4-Day Intensive Retreats

Any Aphrodite-person aged 18 or older may attend our retreats. Membership in the Temple of Aphrodite Asteria is not required.

We expect all retreat attendees to treat the people and facilities with mutual respect and kindness. This includes using non-violent communication, cleaning up after ourselves, asking for consent before touching another person or their belongings, etc. 

Please be aware that admission may be revoked by the Temple or by Driftwood due to bad behavior, at the sole discretion of the retreat facilitator(s) and hosts.  

When you purchase admission to one of our retreats, all of the following are included in that cost:

• all of the retreat activities, circles, rituals, and experiences

• access to limited, onsite camping space -- room for your tent

• access to Driftwood common areas, including restroom, shower, kitchenette, game room, spacious deck overlooking the Ohio River, and our riverside ritual grounds

• the following meals: refreshments/nightcap on Thursday evening; breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and nightcaps on Friday and Saturday; brunch on Sunday

• swag bag (which typically includes: retreat journal, re-useable water bottle, and other assorted goodies)

The purpose of all retreats is to disconnect  from daily concerns and sink deeply into a chosen area of focus. We encourage retreat-attendees to be mindful of both the group's intention and their own personal intentions throughout the experience. 

Our group intention for each retreat is: "to immerse ourselves in Aphrodite's Mysteries"

All of our retreats have a specific theme (which you can see in the listings above), and they all follow a general schedule, as follows:

Thursday
12pm - 7pm - arrival; check-in; settling in
8-9pm - Nightcap/Social Hour (wine, cocktails, mocktails, treats)

Friday
9-10am - Continental Breakfast
10am-12pm - Circle 1: The Call to Adventure
12-1pm - Lunch (salad, soup, sandwich)
1-3pm - Circle 2: Supernatural Aid
3-5pm - Personal Reflection/Private Mentoring
5-6pm - Dinner (salad, entree, bread)
6-8pm - Circle 3: Threshold Guardian
8-9pm - Nightcap

Saturday
9-10am - Continental Breakfast
10am-12pm - Circle 4: The Lover/Rival
12-1pm - Lunch (salad, soup, sandwich)
1-3pm - Circle 5: Apotheosis
3-5pm - Personal Reflection/Private Mentoring
5-6pm - Dinner (salad, entree, bread)
6-8pm - Circle 6: Integration
8-9pm - Nightcap

Sunday
9-11am - Circle 7: The Return
11am-12pm - Brunch & Farewell
12-4pm - Checkout & Departure

Laurelei will be available (by pre-arrangement only) to offer 1:1 mentoring with four individuals during the retreat. Two 30-minute sessions will be offered on Friday, with another two offered on Saturday. These are opportunities for interested attendees to seek individualized guidance, feedback, and support from Laurelei. When you register for the retreat, you will be offered the opportunity to add this experience for an additional $75. Space is limited to four individuals and is available on a first-come basis.

Driftwood Tiny Retreats is owned by Laurelei and her husband, Joe. In 2022, they manifested their dream of purchasing a plot of land where they could build a tiny house -- two tiny houses, actually, and a GIANT private deck. The couple lives in one house, and the other was designed as "guest space." 

This retreat house features a 4-sleeper suite with a bedroom with queen bed, sitting room with full-size futon and private 3/4 bath; a second, divided bathroom (in which the shower and toilet are accessed separately from the deck); a "clubhouse" suite featuring a kitchenette, gaming/dining table, sitting area, and multimedia center; massive, private deck with a gorgeous view of the Ohio River; riverside ritual/bonfire/play area; and several small, primitive camping spots.

The Clubhouse, deck, divided bath, and camping spaces are available for the use of all retreat attendees throughout their stay, at no additional charge. 

Coffee and hot water for tea (as well as cold, filtered water) are available all day in the Clubhouse.

