Finding Connection - An Insider Diary to Delphi Awakening 2024
Grace (R) with Steph Cabrera, Breathwork Coach, during Delphi Awakening Retreat 2024.
Often, it can feel daunting to embark on a Retreat - on this year’s Retreat we were joined by Grace Nicholls, Career Coach, who kindly shared her diary of the week’s journey, for a peek into the Retreat format.
TUESDAY
Waking up this morning, ready to go on the retreat, and there are a lot of feelings moving through me. Some nerves, some uncertainty, but mostly sheer excitement. The interventions included in the agenda are all new to me, and this is thrilling. Yes, I am one of those people who loves going outside of their comfort zone!
Which is maybe a little weird. Or maybe it’s a gift? Who knows.
All I know is that I am incredibly excited to get stuck into it all.
After arriving at the most beautiful location, we started the week with a group circle, sharing our intentions for the coming days and getting to know each other a little more.
We then moved on to cover a Values Workshop where we were led through a series of gentle, inquisitive exercises to help us identify our top four core values. We were invited to reflect on the idea that we are our own guides during moments of feeling lost. This got me thinking, if we don’t understand our own values then how can we be this guide for ourselves?
Food for thought.
WEDNESDAY
Today’s highlight: A Sound Bath and Breathwork session under the trees, surrounded by nature, falling into a trance, becoming connected to the Earth and being fully present in the moment. The whip of the wind across the trees as the sound bath came to an end. Magical. Integral.
We spent some time discussing our own personal Personality Gifts - the aspects of ourselves that we both cherish, and also - perhaps - shy away from. It made me reflect on how I could start to lean into some of the untapped parts of me that I don’t naturally lean towards. It also got me thinking about how important it is to embrace all parts of ourselves and not let preconceived ideas of how we ‘should’ be or what we ‘should’ be doing dominate and overtake who we truly are and how we show up.
We also were taken on a guided visit of the archaeological site of Delphi where we went back in time to learn about the rich history nestled between the two towering rocks of Mt. Parnassus. The centre of the world. We climbed the stairs up to the amphitheatre and spent time looking down into the valley. Soaking up the calm and magical atmosphere.
We spent the evening having dinner in the beautiful town of Delphi which was joyful - we spent hours talking and getting to know each other on a deeper level, making bonds for life.
THURSDAY
I started the week by saying that I like doing things outside of my comfort zone.
Well, dance therapy was certainly that! By today we had completed three sessions… and by this point I was over the awkwardness.. almost. I had opened my mind to all that the practice had to offer and realised that expressing your feelings through dance is a really good source of therapy! Something that I was quick to write off as ‘not for me’ but soon realised that maybe this was the discomfort talking. Pushing through discomfort means you are growing, open to new ideas and opportunities and exploring what is and isn’t for you.
All I am saying is watch this space.
We also spent some time learning about the history of the ancient Olive groves and walking through them, as well as having a breathwork and sound bath session beneath the trees. Fully submerging into nature and being present in this space was an experience like no other. A moment that I will remember forever.
FRIDAY
We had our final dance therapy session which ended with a group choreographed piece. It was smooth and cohesive and came together effortlessly.
We wrapped up the Retreat revisiting our intentions and sharing our highlights with the group. It was clear that the overriding feeling amongst us all was great gratitude. It was emotional.
Gratitude for each other, the history that we had uncovered, the beautiful nature that we were surrounded by and the bonds that we had forged as a collective.
All in all, a truly magical week.