The Priestess' Path
A sacred feminine retreat in Bali exploring ritual, archetypes, embodied spirituality, shadow-work and creative transformation through Somatic Mythwork™.
🌹 A 6 month journey into the self, starting with a 7 day retreat.... 🌹
The Priestess Path
A 7-day Bali retreat into ritual, embodiment and feminine wisdom
For the woman who has spent years giving, achieving, adapting, or carrying the weight of expectation — and is ready to return to herself.
The Priestess Path is a transformational journey into embodied wisdom, creativity and sacred self-connection. Set in the spiritual landscape of Bali, this immersive retreat weaves together Somatic Mythwork™, archetypal exploration, ritual, creative expression and nervous-system-informed practice to support a deeper relationship with your body, your intuition and your inner authority.
This is not about escaping your life or becoming someone new. It is about remembering the parts of yourself that have been waiting to be reclaimed.
Through mythology, embodied storytelling, ritual and creative practice, we explore the stories we inherit, the identities we have been given, and the possibilities that emerge when we begin to listen inwardly.
The Priestess Archetype: Embodied Wisdom & Inner Authority
Across cultures, the Priestess represents the keeper of wisdom, ritual, intuition and connection to something greater than herself.
She is not a figure removed from ordinary life — she is deeply embodied. She listens to her body, honours her creativity, trusts her knowing and creates meaning through relationship, ceremony and expression.
Through Somatic Mythwork™, we explore the Priestess as a living archetype: not a fixed identity, but an invitation to reconnect with qualities that may already exist within you.
Together we explore:
✨ intuition and inner knowing
✨ creativity as a pathway to self-expression
✨ pleasure and presence without shame
✨ releasing inherited stories of limitation
✨ reconnecting with the body as a source of wisdom
A Grounded Approach to Personal Transformation
The Priestess Path brings together:
🌿 Somatic and nervous-system-informed practices
🌿 Archetypal psychology and Jungian-inspired mythwork
🌿 Ritual and ceremonial practices rooted in Balinese culture and classical tantra
🌿 Expressive arts, storytelling and creative exploration
🌿 Reflection, meditation and embodied awareness
Rather than bypassing difficult experiences, we gently explore the shadow aspects of the self — the parts shaped by survival, suppression, fear or self-protection — creating space for compassion, integration and renewed agency.
Transformation happens not through rejecting who we have been, but through welcoming more of who we are.
Ritual, Creativity & the Art of Returning to Yourself
The Priestess Path recognises creativity as one of humanity’s oldest tools for transformation.
Through practices such as Batik painting, mindful movement, offering rituals, storytelling, meditation and symbolic creative work, participants are invited to slow down, listen deeply and reconnect with the wisdom of the body.
These are not simply activities.
They are invitations to remember.
To return to presence.
To return to creativity.
To return to yourself.
A Note on Tantra
Tantric traditions are often misunderstood in Western culture. In this retreat, Tantra is approached through its deeper philosophical roots: embodied presence, sacred awareness, connection, creativity and reverence for life. Practices are informed by classical Tantric philosophy and Balinese Hindu traditions, shared with cultural respect and guidance from local practitioners. There are no sexual or intimate practices involved. This is a journey of embodiment, awareness and self-connection.
What Makes Our Retreats Unique?
This is not just a retreat, it is membership to an ongoing 6-month therapeutic container for deep transformation and integration, providing you with tools to continue growing long after you leave Bali. Many retreats and intensives give you momentary insight and change only to leave you without support to integrate it – Wanderess retreats are different.
A Holistic, Research-Based Approach to Transformation
Wanderess’ approach not only taps into the transformative power of ancient ritual performance, but also incorporates Polyvagal Theory, somatic healing, and archetypal psychology to help you reconnect with your self – body, mind, and spirit.
We’ve carefully blended ancient creative and ritual practices with modern research-backed methodologies like Polyvagal Theory and somatic trauma healing. This is a scientifically grounded approach to healing and empowerment, where body and mind work in tandem to reset your nervous system and release old patterns of stress and trauma. Guided by experts in performance arts, therapy, and education, this retreat will equip you with the tools and insights to create lasting change in your life.
Return to your inner wisdom, creativity and embodied power
The Priestess Path is a journey of reconnection — supporting you to move beyond inherited stories, self-doubt and patterns of over-adaptation, and return to a deeper relationship with your body, intuition and inner authority.
🌹 Explore your inner archetypes through Somatic Mythwork™
A unique integration of somatic practice, Jungian archetypal psychology and creative storytelling that invites you to explore the stories you carry, the identities you inhabit, and the possibilities waiting to emerge.
🌹 Reconnect with the wisdom of the body
Through embodied movement, meditation, breath, yoga and nervous-system-informed practices, you’ll develop greater awareness of your internal world and cultivate a deeper sense of presence, resilience and self-trust.