Yes. During retreats, the sleeping spaces in the 4-sleeper suite are available for rental at the following rates for the weekend: 

• standard queen-sized bed - $225 (for all four days/three nights)

• futon queen-sized bed - $175 (for all four days/three nights)

 An attendee who wanted the entire suite to themselves would pay $400 for the weekend; whereas an attendee who wanted one of the beds to themselves would pay either $225 or $175. Friends who are comfortable sharing the bed could split the cost of the bed.

The two rooms are connected in this suite, with the ensuite bathroom being accessible from the sitting room. 

Bed linens and towels are provided for all occupants.

When you register for the retreat, you will be given the option to upgrade your ticket to include one or both of these beds (on a first-come basis.)

Plan for a cozy camping experience at Driftwood. All of our camping spots are tucked-in close the to retreat house, but rest assured that there is room for your tent and a camp-chair and -table set-up, if like.

All of our spots are "primitive," meaning that you won't have power or water available within reach of your tent. Luckily, the retreat house is available to you all weekend-long to charge your phone, grab a snack, fill a tea kettle, etc.

Retreat-campers aren't permitted to start first in their camping areas, due to the size limitations of our space. Fortunately, all meals are included (so you don't NEED to cook at your campsite), and there is a Fire Shrine with campfire sitting area close to the deck. 

You may also set-up and use a camp-stove outside of your tent, if there are camp comforts that you don't want to live without. 

Of course! Driftwood is located very close to all of the hotels, traditional bed & breakfasts, and Airbnb's in Madison, Indiana. You'll want to make sure that you're back at Driftwood in the morning prior to the first Circle of the day, but you are welcome to stay where you will be the most comfortable and supported.

Our maximum retreat occupancy is 15 people, not including the retreat facilitators. We cap our registration at 15 for several reasons. Primarily, we want each attendee to have the most authentic, immersive, and open experience possible, and years of leading retreats has taught Laurelei that smaller groups are better at fostering the sort of intimacy that allows for deep spiritual experience.

As a secondary concern, the retreat is hosted at a *tiny* retreat center. We want to make sure there is enough room and resources for everyone.

Yes, absolutely. We can run an extension cord to your tent if you sleep with a medical device like a C-PAP. And there is space in one of our refrigerators for your medicine, if needed. Just let Laurelei & Joe know what you need when you arrive.

Bring anything that supports your retreat intention - favorite treats, comfort items, sacred tools.

If you are camping, you will need some basic camping gear -- tent, cot/pad/air mattress, bedding/sleeping bag. You will also need to bring your own towels and toiletries.

Both May and October tend to be pleasant in northern Kentucky, but they are also transition times in terms of weather. It is best to plan your clothing for warm days and cool nights - with the possibility of rain. 

Attendees should not bring firearms to Driftwood. Nor should they bring children or unregistered guests.

Don't bring anything illegal, of course, and feel free to ask if you are considering bringing something but are unsure of it would be okay. 

Re: cannabis. Kentucky just recently passed legislation to decriminalize cannabis use in medical cases, but the provisions of this law have not been fully rolled out. At this time, it is legal to possess and use cannabis for medical purposes, so long as it is less than 8 ounces and was legally obtained in another state. 

We respectfully ask that all smoking/vaping be limited to breaks and personal time - not during our sacred circles. Also, please note that the deck and all interior spaces of the retreat house are smoke-free areas.  If you'd like to smoke, you are invited to do so at your tent, near the front garden, or in our riverside area.

Well-behaved service animals who are trained to offer disability supports by performing specific tasks are welcome, so long as their behavior is not disruptive and their person cleans up after them.

In good weather, we will spend most of our time on the deck overlooking the river. One or two activities may be planned in the riverside ritual area, as well. We will have canopy/umbrella/sail shades to protect us from too much sun, and we will soak up all the fresh air rural Kentucky has to offer! This is a great location for al fresco meals and open-air circles.

In rainy weather, we'll meet inside the Clubhouse.