O my soul, come, praise the Eternal with all that is in me—body, emotions, mind, and will—every part of who I am—praise His holy name. Psalm 103:1
καρδία (kardia) is Greek for “Heart” — yet it is all-encompassing in meaning. According to Strong’s Concordance: “universally, καρδία denotes the seat and center of all physical and spiritual life and the vigor and sense of physical life. [It is…] the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors.” When Paul wrote “let the eyes of your heart (καρδία, kardia) be opened” he meant for our entire being—every part of who we are—to be open to the movement of God’s Spirit within us.
Rooted & Reaching Embodied Care: Integrated Spiritual Direction and Caregiving for Mind, Body, Spirit & Soul is designed to provide spiritual direction, compassionate mentoring, soul companioning and wholistic care order to live a more fully embodied, whole-hearted life—the καρδία, kardia life! One of the ways we do this is through Rooted & Reaching Embodied Care REtreats, hosted by Jody Thomae, author and teacher on creativity, spirituality and embodiment, at her private home studio, Rooted & Reaching Lakeside, at Pleasant Hill Lake near the Mohican Forest in beautiful North Central Ohio.
At this incredible soul-renewing location, our greatest hope is to provide a safe and sacred space for you—the whole of you—to come home to your own self, to embrace your body as a BEaUtiful part of your spiritual journey, to nurture the creative spirit within, and to go deeper into the heart of God.
Rooted & Reaching Embodied Care REtreats are designed as an opportunity for you to withdrawal from the demands of daily life and set aside sacred time for rest and reflection, prayer and worship, movement and mindfulness, creativity and exploration. Together we journey with sacred rhythms—again and again—in Christ-centered community, spending time in embodied prayer, mindful creativity, faith-based yoga practice, Biblical teaching and exploration, and worshipful movement—all along the shores of Pleasant Hill Lake.
Limited to no more than nine participants and two staff members, the REtreat is designed to encourage deep connection with others also on the path seeking to live a more fully embodied, whole-hearted life—the καρδία, kardia life!
This series of Christ-centered retreats revolve around embodied and creative exploration of the following themes: EMBODIED (embodiment); WOVEN (identity); KINTSUGI (healing); WISDOM (discernment); ONE THING (simplicity); BEHOLD (purpose) and SEASONS (journey). These retreats are a chance to withdrawal from the busyness of everyday life and set aside time to return to the heart—the καρδία, kardia—of who you are, in your fullest embodied expression. Spend time in the beauty of creation as together we explore a sacred rhythm that allows both our embodied selves and creative selves to play a greater role in our spiritual lives.
Retreat activities include:
- Mindful Movement including Circle Dances, Candlelight Dances, Embodied Prayer & Sacred Dance
- Christ-centered, faith-based restorative yoga and/or gentle flow
- Nature Walks and other Embodied Spiritual Practices
- Creative Spiritual Practices such as Mindful Coloring, Music, Movie Night and Creating Sacred Space
- Teaching, Bible Study and Devotional Times
You’ll notice we capitalize the RE in REtreat around here. The prefix “RE” is used with the meaning “again” or “again and again” to indicate repetition or with the meaning “back” or “backward” to indicate withdrawal or backward motion. REtreats are planned with this in mind, and themes reflect this as well.
REtreat Themes:
EMBODIED: the journey of RElease, REverence & REclamation (Embodiment) For too long we have moved through many aspects of life (work, play, church) with less than our whole selves. But God wants us to worship him with our heart, soul, mind and strength. Come join us on a journey of reclaiming, revering and releasing our embodied selves.
WOVEN: the journey of REcalling, REmembering & REforming (Identity) Beloved of God, it is time to walk in your true identity! Come join us as we journey together towards remembrance, revelation and reformation as we remember and re-form our identity in Christ as God reveals who we are created to be in and through him… fearfully and wonderfully woven together by the hands of the Master Creator into the trUly BEaUtiful creation you are!
KINTSUGI: the journey of REscue, REdemption & REstoration (Healing) Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold-infused epoxy. Rather than discarding the broken pieces, the piece is mended, and cracks are filled with precious metal. It is rooted in the inherent beauty of all objects, no matter what they’ve endured. Come join us on a journey of rescuing, redeeming and restoring with Jesus, as we explore the connection between healing and creativity, prayer and redemption, surrender and beauty, worship and wholeness.
BEHOLD: the journey of REsurrection, REnewal & REaffirmation (Purpose) You were created for a purpose! Are your ready for God to do a new thing through you, your life and ministry? Join us as together we explore our personal mission, serving Christ in the kind of incarnational ministry that brings heaven to earth. Together we will resurrect, renew and reaffirm the plans and purposes for which God has uniquely created us as his trUly BEaUtiful masterpiece.
WISDOM: the journey of REcognizing, REceiving & REvealing (Discernment) What does it look like to live life with more wisdom, discernment and understanding… and to make decisions in a more whole-hearted, fully-embodied way? Join us as we learn to recognize the voice of God, receive wisdom, light and guidance from the Holy Spirit, and allow God to reveal his hidden mysteries to your heart.
