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Return to the Womb of Creation · Sicily Retreat 2026
Sicily · September 2026 · A Women's Retreat

Return to the
Womb of Creation

Seven days of sacred art, energetic awakening, and deep feminine remembering in the ancient landscape of Sicily

DatesSept 19 – 25, 2026
LocationSicily, Italy
Spaces10 – 12 Women
The Call

She has been waiting
for you to return

Somewhere beneath the ordinary — beneath the roles you play, the to-do lists, the noise — there is a place in you that is ancient. Fertile. Unbroken. This is the womb space: not simply a physical location, but a creative center. The place all life comes from.

Sicily is one of the oldest inhabited landscapes in the world. Its soil holds the memory of Persephone's descent and return, of Demeter's grief and the earth's renewal. Mount Etna still breathes. The temples to Aphrodite, Athena, and Demeter still stand at the sea's edge. This land has not forgotten.

We are going there to remember.

✦ ✦ ✦
"This is not a vacation. It is a return — to the body, to the creative fire, to the part of you that knows exactly who she is."
The Journey

Seven days across the
body of the goddess

Each location was chosen for its mythic resonance, its natural power, and its capacity to hold deep feminine work — woven with art, energy practice, spa restoration, and sacred ritual.

Days 1–2
Etna slopes
Fire · The Volcano
We arrive on the slopes of Mount Etna — Europe's most active volcano and one of the most sacred landscapes in the ancient world. We ascend to the crater's edge for a ceremony in fire, then descend to volcanic stone mark-making in the studio. The volcano as teacher: what does creation burn away before it can begin?
Art workshopOpening ritualVolcanic spa
Days 3–4
Ortigia · Syracuse
Water · The Island
Ortigia is a small island of golden baroque stone, surrounded entirely by sea. Here Arethusa transformed herself into a freshwater spring to escape pursuit — water as refuge, as shapeshifting, as the body's knowing. On the autumn equinox, equal light and dark, we hold ceremony at the sacred spring and descend into the ancient underground theatre: Persephone's descent made real.
Watercolor workshopEquinox ceremonySaltwater pool
Day 5
Agrigento · Selinunte
Earth · The Temples
The Valley of the Temples and the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophoros — goddess of the harvest, of grief, of what the earth holds and what it releases. We draw from the ancient stones. We walk open fields between columns older than Rome. We let the earth hold us before we rise.
Plein air drawingWalking meditation
Days 6–7
Taormina
Beauty · The Return
We close in Taormina — perhaps the most beautiful town in Sicily — with the Greek Theatre framing Etna in its stage arch, and the Ionian Sea far below. The culminating art workshop. The sharing circle. A small gallery of everything we have created. And the question each woman carries home: how do you keep her alive in your ordinary life?
Final workshopClosing ceremonyFour Seasons spa
Your Guides

Two women.
One vision.

Kim Bellisimo, MA
Energy Healer · EnergyWorks Founder

For over 20 years, Kim has guided women and organizations through life transitions using her EnergyWorks Method — a somatic, heart-centered approach to releasing emotional blocks and reconnecting with creative life force. Author of From Chaos to Creativity, she has led sacred journeys through the goddess landscapes of Malta and Sicily, and founded Moon EnergyWorks, a practice of aligning with lunar cycles for healing and renewal. On this retreat, Kim holds the energetic and spiritual container: daily circle facilitation, moon ceremonies, equinox ritual, and deep feminine activation.

Catherine Di Napoli
Artist · Creative Guide

Catherine is a Paris-based artist whose work moves between painting, storytelling, and the magic found in everyday beauty. Her mission is to awaken joy and creativity in the world — and she believes the studio can be anywhere: a volcanic slope, an ancient ruin, the luminous edge of the sea. On this retreat, Catherine leads all art workshops, bringing her lyrical, intuitive approach to mark-making, mixed media, and personal myth-making. No experience required. Only willingness to begin.

Where You'll Stay

Luxury that belongs
to the land

Every hotel was chosen for its beauty, its spa, and its deep resonance with the landscape around it. These are not generic luxury properties — they are places with soul.

Nights 1–2 · Etna
Zash Country Boutique Hotel & Spa

A former palmento (wine press) and rose-colored manor in fragrant citrus groves. Michelin-starred restaurant. Spa carved into volcanic rock. Infinity pool facing the volcano.

Nights 3–4 · Ortigia
Ortea Palace Hotel, Autograph Collection

A grand Art Nouveau post office transformed into one of Sicily's finest hotels. Indoor saltwater pool, hammam, sauna. Every room with views over the Porto Piccolo and the sea.

Nights 5–7 · Taormina
San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel

A 15th-century Dominican monastery perched above the Ionian Sea. Infinity pool with Etna views. Michelin-starred dining. Full spa. The most iconic hotel in Sicily.

What's Included

Everything that matters.
Nothing you don't need.

🏛
7 nights luxury accommodationThree iconic Sicilian hotels, double occupancy
All art workshops & materialsA full body of work to bring home
All energy sessions & ceremoniesDaily circle, equinox ritual, closing ceremony
🌿
Group spa sessionsIncluded thermal treatments at each hotel
🍷
All group dinners & daily breakfastsSicilian cuisine, local wine, shared table
All private transportationAirport transfers, site visits, inter-hotel travel
🗺
Expert local guidesEtna ascent, archaeological sites, Ortigia
Pre-retreat ritual kitArrival preparation and intention-setting materials

Not included: international flights, personal spa extras beyond group sessions, lunches, travel insurance.

Investment

A devotion to yourself.

Seven days of transformation, luxury, and creative awakening in one of the most ancient landscapes on earth.

Shared Room
€9,500
per person · double occupancy
All programming, group meals, spa sessions, and private transfers included.
Single Supplement
€11,200
per person · private room
Everything in shared, plus private room at all three hotels and one personal spa treatment.

€1,000 deposit to reserve · 50% due June 2026 · Balance due August 1, 2026

Spaces limited to 10–12 women · Applications reviewed on a rolling basis

Questions

What you might
be wondering

Do I need art experience? +
Not at all. These workshops are for women who want to create, not perform. You will be guided through every step — the point is process, not product. Women who have never picked up a paintbrush have made their most meaningful art on retreats like this one.
What is the physical level of the retreat? +
Moderate. The Etna ascent involves 2–3 hours of hiking on volcanic terrain at a comfortable group pace. Archaeological sites involve walking on uneven ground. All other programming is gentle and restorative. If you have physical considerations, reach out before applying and we will accommodate.
Do I need a spiritual background for the energy work? +
No. Kim's work is welcoming to women of all backgrounds, beliefs, and none. The "womb space" refers to the creative center in all of us — the place from which life, ideas, and transformation emerge. You are not asked to adopt any worldview. Only to be present and open to what arises.
What is the cancellation policy? +
Deposits are non-refundable. If you cancel before June 1, 2026, the 50% payment is refunded minus the deposit. After June 1, payments are non-refundable but your spot is transferable to another woman. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
How do I get to Sicily? +
Fly into Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA). Direct flights are available from major European hubs; most US travelers connect via Rome, London, or other European cities. We arrange private transfers from the airport for all guests arriving on Day 1.
How many women will be on this retreat? +
We are keeping this retreat intentionally intimate — 10 to 12 women maximum. This is a circle, not a conference. The small size allows for deep personal attention from both Kim and Catherine, genuine connection between participants, and the kind of intimacy that real transformation requires.
Ready?

The goddess has been
waiting long enough.

Apply to Join

Or write to us with any questions — we'd love to hear from you.
retreat@kimbellisimo.com

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