Relaxing in the Lap of the Goddess. Tantric Shamanic Retreat in Southwest Crete. 6–11 October 2026
There are times when we are called to step away from the noise of everyday life and return to what truly nourishes us. This retreat in Crete is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your body, restore your energy, and open to the deeper dimensions of life through embodiment, ritual, and connection with nature.
This is a tantric shamanic journey—not through plant medicine, but through the wisdom of the body, awareness of energy, conscious presence, and ancient practices that help us reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.
For six days, we will gather in the spirit of sacred time for ourselves: a space to rest, receive the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, swim in the sea, enjoy nourishing food, and explore our inner landscape through gentle tantric practices, rituals, dream work, massage, and visits to places of power.
About John Hawken: A Lifetime Dedicated to Transformation
The retreat is guided by John Hawken, one of Europe’s most experienced teachers of energy, tantra, and transformational work.
With a first-class degree from Cambridge University and a background in experimental theatre with Grotowski’s Theatre Laboratory, John later trained as a humanistic psychotherapist specializing in energy and bodywork. He studied tantra with Margot Anand and shamanism with Arwyn Dreamwalker, becoming a licensed SkyDancing teacher and director of the SkyDancing Institute UK.
For almost 50 years, John has been sharing teachings that weave together tantra, shamanism, embodiment, and personal transformation. He is the founder and director of Paths of Transformation, leading trainings and pilgrimages to sacred places around the world, including Crete, Cornwall, Mexico, Guatemala, and India.
His work supports people in deepening their connection with their bodies, their energy, their relationships, and the spiritual dimension of existence. He is also the author of Realisations, a book sharing insights from his lifelong journey of transformation.
I will be assisting John during this retreat, and I feel it is a wonderful opportunity to explore these teachings in a supportive environment, spend meaningful time with like-minded people, and experience the unique energy of this sacred island together.
Crete: The Land of the Goddess
Crete is a place where the ancient and the present meet. Its powerful landscape of mountains, sea, olive groves, and caves still carries the memory of the Minoan civilization—one of Europe’s last great Goddess-centered cultures.
The Minoans honoured the sacred feminine through their connection with nature, fertility, the cycles of life, and the wisdom of the Earth. Their temples, caves, and sacred landscapes were places of ritual, healing, celebration, and communion with the forces of nature.
Today, Crete still holds a special atmosphere. Places such as the Cave of Psychro (the Dikteon Cave), the ancient centre of Knossos, and the healing sanctuary of Lissos remind us of a time when spirituality was deeply connected with the body, dreams, sexuality, and the natural world.
During the retreat, we will visit sacred sites, swim in an ancient Roman harbour, and enter a holy cave above the village—a place to experience stillness, reflection, and connection with the symbolic womb of the Great Mother.
The Retreat Experience
We will stay at the Alfa Hotel Seminar Centre in Azogires, a peaceful mountain village in Southwest Crete, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and overlooking the valley towards the sea at Paleochora. This beautiful location, at 500 metres above sea level, has been a place of retreat and transformation for many years.
Each day will include morning sessions and evening rituals. Through tantric and shamanic practices, energy work, dream exploration, and sharing circles, we will create space for personal insight and inner transformation.
Afternoons are free for relaxation and integration. You may choose to swim in the sea, visit the beach, hike through the mountains, explore the surroundings, or simply rest and enjoy the beauty of Crete. Together, we will prepare simple nourishing meals and share the experience of community.
The retreat is a personal journey for each participant. The land itself becomes part of the process, supporting us to reconnect with our energy, our bodies, and the deeper wisdom within.
Is This Retreat For You?
This retreat may be for you if you feel called to:
reconnect with your body as a source of wisdom and intuition
explore tantra and shamanic teachings through embodiment and energy awareness
deepen your relationship with nature, ritual, and the sacred
take time for rest, renewal, and reflection
share a meaningful experience with open-hearted, like-minded people
The retreat is suitable for both singles and couples. No previous experience with tantra or shamanic practices is required—only curiosity, openness, and a willingness to explore.
The group is intentionally small, limited to 16 participants, and held in English with German and Czech translation available as needed.
Join Us in Crete
Dates: 6–11 October 2026
Location: Alfa Hotel Seminar Centre, Azogires, Southwest Crete
Your retreat package includes tuition, accommodation, food, and shared car hire, including transfer from Chania airport.
Price: €1,200 per person
If you feel the call to experience the beauty of Crete, reconnect with yourself, and explore the wisdom of embodiment and energy in a sacred landscape, we warmly invite you to join us.
For registration and details:
