Sacred Sites Journeys
COSTA RICA
Celebrate the Divine Feminine in YOU
May 16 - 23, 2009
Home | Destinations & Dates | About Us | Sign Up - Free Newsletter | Links | Contact Us
Celebrate the Divine Feminine in YOU May 16 - 23, 2009 Home | Destinations & Dates | About Us | Sign Up - Free Newsletter | Links | Contact Us |
The paradise of Mother Nature and YOU are the Sacred Sites! OTHER OFFERINGS: 
RETREAT PERSONNEL Retreat Hostess & Featured Speaker: Andrea Mikana-Pinkham Director of Sacred Sites Journeys
She is a Lady Knight Templar and the North American Grand Prioress of The International Order of Gnostic Templars, a modern-day spiritual Templar Order dedicated to the revival of the Goddess Tradition and Gnostic Wisdom. During our women's retreat Andrea will facilitate sessions to support you to access your Divine Feminine energies on a deeper level through group meditations, sacred ceremonies, rituals, and channeling sessions. As well, she will offer each participant a private tarot reading. Hostess/Host at Ama Tierra: Jill and Bob Ruttenberg
Jill Ruttenberg is a registered herbalist (AHG) who specializes in Chinese and western herbal medicine. Jill is a colleague of Dr. Andrew Weil and participated in weekly patient conferences at the program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Medical Center. She has also had the good fortune to study with some of the best herbalists and OMD's in the world, including Dr. Michael Tierra and Dr. Joel Penner. Jill is also a certified massage therapist who practices many modalities, a Hatha Yoga instructor, and writer of articles for U.S. alternative health publications. Nutritional consulting, massage and yoga classes are all available on the premises at AmaTierra. Jill will also offer our group an evening of sound healing using crystal bowls. Bob Ruttenberg comes from a career of 40 years in the music business which began the day he returned to Chicago from the Woodstock Festival of 1969. He owned two record stores in the mountains of Colorado in the 70's & 80s and since then has helped hundreds of artists become known and respected, especially in the world of jazz music. Bob's enthusiastic nature and passion for turning people on to good things now allows him to ignite the guests' love of beauty and the arts and to be the innkeeper he has always dreamed of being. He is also working on creating a jazz and world music festival in Costa Rica. Ask Bob to play you something special. You will like it.
BRIEF TOUR ITINERARY Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica. Group transfer to retreat center. PM: Introductory Group Meeting/Meditation/Opening Ceremony Dinner Day 2. Sunday, May 17. AM: Optional Yoga Class Breakfast AM: Session with Andrea - "Empower the Goddess Within" Lunch PM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea Dinner Day 3. Monday, May 18. AM: Optional Yoga Class Breakfast AM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea Lunch PM:Session with Andrea - "Message from the Kumaras - The Divine Feminine Within" Dinner Day 4. Tuesay, May 19. AM: Optional Yoga Class Breakfast Full Day at the Beach! (Includes Lunch) Dinner Day 5. Wednesday, May 20. AM: Optional Yoga Class Breakfast AM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea Lunch PM: Session with Andrea - "Deepen Your Connection with Your Intuition" Dinner Evening: Toning/Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls Day 6. Thursday, May 21. AM: Optional Yoga Class Breakfast Full Day at Turubari Tropical Park (Includes Lunch) Dinner Day 7. Friday, May 22. AM: Optional Yoga Class Breakfast AM: Free time - Hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies Optional Tarot Readings with Andrea Lunch PM: Session with Andrea - Meditation and Closing Ceremony Dinner Day 8. Saturday, May 23. Breakfast Group Transfer to the airport in San Jose TOUR ITINERARY (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner) Day 1. Saturday, May 16. (D)  This Women's Retreat is
LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your roundtrip
international flight to SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA. ARRIVAL: Please arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica by noon on Saturday, May 16, 2009 in order to connect with our group transfer to Ama Tierra Retreat Center. (Detailed instructions about how to meet Andrea and the group will be included with your final tour documents which will be sent to you about 2 weeks before the retreat.) We transfer from San Jose to the mountains east of the city, to Ama Tierra Retreat and Wellness  Center, our home for the
next seven nights. You'll feel at home in the arms of
Mother Nature, amidst the mango trees and sounds of the living forest in your simple, elegant suite. Tastefully designed with unique
decor to allow you to enjoy the serenity of your surroundings, each Suite comes with its
own jacuzzi tub, private terrace and garden with outdoor
seating. Hardwood furniture and a ceiling made of teak brings the ambience of the
forest into your room. The sleeping area has comfy beds,
ceiling fans, a refrigerator, coffee/tea maker, a phone,
complementary snacks and TV/DVD player (choose a movie, free, from over
250 in the retreat center's collection). And for any of you who feel the need to stay
connected with the outside world, there is WI-FI Wireless Internet Service.
A word from Andrea: "As
women, we are all born goddesses. By undertaking this spiritual retreat to reclaim Her
true essence, you will realize more of your Goddess Within. My goal is to support each
of you to come to know your Divine Feminine or Goddess Aspect on a more profound level.
Through meditations, rituals, ceremonies, divinatory tools, and a group channeling
session, we'll tune into the energy/voice/vision of the Goddess Herself, as She relays Her
unique and timely messages to you. It's my hope that when you leave our Women's Retreat
and return home to your life, you'll see the issues and people in it with a new
perspective - one that you will be able to use to engage your life with more of Her
qualities of Love, Allowance, Compassion, and Intuition, so that you will deepen your
spirituality and serve others in more creative and positive ways." After breakfast, we'll gather in the Yoga Studio for our morning session
facilitated by Andrea: "Empower the Goddess Within". Bring with
you any images of the Goddess that are meaningful for you. Or any sacred objects that have
come to you during your life's journey that hold the energy of the Divine Feminine for
you. We'll use these sacred items as a stepping stone to access and empower our Inner
Divine Feminine. Through meditation, She will communicate with you and reveal to you what
you most need to know in that moment about You/Her. And what your path this week will be
about. Then, during our Sharing Circle we'll support each other's paths to the same center
- the Goddess Within. Each day during free time Andrea will offer a private Tarot Reading for each member of our group. A word from Andrea: "Over the years that I've used this excellent divinatory tool, both for myself and others, the Goddess has easily and regularly revealed Herself through the intuitive awareness that the cards invoke. The readings I will offer will be a conversation between You and Your Divine Feminine, through the vehicle of the cards. Contemplate before your reading what aspect of you life you'd like to receive more clarity and guidance about. Phrase your question, open your heart to receive, and the Goddess WILL indeed speak to you!" Dinner tonight will be a time to share with your Sisters about your day, as well as to enjoy the fabulous cuisine. Day 3. Monday, May 18. (B/L/D) After breakfast, you have free time. Sit beside the pool and write in your
journal, or read. Maybe you've brought a book that's interested you, but you've put
off reading? Now's the time!
Another great opportunity this morning to ground and center during an optional Hatha Yoga Class with Jill.  After
breakfast we leave for our Full Day at the Beach! (Includes
lunch). We'll spend the day at Esterillas Oeste, a stunning Central
Pacific Coast beach, one of Costa Rica's most beautiful! Just over an hour from Ama
Tierra, it's truly a beach lover's paradise. Palm trees overhang the white, sandy beaches
and exotic Scarlet Macaws make their homes in the trees. Located in a quiet coastal
village, Esterillas Oeste, is known by locals as one of the best beach destinations in the
country. Adventure lovers will enjoy excellent surf breaks. Sun lovers can soak up the
rays. And everyone will enjoy the cool ocean breezes. The serenity will permeate your
body, mind and spirit!We'll also include a bit of Retail Therapy in the day, as we stop on the way at one of the colorful local markets. We return to the retreat center later afternoon. You have free time before our group dinner. Day 5. Wednesday, May 20. (B/L/D) Join the optional Hatha Yoga Class this morning with Jill and communicate with your body, mind and spirit. After another excellent Ama Tierra breakfast, you have free time again to hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies. Again, Andrea will be offering more of the individual Tarot Readings (as described in Day 2 above).  After lunch our afternoon Session
with Andrea is "Deepen Your Connection with Your Intuition".
In our fast-paced and often chaotic world of today, we have more and more need to open up
to our intuition and develop it. As we search for more meaning in our lives and seek to
create our dreams, following our intuition becomes a must. Developing our intuition, which
is the voice of the Goddess Within, is the pathway to manifesting all that we need and
want in our lives. Connecting with and using our intuitive abilities is our
birthright!
As a woman, you've most likely been aware for most of your life that you
had intution - that knowing, gut feeling, the unexplainable instinct about things and
people. Perhaps you had precognitive dreams as a child. Or you knew what others were
thinking and feeling, without them telling you. You just "knew" things, but
didn't know how you knew them. If you were fortunate enough to have had support from your
parents or another important adult in your life, you no doubt didn't lose contact with
that ability, but rather were encouraged to develop it. Or, if your ability was made fun
of and you were scoffed at or even shamed for demonstrating it, you no doubt shut down to
using it. And lost it. Well, not to worry. Intuition n is like a muscle and like any
muscle, the more you use it the stronger it becomes. In our session this afternoon,
through using various exercises, Andrea will guide you to access and strengthen
your connection with your own intuitive abilities. (Photo Credit: Rekha Krishnan)"The only real valuable thing is intuition." - Albert Einstein "It is always with excitement that I wake up in the morning wondering what my intuition will toss up to me, like gifts from the sea. I work with it and rely on it. It's my partner." Dr. Jonas Salk "There is no instinct like that of the heart." - Lord Byron "Cease trying to work everything out with your minds. It will get
you nowhere. Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be Revelation."
- Eileen Caddy
Day 6. Thursday, May 21. (B/L/D) Your optional Hatha Yoga Class this morning with Jill will prepare you for a day of adventure on all levels!   After breakfast we're off to nearby Turubari Tropical Eco-Park
(Includes lunch), the most complete tropical park in America, a fresh destination with
unspoiled natural environment and a commitment to sustainable tourism. High above the Rainforest
and only 15 minutes from AmaTierra, in the village of San Juan de Mata at Turrubares,
Turubari is one of the biggest parks in Central America, set amongst 595 acres of
breathtaking, unspoilt grounds.
