GOLDEN SHADOW RETREATS
Step away from your busy life and immerse yourself in nature’s beauty, ancient wisdom, love, and joy.
Join us for a Golden Shadow Journey!
GREECE 2028
Max of 10 travelers
Led by Melanie Ryan and Demitra Vassiliadis
Awaken your golden shadow in Greece!
This Greece retreat takes you off the beaten path and into the heart and soul of ancient Greece. The archetypes, myths, legends, symbols, and sacred sites of Greece teach us about the hidden energies laying dormant within us. It is a perfect place for shadow work!
We will dive into the archetypes of the collective unconscious and discover who we are deep inside. To make the unconscious conscious is the most important thing a human can do for themselves and the world. Socractes said, “Know Thyself.” We will learn about ourselves and have deep group experiences while also having fun, being creative, and connecting with nature and friends. We will dive into the lineages of Apollo, Chiron, Asklepius, and Hippocrates, and learn the origins of holistic medicine, healing, poetry, and psychotherapy.
Your retreat leaders are Melanie Ryan and astrologer Demitra Vassiliadis (yes, she is Greek!). With her profound knowledge of astrology and mythology, Together they will guide you in unlocking your inner light and tapping into the transformative power of ancient wisdom. Are you ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, immerse yourself in the majestic mountain landscapes of Greece, and unlock the secrets of love, light, and beauty?
Melanie Ryan
Melanie is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, depth psychotherapist, naturopathic terrain medicine practitioner, and ancient wisdom specialist for over 30 years. She has been leading retreats to Greece since 2019. This will be her 6th time to Greece.
Demitra Vassiliadas
A professional astrologer with over 30 years of experience, offering natal chart, solar return, and synastry astrology readings. Based in New York City, she has presented Full Moon ceremonies and written a blog for the Open Center, has been featured at venues including Deepak Chopra’s Homebase at ABC Carpet & Home, and at the world-renowned Omega Institute. Demitra has led retreats, corporate events, and special programs blending astrology with the Heaven-to-Earth approach to conscious living. This approach explores the birth chart as a cosmic blueprint to one’s calling, and self-actualization, that guides us on the mythic journey of our unique lives.
Golden Shadow Greece Retreats
You will learn teachings from The Golden Shadow Method. We will bring you into a very high vibration of love, beauty, joy, and creativity. There will be many mini classes offered such as meditation, vision questing, nature immersions, and creative exercises to help purify your mind, body, heart, spirit.
RETREAT VIDEO
RETREAT ITINERARY
4 Days in Athens:
We will stay in a hotel in the beautiful, picturesque Old Plaka District. We will visit sacred sites, swimming in sacred waters, and doing ceremonies.
As a group we will climb to the top of the Acropolis to the Parthenon and visit the sacred olive tree of Athena. We will walk the Agora where the Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato taught, and we will swim in the medicine waters of Poseidon and visit his temple.
8 Days on Mount Pelion:
Mount Pelion is the sacred land of Chiron, the wounded healer, a warrior and master herbalist. Chiron was a gentle centaur who taught herbalism to the God of Healing, Asklepius, as well as to the warriors Hercules and Achilles.
We will immerse ourselves in the Greek mountains overlooking the turquoise blue waters of the Aegean Sea. This area is off the beaten path. It is the pure wilderness and sacred land full of quaint little mountain villages and local Greeks. Here we settle into our stay on a most beautiful organic farm. You can rest, play, and be immersed in the beauty. We will visit nearby mountain villages, do pottery and art classes, herbalist classes, meditation, private healing sessions, and soak up the sun and swim in the waters of the Aegean Sea.
It is profoundly healing to rest and reconnect to your heart and true nature. You will have sacred time, alone time, and group time. There is time for play, laughter, creativity, exploring nature, and developing deep soul connections with others, your Self, and the divine spirits.
Golden Shadow retreats are for those who have a sincere interest in using ancient wisdom to transform their lives and be of service to others and the Earth. If you have a sincere interest, please email us using the contact page on this site.
Spaces are limited. 10 travelers maximum.
Registration opens June 2027.
The 2028 retreat will be our 6th time to Greece, and we can't wait to share it with you!
