The Retreat
Γνῶθι σεαυτόν - KNOW THYSELF.
Our Video Journal from our 2023 Delphi Awakening Retreat
A 5 -day transformative retreat informed by the latest advances in psychology, and inspired by the timeless fundamentals of Ancient Greece.
The Delphi Awakening Retreat is designed by two expert Psychologists combining playful mind and body interventions, and excursions to the majestic landscape of Delphi, to promote self-knowledge and teach the skills to live a truly meaningful life.
The aim of the retreat is to furnish you with tools to get to know your inner self and trust its wisdom. Through a combination of contemplative practices such as mindfulness and visualisation, sound healing and visits to sacred sites, as well as more dynamic expressive movement practices and hiking in nature we have curated an immersive experience to help you be open and curious about any communication coming through your body, the environment or your inner world.
Historically considered the centre of the world, the ancient Greeks would visit Delphi to consult with the oracle, find and discover internal truths and gain deeper understanding on how to move forward.
In these uncertain times what are the important decisions you are making, need to make, or not making? What is the core issue that needs to be faced?
Today, we travel again to Delphi, to find our centre and awaken our inner wisdom.
Next Retreat: March 27th - 31st 2025
The Schedule
Each Retreat day will move gently through the following structure;
8am - Optional 30-minute pilates practice, with expert instruction and pitched at a beginner to intermeditate level
9.30am - 1.30pm - Mornings are spent hiking, exploring historic sites, uncovering ancient myths and dissolving into mindfulness exercises and deeply resonating sound baths in Delphi’s expansive landscape
1.30pm - 4.30pm - Long, uncrowded lunches, and time for reflection, introspection, and rest
4.30pm - 7.30pm - The second structured period of the day hosts seminars on psychology and mindfulness, expressive movement sessions, and experiential exercises and workshops.
7.30pm til dawn - Your own time to eat, read, write, meditate, rest, walk and simply be.
Arrival & Departure
Pick up from Athens Venizelos Airport at 2pm on 27th March - on this day activities run from 5pm to 7.30pm
Drop off to Athens Venizelos Airport at 4pm on 31st March - on this day activities run from 9am to 12noon
The Detail
Experiential psychological workshops for self-discovery (4)
Dance and Movement Therapy sessions, embodied self-discovery (3)
Pilates sessions (4)
Guided Hikes with Trekking Hellas (2)
Guided visit to the Museum of Delphi and the Temple of Apollo (1)
Sound Bath / Gong Bath sessions in nature (weather permitting, 3)
Daily Guided Mindfulness exercises and teachings (5)
Group Video Follow Up Session
Whatsapp-based preparation group leading up to the retreat, where you will receive useful psychoeducational material, and answer any queries.
The Activities
Excursions
Temple of Apollo: We will visit the Temple of Apollo, the ancient God of music, harmony, light and healing and explore how we can bring more of these qualities into our lives. The Temple of Apollo was, in myth, home to the Oracle of Delphi.
Corycian Cave: We will walk the ancient path through a beautiful forest of fir trees to visit the Corycian Cave which sits above the town of Delphi and offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. We will practice mindful meditation on our way to the ancient cave where the Earth, the eternal mother, was once worshiped. According to Aeschylus the cave was a place that was visited by divine spirits.
UNESCO Ancient Olive Grove: We will also take a beautiful hike to visit a unique Olive Grove composed of more that 1.5 million ancient olive trees; some over 1000 years old. These olive trees stand resilient and strong can inspire us to discover new ways of grounding and trusting ourselves. We will enjoy a sound bath in nature under the whispers of the olive trees.
Workshops and Experiences
Personal values workshop: Values are powerful guides that can help you set personally meaningful directions in life with integrity, resilience, and consistency. This workshop will help you identify your top personal values; will teach you how to prioritise them; and show you how to practically cultivate them in your life.
Dreamwork Workshop - Discover the Language of Symbols: Dreamwork is a powerful way to engage with the rich, symbolic language of our unconscious mind. Unlike traditional “dream interpretation,” which often reduces symbols to fixed meanings (e.g., “if you see X, it means Y”), Dreamwork invites you to re-experience and animate these symbols—whether they appear in dreams, moments of creative insight, or even in your waking life. As you develop your own personal symbolic language, you can unlock fresh perspectives, solve complex challenges, and open new pathways to genuine transformation. By integrating these symbols consciously, you’ll cultivate a deeper, more meaningful connection between your inner world and the world around you.