We'll learn about Costa Rica’s natural history and discover some of the most amazing and diverse wildlife species in the world. We'll hear some of the over 150 species of birds singing throughout the forest, and observe a wonderful array of flora, including orchids, palms, cactus, bamboo, bromeliads and ancient trees. We can stroll through the tropical garden and see unique botanical collections; discover the butterfly, orchid and bromeliad gardens as well as the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, which is recognized for its large crocodile population. We can view the park from the Turubari Sky Ride, an aerial tramway that offers spectacular views of the park at 265 feet, suspended high above the rain forest canopy. Or, the Sensational Cable tour, which takes you on a mile-long journey through the forest at a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour and a height of 315 feet. Or, if you're feeling especially adventurous today, you can choose one of three different options for "zipline" (optional), an exhilarating experience of flying over the canopy of trees, safely. Turubari is known to have the best canopy tours in all of Costa Rica. We return to our retreat center later in the afternoon. Take a bit of time to rest and integrate before dinner. We have so much to share about our adventures today! Day 7. Friday, May 22. (B/L/D) After breakfast, you have free time again to enjoy any of the retreat center's
activities that you've not yet enjoyed: hike the trails at the retreat center, relax at
the pool, and/or enjoy wellness therapies. Let's take time at dinner this evening not only to enjoy our last meal together,
but as well to share our Attitudes of Gratitude for what we've received
during our time as Goddesses in Paradise - the new insights, growth and
blessings that we'll be taking home with us to make our lives fuller, deeper, juicer and
more in alignment with the path of our Divine Feminine. Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control. RETREAT INCLUSIONS Your Sacred Sites Journey Women's Retreat to COSTA RICA Includes: - Roundtrip group transfer from airport in San Jose to retreat center - Seven nights lodging, double occupancy, in a room with 2 beds and a private bath (IMPORTANT: A few single rooms are available, so if you want your own space for the retreat, please book as early as possible.) - Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily - Motorcoach transportation for all tour activities - Sightseeing as per the itinerary, including entrance fees - Pre-Paid Gratuities NOT INCLUDED: - Roundtrip international air to San Jose, Costa Rica - Cost to obtain valid passport - Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls. - Any item that is not specifically detailed on the Sacred Sites Journeys website, in the retreat brochure or final trip itinerary
RETREAT PRICING This Women's Retreat is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your roundtrip international flight to SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA. ARRIVAL: Please arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica by mid-afternoon on Saturday, May 16, 2009 in order to connect with our group transfer to Ama Tierra Retreat Center. . DEPARTURE - Please book your international return flight on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from San Jose to depart after noon. 
DISCOUNT!
Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 3% discount! This discount
is INCLUDED in the prices below listed for this payment option. COSTA RICA WOMEN'S RETREAT (May 16 - 23, 2009): Per Person, double occupancy, land only $1,699.00 for payments via check or money order OR $1,752.00 for payments via credit card Plus Pre-paid Gratuities: $80.00 for payments via check or money order OR $82.00 for payments via credit card Single Room Supplement: NOTE: This is the additional amount you will pay if you choose to have your own private room throughout the retreat. The number of single rooms for this Women's Retreat is very limited, so if you want your own room, please book early! $249.00 for payments via check or money order OR $257.00 for payments via credit card ROOMMATES: Would you like to meet and make a new friend during your women’s retreat? If you're not traveling with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so. Per our Terms and Conditions, we will hold the registration for the trip open until 30 days before the retreat begins (or later if possible) in order to try to match you with someone. If by that date we have not been able to do so, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please register early.
To request a registration form for this Sacred Sites Journey to COSTA RICA, email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com or SSJourneys@aol.com at 888 501-3853 This Women's Retreat is open to the first 15 women to register. Please invite your Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, or any other women in your family to share this awesome Women's Retreat with you! (Ages 16 and over please) We encourage you to reserve your space early! Registration closes April 18, 2009, or sooner if the tour fills before that date. Back to top |
To
contact our webmaster, click here.
Web Maintenance provided by RubyRingTech.com
Updated 01/05/09
Copyright Sacred Sites Journeys 2008, 2009
The local
cooks serve up
delicious dishes made with fresh fish (mahi-mahi, talapia, shrimp and corvina, or sea bass
are commonly offered), chicken dishes (orange/mango chicken with coriander, served with
brown and wild rice is one favorite) or occasional red meat dishes ("typical"
picadillo made with green papaya and pork, or Iraqi meatballs in a delectable sweet and
tangy sauce). They also easily accommodate vegetarian diets with such dishes as Spinach
Risotto and Vegetarian Thai Curry over rice.
flow more freely and easily,
thus allowing for better integration of the transformation you're inviting into your
Beingness. 
This morning is your
last opportunity to attend an optional Hatha Yoga Class with Jill.