The Way of Love
Magdalene Women's Retreat
21-28 June 2025
‘There is a secret place. A radiant sanctuary.
As real as your own kitchen. More real than that.
Constructed of the purest elements. Overflowing with the ten thousand beautiful things.
Worlds within worlds. Forests, rivers. Velvet coverlets thrown over featherbeds,
fountains bubbling beneath a canopy of stars. Bountiful forests, universal libraries.
A wine cellar offering an intoxication so sweet you will never be sober again.
A clarity so complete you will never again forget. This magnificent refuge is inside you.
Enter. Shatter the darkness that shrouds the doorway…
Believe the incredible truth that the Beloved has chosen for his dwelling place the core of your own being.. because that is the single most beautiful place in all of creation.
― Mirabai Starr ~“The Calling” from the Introduction to her translation of Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castle
This is a warm invitation to enter the sanctuary of your heart and step onto the Way of Love: a path of remembering your essence, in the mystical French Pyrenees from June 21-28, 2025.
Mary Magdalene & The Way of Love
The Way of Love is a spiritual path walked by Yeshua (Jesus), Mary Magdalene and many others, based on the principles of unconditional love, compassion, and sacred union. It is a mystical path that invites inner transformation through learning to see with the eyes of the heart. The teachings of the Way of Love originate in early gnostic Christian thought, yet transcend religious boundaries and embrace a wider understanding of spirituality.
According to local legend, Mary Magdalene fled Judea after the resurrection and arrived at the shores of Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer in southern France together with several of her family members. She then journeyed onwards to the Pyrenees where she taught and baptized the local people. During the Way of Love retreat we will visit sacred sites in the land connected to her, such as Les Fontaines des Amours, La Source Madeleine, Bugarach mountain & the village of Rennes-le-Château.
Mary Magdalene's courageous life path inspires women today to trust and follow their inner truth, daring to stand out by following their unique soul path. The Gospel of Mary highlights her role as a teacher and leader, illustrating that becoming fully human involves recognizing a spirituality that is intertwined with and not separate from human experiences and emotions. This is the powerful invitation she, and the land she walked, hand to us: to fully accept our humanity and thereby open up to a divine, eternal love to be the leading force in our lives.
Cathar Country in the Pyrenees
The Cathars were an alternative religious group that emerged in the 12th century; they translated the Bible into their local Occitan language, and took a liberal approach to the interpretation of the texts that opposed traditional Church ideas. Women were considered equal to men and held positions of spiritual power in Cathar culture. Cathar communities flourished widely in the Pyrenees, just as legends and sites of Mary Magdalene did. In the 13th century, the Cathars were almost completely eradicated by the cruel practices of the church inquisition, yet their mystical teachings, castles and power places remain.
Cathars were deeply connected to nature, to the ancient wisdom held in the valleys and mountains of Aude and Ariege. During the Way of Love Retreat we will visit sacred Cathar sites such as Montsegur Castle and Lombrives cave, guided by the inspiring stories of Cathar women who, despite an often threatening environment, stood up for what they believed in. Through their stories we can learn about courage and inquire deeper into our own hearts as to where we are asked to courageously asked to follow its whispers.
The intention for each visit is to let the land speak to us, by quieting our minds and opening our senses and hearts to receive what is meant for us in the moment. Besides visiting many wonderful power places, we will practice singing, dancing, creative writing and gentle yoga to integrate and embody our experiences. In between activities there will be spaces for rest and solo time, allowing you to go for a hike around Domaine de Mournac, take a dive in the swimming pool or enjoy a restful siesta.
Daily schedule
08:00 - 09:00 Breakfast
09:30 – 13:30: Way of Love Morning: outdoor visit to a sacred site*
14:00 – 17:00: Lunch ~ Rest ~ Free Time
17:00 – 19.00: Way of Love Afternoon: onsite integration workshop
(e.g. writing, yin yoga, sound journey)
19.00: Dinner
20.30 – 22.00: Dance ~ Singing Circle ~ Fire Evening ~ Free Time
*On some days we will take lunch with us and only return to the Domaine around 5pm,
after which there will be free time until dinner.
