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A Baobab Collection of Alternative Lifestyle Experiences

...choose the Life you Want...

There are many wellness and healing practices, retreats, spaces that lay out happier and healthier ways of living. I venture out and write to demystify and translate the essence of these alternative lifestyle options with the intention to promote amazing opportunities, to guide seekers towards what is relevant for them and to create an archive of the flourishing consciousness that is upon us. 

Baobab Trees can live up to 3000 years providing food, products, paper and shelter for humans and creatures. This magnificent tree serves the body & soul in a variety of ways. Inspired by the diversity and depth of the Baobab, the core of these writings aim to speak with and ignite the musings of your soul.

Women who Sway, Sizzle, Nourish & Flow -

A retreat for her Air, Fire, Earth & Water

 The psyches and souls of women also have their own cycles and seasons of doing and solitude, running and staying, being involved and being removed, questing and resting, creating and incubating, being of the world and returning to the soul-place.”

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes


Modern living demands much from women these days in the realms of career, motherhood, family, social, academic, religious or spiritual...the load amounts. Yet this modern living doesn’t always give space to off-load and integrate the doing phases of life. We can thank our lucky stars for women like Mariette Carstens, Selah-Joy & Kat Zijl who dreamed together the Elemental Wisdom Goddess Retreat, creating a place for women to gather regularly to return to their soul place. A place to remember parts of their essence, re-experience their natural rhythm and to learn and receive from one another.


In April 2022 I supported and attended the Elemental Wisdom Goddess Retreat at The Well-being Sanctuary in Hoogekraal, Sedgefield, South Africa. In 2021, a caravan at the sanctuary was my home for 5 months – lending me time and space to recuperate and figure out what’s next on the journey ahead. The land offers brilliance and nourishment in all forms. From the refreshing salt water lake to the friendly, and sometimes cheeky horses – well-being oozes and flows from every direction.


I arrived to settle into my glamping tent, immediately enfolded in a perfect amalgamation of comfort and wildness. After settling in and a meet and greet moment with the participants, the weekend was kicked off with a nourishing cacao ceremony followed by a powerful sweat lodge. Post sweat lodge, a delectable nourishing dinner and rest awaited. I awoke feeling activated and lively by the strength of the steaming lodge the night before. It was as if a layer of fog had been lifted in my psyche, with still more to go. In raw form we are comprised of the elements – fire, water, earth & air (Ether too!). The retreat focused on guiding us towards reconnecting and balancing the elements inside of our body, mind and spirit. The lodge beautifully and naturally encompassed all of these elements. Considering the elements, I taught my yoga set that first morning bringing the element of air in to clear the way, inviting spaciousness and capacity for the day ahead.


The day continued with a delicious breakfast, a group reflection circle, talisman creating with Kat and fire dancing with Selah. Each activity was an opportunity which utilised creativity to assist in integrating, inspiring and nurturing. The energetic impact of this was profound. I found myself confronted with unresolved feelings towards the past. The goodness of the retreat seemed to squeeze these out of me, while the healing land soaked it all up. On our last morning we meditated by the Lady Lake – letting the water wash and re-ignite flow within. We closed with a delightful breakfast (all organic food) and group reflection circle. It was special to hear the stories and the processes of each wondrous woman, not something the mundane always caters for. I find that when I hear the authentic voice of another woman, a piece of my heart is filled.


Overall my experience was a personification of alchemy – the adding of wholesome ingredients to catalyse movement towards transformation. In some way this was only the beginning. This retreat is perfect for women needing a break and spaciousness to feel all the parts and the whole of her again. The next retreat takes place in November 2022.

I highly recommend it! Check it out here:


I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories... water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.”*



* Women who run with wolves -Clarissa Pinkola Estes