transformation that began with the first step, centred around the intensity of ceremony, and was assimilated on the homeward stretch. I invite you to think of your travel to Awakening the Sleeping Self in the same way.
You can fly to Thessaloniki from several UK and European cities. Manchester and Gatwick are good options from the UK and Newcastle operates flights on Wednesdays.
Aegean Airlines also fly between Athens and Alexandropoulis.
The KTEL Macedonia Intercity bus station connects right outside the airport with City bus Line 1X / 1N. The airport and the bus station are both at the end of the line. The bus takes 3:45 hours costs €35.50 and runs 8 times a day ktelevrou.gr
Head south in a straight line down to the sea. Tickets are purchased at a kiosk inside the port.
There are plenty of rooms available through the usual sites (Airbnb, Booking.com etc) starting at around €60 /night.
UPDATED FERRY TIMES
Ferry times have changed since this workshop was first advertised. Here is the timetable for September 2026:
ALEXANDROPOULIS TO SAMOTHRAKI
| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
| 08:00 | 08:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 08:00 | 15:00 |
SAMOTHRAKI TO ALEXANDROPOULIS
| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
| 16:45 | 16:45 | – | 07:00 17:30 | 17:30 | 19:30 | 17:30 |
Links:
Once on the island, buses to Therma align with ferry times and can be found to the left hand side (west) of the ferry port as you exit the ferry. Alternatively hire a scooter for exploring for around €25 /day.
You can also get to the retreat centre by taxi (book in advance and share – there are only a handful.
We will meet you by arrangement at Therma.