Homecoming:
Return to Tidal Mother
"What is homing? It is the instinct to return, to go to the place we remember. It is the ability to find, whether in the dark or in daylight, one's home place. We all know how to return home.
The exact answer to "Where is home?" is more complex... but in some way it is an internal place, a place somewhere in time rather than space, where a woman feels of one piece.
Every creature on earth returns to home. It is ironic that we have made wildlife refuges for ibis, pelican, egret, wolf, crane, deer, mouse, moose, and bear, but not for ourselves in the places where we live day after day. We understand that the loss of habitat is the most disastrous event that can occur to a free creature. We fervently point out how other creatures’ natural territories have become surrounded by cities, ranches, highways, noise, and other dissonance, as though we are not surrounded by the same, as though we are not affected also. We know that for creatures to live on, they must at least from time to time have a home place, a place where they feel both protected and free."
~Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
December 2024
Home is a sacred sanctuary within, and every woman instinctively navigates her path back. It is a haven we must frequently return to, lest our inner flame flickers out, leaving us weary, irritable, and disenchanted. Yet, the myriad demands of life and the myriad roles women embody often overshadow this vital return. At times, the quest for solace feels elusive, and we may find ourselves needing to escape the familiar havens we've crafted, if only to regain our sense of direction.
Our intention for this retreat was to carve out the precious space and time for women to reconnect with their essence; and a place where they can feel both protected and free.
For three days and two nights, we retreated to the wild sanctuary of Danjugan Island, a haven cherished by both oceanic and terrestrial life. We unplugged from our daily obligations, if only briefly, and allowed ourselves to hear the whispers of our souls from the depths of our beings.
Embraced by the ocean's rhythm, and through intentional practice, we allowed the rhythms of the Tidal Mother to guide us back to our selves, replenishing our well of spirit and creative vitality, so that we returned to our families and endeavors renewed and invigorated.
~Nikki & Andrea, soup tenders
Echoes from the trail…
“Reconnection”
“Immersive”
“Spiritually enriching”
“Sacred”
“Clarity”
“Grounding”
“Empowering”
“Nature & Ancestry”
Shared experiences
“What made these experiences particularly meaningful was how they wove together personal growth, communal bonding, and ecological awareness. In the presence of Danjugan's grandeur - from her towering trees to gentle waves - we found ourselves opening up not only to our own truth but to the collective wisdom of women walking this path together. This harmonious blend of self-reflection, sisterhood, and deep connection with the island's natural spirit created a transformative experience that continues to resonate deeply.”
— Bea, Philippines
“Living in a world with never ending stimulation, Danjugan’s stillness cradled me like a mother would to her tired child and whispered her wisdom straight to my ear. It was a journey back to myself, my lineage, my energy and my own power which I’ve tirelessly tried to find outside of myself but did not realize that it was inside me all along.”
— Mika, Philippines
“The retreat helped me to question the kind of self-expansion and self-embodying I wanted to practice in honouring and realigning back to my core, my values, my purpose, and my control in my life.”
— Iliana, Philippines
“They (Nikki & Andrea) were able to weave together lighthearted and playful moments with profound and enlightening discussions, always making room for both learning together and sharing in the not-knowing together. With their guidance, the retreat flowed with deeply personal stories, folk tales, rituals, nature walks, and just nerdy banter (which I love!) Even if we were ruminating on complex topics like geologic time, the divine feminine, ancestral wisdom, or environmental science, it never felt like intellectual posturing. Instead, there was a deep sense of women coming together to witness, support, and honor one another.”
— Bina, Philippines