matriarch retreat

crete, greece

june 28 to july 3, 2027

five nights in a private villa by the sea in crete, for women ready to rest, gather, and remember where they come from.
up to 8 women · every meal included · $4,400 private · $3,400 shared

somewhere along the way, we stopped setting extra places at the table. fewer of us have friends over. more of us eat alone. we carry everything by ourselves and call it independence.

when i look back at the moments that cracked my life wide open, almost none of them happened alone. they happened at summer camp and on long car rides with my cousins, laughing until our stomachs hurt and staying up far too late telling each other the truth. something about leaving ordinary life behind, held by a group, lets us remember who we actually are.

the matriarch retreat is five days to remember together. every woman comes from a long line of women: mothers, grandmothers, and the ones whose names we never learned. their strength lives in us, and so does what they had to carry. we'll gather in a villa by the sea to rest, move, swim, cook, and honor the women who carried us here.

my family's roots are greek, and this land keeps calling me back. i can't wait to share it with you.

what the days hold

each day has two gatherings, one in the morning and one in the evening. through them we'll move through somatic practices, practices to connect as a community, and practices to connect with yourself. the rest of the day is yours.

additionally~

• a welcome dinner on our first night

• a cooking class with allegra dagostini

• two long lunches at local tavernas

• a closing night we'll keep as a surprise

morning

a light breakfast, then our morning gathering with movement and circle.

afternoon

slow and open. swim in the pool, walk to the beach, nap, journal, or wander the village.

evening

our evening gathering, then dinner together around a long table.

where we’ll stay

we'll have a private villa to ourselves in skaleta, a seaside village just east of rethymno.

  • a private pool with sun loungers, and a firepit for evenings outside

  • sea and mountain views

  • a sandy beach about 160 m away, and a village taverna a short walk down the road

  • five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and air conditioning

  • a long dining table for gathering, indoors and under the pergola

  • fresh linens, towels, and housekeeping every three days

rooms and pricing~

the retreat is limited to 8 women. every bedroom has its own bathroom and air conditioning.

private king rooms available $4,400

king bed and bathroom all to yourself

shared single beds; shared with one other woman $3,400

shared room with single bed and shared bathroom

what’s included.

there are only two private rooms, and they go to the first women who book them.

payment plans are available. just ask.

what's included

  • 5 nights in a private beachside villa

  • every meal, from our welcome dinner to our farewell breakfast: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches (two at the villa, two at local tavernas), and 5 dinners, cooked by our private chef

  • a cretan cooking class

  • a visit to an olive grove with an olive oil tasting

  • all retreat gatherings and practices

  • housekeeping and fresh linens every three days

what's not included

  • flights and airport transfers

  • travel insurance (strongly recommended)

  • wine and other drinks beyond what's served with meals

  • personal extras, like massage or outings on your own

the food.

allegra d'agostini is a chef and culinary artist working between london and toronto. her practice explores the intersection of food, visuals, and the natural world, approaching each project with a deep sense of intention and material sensitivity. through her work, edible ingredients become a medium for storytelling and shared experience.

drawing on over seven years cooking in leading kitchens across europe and north america, including restaurant pearl morissette and violet cakes, allegra works intuitively with the flavour, texture, and form of ingredients.

our meals are cooked by allegra d'agostini, a chef, culinary artist, and dear friend. she'll shop the local markets and cook with what crete does best: olive oil, wild greens, fresh cheese, honey, and fish from the sea.

we'll share breakfast and dinner at the villa, two lunches by allegra, and two long lunches out at village tavernas. one afternoon, allegra will teach us to cook a cretan meal together.

you'll share any dietary needs or allergies on your registration form, and allegra will plan around them.

your host.

olivia lehman is a therapist and retreat leader based in seattle. her life's work is helping people return to their bodies and trust the wisdom living there.

she grew up in indiana, with greek roots that still pull her back across the ocean. her path ran through yoga teacher training, doula work, body psychotherapy, and a master's in counseling psychology. today she sees clients in a small studio on the docks of seattle's lake union, where she also hosts a monthly gathering for women, the matriarch circle.

she has led several women's retreats, and is happiest when a small circle of women gathers somewhere beautiful.

“Olivia's ability to hold space and be present is a true rarity. The patient and embracing container she created allowed me to feel heard and seen, as well as to participate as felt good to me. We seemed to bend time together as we found stillness, and shared, and were simply WITH each other. What a gift!”

Recent participant

“Olivia is truly skilled at creating spaces that are welcoming, comfortable, and moving. From the venue, to the food, activities, and music, every detail of the retreat was curated with intention. I appreciate the care and humor she used throughout. She transformed what could be an intimidating experience into a fun, impactful, and reflective time.”

Kellen

how to book.

  1. choose your room and fill out the registration form

2. pay a $1,000 non-refundable deposit to hold your bed.

**rooms are assigned in the order deposits come in, so the two private king rooms go to the first women who book them.

cancellations

  • cancel before march 28, 2027: everything you've paid is refunded, except your deposit.

  • cancel on or after march 28, 2027: payments can't be refunded, but you're welcome to transfer your spot to another woman.

  • if the retreat doesn't reach its minimum of 5 women by march 28, 2027, i'll cancel it and refund everything you've paid, deposit included.

  • we strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.

3. pay your balance by march 28, 2027. payment plans are available. just ask.

faq’s

  • yes. most women come solo, and the group is small on purpose. you'll arrive knowing one person and leave knowing seven.

  • share them on your registration form, and allegra will plan around them.

  • you'll get a packing list closer to the retreat.

  • yes, on your own before or after the retreat dates. the villa is ours from june 28 to july 3.

questions?

send me a note: hello@olivia-lehman.com

eight women. five nights. one long table by the sea.