This retreat is a sacred container designed for communities of color to courageously excavate what we carry- not to dwell in pain, but to awaken our connection to power, presence, and purpose. Drawing from the transformative work of The Pain We Carry by Natalie Y. Gutiérrez, LMFT, we will guide participants through practices that help illuminate how pain is held in the body, mind, spirit, and ancestral lineage- and how it can be alchemized with intention, compassion, and community.
At the heart of this retreat is the understanding that our burdens- cultural, intergenerational, personal- have shaped us, but do not define us. Through somatic awareness, internal inquiry, creative expression, and spiritual practice, we will learn to witness our pain with dignity, reclaim our stories with clarity, and renegotiate our relationship to power, belonging, and self.
what the retreat will offer
We will engage in body–mind practices that help us feel into where pain and tension live in the body, learn how trauma impacts our nervous system, and cultivate safety, grounding, and compassion within ourselves- drawing on principles from internal family system, ancestral connection, and spirit medicine.
guided writing & reflection
Using reflective prompts inspired by the book, you’ll explore:
The cultural and personal burdens you carry
How they shape your relationships with yourself and others
And what it would mean to live from your true Self with intention.
Writing becomes a tool of liberation- turning what was hidden into spoken truth and channeling creative expression
spirit work & ceremony
We will create intentional ceremonial spaces to honor our ancestors, call in guidance, and be with all present. Through altar work, meditation, rituals, we invite spiritual support into the process of unburdening and empowerment- acknowledging that healing is not just psychological, but sacred and ancestral.
circle sharing & community witnessing
Healing happens in connection. In circle, we will bear witness to each other’s stories with presence and care to create a field of support, mutual respect, and shared being. This is not only a place to “sit with pain,” but to begin transforming it.
As we enter the Year of the Horse, a time symbolizing clarity, empowerment, forward movement, and authenticity, this retreat invites you to re-root in your truth and step into your power with intention. The energy of this year supports us in cutting through what no longer serves- offering clarity in our identity, strength in our decisions, and courage in our path.
embodied activation
retreat dates and location
July 22 - 26. 2026
Casa Andes, Filandia, Colombia