Our Traditional Midwifery Retreat -- Recap and everything you need to know for next year!

We spent a breathtaking six days in the hills of Byron Bay, at the beck and call of the divine whispers that guided us. That’s exactly how it felt. Dani—a fierce Chilean wise woman and midwife of ancient practices—came to bless us with the sacred knowledge she had gathered over a lifetime. She spoke only in Spanish, and our beloved director, also named Dani, translated her words with such reverence, they landed in our ears like prayers.

This space was nothing short of holy. It was ceremonial, alive with ancient wisdom, and each class felt like a deep worship of the womb—a full immersion into ritual.

This container was life-changing. Not only did it fill each of us with the confidence to step more powerfully into our roles as birth workers, but it also gifted us something unexpected: profound healing. Not the kind of healing that feels like a bandage on a wound, but the kind that cracks you wide open. The kind that breaks you apart and then lovingly weaves you back together with vibrant, renewed threads. We experienced rebirth—an awakening.

Perhaps it was the last day, deep in the darkness of the temezcal, when we surrendered and declared, “Yes, Great Mother, I am here. I am ready to serve and walk this sacred path dedicated to the womb.”

Day 1 Recap: The Medicine of Herbs
We began gently, immersing ourselves in the ancient practice of herbal medicine. With our hands in the earth and herbs, we learned how to prepare powerful elixirs for various stages of pregnancy.

Day 2 Recap: The Art of Sobada
We explored womb massage, working with five pregnant women who came to receive this sacred practice. We delved into the cycles of life and how to tend to women through each phase of pregnancy. The wisdom of the moon came alive for us as we embraced the universal ebb and flow that connects us all.

Day 3 Recap: Rebirth & Rebozo
The morning began with a poolside ceremony, where each woman was symbolically reborn into the arms of another. It was a tender, emotional rewriting of our birth stories, filled with messages of love and safety. Later, we learned the art of rebozo, a sacred technique using woven fabrics to support, soften, and open the body during pregnancy.

Day 4 Recap: Placenta Medicine
This was a day of reverence and awe. We uncovered the spiritual significance of the placenta, learning how to honor it and create medicine from it—tinctures, capsules, balms, art, and dream catchers. Watching this unfold felt like witnessing the divine itself.

Day 5 Recap: Closing the Bones
This day was a homecoming. We learned three different closing-of-the-bones ceremonies, each steeped in tradition and love. Through song, drum, and touch, we witnessed and participated in this sacred work. Even those not receiving felt a deep, collective healing.

Day 6 Recap: The Temazcal
We rose at 5 am to enter the temazcal as the fire blazed and the rain parted. Inside, we held each other through the heat, sweat, and water. The Great Mother beat beneath us as we sang, drummed, and surrendered to the ceremony. The temazcal pushed us beyond our limits, breaking through our doubts and carrying us into deep release. Emerging from the final door, we returned to the nearby pond, washing away what no longer served us.

Every moment of this retreat was sacred. Every moment was a gift. We left changed, awakened, and ready to serve. 🌿

For those who missed out please send us an email if you would like to be put on an early-bird notification list. Send an email to team@soma.shakti.com and join us next year for this incredible container.