Accommodation
We will be staying in the beautiful Domaine de Mournac in the Aude region of the French Pyrenees. Surrounded by mountains and vineyards, Domaine de Mournac is a place of deep peace and natural beauty. The Domaine consists of a fully renovated farmhouse with a large dining and living room, a terrace with stunning mountain view, a large garden with swimming pool and spacious bedrooms in rustic style. Mealtimes will be enjoyed in the dining room or outside on the terrace when the weather allows. Our indoor activities will be centered in The Activity Room, a luminous space with many windows and a wooden floor, with plenty of room to move, meditate and create. In the garden and by the swimming pool you can find many peaceful corners to sit down and read a book or simply enjoy the view. Domaine de Mournac offers different shared rooms with an ensuite bathroom, all with their own special twist.
Retreat Team
Jeska Onderwater
Jeska Onderwater is an artist, singer-songwriter, yoga teacher, creative workshop & ceremony leader. Fascinated by the beauty of the natural world, the magic of creative expression and the mysterious journey of life she creates her offerings from and for the heart.
In 2021 she received a strong calling to pack her bags and travel to France, a journey guided by the Rose and Mary Magdalene. Her travels brought her to magical power places and meetings with soulmates amongst which her life partner. It inspired her to write new music and create 'Whispers of the Rose Path', with which she organizes retreats inspired by by the magic of the Rose flower and the ancient Rose Lineage of powerful women, past and present.
Jeska has been sharing her music and creative guidance in yoga classes, festivals, retreats, workshops, concerts & ceremonies all over Europe for the last 10 years. In deep attunement with the whispers of the Earth and those of her own heart she creates safe, loving spaces for deep remembering and creativity to flow through.
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Caroline Frederix
Caroline has always been fascinated by good food.
From her childhood home she inherited an interest in baking traditional sweet pies and other good stuff from the oven. In her mums kitchen, delicious, healthy and responsible eating came naturally. Food from the garden, local and seasonal products, fresh and home-made.
Caroline still enjoys baking and cooking and has been able to gain a lot of inspiration during her worldwide travels. From a RAW chef course in Australia, getting inspired by the Ayurvedic cuisine in India to working on food truck festivals throughout Belgium: food is her passion. As Caroline gained more experience, she also began to find the healthy aspect of food increasingly important and this is where her focus is now. She chooses to cook vegetarian or vegan, often in line with Ayurvedic principles, using organic, local and seasonal products as much as possible.
More info via: https://njamaste.one/
Carla Borges
Carla Borges is a holistic therapist who blends the wisdom of Ayurveda with the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples from Brazil, her country of origin. After years in the public sector, she decided to follow an old calling—dedicating herself to healing.
As she immersed herself in these ancient practices and experienced her own transformation, her desire to help others access this wisdom and reconnect with their bodies and roots grew stronger. This led to the creation of her project, Integrare.
Based in Luxembourg for five years, her approach focuses not only on the physical body but also on the mind, emotions, and spirit. Her massages are deeply relaxing and reinvigorating, offering a profound and healing experience that unites body, mind, and soul.
More info via: www.integrareatelier.com/en
Romain Gauthier
For the past 15 years, Romain has been involved in social entrepreneurship in various domains (education, health, inclusion) and various countries (France, Belgium, Quebec, Cambodia, Egypt, and more recently in Luxembourg).
In 2021, after 6 months of pilgrimage on the Santiago Way in France, he decided to start a positive media platform to highlight transition stories and inspirational experiences and called it: Réenchantons la Terre. With this platform, he is supporting people and projects who offer alternative solutions to living in harmony with each other and the planet. He also facilitates ceremonial gatherings with Jeska (singing circles, concerts, retreats) and other creatives.
Romain will be assisting with all things practical during the retreat, he will mainly be helping Caroline in the kitchen and offer practical support where needed. We know the presence of a man in a women's retreat can be sensitive, yet you can trust in the discrete, kind and respectful presence of Romain in the background of the retreat.
More info via: https://www.romaingauthier.org/
What other women say:
about retreats with Jeska
The retreat was magical and has created a new opening for me. A connection to the rose which fuels me with softness, femininity, and courage. I feel inspired, emotional, seen, and carried. I found back a part of myself in Avalon, the thing I probably came for. Jeska guided us softly, strongly, and lovingly. You knew it was more important to listen to the needs of the group rather than following a strict program. The program was perfect, not too much, not too little. The sacred spaces you chose and the guidance of a different colour rose/ascended master each day allowed for a smooth flow, letting Avalon carry us from one magical place to another. I loved your music and your invitations for us to sing intuitively together.
~ Lynn (The Netherlands) on the Avalon Women's Retreat 2024
It was profoundly deepening, enriching, relaxing, enhancing, expanding , magical divine meets human and human meets divine ceremonial priestess healing!
