🌹 A 6 month journey into the self, starting with a 7 day retreat.... 🌹
For anyone who has suffered with self-doubt, lack of self worth, or burn-out.
Awaken the Tantric Goddess Within
Join us for a life-changing retreat that integrates ancient Tantric wisdom with modern, trauma-informed therapeutic methods. On The Tantress Retreat, we invite you to explore the divine within you through bodily and somatic experiences and heart-led ritual practice.
Dive into the Essence of Tantra
Discover the rich tapestry of tantra as we blend the traditional teachings of body awareness and divine connection with contemporary understandings of sensuality and the nervous system. We will explore Balinese approaches to Tantra and the sacred, through beautiful rituals and ceremonies, and combine Tantric teachings with Polyvagal Theory and contemporary somatic therapy, exploring the nervous system’s role in processing emotions, releasing trauma, and fostering self-acceptance. Through therapeutic practices grounded in neuroscience and trauma-informed care, we will guide you to experience physicality as a pathway to emotional release, deeper self-awareness, and divine connection. Face your shadow side and find full freedom in acceptance and embodiment of your full self in our safe and supported space.
Self-Care as Your Superpower
In this retreat, self-care, self-acceptance, and self-love will become your most powerful tools for transformation. Engage in sensory practices and creative activities that activate all five senses, like mindful mandala art, Balinese Batik painting, and sacred purification rituals. These practices not only nourish your body, mind, and soul, but also offer therapeutic benefits by engaging the vagus nerve and promoting a calm, grounded nervous system.
Who is the Tantress?
The Tantress—also known as the Lover Archetype—is the sacred keeper of pleasure, intimacy, and embodied emotion. She is the woman who no longer apologises for her depth of feeling, her longing, or her desire. She knows that to feel, is to be alive—and to receive is a sacred art.
The Tantress honours her sensuality and physical nature not as something to be hidden or tamed, but as a living portal to truth, healing, and power. She reclaims the right to want deeply, to love fully, and to be met with tenderness and passion—by herself and by others. She faces and embraces her shadow: acknowledging, honouring, and loving all parts of her self.
She is the sovereign lover of life, a goddess of love, practicing emotional connection and sensory/sensual expression as forms of devotion. She invites us to experience the world through the senses, to trust our desires as our compass, and to open our hearts without shame.
To embody the Tantress is to say:
I am worthy of love, of touch, of tenderness. I honour my desires. I receive with grace. I am the sacred vessel through which pleasure becomes prayer.
In this archetype, we return to the body as sacred ground, to the heart as an oracle, and to connection as a healing force. Whether through touch, movement, sound, or silence—the Tantress reminds us that to feel is to remember who we truly are.
What Makes Our Retreats Unique?
This is not just a retreat—it’s an ongoing 6-month therapeutic container for deep transformation and integration, providing you with tools to continue growing long after you leave Bali.
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.
Become the most connected, loving version of yourself.
🌹 Transmute limiting beliefs and past traumas into a powerful sense of identity through workshops that utilise somatics, archetypes, and storytelling.
🌹 Heal collective and individual wounds, engaging in somatic movement, yoga, and ecstatic dance to release emotional blockages and foster deep healing. Experience the power of movement as a pathway to wholeness.
🌹 Supercharge and diversify your experience of feminine energy, through learning about the Divine Feminine in Balinese Hindu tradition, participating in mindful ritual practices from Balinese Hinduism.
🌹 Calm your nervous system and tune your frequency with Balinese and Western yoga practices, chakra work, meditation sessions, and more nourishing mind-body-spirit wellness activities.
Embrace this opportunity to connect deeply with yourself and others, and unlock the love that resides within you.
❌ This is NOT a tantric sex retreat! ❌
While Tantric practices are often associated in the Western worldview with sexuality, this retreat focuses on body-based sensuality, creative expression, emotional healing, and self-care. We will explore female sexuality and desire emotionally and intellectually, but there will be no intimate or sexual activities involved. Our focus is on empowerment, not physical intimacy.
Awaken Your Inner Archetypes
Developed by Dr. Ellie Chadwick (PhD) — specialist in performance, embodiment, and trauma-informed practice — the Wanderess Method offers a research-grounded approach to feminine archetypes, storytelling, and self-expression. Combining academic insight, performance training, and somatic therapy, this method invites you to explore your sensual identity through a deeply embodied lens.
In this retreat, we engage with archetypes that have historically shaped — and often distorted — our relationship to femininity, sensuality, and self-worth. Through a blend of movement-based inquiry, storytelling, voice work, and trauma-informed body practices, you will reclaim your own expression of love, sensuality, and presence.
Together, we will explore:
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The Lover / The Tantress, who honours intimacy, pleasure, and emotional connection as sacred expressions of the self — reclaiming the right to feel, to want, and to receive.
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Aphrodite as an embodiment of sensual magnetism and creativity — accessing the power of receptivity, beauty, and erotic vitality as essential parts of the feminine psyche.
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The shadow archetypes of The Whore and The Nun, reframed through cultural and historical analysis, to help release inherited shame and repression around sexuality, desire, and boundaries.
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Mary Magdalene, not just as a symbol of sacred femininity, but as a figure of misunderstood power and healing — guiding us toward heart integration and radical self-acceptance.
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The Wild Woman, rooted in both cross-cultural mythology and somatic intelligence, who reminds us of our instinctual right to express ourselves fully — with no apology, no filter, and no fear.
What you'll get from this retreat
Healing from Toxic Relationships & Heartbreak
Deep healing from past emotional wounds, toxic relationships, and heartbreak, releasing patterns of entanglement.
Rediscovering Self-Worth & Self-Love
A renewed sense of self-worth and self-love, empowering you to step into your authentic power and sovereignty.
Nervous System Regulation & Polyvagal Tools
Practical tools for nervous system regulation, including Polyvagal-informed techniques to foster resilience and balance.
Tantric Knowledge & Practices
Foundational tantric practices to awaken sensual energy, cultivate embodied presence, and explore the sacredness of intimacy.
Archetypal Activations & Expressions
Guided archetypal activations and expressive practices to unlock powerful aspects of your feminine psyche and reclaim your true essence.
Emotional Truth & Boundaries
A safe space to explore intimacy, desire, and boundaries, and to integrate emotional complexity into your sense of self.
Myth, Movement, and Meaning-Making
Integration of myth, movement, and meaning-making into your everyday life to support lasting transformation.
Ongoing Support
Receive 6 months of virtual coaching and sisterhood connection to help you continue your growth and integrate the retreat experience into your daily life, because transformation takes time.
Your Hosts
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.
Currently training 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.
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.
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.
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
Super Early Bird Payment Plan Available for:
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We have a super early bird deal available to save big when booking by June 2025. There are two options for you to choose from :
£3,600 up front (save 25%), or
Pay a £600 deposit and sign up to our payment plan of just £324 per month and save 20% (June 2025-March 2026).
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.
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.