🌹 Encounter sacred feminine archetypes through living traditions
Explore the symbolism, mythology and ritual practices connected to sacred feminine wisdom traditions, including the rich cultural heritage of Balinese Hindu practice, approached with respect, care, intercultural collaboration, and curiosity.
🌹 Restore balance through ritual, creativity and connection
Through sacred ceremony, creative expression, reflection and restorative practices, you’ll create space for integration, imagination and renewed connection with yourself and the world around you.
This is not about becoming someone else or fixing what is broken.
It is about listening more deeply — to your body, your creativity, your intuition and your own inner knowing.
When safety, meaning and creativity come together, transformation becomes something we experience, embody and live.
If you feel called to reconnect with your wisdom, your voice and your sacred creative essence, you are warmly invited to walk this path with us.
Archetypal Embodiment & Somatic Mythwork™
Developed by Dr Ellie Chadwick (PhD), Somatic Mythwork™ is Wanderess’ unique approach to transformation, weaving together embodied practice, storytelling, Jungian archetypal psychology, expressive arts and trauma-informed somatic work.
In this retreat, we explore archetypes as living patterns of identity, memory and possibility — exploring the stories that shape how we see ourselves, the roles we inherit, and the qualities within us waiting to emerge.
Through movement, voice, creative expression, ritual and nervous-system-informed practices, you’ll be invited to encounter these archetypes not only through thought and reflection, but through the body and imagination.
The Priestess archetype invites us to explore intuition, inner authority, creativity and embodied wisdom — supporting a deeper relationship with yourself and the world around you.
What you'll receive from this retreat
🌹 Reconnection With Your Inner Authority
Reconnect with your sense of self, intuition and personal power. Explore the stories, expectations and patterns that have shaped you, and begin to embody a more authentic relationship with yourself.
🌿 Nervous System Awareness & Embodied Regulation
Develop practical tools for grounding, presence and emotional resilience through somatic practices, movement, meditation and nervous-system-informed approaches.
🔥 Shadow Work & Self-Integration
Gently explore the hidden or rejected parts of yourself — the emotions, desires, creativity and qualities that may have been suppressed — with compassion, curiosity and embodied awareness.
🕯 Ritual, Myth & Sacred Practice
Experience ritual and symbolic practices inspired by Balinese traditions, mythology and archetypal storytelling, exploring how ceremony can create meaning, connection and transformation.
🌺 Archetypal Exploration & Creative Expression
Work with the Priestess archetype and other feminine archetypal patterns through storytelling, voice, movement, imagination and expressive arts — discovering new ways of inhabiting your identity.
🌊 Embodied Presence & Connection
Reconnect with the body as a source of wisdom, creativity and aliveness. Explore presence, sensory awareness and the ability to receive, express and connect more fully.
✨ A New Relationship With Your Story
Use mythology, reflection and creative practice to reimagine the narratives you carry and explore the possibilities that emerge when you begin to author your own path.
🌙 Six Months of Integration & Community
Continue your journey through the Wanderess Circle — a six-month integration experience offering ongoing somatic practice, creative exploration, reflection and community support as the insights of retreat become part of everyday life.
Your Hostesses
Dr Ellie Chadwick (PhD)
Lead Facilitator
Dr. Ellie Chadwick is an internationally experienced theatre practitioner, creative facilitator, and scholar working at the intersection of performance, storytelling, ritual, and somatic healing. With over 15 years of experience creating theatre shows, immersive experiences, and installations, her work has been commissioned by institutions including Tate Modern, Barbican Guildhall, National Trust, Plymouth Theatre Royal, and Bristol City Council. Ellie has been interviewed for The Stage magazine and for BBC Radio 4 on the subject of creative education and immersive arts.
Ellie holds a PhD and MFA in Theatre and is a published author with expertise in archetypes, collective memory, intercultural performance, and the role of the arts in collective wellbeing. Her academic work includes lecturing in performing arts and postdoctoral research in intercultural artistic practice, with creative collaborations across Europe, China, Indonesia, and the UK.
For nearly a decade, Ellie has led international retreats, workshops, and masterclasses, including recurring gatherings in Bali, blending ritual, art, and body-based practices. She is the creator of Historically-Responsive Theatre Practice: a method that integrates ancient and modern techniques, honouring the sacred roots of art-making across cultures.
As a trauma-informed integrative somatic therapist, Ellie’s work draws on polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, and archetypal exploration to guide transformational experiences rooted in story, embodiment, and emotional healing. Whether on stage, in retreat, or within coaching spaces, Ellie is devoted to helping others reclaim their voice, rewrite their story, and remember the body as a source of truth, power, and creative possibility.
Karma Tucker
Co-Facilitator
With over 25 years of international performance experience, Karma brings a unique blend of creative artistry and holistic expertise to the wellbeing space. Her diverse career includes performing Shakespeare in New York, musical theatre tours across the UK, tribute shows in Oman, and music performances in Belgium. Her work has received great reviews from The Stage magazine.
