AROMATIC JOURNEYS ON CRETE
Aromatic Retreats & Fieldtrips
Ildiko’s alchemical journeys focussed on personal, professional and spiritual development offer deepening our connection to nature. Working with plants and artisan aromatic distillations are unique in the sense that they come with an inherently inseparable and apparently infinite source of inspiration. These teachings aim to stretch beyond our holistic community to the scale of humanity. As transformative as such a process can be, it is to capacitate a sacred togetherness when plant matter and human essence are spiritualized.
It actually started in 2013, very shortly after the moment her entering a new life on Crete island. In the beginning, Ildiko held space for life-transformational retreats for old friends and class mates, and curated aromatic field trips for fellow aromatherapists. More than a personal calling, it became a mission to open minds, hearts and possibilities for others through her ability to show them another way of looking at things. Along the way, she passes on sacred knowledge with every-day practicalities, and guides people on their path.
"I tend to believe that both my personal path and my experiential research, education, and development work with the plants over the past 10 years are all part of a plan bigger. In following my heart, I have been guided by Divine guidance, synchronicities, and excellent human and plant teachers."
If you are a student or practitioner of aromatherapy, natural perfumery, herbalism, or other alternative modalities in naturopathy, you will love extending your field studies in our Mediterranean gardens and landscape!
- Harvest and distill aromatics;
- Enjoy our apothecary gardens and field explorations;
- Develop your relationship with the diversity of nature;
- Expand your aromatic smell library;
- Practice aromatic medicine-making;
- Harvest and attend our distilling aromatics;
- Learn some skills about artisan distillations;
- Appreciate the individual virtues of both essential oils and hydrosols;
- Discover the abundant and creative use of aromatic hydrosols;
- Try some of our essential oils of ‘antibacterial hotshots’ of Crete.
What to expect on your aromatic journey?
It is best to come without expectations and just expect the unexpected!
In a relaxed yet interactive atmosphere you are co-creatively guided to focus on what is important in your life and professional path. Such an immersive involvement helps not only having a close relationship with our floral helpers, but to get a clear picture and deep understanding of all the hard work behind one small bottle of some precious essential oil.
Transformative experiences
As part of the aromatic journey, you may have the chance to join harvesting some plants and herbs of the season, learn about natural organic growing of medicinal plants, get to remote mountain villages, or even attend our artisan distillation. All about enjoying many hands-on learning opportunities that will certainly enrich your knowledge and understanding of aromatherapy in a more holistic way that no book learning can provide.
Have you been to Crete before?
The Cretan soil and sunshine, and overall the landscape of the island itself results in an extremely diverse flora with unique characteristics to provide an unforgettable experience with lots of exciting adventures for a lifetime to any herbal, aromatherapy or botanical perfumery enthusiasts and professionals alike.
When you come to Crete, you find yourself in a different world where most villages have no street names. Instead, the streets are running along olive fields, orange grooves and avocado trees. Neighbours are sharing their lemon, grapefruit or pomegranate fruits freshly from the garden, and seasonally they collect wild edible plants as no meal can go without these greens called horta. There is plenty to explore by simply walking near the beaches where your leisure time naturally becomes a botanical study-tour.
The mountains have their own fragrance, a seasonal composition of an abundance of flowers, shrubs and trees. You may run into the purple-flowered shrubby Cretan Rock Rose (Cistus creticus), while Thyme (Thymus capitatus), Sage (Salvia triloba syn. fruticosa and other varieties), Oregano (Origanum onites), Winter savory (Satureja montana) or various types of Helichrysum. No matter which time of the year, the herbal wheel of life will surely turn on your senses.
What’s in our basket?
ABOUT CRETE ISLAND
Crete is the largest and most Southern Greek island of the Mediterranean Sea, considered to be the birthplace of the Gods and the cradle of Europe. In recent times, the island has attracted many people – both Greeks and other nationalities – to find a new home on this land. Spiritual leaders from all over the world are visiting Crete and acknowledge the special energy vortex over the island. It is also mentioned as the root chakra of Europe that – just as 5000 years ago – has a special task in raising awareness, developing Earth culture, and bringing Universal balance to a higher level.
Aromatic Retreats & Fieldtrips
- Explore the aromatic richness Crete has to offer;
- Join Ildikó for small excursions to explore and learn about wild-growing loccal plants from sea to mountains;
- Take yourself into the position of an Earth-steward in our private hilltop land of almost one acre, a working apothecary garden with over 100 species of aromatic and medicinal plants;
- You can harvest ‘wild-cultivated’ plants of the season and join ethical foraging in the wild;
- Practice distilling with a 30l copper alembic and get an insight into the art of artisan distillations;
- Pick some amazing herbs of the season for tea, tinctures or infusions for your stay/home take-away;
- Engage in other herbal activities, aromatherapy practice, aromatic medicine or botanical perfume making;
- Relax, chill out, and enjoy some contemplative time for reflections, arts or reading.
- Save yourself some luggage space, you can use our rich library of complementary therapies, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, distillations, hydrosols, homoeopathy, spirituality, and such.
And most of all, have the most aromatic time on Crete!
Connecting Plants
and People
Taking your most felicitous position as an Earth-steward in our private hilltop land of almost one acre, you can enjoy a working apothecary garden with over a hundred species of aromatic and medicinal plants. In a relaxed yet interactive atmosphere you are co-creatively guided to focus on what is important in your life and professional path.
Transformative Aromatic Journey on Crete - Is this for You?
The journeys, both aromatic and transformative, are individual or small-group aromatic experiences on the scented and scenic Greek island of Crete.
Subject to availability, the program runs per request all year around, unique in each season, and re-created each time as a bespoke discovery journey.
If you are interested in Ildiko’s alchemy programs, transformative retreats and fieldtrips on Crete, please get in touch to share your intentions, discuss options of your aromatic journey, and find the right arrangements for you or your group.
- Individual private retreats: solo, duo or trio
- Small-group arrangements
- Flexible dates by request
- Inquire for full details
Be inspired by the wisdom and experience of over 10 abundant years living and working with aromatic and medicinal plants on Crete!
ATTRACTED TO AROMATIC PLANTS?
Join our transformative aromatic journeys on Crete
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