changemakers reciprocity retreat

In 2024, I hosted my first retreat. I was in my peak grant gorl era– lowkey was unemployed!! But was also self-employed okay. My day to day was applying to funding that would allow me to expand my offerings in community.

After much resistance, I began to accept and integrate my need for beauty, luxury, and restoration in my life. Especially, as an organizer. It seemed counter-intuitive but actually, this approach brought me deeper into changework because it increased my capacity. Many mentors and loved ones invited me into this knowing, through similar experiences (retreats).

These experiences changed the way I showed up for myself and thus, in community. I realized organizing does not have to mean struggle, pain, and drama– all the time. In fact, those will always exist on earth, so why are we truly gathering? What are we truly building? Am I in community space for collective liberation or for an individual need? These are some questions I was reckoning with and had space to process in a safe container (at said retreats).

Post retreat insights

These retreat were after I had lost all hope in creating change within existing systems. Representing them did not feel like success. So I sat with that sadness, disappointment, and despair. I found my thoughts and feelings felt much lighter when hanging out with nature. Around healers. Culturally affirming communities. Horsies and a monkey.

Sure, I would have to return home, but I took this understanding with me. Tenemos healers, animales, y pasto en la casa--tbh. After identifying what made this experience so impactful, I began to nurture those things at home.

• more intentional meals
• more nature time
• more honest mirrors/people
• more exploratory play
• more spanish

These retreats gave me a new framework to create change. Less focused on the evil ugly forces and more focused on our personal responsibility to create what we wish to see. On creating spaces that elevate the beauty and wealth that naturally exists in our communities. I also wanted to make organizing feel irresistible and meaningful. Thus, the Changemakers Reciprocity Retreat was born.

With the help of a community grant, I felt supported enough to host an immersive experience at a local hot spring hotel. Very luxury, very boho. A group of local changemakers had a time. We shared our skills, gifts, space, and presence. We slowed down. Mo (mi bb pup) protected us from all dangers. It was beautiful.

After a hiatus, I am ready to host the next group this upcoming winter. It will be the perfect time for introspection and nourishment. This is an intimate space, with only 6 spots. This reflects the retreat style: intimate, depth over quantity, and cozy.

Participant Feedback

"The retreat was a gift for me. It became the space that allowed me to sit with my thoughts and process everything I was going through at the time. Although it was hard to face in moments, it felt good to be in an environment that honored my under "reconstruction" of sorts. Celeste is genuine and isn't about putting on a show, she has a rare gift for cutting straight to the core of things in a way that helps you understand yourself better and grow. The sessions were interesting and engaging, each allowed me to explore different aspects of healing. Overall, I left with a lot of personal insights and with more courage to live life on my terms, and for that I am very grateful. "

"Changing the environment was special; I was so used to everyday life. The rural peaceful nature environment took me outside of routine and mindspace to be able to rest. I met new people that are in the same communities I am in but had never connected with or had conversation with personally. That was cool. Feeling cared for, like a wellness retreat is not something I would do for myself. The affordability allowed me to that. That offering made me realize that i should be taking care of myself. I know burnout is real, its more talked about now, but becoming aware that the work I do."

"I learned a lot from the workshops. how to use herbs in ancestral forms and medicinal. that we can have a relationship with plants. (thanks elyde!) From there, I continue a friendship online with the photographer, she is awesome. i know her now because the retreat. now we are online buds! i learn from her.that was my first time sitting in a circulo. had never done that before. not therapy, but supportive. you teach me a lot. i am in the capitalist hampster wheel. but our friendship has taught me there is another way. "

"I noticed I didn’t record as much of the retreat as I thought i did. But it was nice to just simply exist & bear witness to the magic of reciprocity, we really do have so much in our communities & I wish we practiced it more often & loudly!"

Video Feedback

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC7jBpyTJr7/