Karma holds multiple degree-level qualifications in the performing arts and education, including a Distinction in Performance and Events Management and a PGCE in Higher Education. For over 15 years, she has lectured in colleges, academies, and universities, specialising in acting, movement, and vocal performance. Her creative leadership has guided full-scale productions at renowned venues such as London’s West End (His Majesty’s and The Shaftesbury), Disneyland Paris, Berlin, and beyond. She has also vocal-coached youth performers featured with G4. One of her collaborative productions was attended by Prince Edward.
Her background in performance seamlessly integrates with her passion for wellbeing. Karma qualified as a yoga instructor in 2014 and has since trained new teachers herself. She is also a certified Reiki Master and Yoga Life Coach, continually expanding her knowledge in holistic and therapeutic practices. A seasoned workshop facilitator, Karma excels at creating safe, empowering spaces for growth and transformation: drawing on both her artistic and healing modalities. Her sessions are infused with creativity, energy, and compassion.
A passionate traveler and lifelong learner, Karma has explored over 35 countries, delving into ancient civilisations and traditional dance practices throughout Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Europe, Japan, Egypt, and California. This global perspective informs her approach to wellness, embodiment, and spiritual connection.
Cok Indrayuni Baruna
Local Facilitator
Cok Indrayuni is a world famous Legong dancer of the classical Peliatan Style and runs the Oka Kartini Arts Centre with other members of her family.
Oka Kartini Arts Centre is a centre of excellence for Balinese arts in Ubud, particularly their world-famous Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) show, which has been documented by National Geographic and CNN.
Our Retreat Venue
Our serene retreat venue offers rustic yet luxurious accommodation in traditional wooden structures inspired by Balinese rice barns. Made with local traditional materials, the air-conditioned garden villas come with a fan, mosquito nets, and ensuite bathrooms. Private balconies are located on the first floor, and offer views of the beautiful surroundings.
Featuring a stunning outdoor pool with a spacious deck, a large open dining area, and a raised workshop space with inspiring views of the grounds, the venue is perfect for relaxation, rejuvination, and creativity.
Additional facilities include a library, a 24-hour front desk, and 3 kitchens throughout the property, all providing room service.
Words of a Wanderess!
“I had a truly inspiring time in Bali, which has left me with memories I will carry with me forever. If you want a break from the day-to-day and time to nourish your creative side, join one of Ellie’s retreats.”
Morven Macewan, 2016 Retreat Participant
Pricing
Scholarships of up to £2,000 available for women who feel called but need financial support.
We believe in accessible healing; reach out to apply.
Standard Price: £4,800 up front (including retreat + 6 month container)
Subsidised (Scholarship) Price: £2,800
Payment plans available to spread costs over up to 18 months (enquire for details).
What this includes:
Luxury Stay:
Experience authentic Balinese charm in a traditional lumbung twin room with en-suite, shared with a fellow Wanderess.
Empowering Workshops:
Transformative sessions designed to help you embody your inner Tantress.
Wellness Treatments:
Relax and rejuvenate with curated treatments to nurture your body and spirit.
Delicious Meals:
Enjoy delicious, freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, featuring authentic local cuisine.
Convenient Transfers:
Complimentary airport pick-up and drop-off to ensure a smooth arrival and departure.
Immersive Trips & Activities:
Explore Bali’s rich culture and stunning landscapes with guided outings.
🌟 Plus! Our Special Retreats Bonus! 🌟
A 6-month complimentary membership to our online Wanderess Circle, a coaching container offering group somatic therapy, extending your journey of growth and connection long after the retreat ends.
You can also find us on Bookretreats.com
Embrace your inner Wanderess
At the core of every Wanderess retreat is our signature Archetypes Method: a powerful blend of academic research, performance practice, and somatic storytelling designed to help you transform inherited roles into authentic expressions of who you truly are.
Archetypes aren’t clichés, they’re living, symbolic energies rooted in history, psychology, and culture. We help you uncover those shaping you unconsciously, challenge limiting narratives, and consciously choose the ones that empower you.
Created by Dr. Ellie Chadwick (PhD), a scholar, therapist, and international theatre practitioner, the Wanderess approach invites you to explore your personal mythology through the performance of self. Through movement, voice, and creative ritual, you’ll access embodied wisdom and new ways of being.
Every retreat is an invitation to step beyond imposed stories and into embodied truth. We work with a rich spectrum of feminine archetypes, the Sorceress, Mysticess, Creatress, Empress, Rebel, Wild Woman, and more. Each reveals aspects of your voice, sensuality, authority, and creativity that may have been silenced or forgotten. These archetypes offer doorways into your full multidimensional self.
This is more than personal growth. It’s re-authoring your story, healing deep wounds, and reclaiming your place in a larger, collective narrative.
Join our waitlist today to begin your journey into archetypal embodiment and radical self-discovery.