What the Package Includes:
Accommodations, Transfers, and most Meals
-
Single room hotel accommodation in Athens, breakfast included
-
Daily organic farm to table breakfast on Mt. Pelion
-
Two organic farm to table dinners on Mt. Pelion (first and last night)
-
Group transfer to Lake & Poseidon’s Temple in Athens
-
Group transfer to and from Mt. Pelion & Athens
-
Single room on organic farm of Mt Pelion
-
Group transfer (2) beach days on Mt Pelion
Retreat Program
-
Teaching from The Golden Shadow Method 3 pillars
-
Talks and ceremonies at sacred sites in Athens
-
Excursion and Ceremony at Ancient Grandmother Tree
-
Meditation Class with Melanie
-
Stone Art Class outside patio
-
Fire Ceremony & Water Ceremony
Add ons Not Included:
-
Private 1:1 Healing Sessions with Melanie
-
Astrology Reading with Demitra
-
Massages with Greek therapist
-
Intuitive Pottery Workshop with Christos
-
Organic Cooking Classes with Filaretos & Marianna
-
Herbal Workshop with Greek herbalist
-
Lunches and dinners not mentioned above
-
Alcohol drinks
-
Personal items, snacks, souvenirs
-
Admission to temples and museums (pay as you go)
-
Taxi to and from Athens’ airport to hotel
-
Airfare
ACCOMODATIONS
GREECE RETREATS PHOTO ALBUMS
Greece 2025
Greece 2019
Greece 2026
GREECE RETREAT REVIEWS
Theresa Dellaposta, LMSW
Greece 2026 Retreat
I am so grateful that I made the decision to go on the Greece retreat with Melanie. Learning and re-familiarizing myself with the Greek Gods/Goddesses before the trip started me on my journey. Discovering who I resonated with and how this archetype lived within me was powerful. I experienced so much emotion being on the ancient lands of Greece, connecting to that energy and history was felt deeply in my emotional body and soul. My goal was to experience some healing and direction to continue on my soul's journey. It definitely began in Greece. The healing sessions provided by Melanie, the intuitive clay workshop, the wonderful, kind, and loving people we encountered, the land, the sea, and the amazing food, were all healing. It was more than I could ever have imagined. The dreams and work associated with them have led me into further exploration. It was so important for me to discover my Golden Shadow qualities, bring them into light, and now I can expand my gifts and creativity. I also became clear on what Dark Shadow qualities needed to be seen and let go of. Melanie, Demitra, and the wonderful people in this group (each one on his/her own healing journey) were so loving and supportive. We all felt safe enough to be vulnerable and share our stories. This type of experience, healing, and love could not have happened on a solo journey or a typical vacation to Greece. With love and Gratitude, Theresa.
Demitra Vassiliadis, Heaven to Earth Astrology
Greece Retreat 2026
“My soul is still digesting the nectar of our journey. Being part of the Golden Shadow Greece retreat was an amazing experience. If you are longing to travel in a meaningful way that engages the soul, and the power of myth, join Melanie Ryan on a Golden Shadow Journey! I was blown away by the way the Archetypes showed up for us! Such mythic synchronicity! I also was so moved by the way Melanie curated and led us to sacred sites in such a mythic, powerful, and reverent way. I think often of the Agora, Socrates Jail, Poseidon’s mighty temple, and Melanie’s moving poem at Asclepius. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was beyond what I could have ever imagined. A beautiful blend of deep inner work, beautifully curated day trips, sacred sites with a soulful guide, and plenty of joyful fun, play, and creativity. Truly a transformational pilgrimage. Thank you, Melanie, I cannot thank you enough for your powerful example of allowing and accepting us all as we are. You really created sacred space for the Dark and Golden Shadows. I would effortlessly recommend your work and your journeys to anyone!"
Mary-Kay Kallergis, LCSW, Psychotherapist, Healer, Health Coach
Greece 2025 Retreat
"I am Greek and to say this retreat was amazing is an understatement. The retreat started off in Athens with visits to the Acropolis, Hill of Aries, the ancient Agora, and Socrates’ jail. It was very meaningful. Melanie connected us with Ancient Greece through history and storytelling. I climbed hills I did not think I could climb due to some physical limitations but with the love and supported of the group, I hurdled through these challenges. We visited remote villages on Mt. Pelion and stayed on a beautiful organic farm overlooking the Aegean Sea. This remote village is the home of an ancient Grandmother tree said to be thousands of years old. We bonded as a group, took time to play and have fun, nurturing our souls. For the first time in my life, I experienced unconditional love. It has made me softer, and gentler. There were many offerings: intuitive massage, reiki, yoga, meditation and soul retrieval. I did all of them and felt like never before. The group, the food, the ocean, and the garden all healed me deeply. The accommodations and foods were superb. I will definitely be going back next year! I am so grateful to Melanie for bringing this group together for this most beautiful life-changing experience. 5 Stars" ️️️️️
Laura Wolfe, Artist & Caregiver
Greece 2025 Retreat
"I am beyond grateful to have had the gift of being a part of the amazing 2024 Greece retreat. I am a caregiver for my Dad who has dementia. I lost my husband 3 years ago and life has been incredibly challenging. My soul needed to heal. My body needed to rest. So there I was, in a land that gave me all of that and so much more. The group of people were all so special. Greek people are unlike any I have met. Their kindness, hospitality and love were amazing. I felt so much happiness and joy from them all. Where we stayed is like another universe. I felt like family there. They welcomed all of us into their home, feed and nurtured our bodies and the land nurtured our souls. As my feet felt the ground , I became ONE with the land. I was rooted in love. The love that these beautiful people had put into growing and harvesting such healing foods. The dishes we ate were beyond delicious. They shared their love of cooking and introduced us to foods most of us had never experienced. I’ll never be able to look at food the same way again. There was so much healing and nourishment in every bite. The leadership was wonderful. Melanie led us in various activities from meditations to reiki circles, yoga and massages were also offered and deepened my experience of letting go and healing. She allowed us to be ourselves while giving us the space to heal in our own way. The reintroduction of meditation reiki and yoga gave me the inspiration to start using those practices in my everyday life. Overall the retreat helped me connect with the part of me that I had hidden away. I have emerged calmer and ready to face everything with optimism peace and love. I will be forever grateful for this gift of pure love. Thank you, Melanie."