Reconnect with Your Inner Magic
Are you ready to deepen your connection with the natural world and rediscover your inner magic? Join bestselling duo Fiona Cook and Jessica Roux, creators of The Wheel of the Year, for a transformative weekend of creativity, mindfulness, and nature-inspired discovery. Through guided practices, interactive activities, and reflective exercises, you’ll awaken a sense of wonder and harmony with the universe. Together, we’ll explore how aligning with nature’s cycles can unlock your creativity, restore inner calm, and spark lasting joy.
Recommended (but not required) reading:
The Wheel of the Year by Fiona Cook and Jessica Roux.
Reserve Your Spot Now
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Retreat Benefits
Deepen Connection with Nature
Cultivate mindfulness and engage more deeply with the beauty and rhythms of the natural world
Rediscover Joy & Curiosity
Rekindle a childlike sense of wonder as you explore and respond to the magic around you.
Enhance Inner Calm
Experience grounding and presence through mindful practices like meditation and nature walks.
Refine Intuition
Build deeper trust in yourself by engaging in dialogue with the natural world.
Ignite Creativity
Explore journaling, art-making, poetry, and rituals to express yourself in new, meaningful ways.
Newfound Friends
Share reflections and creations in a supportive community that fosters growth and inspiration.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Are you ready to transform your perspective and unlock your creative magic?
Discover True Harmony & Fulfillment
1. Daily Oracle Card Draws
Infuse each day with grounding inspiration and guidance from nature-themed oracle cards.
2. Experiential Creative Practices
Explore drawing, painting, and nature-inspired prompts that spark observation, reflection, and imaginative expression.
3. Sensory Scavenger Hunt
Hone your skills of deep listening and observation through a playful, multi-sensory exploration of the outdoors.
4. Collaborative Altar Creation
Build an ephemeral altar using natural objects, symbolizing community and reciprocity with nature.
5. Nature Walk Meditation
Engage your senses in a revitalizing walking meditation that connects you with the flora and fauna of the area.
Reserve Your Spot Now
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Transforming Lives
Presenter
Fiona Cook
Fiona Cook is a Chicago-based writer, home health care worker, community gardener, and mother of two who weaves the wonder of nature into her storytelling. Her debut book, The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms, created with illustrator Jessica Roux, became a New York Times bestseller, a 2025 Illinois Reads selection, and a Kirkus Best Book of 2023 for middle-grade readers. …
Jessica Roux
Jessica Roux is a bestselling illustrator, author, and gardener celebrated for capturing the timeless beauty of nature through her art. She is the creator of Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers, the Woodland Wardens Oracle Deck & Guidebook, and Ornithography: An Illustrated Guide to Bird Lore & Symbolism. Her enchanting illustrations are featured in several children’s books, including the New York Times bestseller The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms. …
The Wheel of the Year
This experiential retreat offers a well-balanced schedule that combines structured educational sessions with flexible time blocks – ensuring you have ample opportunity to engage in learning while also allowing personal time to explore the retreat center, participate in activities, and enjoy moments of reflection and relaxation.
(Program schedule subject to change.)
Check-in Begins
4:00 pm
Dinner
6:00–7:00 pm
Property Orientation
7:00–7:20 pm
Session 1
7:30–9:00 pm
Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am
Session 2
9:30 am–12:30 pm
Lunch
12:30–1:30 pm
Session 3
2:00–4:00 pm
Free Time
4:00–6:00 pm
Dinner
6:00–7:00 pm
Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am
Session 4
9:00 am–1:00 pm
Room Checkout
11:00 am
Luggage may be held at Reception.
Lunch
12:00–1:30 pm
Session 1
The Secret of the Breath
7:30–9:30 pm
Morning Yoga
7:30–8:30 am
Session 3
The Rhythms of Life
10:00 am–1:00 pm
Session 4
Deepening Our Experience
5:15–6:30 pm
Morning Yoga
7:30–8:30 am
New Start: Home Practice
10:00 am–1:00 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am • Lunch: 12:00–1:30 pm • Dinner: 6:00–7:30 pm
Optional activities include
Yoga • Meditation • Kirtan • Bonfire • Labyrinth • Nature Trails
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Extend your Stay and Don't Miss a Thing
Add a day to enjoy R&R activities!
Free activities include
Interactive Nature Hikes
Cooking Demos
Meditation & Movement Classes
Wellness Workshops
Paid activities include
Pottery Classes
Ayurvedic Wellness & Healing Arts Treatments
Nourish Your Body
Take your rejuvenation to another level with a soothing Ayurvedic treatment.
Call to check availability during Shankara business hours:
Wednesday 11:00 am–8:00 pm
Thursday–Saturday 9:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am–2:00 pm
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.