A Tale of Joy - Retreat
7 Day Retreat in Sicily For Community & expressive joy
Embark on a joy-filled adventure, where A Tale of joy invites you to rediscover your authenticity, spark your inspiration and immerse yourself in joy. This retreat is a soul-awakening, multisensory experience —a journey of self-exploration, nourishment, creative expression, movement, community gathering and pure fun!
9 – 15 September 2024 – only once a year!
“I am interested in what happens to people who find the whole of life so rewarding that they are able to move through it with the same kind of delight in which a child moves through a game.’
Margaret Mead
ABOUT THE RETREAT
A Tale of Joy is an ode to this wondrous mystery we call life! The etymology of the word joy comes from the verb yui that in Sanskrit means “to unify”, same root of Yoga, the unification of the individual soul with the universal consciousness. Joy is union with the others, with nature, with the universe, with sacredness. It is a bridge, a connection.
This special journey is a celebration for being alive and connected with ourselves, mother earth and each other whilst having a strong focus on healing, arts, education and community spirit. This retreat gives us an opportunity to explore various types of movement, sound and creation, teaching us the art of presence and allowing us to discover the body and mind’s natural intelligence. The mornings are dedicated to silence and practice whilst the afternoons and evenings include various types of creative activities.
On this journey, we desire to achieve a paradigm shift; a shift in the way we connect with spirituality, in the way we interact with nature and our fellow beings. We desire to create an environment where we can learn to be content and happy rather than greedy and ambitious.
Come join us as we get together to celebrate the 3rd edition of A Tale of Joy – Retreat in the abundant lands of Volcano Etna in Sicily.
WORKSHOPS
Meditation & Yoga│Dance│Sensory Workshops│Movement Research│Sound Journeys│Singing & Drum Circles│Fire Ceremony│Ecstatic Dance│Volcano Etna Excursion│Dj Sets│Experimental Laboratories│
FOCUS
- Exploring & experiencing what joy means to you
- Trying out new inspiring practices and activities
- Celebrating life with a community of like-minded people
ATMOSPHERE
- Extroverted, exciting, open-minded
- Joyful & playful living
- Liberating yourself
A DAY AT THE RETREAT
8:00 – 8:30 Meditation & Silence
8:30 -10:00 Morning yoga
10:00 – 11:00 Vegetarian Brunch
11:00-18:00 Workshops & free time to Explore
18:00-19:00 Vegetarian Dinner
20:00 Evening activities
THE PRICES & ACCOMMODATION
Shared dorm (5-6 people) – 750€
Shared triple room – 950€
Shared double room – 990€
Camping (tents) – Sliding scale 550-650€
For 7 days (6 nights) retreat including all classes, workshops, excursions, accommodation & 2 vegetarian meals a day
A deposit of 350€ is required to reserve your spot. If you have any questions or would like to reserve your spot, please email us.
Due to the festive nature of this retreat, we are able to accommodate a bigger group, and the estimated group size will be around 30-40 people.
THE PLACE “Femminamorta” in Sicily, Italy
Femmina Morta is a place of art, meetings, concerts, retreats and parties, as well as a family villa, but above all, it is a place where nature transports us into peace of mind, into mysticism, in the search for harmony. Located on the East coast of Sicily, between Pozzillo and Carruba, next to the volcano Etna. The land stretches for seven hectares into a palm nursery where chickens roam around among lemon, mango and avocado trees. The property comprends a huge garden, a large swimming pool and a gorgeous yoga shala with a beautiful view of the volcano. The sea can be seen from the villa and the beach is only 20 minutes walk away.
HOW TO GET THERE:
To reach the villa we can organize for you a transportation by taxi from the airport of Catania. Alternatively you can take a bus to Catania Central Station and from there a train to Carruba. We will pick you up at Carruba station (5 minutes away from the villa).
Your Retreat Facilitators
Giulia Anna Maria
Giulia used to be a lawyer before a transformative trip to Nepal that shifted her life completely. Inspired by spontaneous yoga sessions there with children on a rooftop, she followed her passion and pursued a 3-year Iyengar Yoga TTC in Berlin. Giulia has taught yoga to various communities over the last 10 years.
Embracing diverse roles, Giulia is the queen of transformation and she changed her identity many times taking different roles that allow her to have a very open mind and widen her understanding of humanity and society; she likes dressing as a drag queen for the Pyramid Parties, she’s a performer for Music Ashram and a nomadic gong player shuttling between Berlin.
Teaching and organising retreats for the Tara family for 3 years, Giulia embodies a nomad with an open mind and a deep understanding of humanity and society.
Linnea Lappalainen
Linnea’s own lived experiences and studies in yoga, psychology and holistic coaching lead her to understand the importance and interconnection between our emotions, experiences, mind and body. She learned to combine embodiment practices and human psychology, establishing practices that allow you to get in touch with your emotions, true inner self and wholeness.
Linnea’s heart beats with a fierce passion for deep inner healing and human potential, dedicated to empowering individuals and groups in awakening to their worth, owning their dreams and crafting unapologetic lives that resonate authentically with them. One way of doing this is by embracing our intuitive and artistic side, and Linnea loves to guide groups through various explorative movement and artistic practices as a form of self-discovery and exploration.
Linnea has been part of the creation of Tara Retreats and community, teaching and organising retreats for the last 4 years.
There will be a number of creative experts and teachers on the retreat - guest teachers to be announced soon!
WHO IS THE RETREAT FOR?
- Anyone looking to en-JOY life together with a like-minded community
- Exploring new fun practices and creations
- Connecting deeply with yourself and others
COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Tara is reimagining the ways we connect with spirituality; shifting from individualistic to collective. 5% sales of every retreat will support local conservation groups or indigenous community projects. Empowering you to make inner transformation alongside meaningful collective change. The organizations we support this year you can read more about in our philosophy page.
What our past guests have to say:
Frequently asked questions
Here is a packing list that you might find helpful when getting ready for the retreat ahead:
- Comfortable clothes for yoga and other activities
- Closed suitable shoes for walking/hiking
- Warm clothes for the Volcano excursion
- Swimsuit if you want to go swimming (we also have a Jacuzzi)
- Any instruments or toys you like!
- Journal and pens
- Toiletries (all natural products are suggested due to the organic sewage system)
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat for sunny days
- Mosquito repellent
- Rain jacket (in case it happens to rain)
The most convenient airport to arrive at is Catania airport.
To reach the villa, we can organize for you a transportation by taxi from the airport of Catania. Alternatively you can take a bus to Catania Central Station and from there a train to Carruba. We will pick you up at Carruba station (5 minutes away from the villa).
For the latest information on our Reschedule & Cancellation policy, please click here.
Yes, we welcome everyone between the age of 18 to 80 to this retreat. We love having a variety of ages on our retreat and it is wonderful to see different generations connecting and sharing their wisdom with each other. On average our guests for this retreat are usually between early 20’s to 40’s.
Due to the festive nature of the retreat, the group size will be larger – between 30 and 40 people. The place, Femminamorta, is a large property with a lot of garden area, poolside lounde area, large dining facilities as well as spacious rooms. Additionally, the beach is only 20min walk away. Therefore, although the group size is a little larger, it is easy to find your own space if you need it.
You absolutely can! Most of our guests come alone and love the experience. It is a safe environment to be yourself and form authentic friendships. We have seen some of the most beautiful connections blossom during these retreats.