Program Overview
Earth Women is a transformational journey and a sacred passage for 8 women who are ready to awaken and deepen their relationships with the Earth, our Bodies and Sisterhood.
Our intention is to co-create and build a web of diverse women to collectively explore the depths of our hearts and our return to the Wild.
Earth Women is a 6-Month Container, divided into 4 Retreats: an Opening Ceremony in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a 4-day Backpacking Trip in Big Sur, a 5-day Wilderness Retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains (includes a 24-hr Solo Nature Immersion), and a Closing Ceremony in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Between retreats, we meet for Zoom council calls, as well as offer you "Nature Homeplay" to complete on your own and/or with participants.
Our Retreats include Night Hikes, Day-long Wild Adventures, Backpacking, Ecstatic Dances, Song Circles, Fire Circles, Ancestral Skills, Earth Medicine Walks, Earth-Based Ceremonies, The Way of Council, One 24hr Solo Nature Immersion & More!
Earth Women is for you if you are ready for:
A Place of Belonging
Sisterhood
Deeper Self-Love
Becoming a Well Nourished Woman
Building Relationship with the Feminine
Connection with the Earth & Spirit
Strengthening Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Connections
Understanding Your Body's Wisdom
Learning Ancestral Knowledge
Meeting Your Edges
Change & Transformation
Awakening
Self- Confidence & Empowerment
Alignment with Your Soul's Calling
Learning How to Listen & Share from Your Heart
Support from Elders
Mentorship & Guidance
"Earth Women is coming home to myself by opening my heart to the Earth. Held so sweetly in loving, caring supportive community- it allowed my self to unravel and my heart to open more fully. I deepened my connection with mama nature, learned to listen to her wisdom, and learned to listen to my own wisdom. I accessed healing so deep and profound that I will carry in my heart always. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
— Jules
"Earth Women is a sacred space and rite of passage for beings who are longing to come home to their body and the earth. We co-create potent, healing, intentional space through play, song, dance, wonder, wandering, heartfelt sharing, practicing reciprocity with the land, and so many more beautiful & transformative & nourishing experiences."
— Jane
What you will experience at Earth Women:
• Dance Journeys
• Nature-Connection
• Embodiment Practices
• Earth Medicine Walks
• Sacred Silence
• 24hr Solo in Nature
• Allyship & Support
• Earth-based Rituals & Ceremony
• Camping, Hiking & Backpacking
• Nourishment
• Sacred Fire Circles
• Plant Connections
• Mindfulness & Meditation
• Self-Care & Self-Love Practices
• Deep Listening & Sharing Circles
• Council Practice
• Ancestral Skill Sharing
• Learning the Four Directions as a Life Map
• Confidence Being Alone in Nature
• Singing Circles
• PLAY & PRAY
Itinerary
Earth Women 2024 Official Program Itinerary:
April 2024 – November 2024
Opening Ceremony
@ Wilder Ranch State Park
Sunday April 28th (Full Day)
Backpacking Retreat
@ Ventana Wilderness, Big Sur
Friday 5/24 - Monday 5/27
Journey into the Wild
4-night, 5-day Earth Women Retreat
@ Private land in Santa Cruz Mountains
Includes a 24hr Solo Nature Immersion
Thursday 8/29 - Monday 9/2
Closing Ceremony
@ Wilder Ranch State Park
Sunday November 17th (Full Day)
Zoom Council Calls
5 Calls: May, July, August, October, January
Exact Dates/Times TBA
Nature Homeplay
Dates/Times TBA
Sample Retreat Itinerary
"Journey into the Wild"
5-day, 4-night Earth Women Retreat
@ Private land in Santa Cruz Mountains
Thursday 8/29 – Monday 9/2
Arrival Thursday 8/29
12-2pm: Arrival at the Land
2pm: Opening Circle Ritual & Connection Activity
4pm: Dance
6:30pm: DINNER
7:30pm: Fire Council & Music
Sample Full Day Schedule
8am: BREAKFAST
9am - 10:30: Movement Practice
11-1pm: Morning Group Activity
1pm: LUNCH
2:30pm - 6pm: Nature Connection Activity
6:30pm: DINNER
8pm: Ritual Fire & Council
Departure Sunday 9/2
8am BREAKFAST
9am - 10:00: Movement Practice
10:30: Closing Ceremony
12pm: Lunch
2pm: Head Home
"To be part of Earth Women felt like coming home to a familiar place I had never been before.
