FLORESCENCE: a state or period of flourishing. the act, state, or period of flowering; bloom

Join Rachael and Melissa as we dive deeply into communing with the spirit of the flowers and creativity. We will gather at the Rose Light Sanctuary in beautiful coastal Maine at the height of blossoming during the Lion’s Gate Portal. 

Please feel free to reach out if you are interested in this retreat.

info(at)thehoneybeetemple(dot)com

From August 7-11 2024, we will be in a devotional ceremony as we take the time to sit with our full attention and come into presence with the plant spirits of summer’s most beloved blossoms.  Over the course of several days, you will have an opportunity to sit with your flower of choice and go on an embodied wisdom journey of knowing its spirit through artistic expression, plant meditation, tea ceremony, and ritual space.  

Florescence is a retreat co-created by Melissa McConnell of The Honeybee Temple, an intuitive painter, Holistic Health Practitioner, and devotional art teacher + Rachael Jean of the Rose Light Sanctuary, a flower essence practitioner, midwife and medicine woman.

Through ceremony, art, and devotion, we will learn the ways to attune ourselves to the spirit of the flowers as we come into resonance to request collection of their essence.  

Sitting with your blossom and attuning to its frequency through painting rituals guided by Melissa, you will learn how engaging into a creative ceremony with your flower of choice will deepen your relationship to understanding its medicine and message.

In this retreat you will learn to craft your own flower essences in a ceremonial and devotional way. Rachael Jean will guide you through the step by step instructions necessary to begin crafting your own flower essences. All the supplies and materials you need will be provided so that you can continue this practice when you return home.

Each member of the retreat will be choosing a different flower so that in the end we will have up to 13 distinct essences that will create a kit for you to bring home and integrate what you received at the retreat.  

We will start each morning off with a tea ceremony guided by Melissa, where we will commune with the plant spirit of Camellia sinensis flowers, followed by an infusion of a different locally wild harvested flower each day. From this space of receptivity and creativity we will choose a flower to sit with and begin our journey of presence and deepening.

In this retreat you will experience:

• Shamanic drum journey
• Sound bath and guided meditation
• Watercolor painting ritual instructions and guidance
• Flower essence crafting workshop
• Daily guided tea ceremony
• Plant attunement and ceremony guidance
• Foundations of a daily creative + flower connection practice

What is included in this retreat:

• Materials and supplies for making flower essences
• Basic watercolor painting supplies including Beam Paints set and brush, Hahnemühle watercolor journal, and Sakura mechanical pencil
• 11 farm to table organic, gluten free gourmet meals. Dinner on 8/7, breakfast, lunch + dinner on 8/8-8/10, and breakfast on 8/11. (Mostly vegetarian, with animal protein options available for some meals)
• Camping included** on retreat premises
• Kit of all essences made at retreat by all participants (1 oz bottle of each)
• Sacred container and community ceremony atmosphere
• Intro call meet and greet and a post-retreat integration call (both online via Zoom)

**limited availability private or shared cabins for additional cost (first come, first served)

FAQ

Where is the retreat? The retreat is in Sullivan, Maine at the Rose Light Sanctuary.

How much does the retreat cost? The retreat is $1600 paid in full, and we have two different payment plans available too ($850x2, or $450x4). There is a non-refundable deposit of $500 to secure your place in the retreat.

What are the closest airports? Bangor International Airport (BGR) is 1 hour from retreat premises. Group pickups will be available at specific times from BGR. Portland International Airport (PWM) is 2 hours 40 min from retreat premises and would require car rental or other arrangements to get to The Rose Light Sanctuary in Sullivan.

Is lodging included? Camping on the land is included in the retreat cost, and includes access to a communal kitchen, outhouses and outdoor shower. All meals are provided. We have cabins available for an additional fee, and they are first come, first served. You will receive information about these cabins upon registration, and an invitation to book them with a deposit at that point. 

If you choose to camp, we recommend that you bring a simple tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and pillow. You may also like having a small lantern or headlamp to get to and from the buildings to your camp in the evening. 

What is lodging like? Camping is on the land surrounding the gardens of the Rose Light Sanctuary. Indoor lodging for an additional fee includes four woodland cabins that have been newly renovated.  We have two shared cabins that could accommodate up to two people each.  We have two private cabins that could accommodate up to two people each.  For more info and pictures, please visit our website or Airbnb listing.

Tell me about the food: All meals will be prepped with love by our resident food alchemist Trevor.  All foods will be Organic, Gluten Free and Locally sourced when possible.  We will highlight seasonal specialties, homegrown vegetables and herbs and have animal protein options available at least two meals per day.  We have a large organic garden on premises and our neighbors also have an organic farm, so as much will be sourced in these ways as possible.  Health is our primary value with food so all foods will be nutrient rich, fresh, beautiful and intentionally prepared. If you have specific dietary needs, please let us know when you register for the retreat and we will do our best to accommodate them.

Who is this retreat for? Plant lovers, artists, creatives, and folks who want to unwind and commune directly with nature and source on beautiful land with a highly attuned group of conscious heart centered healers and ceremonialists. The retreat is for those who seek to deepen their relationship with their creativity, with the flowers, and with the heart of the earth. It is for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in their ability to listen to their inner voice, intuitive guidance, and the language of the flowers and plants. It is for anyone who has a desire to paint with watercolors, to make flower essences, and to connect with the land of Maine. It is for anyone who would like to invite ceremony, presence, prayer and reverence into their lives.

What is your cancellation policy? A non-refundable deposit of $500 will be kept for ALL cancellations made to registered participants regardless of time of cancellation.  If you cancel by June 21st, you can receive the remainder of your payment back beyond the $500 deposit.  All cancellations made after June 21st will not be eligible for any refunds.

When can I arrive? Please plan to arrive on Wednesday August 7th between 2 and 3:30pm, to have time to set up your camp/cabin. The opening circle will begin at 4pm. 

When does the retreat end? The retreat draws to completion after breakfast on Sunday, August 11th. You can plan to pack up your camp/cabin after that point, and head off the land in the mid-late morning that day.

Is the retreat center accessible? Our retreat center is accessible by car with parking available on premises.  Ellsworth is the largest town nearby and is 30 minutes away from Rose iIght Sanctuary.  The retreat center itself is not fully wheelchair accessible. 

Can I come to the retreat if I live locally and don’t need to stay on the land? If you live locally to Sullivan, ME, and would like to participate in all activities (including meals), we offer a locals-only price of $1000. Please note that we do not offer an option without food included, as meals are a bonding experience and the food will be an important guide for the energy of our retreat. Please note that if you sign up for this option, we recommend being present for all activities, which start at 7am each morning and go into the evening.

 

Please feel free to reach out if you are interested in this retreat.

info(at)thehoneybeetemple(dot)com