The Water of Life: Zoodochos Pigi Dream Pilgrimage

Athens, Tinos, Mykonos, Delos, Peloponnese

12th - 19th August 2026

7 nights, 8 days

“He who has access to the fountain does not go to the water-jar.” - Leonardo da Vinci

Taste the waters of life this summer and come and dream with us at one of the most important festivals in the sacred Greek calendar - the Assumption of the Virgin on the Cycladic island of Tinos, where the Virgin appears in dream visions to some 30,000 devotees, who turn up on the 14th of August every summer. On this night, an all-night vigil is held in the local church as pilgrims await a dreamvision of Panagia.

This celebration has its roots very firmly in the dreamworld, as the construction of the church and pilgrimage destination was built because of a series of dream visions. A local nun, sister Pelagia (her name means - of the sea) was hounded by the Virgin in dreams. In July 1822, Saint Pelagia (then Sister Pelagia), a devout nun in her 70s, experienced a series of dreams. The Virgin Mary appeared to her bathed in light, expressing her suffering at being buried underground for centuries. She instructed Pelagia to organise excavations in a nearby field owned by Antonios Doxaras in order to recover her holy icon and rebuild the church on that exact spot. The Mother of God was insistent that the woman locate a lost miracle-working icon.

In Greek Orthodoxy icons function much like ancient statues and idols, they are considered to be ‘ensouled’ containing the living essence, the life-force, of the saint depicted. So when a lost one is discovered - and they are discovered very frequently through divine dreams as it turns out - a church, shrine, or chapel needs to be constructed to house this living image. As was the case in more ancient times, to then sleep in this sacred precinct, often invites divine dreams and an opportunity for a mortal to have an audience with the figure.

This retreat will take you to some of the most beautiful, vibrant, and sacred locations in all of Greece. Places where the sweet waters of the life-giving source can be tasted directly, to mythological springs that will whet your appetite for dream magic, tranquil gulfs, and healing waters.

Locations visited include:

Athens - Our rendezvous point. We shall first visit the Shrine of the Muses on Philopappos Hill

Mykonos - Our starting point for both Tinos and Delos

Tinos - The island of pilgrimage

Delos - The Holy Island. Birthplace of the divine twins Apollo and Artemis

Ancient Corinth - City of Pegasus (whose name means spring), and the Water of Inspiration

Ancient Epidavros - Visit to the ‘Virginity restoring waters’ of Goddess Hera at Aghia Moni near Nafplion and the Sanctuary of Asklepios and Apollo Maleatus - the most famous ancient Holistic Healing Sanctuary in the world.

Costs, Deposit, and Instalments:

Prices are all inclusive of transportation whilst on the retreat. Including pick-up and drop off to central Athens, all accommodation, a Dream Mysteries dream kit, all food (for best sleep and dream quality this will be breakfast and a long late lunch between 3-5pm) and all museum and site entrance fees.

£2850 - Single Occupancy

£3100 - Double Occupancy

(All rooms are private with own bathroom)

£500 - Non-refundable deposit to secure your place.

Discounts: £100 discount for any attendee of the Delphic Dreaming Conference. £150 discount for previous Dream Mysteries retreats in Greece participants. These discounts can be combined for a maximum of £250 discount when the invoice is paid in full upon receipt.

Please note: Payment by instalments is okay, and instalments of any amount can be made, but full payment must be received by end of June 2026 at the latest.

Pick up and Drop Off Information:

Pick up will be at 2pm at the Acropolis Car Park, at this location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qkjV1prAJeVBv1Q67

Drop off will be 2pm at the central travel hub Syntagma Square in Athens for connection to elsewhere in the city and to the airport by taxi or metro.

Payment Details:

Email for invoice: sarahjanes@themysteries.org

Mysteries of Elefsina and Isis: Dream Retreat

An oneiric exploration of the Greater Mysteries of Elefsina, hosted by Sarah Janes with guest facilitator Rosanna Lowe during the Autumn Equinox 2026.

Dates:

16th - 25th September 2026

10 nights/11 days

Arrival and Departure:

Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos”

Accommodations: Sunny Gardens, Sunken City Road, Ancient Epidavros, Argolis

Approx two hours south of Athens city centre.

Pick up from Athens:

Acropolis Car Park 3pm 16th Sept

43 Robertou Galli, Athens 117 43 Greece

Drop off to Athens:

Syntagma Square 3pm 25th Sept

This is best for metro connections around the city and airport.


A co-created Dream Mystery play and pilgrimage with theatre director, playwright, actress, and coach Rosanna Lowe.

We shall drink kykeon too! 🍵 🌟 

This event will take place at the same time that the Greater Mysteries of Elefsina took place in antiquity. Following the Autumn Equinox and Selene to the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Elefsis. We shall wash our piglets in the Saronic Gulf and retrace the footsteps of the mystai along the Sacred Way!

The archaeological sites we will visit also include:

Temple of Isis and the Baths of Beautiful Helen

Poseidon Sanctuary of the Isthmus

Ancient Corinth, the Temple of Apollo, Pierene Fountain

The Virginity-restoring spring of Hera near Nafplio

Mykines (Mycenae) citadel and lionsgate

Sanctuary of Asklepios and Apollo Maleatus in Epidavros

The Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Elefsina! - site of the Elefsinian Mysteries

Activities:

Daily workshops at our workshop space in the retreat centre, and on-site at some of the sacred sites, dream incubation, art and writing workshops, somatic and creative dream-working with the myth of Demeter and Kore. Collective development of our own version of a Mystery Play over the course of the retreat.

Costs:

£2800 All inclusive single occupancy suite with private bathroom and balcony in Ancient Epidavros on the Sunken City Road. You can swim or kayak over a sunken Roman villa from the beach here.

£3300 All inclusive double occupancy suite, twin beds or double.

Discounts:

£150 discount for full payment upon receipt of invoice.

£150 discount for previous retreat attendees.

You can combine discounts if you are a previous retreat attendee and are paying the full amount upon receipt of invoice.

Deposit:

£500 to confirm place per person

Please note full payment must be received by 1st of July 2026. Instalments can be arranged upon request.

Price includes:

All transportation in Greece, all accommodation costs, meals (as described below), all museum and archaeological site entrance fees. You will just need to buy your flights.

Meals:

Meals will be taken at local restaurants with a variety of freshly prepared, mostly vegetarian, healthy Greek cuisine. Breakfast will be served buffet style at 8:30am every morning at the retreat centre, and lunch will be taken late and leisurely, starting at 3pm and probably lasting till 5pm. For best dream results we recommend not eating after this time. Alcohol will not be served and we also recommend not drinking alcohol fo rate duration of the retreat for best sleep quality and duration.

Payment:

Payment links will be sent with confirmation email and invoice.

Email for invoice: sarahjanes@themysteries.org