Honoring the Darkness
A Winter Retreat Celebrating Ritual, Rest & Connection
February 5–6, 2027 | Bend, Oregon An intimate, two-day experience | $450 per person
Winter invites us to slow down.
As the days grow shorter and the natural world settles into a quieter rhythm, we have an opportunity to do the same. To rest, turn inward, spend time with the people we love, and appreciate the beauty of a season that asks a little less of us.
Yet it's easy to spend winter wishing for longer days, warmer weather, and the next season to arrive.
What if, instead, we celebrated winter for what it offers?
Honoring the Darkness is a two-day experiential retreat celebrating the quiet beauty of winter through rest, intentional connection, and personally meaningful ritual and ceremony.
In a small, thoughtfully held group, we'll explore how humans have used ritual and ceremony for thousands of years to mark transitions, celebrate life, honor loss, strengthen community, and connect with something greater than themselves.
Through somatic practices, nature connection, creative expression, shared meals, and intentional conversation, we'll make space to appreciate the season we're in and reconnect with our bodies, our relationships, and the natural world.
This retreat is an invitation to experience winter differently. To enjoy the stillness, nourish ourselves, and gather with others in a way that feels warm, meaningful, and unhurried.
Who Is This Retreat For?
Honoring the Darkness is for anyone who feels drawn to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore the role of ritual and ceremony in creating a meaningful life.
You may be curious about seasonal living, interested in somatic or nature-based practices, seeking more intentional ways to connect with family and community, or simply longing for a weekend of rest, creativity, and genuine connection.
You don't need to be navigating grief or a major life transition. You don't need to identify as spiritual or religious.
Whether you're new to ritual and ceremony or already have an established practice, you're welcome here.
The Art of Ritual & Ceremony
Ritual and ceremony have been part of the human experience across cultures and generations. They help us mark time, create meaning, honor important moments, and connect with ourselves and one another.
Some rituals are quiet and personal. Others bring families, friends, and communities together in celebration, remembrance, or shared intention. They can be simple or elaborate, sacred or everyday. What matters is the intention and meaning we bring to them.
Throughout this experience, we'll explore the elements that make rituals meaningful and how to create personal and collective practices that reflect our own values, experiences, and relationships.
This isn't about performing ritual "correctly" or adopting traditions that don't belong to us. Our approach is respectful, non-prescriptive, and mindful of cultural appropriation. Rather than borrowing from specific cultural or spiritual traditions, we'll focus on discovering what feels authentic, accessible, and nourishing to each of us.
You'll be invited, never required, to participate in a variety of experiences. Some may resonate deeply, while others may not. That discernment is part of the exploration.
Our hope is that you leave with a deeper understanding of ritual and ceremony, along with ideas and inspiration for creating meaningful practices in your own life.
Honoring the Winter Season
Winter is a season of rest, reflection, and quiet transformation.
While the natural world conserves its energy, our lives often continue at the same demanding pace. We rarely give ourselves permission to slow down, even when our bodies and minds are asking for it.
Winter also brings opportunities for connection. Gathering around a warm meal, sharing stories, creating traditions, and spending intentional time with family, friends, and community can bring warmth and meaning to the darkest months.
During our time together, we'll explore what it means to honor both solitude and togetherness.
There will be room for joy, gratitude, rest, reflection, and even grief. Not as something we need to fix or move beyond, but as part of the fullness of being human.
Rather than rushing toward the next season, we'll practice appreciating the one we're in.
What to Expect
This retreat combines experiential learning, somatic practices, nature connection, and intentional community.
Throughout our time together, you'll be invited to:
Explore ritual and ceremony: Learn about the purpose and elements of meaningful rituals, and consider how to create practices that reflect your own values and experiences.
Slow down and reconnect with your body: Experience guided meditation, gentle movement, restorative practices, and opportunities for relaxation.
Celebrate the winter season: Spend intentional time outdoors, appreciating the quiet beauty and natural rhythms of winter.
Experience meaningful connection: Gather over warm food and drinks, share stories, and enjoy time with others without the pressure to perform or accomplish anything.
Engage your creativity: Explore personal meaning through reflective writing, creative expression, and nature-based activities.
Create your own rituals: Develop ideas for individual and collective practices you can bring into your everyday life, relationships, and seasonal traditions.
Experiences will range from quiet, reflective exercises to gentle, interactive group activities.
Participation is always invitational. You'll be encouraged to notice your own responses, honor your boundaries, and choose what feels meaningful and supportive to you.
Our Time Together
Friday, February 5 | 4:00–8:00 PM
Opening Ceremony & Shared Winter Meal
We'll begin Friday evening by gathering for an opening ceremony, introductions, and a shared tea ritual.
Together, we'll establish our intentions for the retreat and begin exploring how ceremony can create connection and meaning.
We'll enjoy a cozy winter meal of soup, crusty bread, winter salad, and warm cider, with time for conversation and connection.
The evening will conclude with guided somatic and reflective practices, offering an opportunity to settle into a slower pace and prepare for the following day.
Saturday, February 6 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Nature Connection, Creative Exploration & Closing Ceremony
Saturday will include a combination of indoor and outdoor experiences.
We'll begin with nature-based practices that invite us to slow down, engage our senses, and connect with the winter landscape. Activities may include quiet reflection, mindful observation, and creative experiences using the natural environment.
Following a midday lunch break, we'll gather indoors for movement, reflection, and creative exploration of personally meaningful ritual and ceremony.
Our time together will conclude with a shared closing ceremony, opportunities for collective reflection, and inspiration for bringing these practices into everyday life.
The schedule and outdoor activities may be adjusted based on weather conditions.
About Your Facilitator
Savanna DeLuca, MA, LPC, CCAT
Savanna is a licensed professional counselor, somatic therapist, experiential facilitator, registered yoga teacher, and outdoor enthusiast based in Bend, Oregon.
Her work integrates somatic awareness, mindfulness, nature connection, and experiential learning to support deeper relationships with ourselves, one another, and the natural world.
With a background in mental health counseling, environmental education, yoga, and outdoor facilitation, Savanna brings a holistic and experiential approach to creating meaningful opportunities for reflection, connection, and personal growth.
Retreat Details
Dates: Friday, February 5 – Saturday, February 6, 2027
Location: Bend, Oregon. Exact location and arrival details will be provided to registered participants.
Schedule: Friday, 4:00–8:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Investment: $450 per participant.
Group Size: Limited to 8 participants to support a personal and connected experience.
What's Included: Facilitated retreat experiences, Friday evening dinner and beverages, materials for guided activities, and opportunities to develop personally meaningful rituals.
Saturday lunch is on your own.
This is an educational and experiential retreat, not group psychotherapy. No prior experience is necessary.
An Invitation
Winter doesn't have to be a season we simply endure or rush through.
It can be an opportunity to slow down, appreciate the quiet, nourish ourselves, and gather with others in meaningful ways.
Join us for two days of ritual, ceremony, rest, and intentional connection.
Come celebrate winter with us.
Questions? Reach out to savanna@wildhearttc.org.