Welcome to Wanderess
Step into a world where women’s wellness meets artistic expression and historical memory. Wanderess is a sanctuary for women seeking transformation through the timeless power of knowledge, performance, and myth.
We Are Wanderess
Wanderess was born from founder Dr Ellie Chadwick’s passion to bring the transformative power of ritual arts, archetypal storytelling, and somatic therapies together in welcoming and inspiring offerings for women at different life stages to gather, grow, and expand. Drawing from ritual studies, mythology, somatic practices, and the performing arts, Wanderess creates intellectually rich and soulfully creative spaces where women gather to learn, evolve, and reclaim their narrative agency.
Our events and retreats are designed to unleash transformational Wanderess energy: multi-faceted goddess of adventure and free spirited living! We help you discover the infinite number of stories and selves you contain inside you, expanding your capacity to be, do, and hold everything you want.
Wander with us and discover your inner Wanderess: your true self in all her powerful, creative, beautiful complexity.
Who is Wanderess for?
Wanderess is for the scholar, the seeker, the healer, the artist, the storyteller. The Wanderer.
This is for you if:
🌿 You’re seeking real transformation and tools that you can actually integrate into your everyday life—tools that support both personal and collective healing.
🌸 You’re passionate about connecting with other women who share an interest in herstory, creative arts, feminine energies, culture, and reclaiming their narrative.
🌍 You’re curious about travel and culture—and the possibility of experiencing life through the lens of ancient wisdom and modern practices.
🎨 You’re creative or feel like there’s a dormant creative force inside you that you’re eager to explore, nurture, and expand.
🌑 You’re ready to dive deep—into all facets of yourself, including the shadow work that leads to self-discovery, healing, and liberation.
🌱 You’re looking for ongoing community and support—this journey doesn’t end at the retreat. You’ll be part of a living, evolving community that continues to nourish and empower you, long after the event.
This is NOT for you if:
❌ You’re looking for a passive retreat where you simply relax without engaging in transformative work.
❌ You’re not open to group work and prefer to work alone—this experience thrives on collective energy and shared healing.
❌ You want to avoid self-reflection—this journey invites you to look inward, explore your patterns, and reclaim parts of yourself that may have been forgotten.
❌ You’re not interested in ongoing connection—our community is about building lasting relationships and continuing to support each other long after the retreat ends.
Next Retreats
Come study the self. Perform your truth. Reclaim your story
The Heroine's Path (The Authoress Retreat) - UK
Divine Feminine Awakening (The Mysticess Retreat) - Italy
This 5-day retreat in the sacred hills of Umbria—land of mystics, saints, and artists— invites you to fully embrace your intuitive, creative, and spiritual power. You will journey through the spiritual and artistic legacy of the region, in the footsteps of the female mystics of the land, as we explore how the lives and works of female mystics inform our own path toward voice, vision, and liberation. Through excursions, holistic wellness practices, and the richness of Italian sun and cuisine, you’ll be invited to reconnect with the sacred in every facet of life. As you delve into the art and mythos of female mystics, goddesses, and visionaries, you’ll awaken the Mysticess within—and explore her sister archetypes. This retreat is a sanctuary for the woman ready to reclaim her voice, her vision, and her magic.
Goddess Rising: A Tantric Path to Self-Worth (The Tantress Retreat) - Bali
Step into a powerful journey of reclamation, where pleasure, creativity, and the body become sacred portals to your truth. In the lush heart of Bali, awaken your inner goddess through Tantric practices, sacred rituals, and the wisdom of Balinese priestesses.
Rooted in research and embodied practice, participants will engage with cross-cultural studies, performative ritual, and archetypal shadow work. Through embodied inquiry into figures such as the Whore, the Nun, and the Divine Lover, and the concept of Shakti, divine goddess energy, we challenge cultural scripts around worth, desire, and power—inviting a radically reimagined relationship with self. This is your invitation to live fully, wildly, and authentically—rooted in your sacred self.
Own the Spotlight: Leading Lady Energy (The Actress Retreat) - Bali
For the woman who’s tired of feeling invisible, silenced, “too much” or “not enough”—this retreat is your invitation to become the main character in your life. Over 7 transformative days, you’ll shed the masks and conditioning that have kept you small, and step boldly into your authentic, expressive, and empowered self. This is more than performance—it’s pedagogy for presence. You will learn to inhabit your story, your history, and your truth with boldness and brilliance. The stage is not metaphorical—it is your space of becoming.
Rooted in Balinese sacred arts and feminine archetypes, including the Actress and many more, you’ll explore Legong dance, movement, voicework, and ritual as tools to reclaim your presence and power. No longer waiting for permission—you own the spotlight.
Wanderess Promises
Expert Facilitation
Benefit from the guidance and expertise of our founder Dr Ellie Chadwick, who has extensive experience running international creative arts retreats and working as creative practitioner and university lecturer and researcher.
Wanderess works with incredible artists, therapists and change-makers across the globe. We ensure that our facilitators are skilled and knowledgeable in their fields, and perhaps more importantly that they align with our values.
Community Connection
Shared experiences, mutual support and collaborative creativity mean Wanderesses forge deep and meaningful connections that extend far beyond our retreats.
Becoming a Wanderess means you can join our exclusive Women’s Circle – a vibrant and supportive community. Here you can access a wealth of content, events and connections, and enjoy ongoing support to integrate the tools we give you into your day-to-day life.
Global and Sustainable
We prioritise sustainability and interculturality by partnering with local providers and facilitators across the globe. Travel with a conscience and immerse yourself in local customs and traditions while supporting the communities we visit. Enjoy a stress-free experience with comprehensive packages that cover accommodation, meals, and all activities, while knowing that you are contributing to local economies and supporting diverse culture.
Inclusive environment
All women are welcome here. Our experiences are designed to be inclusive, welcoming and free from judgment. We prove a safe and nurturing space for women of all backgrounds to connect, share, and grow together. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be embraced by fellow Wanderesses and staff who are dedicated to making your experience joyful and supported.
Holistic and Creative Approach
We keep an equal focus on the needs of mind, body and spirit and harnessing and nurturing creative energy is central to our ethos. We integrate intercutural experiences with therapeutic art practices and creative skill-building workshops, supporting you to up-skill and evolve in ways that can positively impact every area of your life.
Transformational Experience
We provide so much more than a retreat, we want our Wanderesses to leave with a revolutionary creative attitude to life and a wealth of skills, experiences and connections. The experience does not end with the final day of the retreat: through our Circle, Wanderesses can stay connected with each other as we continue to support your evolution.