I passed through a portal towards a so much more expansive world of the divine feminine that felt so deeply grounded and can only recommend this retreat to other women.
~ Nathanja (The Netherlands) on the Iona Women's Retreat 2024
I have just returned from a magical and insightful week on Iona with Jeska as my guide. Her intentional and meaningful engagement opportunities, ceremonies and songs have left me feeling renewed, refreshed and showing up on this Earth with more love to share. Thank you Jeska. I adore you.
~ Cindy (United States) on the Iona Women's Retreat 2023
I just can say, thank you for this magical day. It was really great. I enjoyed every part of it. And my highlight is Jeska´s voice. She has a beautiful warm and strong voice. It goes through your heart, opens it and starts your healing process. I loved the singing circles and the rainbow came to join us in its beautiful colours of Life and especially the Roses. Our hugs and just being together lovingly. Thank you. ♥️
~ Anna (Germany) on The Rose Path: One Day Retreat 2024
Investment*
Option 1: 1555 euro (1 spot left) - before: 1999 euro
private ensuite room with mountain view
Option 2: 1222 euro (1 spot left) - before: 1777 euro
bed in a twin shared room with garden or mountain view
Option 3: 999 euro (2 spots left) - before: 1555 euro
bed in a triple shared ensuite room with mountain view
Deposit to reserve your spot: 444 EUR
Balance due by the 1st of June 2025
Payment plans available upon request
The above prices are new,
including a unique last-minute discount of 500 euros per option.
Cancellation policy
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If you cancel before the 1st of May, you will receive a 90% refund
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If you cancel between the 1st of May and the 1st of June, you will receive a 50% refund
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After June 1st, we're unable to give any refunds, but you can transfer your spot to a friend
What's included?
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7 nights accommodation at the beautiful Domaine de Mournac
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Three delicious vegetarian meals a day by Caroline
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Unlimited Rose Tea served throughout the day
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Full Retreat program with Jeska
The Way of Love retreat program*:
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Visit to the mystical Magdalene village of Rennes-le-Chateau
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Visit to Montsegur Cathar Castle & Lombrives Cave
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Local legends, Storytelling & Meditations
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Visit to the Throne of Isis & Forest of Wise Stones
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Ceremonial day hike up Bugarach Mountain
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Visit to sacred water sites: Les Fontaines des Amours, La Source Madeleine, Hot Springs
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Trip to the Esperaza Sunday market with local artisans & food
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Intuitive Dance, Singing Circle & Sound Journey
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Relaxing Yin Yoga with Live Music
And a whole lot of magic & nourishment!
*Note that the program may be changed or adapted
depending on the weather as well as intuitive guidance during the week
What's not included?
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Travel to and from Domaine de Mournac
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Additional snacks or meals in local restaurants
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Any other expenses outside of the retreat program
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Optional 1:1 massage sessions
How to get to Domaine de Mournac?
By train/plane/taxi:
Flying into or traveling from Carcassonne airport or train station is most convenient as it is closest to the Domaine. Dependant on the amount of people arriving at Carcassonne we will arrange a group taxi from the airport which costs between 50-15 euros per person for a 45 minute drive. Flying into Toulouse is another option, you will then have to take a taxi ride of 1,5 hours which will cost between 120-55 euros a person, prices are dependant on how many participants will travel at the same time. Once you register, Jeska will ask you for your travel details and organize the group taxis from both airports where needed. Another option is to travel by bus from Carcassonne station to Couiza/Montazels, from where we can arrange someone to pick you up.
By car:
Domaine de Mournac, 11190 Antugnac, France
You can park at the parking of the Domaine for free. Once you sign up, you can indicate whether you're coming by car and let us know if you wish to make yourself available to be one of the drivers to the sacred sites.
Fuel costs for these trips (between 10 minutes and 1 hour) will be reimbursed to you by the end of the retreat.
Arrival & Departure
You are welcome at Domaine de Mournac on Saturday June 21st from 4pm onwards to land and install in your room.
The program will officially start with dinner at 7:00 pm followed by our opening circle at 8:30pm.
On Saturday June 28 check out is at 10:00, with breakfast being served from 8am to 9am.
Our closing circle will take place in the evening on Friday June 27 already.
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Questions?
Feel free to contact me directly for any questions or to schedule a call if you're wondering whether this retreat is for you. I'm happy to connect with you!
Mail: jeska.onderwater@gmail.com
Follow me on Instagram for more sharings on the retreat via stories & posts or sign up to my monthly newsletter here
With love,
Jeska