The Magdalene Movement
In the Footsteps of Mary Magdalene
Presented by
Kathleen McGowan
with special guests Kayleen Asbo and Sue Ellen Parkinson
and Astara Jane Ashley

December 3-6, 2021
Ventura, California

Click here for the 2022 Retreat in New Orleans

Your Speakers and Hosts for the Weekend’s Retreat:

Kathleen McGowan – International bestselling author of The Magdalene Line series, including The Expected One and The Book of Love, and the acclaimed book on prayer, The Source of Miracles.  Kathleen has appeared on /contributed to seven different shows History Channel. She is a leader in feminist spirituality with a global following.

Joining Kathleen for this very special weekend will be:

Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D.  Kayleen is a cultural historian, musician, writer, teacher, and passionate scholar who weaves myth, music, psychology, history and art with experiential learning. Educated at the San Francisco Conservatory and Pacifica Graduate Institute, Kayleen wrote her Ph.D. dissertation on Passion and Paradox: The Myths of Mary Magdalene in Music, Art and Culture.

Sue Ellen Parkinson. Sue Ellen is an artist who for the last few years has been painting Christian mystics with the intention of discovering her own relationship to them.  She has been particularly drawn to Mary Magdalene and other images of the Sacred Feminine. For Sue Ellen, Magdalene has become a symbol of all women who have been misrepresented and denied their appropriate authority in the world.  

Astara Jane Ashley. Astara is CEO and Publisher of Flower of Life Press, Transpersonal Psychotherapist and an Art Therapist. Astara’s books are the catalysts and tools for enlightening the expansive tribe of “Evolutionaries”. Astara  holds a sacred container for women to claim their power and their voice.  She is a devoted priestess of the anointing mysteries.

Mary Magdalene Retreat Outline

Day 1, Friday – December 3: Retreat Starts (D)
Arrival on your own to your reserved accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Shuttle information to resort will be given with Confirmation). Time to refresh yourself before your welcome dinner with wine, a program overview for the weekend by Kathleen and the preliminaries of the Workshop, including introductions to the participating speakers:

Day 2, Saturday – December 4: Retreat Continues- Full Day Workshop (B/D)
We will all join for breakfast followed by an opening anointing ritual led by Astara.  A full day of workshops and discussions on the Life and Teachings of Mary Magdalene.  Kayleen Asbo’s dynamic lecture on Magdalene’s importance in early Christianity and a stunning slideshow presentation on Magdalene in Art, set to music is the highlight of the morning!

Lunch is on your own, or you can use that free time to walk on the beach and assimilate the events of the morning before resuming for a full afternoon where Kathleen will debut the material from her new book, The Magdalene Way for the very first time!  In the evening after our group dinner, we will all gather and enjoy a glass of champagne and a ceremony on the beach / storytelling (weather dependent).

Day 3, Sunday – December 5: Retreat Continues-Morning Workshop. Afternoon to Meditation Mountain followed by walking the Labyrinth at Borchard Park (B/D)
After breakfast, Sue Ellen Parkinson will recount her amazing journey with the Magdalene through art and present her special images to us. Kathleen will be joined by Astara to talk about spiritual publishing and forthcoming books and opportunities to participate, and then will continue her presentation of The Magdalene Way. This is followed by a lunch break on our own. Afterwards, we will board our coach for the short journey to nearby Ojai. Here we will immerse ourselves in the peace and stunning natural beauty of Meditation Mount where you will have time to explore the grounds and meditate on your own. There is so much waiting to blossom as we come together here as a community of kindred spirits, committed to laying the foundations for the needed soul-centered society of our collective aspirations as Magdalene Women. We journey onward to Borchard Park, where we will walk the Chartres-style labyrinth and have the opportunity to integrate the beautiful energies of the weekend. Return to our hotel for our farewell dinner followed by storytelling after dessert.

Day 4, Monday – December 6: Retreat Ends Or stay for an Optional Santa Rita Hills Wine Trail tour including lunch on the Santa Barbara Coast (B)
We will meet for an early final breakfast and Q & A panel lecture led by Kathleen McGowan.
For those who are staying on in Ventura there will be an Optional Wine Tasting Tour. (See details below.)