Movement / Dance Groups: These groups will explore in a playful, creative and meaningful way the ideas and theories discussed throughout the retreat. The focus will be on helping participants connect to themselves and others through their moving bodies. When moving from within in a safe environment, material that is stored in the body is releases, revealed and expressed. No dance skills required!
Pilates Practices: 30-minute long Pilates practices, pitched at a beginner to intermediate level. Pilates is a holistic exercise system designed to elongate, strengthen, and restore the body to balance. Regardless of age, ability, or fitness level, Pilates is beneficial for everyone because it doesn't put any strain on the joints, and it creates better habits by retraining dysfunctional movement patterns and restoring optimum physical function. "A few well designed movements, properly performed in a balanced sequence are worth hours of doing sloppy exercise or forced contortion" - Joseph Pilates
Gong & Sound Baths: During these deeply meditative sessions participants will be able to deeply relax. They will experience a deep sense of grounding that allows them to safely tune into unconscious parts of themselves. The sounds activate different chakras in our bodies, these discs of energy may be blocked by everyday mechanical life causing psychosomatic problems. Contraindications for sound healing: early stages of pregnancy, heart disease, metal implants, pacemaker, epilepsy and psychosis.
Mindfulness: Throughout the retreat, we will practice a variety of mindfulness exercises and visualisations that will help us connect to our inner and the outer world in the here and now in a loving and compassionate way. We will also teach the basic ideas underpinning mindfulness practice.
Experiential workshops for self discovery: Active imagination sessions to help you connect with your authentic self to find guidance, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of your life’s path through symbols and mythology.
“What sets this retreat apart is not just the variety of activities but the intentionality behind each one.
The facilitators created a sacred space where participants felt seen, heard, and supported. So many things have stayed with me.
Having all of the different modalities to be able to connect with, and reflect on my life in conjunction with the neuroscience have truly given me a different outlook, and approach on life. ”
- TESTIMONIAL
The Setting
We’ll be welcomed into the serene 4-Star Domotel Anemolia Resort for the duration of the Delphi Awakening Retreat; idyllically located on the outskirts of the historic Arachova village, Domotel Anemolia Resort offers expansive views across the Delphi Valley and the Parnassos mountain range.
The hotel interiors are thoughtfully considered, in muted, soft tones, with comforting organic touches and discrete high-specification home comforts, providing a supportive and ease-filled backdrop to your journey within yourself at Delphi.
Why Delphi?
Nestled on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, Delphi, once considered the mythic navel of the world, is a powerful place where heaven and earth converge.
In ancient times, seekers visited Delphi to consult the Oracle for guidance on crucial life decisions. Our retreat channels this ancient wisdom, inviting participants to reflect on their own important decisions and core issues. The myths and symbols of Ancient Greece come alive during guided visits to the temple of Apollo and the museum of Delphi, sparking meaningful conversations about self-discovery and the meaning of life.
The maxims inscribed at the temple, such as 'Know Thyself' and 'Nothing in Excess,' prompt contemplation on personal limits, values and needs. Delphi offers an authentic encounter with the gifts of Ancient Greece, bringing to life gods, philosophers, and archetypes shared by humanity.
Pricing
Our Delphi Awakening Retreat is priced at £3,250 for individuals or, if coming as part of a pair, at £2,650 [per person in the pair] and includes;
All mind and body activities as described in the Details section
Your private, newly refurbished room at the 4-Star Domotel Anemolia Hotel and it’s myriad of luxurious facilities
All lunches and two evening dinners
A Daily Tourist Tax contribution
Airport Transfers
Guided Hikes through the mountains
Admissions to and Guides at archeological sites and museums, including the Temple of Apollo and Museum of Delphi
All Internal Transfers
Generous tips to Hotel Staff
A dedicated Group Leader
Snacks throughout excursions
Research-accredited Personality Measures
Containment, support and guidance from our two Founder Psychologists
A post-Retreat Group video session to reflect and integrate (via Zoom)
Please note that flights into Athens, travel insurance (required) and lunches would be funded independently.
