through the veil
A Beltane Journey into the Faerie Realm
May 2, 2026
Embrace the Wild Green Magic of Beltane
Beltane marks the midway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It ushers in summer's return. This day is a celebration of renewal, growth, love, and the peak of fertility. Earth energy is at it's strongest and we come together to honor her in all her glory. Join your Sisters as we gather to connect with Nature and each other at beautiful Penuel Ridge Retreat Center. Your retreat leader is Jennifer Harvard. The retreat's workshop facilitators are Jennifer and Kristin Clark. Seasonal nourishment will be provided by Leslie Garbis. Scroll down to read more about these Wise Women and for all of the magick and merriment to come.
Nature Calls Us to Celebrate
Date: May 2, 2026
Time: 10:30am to 5:30pm
The Early Bird registration fee is $181 through April 16
(Registration increases to $211 on April 17)
This year's retreat will be held at Penuel Ridge.
Sacred Space, crafting, education and merriment hosted by Jennifer Harvard along with Kristin Clark.
Seasonal nourishment will be offered during the retreat by Leslie Garbis
Journey, Craft, Learn, Dance and Share
10:30am: Arrival- check in at Lodge
11:00: Crossing through the Veil: Opening Ceremony
11:30: Shamanic Journey to the Sacred Grove
11:50: Rowan Protection Charm Creations
12:30: Beltane Nourishment
1:30: The Faerie Language of Sophia: A Beltane Love Story
3:00: Wishing Tree Ritual & Flower Crown Making
3:45: May Pole Dancing
5:00: Fire Ceremony and Speak Around
5:30: Depart
May Day Garden Lunch
After our morning journey and time in the faerie fields, we will gather together for a beautiful May Day garden lunch, celebrating the freshness and vitality of the season.
Our table will be filled with vibrant spring foods that honor the greening of the earth—sprouted lentil patties, rich with life and nourishment, green pea hummus brightened with crisp spring radishes, and a massaged kale salad infused with herbs and the energy of the season.
Rowan Protection Charm:
A Beltane Craft of Ancient Celtic Magick
with Jennifer Harvard
In the old Celtic lands, the Rowan tree was known as the Tree of Protection, a guardian standing quietly at the threshold between worlds. It was believed to grow where lightning struck the earth, carrying the fire of the heavens within its branches. Because of this, Rowan was thought to hold a powerful magick that could ward away ill will, wandering spirits, and harmful enchantments.
Across Scotland and Ireland, small Rowan crosses tied with red thread were hung above doorways, placed in barns, or tucked into windowsills to protect the home and those within it. Shepherds would tie Rowan to their staffs, mothers placed Rowan above cradles, and travelers carried it for safe passage through unseen realms.
The five-pointed star hidden inside each Rowan berry was said to represent the sacred balance of the elements—earth, air, fire, water, and spirit—making the tree a symbol of harmony between the natural world and the mystical one.
At Beltane, when the veil between worlds grows thin and the Fae are said to wander freely through fields and forests, Rowan was especially cherished as a protective ally. Its magick does not repel the Fair folk with fear, but rather creates a boundary of respect, allowing us to celebrate the enchantment of the season while keeping our sacred spaces safe and clear.
We will honor this ancient tradition by first journeying to the Sacred Grove to connect with the Magick of the Rowan tree, followed by crafting our own Rowan Protection Charms. Using Rowan twigs, bright red berries, and thread, we weave together intention and ancestral wisdom. When hung in a window, doorway, or sacred space, these charms serve as a quiet guardian—an invitation for blessing and a gentle barrier against anything that does not belong.
As you create your charm, consider what you wish to protect and what you wish to welcome.
Let each knot be a prayer.
Let each berry hold a blessing.
When you hang your charm in your home, it becomes a small piece of living folklore.
Think of it as a whisper of Celtic magic carried forward through your hands.
The Faerie Language of Sophia: A Beltane Love Story
with Kristin Clark
“When the first baby laughed for the first time, it’s laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of faeries.” ~JM Barrie
Beltane is a love story between consciousness and creation. Sophia is the consciousness inside creation that longs to be recognized by us. When we perceive the Divine, the Divine perceives itself through us at the same moment.
This is the structure of every Faerie meeting story.
Nature is alive. The world is conscious. And it always reflects the consciousness that we hold.
Through the Celtic traditions of storytelling, poetry, greeting the land and softening our gaze-we will invite in the strange quiet, the faint harps and bells, the breathtaking joy that may come when the other worlds feel our gaze and suddenly, in a moment outside of time, held in pure wonder, we may feel that gaze returned.
We will spend an eternity in the enchanted realms remembering what only the Faeries can teach us.
And still be home for supper.
Shining like the sun on the healing dew drops of a Beltane morn.
commune with like-minded sisters!
take part in the time honored tradition of dancing 'round the maypole and celebrate the joyful magick of spring!
Creative Workshop:
Kristin Clark
In my dreams, I hear songs…
and I bring them back to the best of my ability. In dreams I have traveled through time and through the veils, up the waterfalls and down to the river of mist. These stories from the dreamtime come to me as songs. Many also come from waking visions and journeys.
Allowing myself to create in this way, at this late hour, feels as though I have discovered a secret room in my mansion. In this room there is story and poetry and music. There is multi-dimensional travel. There are wise guides and faeries, dragons and mystical journeys. There is dreaming and remembering. There is love and myth and healing and everything that thrills and delights me.
To share this now after denying it for so long feels like a wild freedom. We are all dream travelers with hidden rooms to discover. We all have these longings in our hearts. I believe that any longing in our hearts is holy. And I have come to understand that to answer and offer them is an act of love.
Host & Workshop Facilitator:
Jennifer Harvard
Jennifer Harvard, founder of The Wise Women Full Moon Retreat and The Goddess Craft Market founded Gaia Sisterhood in 2017 as a way for women to gather in a safe and nurturing environment where they could create, explore and heal. Gaia Sisterhood honors and celebrates the divine in every woman through:
-Annual Wise Women Retreats for those wishing for an immersive experience
-Seasons of the Witch Series for those wishing to dive deeper into the Various Witch Paths
-Seasonal Wheel of the Year Gatherings for seasoned retreat goers as well as those new to women's spirituality
Jennifer is Divine Feminine Circle & Retreat Facilitator, Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Healer, Aromatherapist, Breathwork Coach, Priestess of the Sacred Grove, and an artist. Her work of inclusion has opened doors to the work of the Divine Feminine to women from all walks of life. She invites you to explore the website or follow her on social media for more information.
Gaia Sisterhood Cancellation Policy:
Life happens and occasionally attendees find themselves needing to cancel. While I will make every attempt to fill your space, my retreats have moving parts that require advance investment from me such as the purchase of food or deposits on space. Due to these things I have adopted the following policy for clarity on cancellations.
All events are fully refundable up to 30 days in advance. Any cancellations under 30 days prior to the event are eligible for a credit toward another Gaia Sisterhood event. Cancellations within 7 days prior to any event forfeit all payments.