Join us for an immersive retreat designed to deepen your connection with the natural world while nurturing joy, wonder, and awe. Set against a stunning coastal landscape where the forest meets the sea, this experience invites you to slow down, engage with nature through multiple lenses, rekindle your innate curiosity, and delight in gourmet cuisine. This retreat is a call to slow down, to be present with nature’s rhythms, and to rediscover a childlike sense of awe. Whether exploring tide pools, creating cyanotype art, chatting with a new friend, or feeling the embrace of a sacred forest, each experience invites you into a deeper connection with the world around you. Leave with a renewed sense of wonder, a heart full of gratitude, and a connection to nature that lingers long after you depart.
Seaweed Identification & Rocky Intertidal Exploration:
We’ll spend our first morning during low tide along the rugged shoreline, where we’ll explore the dynamic intertidal zone. We’ll touch on the cycle of tides, rhythms of the waves, ocean conditions, as well as safety and stewardship on the rocks. Guided by a marine biologist and expert naturalist you’ll learn to identify a variety of seaweed species and discover the intricate web of life that thrives between the tides. We’ll be introduced to intertidal ecology and oceanography of the Oregon Coast, specifically how they pertain to seaweeds and kelps. We will speak about how they can and have been used in culinary and healing treatments for centuries (though not foraging because we are out of season). We’ll chat about seaweed anatomy, classification, and identification in a spectacular setting.
Forest Bathing: Immersion in the Sacred Grove
In the afternoon we’ll move through the forest, where the Western Red Cedars and Sitka Spruce beckon our attention. Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is a practice of deep presence—allowing you to engage with the forest through all your senses. Breathe in the earthy aroma of damp moss, listen to birdsong echoing through the canopy, and feel the grounding energy of the forest. As your nervous system unwinds, a profound sense of calm and connection takes root.
The healing impacts of forest bathing support long-term health and wellness. Research has shown that forest bathing boosts immunity, reduces anxiety, depression, and stress, improves cognitive function, and improves sleep. Through a series of guided invitations, forest bathing creates a sense of embodied presence that enables you to access new ways of being, including more joy, curiosity, playfulness, spaciousness, and awe.
Seaweed Cyanotypes: Art from the Ocean
On our second morning, you can explore your creativity through the ancient art of cyanotype printing, using seaweed to create stunning botanical blueprints. Cyanotypes have been a form of scientific documentation for seaweed, terrestrial plants, and natural specimens since they were invented in the 1700s and were the original form of photographic printing.As sunlight interacts with coated paper, delicate seaweed patterns emerge in ethereal shades of deep indigo. This mindful practice invites you to slow down, observe intricate details, and engage with nature through an artistic lens. You’ll take yours home to remember your special weekend.
Decadent & Nourishing Cuisine
Food is an integral part of this retreat—an opportunity to indulge in nourishment that delights the senses and honors the land and sea. Savor exquisite, locally-sourced meals crafted with care, highlighting fresh seafood, wild-foraged ingredients, and vibrant seasonal produce. Each dish is designed to nourish body and soul, fostering a deep appreciation for the gifts of the earth.
About the place: Sacred Cove
We will be camping and dining at Temenos Forest Sanctuary, a private, beautiful, and sacred 5-acre forested property that is located just north of Yachats. It is truly a spectacular place to camp and call home for a few days. The ocean is a 15 minute walk, mostly through the forest, and there are various creeks to enjoy on and around the property. This space offers itself for deep nourishment and calm. You will likely go home having the land and its inhabitants wedged deeply into your heart.
We will be the only group on site and set up our tents among the trees and share time together in our outdoor kitchen and around the fire pit. We will be using an outhouse during our time on the property.
* Option to stay nearby in hotel/ Airbnb at additional cost. This must be arranged individually but reach out for suggestions.
More info and registration:
https://www.shiftingtidesnw.com/workshops/cedarandsea
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