FAQs
-
The retreat is designed for;
People seeking a deeper connection with themselves and others through mind and body experiential practices that are playful, insightful and transformative.
People who enjoy nature, history and mythology.
People who want to develop a creative mindfulness practice.
People seeking a deeper understanding of their personality gifts.
People who are curious to get to know themselves better.
Please be aware that the nature and duration of the retreat is not appropriate for people experiencing currently severe psychological distress and/or trauma.
The retreat is inclusive and welcoming to people from all cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds; and is LGBTQ+ affirmative.
-
Absolutely!
-
Yes, actually based on our experience Delphi Awakening practices can increase love, empathy and understanding between people who seek a deeper connection with a loved one, a friend or a family member.
To promote this, we offer a special reduced price of £2,650 per person for anyone attending as part of a pair (or group).
-
Our 2024 Retreat Group will consist of;
8-14 participants
3 facilitators
1 group leader
-
We ask all our participants and facilitators to have adequate personal travel insurance in place for the Delphi Awakening Retreat.
In case you do not have travel insurance in place already, we have a recommended broker who can arrange travel insurance for you at a price of approximately £30 for the trip.
If you would like to use our contact, his details are:
Alexandros Tzanakakis atzanakakis@asfalysisonline.gr
The insurance package recommended is:
The Silver Single Trip insurance programme that covers trekking up to 2,500 metres, and hospital cover up to 6,000,000 Euros.
-
Yes. However, some excursions into nature and some of the body interventions require a higher level of movement - please contact us for specific queries and clarifications.
-
Yes - all of our Retreat rooms are private, unless you actively would like to opt to share.
-
Yes, the hotel can cater to a range of dietary requirements - please however contact us about your requirements when booking so we can inform and guide the hotel.
-
The hotel features an indoor heated swimming pool with views across the landscape, and a sauna for you to enjoy.
For more information, visit https://domotel.gr/anemolia/
-
Yes. If you are presently in therapy the retreat may provide new insights to enrich your therapeutic work.
The retreat has psychotherapeutic elements but is a unique experience that takes place outside the therapy room and focuses on experiential practices at an individual and group level.
The insights, experiences, and psychological skills at the retreat are designed to promote psychological change.
-
The core Retreat activities are designed to work complimentary and therefore it is advisable to attend them but it is not compulsory.
-
For our hikes:
Hiking shoes or suitable trainers (obligatory)
Comfortable clothes
Long sleeved light tops
Waterproof jacket (weather depending)
Hat or beanie, sunglasses, sunblock
Small backpack
Personal bottle of water (1L)
If you are on medication that you might need (for asthma, allergies, heart problems etc) please bring it along
For our movement and gong bath sessions:
yoga mat
eye mask / flannel
comfortable clothes for our movement sessions (not restricting movement)
You may also wish to take use of the Hotel’s swimming pool and sauna facilities, so a swimsuit would be needed!
Nearer the time please also check the weather forecast for Arachova / Delphi and pack clothes appropriate for the temperature.
-
Yes. The retreat is designed to provide different approaches to connect with yourself and decide the amount and type of information you feel comfortable to share with others though talking, dancing, drawing, and moving.
The retreat is specifically designed to embrace both extroverted and introverted processes.
-
Based on the feedback from past retreat participants, the Retreat experience was:
"Eye opening"
"A personal journey of growth"
"Transformative"
"Helpful to find answers to key questions
"Energising"
"A jump start to an inner journey"
"A profound awakening"
You can find deeper reflections from Retreat participants here.
-
Arrival & Departure points are as follows for transfer to the hotel:
Pick up from Athens Venizelos Airport at 2pm on 27th May - on this day activities run from 5pm to 7.30pm
Drop off to Athens Venizelos Airport at 5pm on 31st May - on this day activities run from 9am to 12noon
We’ve compiled longer reads on many of our Retreat components in our Journal, including reflections on sound baths, dance and movement therapy, personality gifts, and integral values.
Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε - DO NOT TIRE OF LEARNING.
A lifelong journey of discovery.