Venice, Italy
12th - 17th October, 2027
A retreat for professional women, held in the waking-dream of Venice, Italy. Find your self again.
The Sovereign Women’s Retreat will gather in October 2027 at my favorite city in the world.
I’ve been dreaming about bringing women to Venice for a long time. There’s something about this city that slows you down and makes you focus whether you want it to or not. There are no cars, just boats. No rushing to the next thing, just water reflecting the light and sky. Narrow little streets that seem to lead you exactly where you need to be, even when you’re lost. Especially when you’re lost! In Venice, being lost is part of the plan.
This retreat is for the woman who holds everything together. The one running the business, leading the team, looking after the family, and somehow still remembering everyone’s birthday. You’re capable, you’re brilliant, and you’re tired in a way that needs more than just a weekend off.
Somewhere along the way, a lot of us stop asking what we want. We get very good at being who everyone needs us to be. This retreat is a chance to step out of all of that for a few days and come back to yourself.
A Journey of Self-Discovery, Empowerment, and Reclamation
In the fast-paced flow of daily life, it’s easy to lose touch with our truest selves. The Sovereign Women’s Retreat invites you to step away from the noise and into a sacred space, where you can reconnect with your deeper purpose and reclaim your sovereignty.
Sovereign Women’s Retreat
An Exciting Journey of Self-Discovery, Empowerment, and Reclamation
In the movement of daily life, it can be easy to lose contact with your deeper voice. The Sovereign Women’s Retreat invites you to step away from urgency and into a held space where reflection, rest, and reconnection become possible.
Each year, Sovereign gathers on meaningful land. We've met at the King's old estate in Wales. At Glen Dye, Scotland’s ancient forests, rivers, and wide moorland. At these retreats, I want time to feel slower and more intentioned.
Together, we talk through a guided journey of where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you’re heading next.
Through ritual, gentle movement, ceremony, nature immersion, and energy work, this retreat supports you to:
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Reconnect with your inner wisdom and intuition
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Embrace and reclaim your Queen energy
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Learn tools to navigate hormonal shifts with greater ease
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Envision your future with renewed clarity and confidence
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Deepen your relationship with the natural world
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Build meaningful relationships within a supportive community of women
The Sovereign Retreat offers sacred annual space for growth, discovery, and celebration, designed to help you step into this life chapter with strength, clarity, and quiet confidence.
Reviews from 2025 Participants
"The pace of the retreat was beautifully timed which allowed my nervous system to release. The therapies helped and brought a deep sense of grounding. I enjoyed the daily yoga, and the full moon ceremony in cloaks! The drum making reawakened my creative side. And banging the drums together was magical."
"Dr. Blake brings wisdom, warmth, and deep spiritual grounding to her work. Her approach is both scientific and intuitive, which made the sessions fascinating. The information on inflammation and the role of amino acids in emotional balance was a highlight. Although some of the language and concepts were new to me, the resources and explanations helped. I would have loved more time to explore her teachings."
"This retreat is ideal for women navigating peri- and post-menopause, especially those ready to reframe what this transition can mean. It offers a nurturing expansive and safe space amongst spiritually curious open-hearted women. The environment encourages rest, curiosity, and self-discovery guided by Dr. Blake and the wider team's presence."
"The biggest takeaway is for me were the healing power of sacred land and the time with nature. I also left with inspiration, enthusiasm, and curiosity about the next chapter in my life."
"Learning with Dr. Blake is a really fun and joyful process! April inspires me to grow and reflect, and to create a more beautiful, healthy, joyful, meaningful and laughter-filled life."
"This retreat was a gentle and immersive experience of healthy, joyful, living. A meaningful and beautiful experience of sisterhood and rejuvenation!"
Gather Together
Sovereign Women’s Retreat
If you’ve been feeling disconnected or uncertain about the next phase of your life, this retreat offers you the space to heal, reflect, and dream anew. It’s a chance to pause, to listen, and to consciously step into a new chapter, grounded in the fullness of who you are.
Sample Retreat Schedule
Retreat Rhythm
Each Sovereign retreat is it's own entity, and carries its own energy, yet certain constants remain.
You can expect:
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Daily gentle movement and grounding practices
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Teaching sessions that blend science, lived experience, and reflection
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Time in nature through forest bathing, walking, and quiet exploration
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Creative workshops that invite expression and curiosity
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Individual energy sessions
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Ceremony aligned with seasonal and lunar rhythms
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Nourishing meals and meaningful conversation
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Spacious time for rest and integration
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All dietary needs and restrictions will be accounted for! (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Allium Free, Etc.)