Your Retreat Includes:

• All Retreat activities including workshops, prayer circles and entry to exchange
• 4 days & 3 nights accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
• Hotel taxes
• Daily breakfast
• Dinner every night
• Wine with dinner
• Welcome Wine reception
• Coffee, tea & water breaks
• Complimentary guest room wifi
• Special afternoon visit to Meditation Mountain
• A chance to walk the Labyrinth at nearby Borchard Park
• Optional Post-Retreat Wine Tasting Tour

OPTIONAL POST-RETREAT WINE TASTING TOUR – Dec. 6 to 7 (B/L/D)

A perfect way to extend your Retreat stay with a special one-day special tour to the Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills Wine Trail. We board our coach for our first stop at the Old Mission Santa Barbara which was established on the Feast of St. Barbara, December 4, 1786.  Kathleen will discuss her theory that Saint Barbara represents the descendants of Mary Magdalene, and perhaps her daughter specifically. She will also discuss the importance of Mary Magdalene to the missionaries who came from Spain to California. We then continue to lunch on the coast. After lunch, we return to our hotel with two winery stops on the Santa Rita Hills Wine Trail that passes through some of the most bucolic scenery in Santa Barbara and its beautiful vineyards.  Late return to our hotel for dinner and our overnight at our hotel. Tour ends the following morning, December 7.

Our Retreat Hotel – The Crowne Plaza Hotel
The Crowne Plaza Hotel Ventura Beach is the only hotel on the beach in Ventura and just two blocks from historic downtown, making it easy for guests to explore all the area has to offer. 235 rooms with ocean views that also feature wi-fi internet access, refrigerators, microwave ovens, coffee markers and more. There is a 24-hour Fitness Center and one of the only ocean-view bars in Ventura. Relax on the beach or enjoy a scenic boat ride out to Channel Island State Park. Shop at the vintage shops and premium outlets, that you’ll find it all within minutes of the hotel

How to get to Ventura
Note: Transfers to and from the hotel are not included in the retreat price. Transfer options to and from the hotel will be given with your confirmation.

Please read the Terms and Conditions for this program.

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount off the credit card rate if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

Special NO INTEREST- NO PAYMENTS* Plan!
Body Mind Spirit Journeys now offers a Credit Plan with PayPal (Click here for details) 

LAND ONLY PRICING

PRICE PER PERSON IN TWIN BEDDED ROOM
Per Person Double Occupancy: $1,989 by check or money order, $2,089 by credit card
PRICE PER PERSON IN SINGLE ROOM
Per Person Single Occupancy: $2,599 by check or money order, $2,739 by credit card

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL DISCOUNT (if prepaid by August 1, 2021) Price Per Person:
Per Person Double Occupancy: $1,839 by check or money order, $1,939 by credit card

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL DISCOUNT IN SINGLE ROOM (August 1 ,2021) Price Per Person:
Per Person Single Occupancy: $2,449 by check or money order, $2,579 by credit card

MOTHER DAUGHTER DISCOUNT (sharing same room)
Total for Two Persons Double Occupancy: $3,678 by check or money order, $3,869 by credit card

OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL PRICE FOR POST-RETREAT TOUR (December 6-7)
Per Person Double Occupancy: $499 by check or money order, $529 by credit card
Per Person Single Room Occupancy: $699 by check or money order, $729 by credit card

SPECIAL PRICE FOR VENTURA AREA RESIDENTS (December 3-6)
For local residents of the Ventura area who do not require accommodations and just want to attend the retreat, they can take a special program that includes the total Retreat day-by-day program with Kathleen PLUS dinner every night.
Price Per Person: $999 by check or money order, $1,059 by credit card

Pre-Retreat Extra Night Accommodations (no meals):
Price Per Person in a double room: $89 ($94 credit card)
Price Per Person in a single room: $179 ($189 credit card

Deposit Schedule:
First Non-Refundable Payment – due as soon as possible in order to ensure a place on the tour as space is limited.
Per Person Double or Single accommodations: $500 by check or money order, $525 by credit card

Final Payment (other than Early Bird that is due August 1, 2021) final instalment due on or before October 4, 2021)

Attendance is strictly limited due to hotel capacity and the event is expected to sell out. Early booking is highly recommended.

If you have already registered and would like to go to the payment page, Click Here.

Air Reservations
BMSJ is pleased to announce that it has opened an expanded Air Reservation Desk headed by Jeannifer Brady. Jen can be reached at 1-800-545-1300 or travelbyjeannifer@gmail.com. Jen will be happy to answer your questions and assist you in making your airline reservations to join your BMSJ Spiritual Journey

Travel Insurance
As travel professionals, Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends travel insurance. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise. A sudden emergency just before or during your trip could spoil your vacation and deplete your resources.

We have recently seen some of our valued travelers lose not only their non-refundable deposits, but also their entire tour payments because they hoped they would not need trip cancellation insurance.

You should protect your trip investment and yourself in regards to health, property and trip payments. That is why we provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

BMSJ will be sending you additional details and a brochure with your confirmation on trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

*No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months. Click here for details.