Pilgrimage of the Heart: A Creative Retreat Exploring the Christ Path
A Shekina Garden and La Nuvola Offering
24-30 August 2026
Chiusella Valley, Italy
We are very excited to announce our next gathering happening in Italy this August: Pilgrimage of the Heart: A Creative Retreat exploring the Christ Path.
By popular request, this year's Pilgrimage is longer! 6 nights and 5 full days together, over 24-30th August.
Come join us for a rich time of community, delicious food, meditative and creative practices on the Christ Path - all in an incredibly beautiful setting in the foothills of the Italian Alps.
Our hosts Tiina and Giona from La Nuvola ('The Cloud' - previously known as Upcycle House) have found the perfect venue for our second Pilgrimage together: Casa Alpina, a sweet retreat house set in nature in the Chiusella Valley near Turin, Italy.
We will feast on fresh homemade Italian food, sourced as much as possible from local, organic farms and makers (last year's local mozzarella was a stand out!).
Our practices every day will be grounded in the Christian tradition, exploring creative ways of connecting with the Divine through our bodies, minds and souls. The facilitators have many years of experience guiding rich practices and sharing circles at Shekina Garden, Thailand, and communities around the globe. There will be practices of contemplation and meditation, movement, music, devotion and creativity. We'll also have plenty of space for rest: time for hiking, swimming, journalling, napping, or our own creative practices.
Come join us if you are hungry for connection and community. If you are a Jesus devotee who is exploring new ways of connection. If you're not sure whether you "fit" in church spaces any more. If you're exploring spirituality and want a safe space to investigate Jesus' life and teachings. If you are curious, heartsore, wandering or lonely. You are welcome with us.
We love making spaces to explore, feel, experience, question, experiment, make mistakes and connect with each other and God.
Come join us in the mountains! Together we are going to create a beautiful week of practice and community - come and be part of it!
NB - this gathering is an internal Pilgrimage of the Heart, not a walking pilgrimage. All sessions will be held in or near Casa Alpina.
Accommodation and Dining Details:
Our accommodation is Casa Alpina - a beautiful retreat house in nature, in the foothills of the Italian Alps, nearby a river in the Chiusella Valley. Casa Alpina has single beds in 4 shared dorms, with space for 35 pilgrims, and 3 well-maintained bathrooms with showers. If privacy is preferred, pilgrims can bring their own tents and bedding and make use of the beautiful grounds.
Our food will be vegetarian, home-cooked, fresh and delicious! Sourced as much as possible from local organic farms and makers, Tiina and Giona put so much love and care into each meal. Eating together in Italy is an experience!
Cost Details:
We operate on a pay-as-you-can sliding scale. We want to make this Pilgrimage of the Heart as accessible as possible, while making sure we cover our expenses - including travel costs for Rae, Chinua, Neil and Ro to come from Thailand. The early bird sliding scale price is €450-600, if booked by the 31st May. After that date, the sliding scale price is €500-650. (See payment details below.)
This covers accommodation, all meals from dinner on Monday 24th to breakfast on Sunday 30th, and all sessions throughout the Pilgrimage.
Payment and Refund Policy:
The cut off date for booking and payment will be 30 days before the Pilgrimage. Pilgrims will be refunded the full amount paid (minus transfer fees) if sufficient numbers of bookings to cover our costs have not been reached by that time. (See payment details below.)
Who We Are:
Rae, Chinua, Ro and Neil have been running Shekina Garden in Thailand together for over 10 years. They are mature, compassionate and experienced space-holders, leaders and guides. Having come with their own experiences of guiding, teaching and leading groups and events for years before working together, at Shekina Garden they have created a space that is now well-known as a safe place of welcome and spiritual practice for travellers and seekers on the hippy trail through Asia.
Tiina and Giona are the Finnish-Italian couple behind La Nuvola ('The Cloud', previously known as Upcycle House) - a New Monastic Art Residence in Biella, a small mountain town in Northern Italy. They have created a beautiful space for authentic spirituality, hospitality and connection—both for locals and travellers, and are experienced facilitators of spiritual events and retreats in their region.
How to Book:
Here is the link to the Sign Up Sheet, which you will need to fill out to book your spot. The sign-up sheet also has many helpful details you will want to see. 😊
You can pay the early bird sliding scale fee of 450-600 Euro (by May 31), or the regular sliding scale fee of 500-650 Euro (after May 31) via Paypal or Stripe (see buttons below).
If you would like to pay via Wise or Bank Transfer, please send Rachel an email at journeymama@gmail.com.
Your fee includes dormitory or tent accommodation, food, and all pilgrimage workshops and sessions from Monday 24th evening to Sunday 30th morning. We are so excited and can’t wait to have this life-changing experience together!