Optional experiences may include sauna and cold immersion, art-making, gentle adventure, and playful opportunities to explore strength and resilience in new ways.
The intention is not to fill every moment, but to create a rhythm that allows depth, connection, and spaciousness.
From the Wales retreat:
Friday
Arrival after 3pm
5:30pm Tea Mandala: Each participant will lay out an herb of their choice to create a beautiful mandala with intention
6pm Dinner
Saturday
7:30-8:30- Yoga
9-10 - Breakfast
10:00 Meditation, check in
11-12:00 Learning session 1: Know Thyself: Delve into your personal timeline, uncover the story behind your wellness journey
12:30 Lunch
2-3:30 Drum making part I
3:30-6pm Break - Individual Bi Aura Energy Sessions + Magnet Therapy
6:00 Dinner
Sunday
7:30-8:30- Yoga
9-10 - Breakfast
10:00 Meditation, check in
11-12 Drum making part II with Dr Blake + Jill
12:30 Lunch
2-3:30 - Learning session 2: Getting in Sync: Hormone health and Circadian rhythms
3:30 Break - Individual Bi Aura Energy Sessions + Magnet Therapy
6pm Dinner
Monday - Full Moon Ceremony Day
7:30-8:30: Yoga
9-10 - Breakfast
10:00 Meditation, check in
11-12 Teaching session 3: Beginning with the end in mind: Learn the foundational nutrition habits that set you up for lasting success
12:15 break
12:30-1:30 Teaching session 4 - Nourish to Flourish: Eating for mood and mental wellness
1:30 - Lunch
2:30 - Moon ceremony preparation
3pm - 6pm - Break Individual Bi Aura Energy Sessions + Magnet Therapy
Journaling prompts:
What would it feel like + look like in your life to be more empowered?
What are your desires for your life?
What do you want to release?
6pm Dinner
8pm Moon Ceremony
Tuesday, Excursion Day
10:00am - Leave / 10:30am - Excursion
10:00 - Drive to Lady of the Lake with a Hike in Nature
1pm - Lunch out
3pm - Local Museum + crystal shop after lunch
6pm Final Dinner
Wednesday, Departure Day
9-10 Breakfast
Meet the Retreat Team
Meet Dr. April, Retreat Leader
As the leader and host of our retreat, Dr. April Blake ND, LM brings over 16 years of experience helping people uncover the root causes of their health concerns and return to vibrant wellness. Trained in naturopathic medicine and midwifery, April weaves together natural therapies, botanical medicine, nutritional guidance, and compassionate listening to support deep, lasting change. Her approach is grounded in the belief that joy is a powerful elixir for healing and that the body has an innate ability to restore itself when given the right tools. At the retreat, April will guide our days with warmth, insight, and a deep commitment to helping each guest leave feeling nourished, empowered, and more connected to their own inner vitality.
Meet Lorna
Lorna is a gifted energy therapist with over a decade of experience helping people release blockages and reconnect with their natural flow of vitality. Trained in Bio-Energy Therapy, Reiki, and holistic massage, she brings a deeply intuitive, compassionate approach to her work—meeting each person exactly where they are.
At the retreat, Lorna will guide gentle yet powerful energy sessions designed to help you let go of what’s been weighing you down, restore balance to your mind and body, and open space for fresh clarity and joy to emerge. Her presence is grounding, her touch is healing, and her work often feels like a doorway back to yourself.
Meet Jill
Jill will be guiding us through a beautiful and immersive drum-making ceremony—an experience she learned from a Celtic shaman and now shares with deep reverence and joy. Together, we’ll craft our own sacred drums, each one a unique reflection of its maker, while learning about the traditions and symbolism woven into this ancient art. Jill’s warm spirit and intuitive guidance create a safe, creative space where the process of making becomes as meaningful as the finished drum itself—a keepsake you’ll take home and a powerful tool for your ongoing personal journey. Outside of her work with sacred arts, Jill is also a skilled Biomagnetic Pair therapist, supporting physical and emotional wellbeing through this gentle, holistic practice.
Meet Claire
Claire brings over 25 years of experience as a yoga teacher, healer, and complementary therapist, and has guided students all over the world—from London to Thailand to the Bahamas. Her approach is gentle yet deeply restorative, weaving together yoga, aromatherapy, massage, and mindfulness to help you return to balance in mind, body, and spirit.
At the retreat, Claire will create a safe and nurturing space where you can slow down, reconnect with yourself, and explore practices that leave you feeling grounded, open, and renewed. Her sessions are accessible for all levels and are designed to give you tools you can carry home—long after our time together ends.