I learned that I have the power to make a difference in myself and in my community. I was given tools I didn't know I needed, and shown how to use them.
Earth Women is acceptance & love."
— Maya
"Earth Women is a beautiful journey that invites you deeper into connection with self and with sisters through practicing being in deep relationship with Mother Earth. This journey is beautiful, soul nourishing medicine."
— Emily
Your Guides
Ariana Evelyn Kaback & Deanna Renee Falge
Deanna
Nature-Connected Coach, Backpacking Guide, Wilderness Transformation & Rites of Passage Guide
Deanna is a passionate guide, Earth steward and dancer. She believes that our bodies and the Earth are inseparable, and that by developing a loving relationship with both of them, we can live a meaningful, connected and healthy life. Through her transformational experiences in nature, she has developed a relationship with the Earth that has served as an essential anchor for navigating her life and soul's purpose. She wants everyone to have this same opportunity.
Deanna has formal education in Biological Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, and is a certified Professional Life Coach, Transformational Wilderness Guide, Wilderness First Responder, Backpacking Guide, Embodiment Facilitator and DJ. She has years of training and experience in somatic therapy, outdoor education, rites of passage, vision fast ceremonies, wilderness survival, community building, mindfulness, dance, embodiment facilitation, and being a human. When she is not guiding, Deanna loves to play in the ocean, surf, dance, climb oak trees, play music, tend fires, talk to plants, and drink cacao!
Ari
Rites of Passage Guide, Backpacking Guide, Birth & Postpartum Doula & Chef
Ariana is a certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Chef, Wilderness Guide, Body Worker, & Rites of Passage Facilitator. She has dedicated her life to supporting women’s transformations and initiations into motherhood, adulthood & womanhood.
Ariana is a Nature lover. She is here to empower women to connect to their own inner knowing, innate wisdom, and body intelligence to lead a life of love for themselves, the Earth, and their communities. Ariana bridges a connection between Earth, Body, and Spirit and uses nature as her guide to support others. She founded Hummingbirth Doula and has a blooming practice in Santa Cruz.
Ariana also has a degree in Outdoor Education and Holistic Health from San Francisco State University. She is trained in nonviolent communication, is a Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid. For many years, Ariana has studied meditation, yoga, council facilitation, the art of play, dance, and feminine embodiment practices.
Ariana loves to hike, dance, sit in circle, commune with the Earth, swim in the ocean, travel, share songs, and be among great women and men.
Guest Guides & Elders
We will be joined by guest guides and an elder who will offer additional support throughout our journey!
BIOS COMING SOON!
Registration & Tuition
Donation-based Tuition:
$0-$2,000
(Security Deposit: $250)
We are excited to announce that Earth Women 2024 is a donation-based program.
It is our prayer that this program can be accessible to all. Please take an honest look at your own financial position and please donate that which you can afford. This helps support Deanna and Ari and the time, hard work and commitment it takes to offer a program like this.
That being said, we would like all donations to be made at the end of our program in November – after you have thoroughly gone through the program and are able to give from that place of fullness. We ask that everyone pays a $250 deposit up front to secure your spot and cover your costs of food for the retreats.
Applications are open through March 25th.
Women will be notified of acceptance into the program by April 1st.
What's Included:
• 5-day, 4-night August Retreat on private land
in the Santa Cruz Mountains
• May 4-day, 3-night Backpacking Retreat
• November Closing Retreat
• April Opening Retreat
• 24hr Solo Nature Immersion
• Guided Hikes
• Day-time Outdoor Adventures
• Dance Journeys
• Council & Sharing Circles
• Earth Medicine Walks
• Monthly Nature & Embodiment "Home-Play"
• Embodiment Facilitation
• All Meals at Backpacking & 5-Day Retreat
• Cooking/Kitchen Supplies at Retreats
• One-on-One & Group Support
• Two experienced guides supporting you every step of the journey
• Guest mentors and elders for additional support
• Life-long friendships
• The journey of a lifetime
What's Not Included:
• Travel to-and-from locations
(we will help coordinate carpools)
• Camping gear, such as tent, pad, bag, etc.
(however, we will supply cooking/kitchen
gear, and we can help you find any other gear that you need)
Please Contact Us with any questions!
We are so excited for this journey with you!
With love & gratitude,
Deanna & Ari