ONE THING: the journey of REturning, REfining & REfreshing (Simplicity) We live in a world that applauds busy lives with hectic schedules, but God calls us to a slower pace. How do we pursue the one necessary thing that Jesus asks of us? Come join us on the journey of returning to Sabbath rest, as we seek to refine the pace of our lives to find refreshment in simplicity…. learning to live with a Mary heart in a Martha world… and living out the BEaUty of an uncluttered soul.
SEASONS: the journey of REflecting, REsponding & REmaining (Journey) How do we understand life’s ups and downs through our understanding of the spiritual journey? Join us as we learn to reflect on our journeys, to respond to what GOD is doing in our lives, and to remain steadfast no matter what life and circumstances we encounter in our walk this side of heaven.
WILDERNESS: the journey of REviving, REsilience & REfreshment (Wilderness Seasons) How do we weather the harshness of the wilderness and desert seasons of our lives? When all feels dry and barren, and the soul thirsts for more? Join us with special guest teacher Sarah M. Wells as we explore the stories of three Biblical accounts of the wilderness and discover greater resilience as we wait for the reviving and refreshing Spirit of God to meet us in these wilderness places.
Please join us for this creative, embodied, spiritual journey!
REtreat Cost: $275*
*CC fees applied at checkout. Includes Friday evening (6pm) through Sunday afternoon (2pm) retreat; meals on Saturday and Sunday; snacks, coffee, tea; all programing materials; and special gifts centered around retreat themes. Breakfast and lodging not included. Please note that these are not a “women’s only” retreat.
You can arrange lodging to suit your own needs at one of several options:
- “Miriam’s House” is a private guest home less than 10 minutes from the studio with three private rooms and two shared baths and common spaces. At $75/night per person (Miriam rents by the room) it is the most affordable option. Wonderful sunrise AND sunset views across rolling farmland, this Western Reserve style home is renovated and filled with country charm. You can see it on Google maps. Bring a friend, share the King size room and share the cost. Please contact Jody for Miriam’s contact information. Breakfast not included.
- For more privacy and a wonderful breakfast you can book a room at Blackfork Marken Inn Bed & Breakfast in the quaint and quirky village of Loudonville, Ohio. Bring a friend, share a room/bath and share the cost. Note: delicious breakfast provided.
- Check VRBO or AirBnB for local listings. Check out these options: Vintage 2BR Bungalow in Perrysville, Raylin Farmhouse, The Bunkhouse, The Roundhouse, Large 3BR with Hot Tub, Enchanting Mohican Getaway, Tiny Cabin or Corky’s Cottage for nearby options (all within 10-12 minutes). This A-Frame Lake House is a quaint old cabin with original charm, great sunset views and is the only rental in walking-distance to the studio! I also highly recommend a VRBO in Loudonville (15-min from the studio) with its quirky vibe, quaint shops and apartments overlooking the main drag. Check here for options. Let Jody know if you’d like to connect with others interested in sharing a VRBO. Note that you will need to have breakfast items on hand if you are staying at a private home as breakfast is not provided. Breakfast is also an option at Wedgewing in Perrysville near the lake.
- Camping at Pleasant Hill Lake Park is less than 1 mile from the studio and (if you don’t mind walking the equestrian trail) within walking distance. There are deluxe log cabins with laundry and hot tubs you can rent there too!
- NOTE: Add an extra night to your visit to enjoy some nearby hiking and recreational activities.
Private Group Option:
Come enjoy a Rooted & Reaching Embodied Care REtreat for your group alone! If you have a group of six to nine people who would like to experience this retreat together, please email Jody for more information. Limited private group REtreat dates are available for 2027 (all dates for 2025 & 2026 are full).
Dates:
WILDERNESS: NEW theme with Sarah M. Wells coming Jan 30-Feb 1, 2026.
WOVEN: the journey of REcalling, REmembering & REforming (Identity): Again in 2026
WISDOM: the journey of REcognizing, REceiving & REvealing (Discernment): Again in 2027
RREC Christian Embodiment Training REtreat JOIN US FOR OUR 4-day, retreat-like training all about embodying your spiritual journey! Next one will be June 2027.
BEHOLD: the journey of REsurrection, REnewal & REaffirmation (Purpose): Look for this in 2027
EMBODIED: the journey of RElease, REverence & REclamation (Embodiment): Look for this in 2028
KINTSUGI: the journey of REscue, REdemption & REstoration (Healing): Look for this in 2028
SEASONS: the journey of REflecting, REsponding & REmaining (Spiritual Journey): Look for this again in 2028
ONE THING: the journey of REturning, REfining & REfreshing (Simplicity): Look for this again in 2029.
To be notified of retreat dates, as well as trainings, workshops and other offerings, please sign up for the Rooted & Reaching email list. Folks on the email list are the first to know about retreat offerings.
Only 8-9 spots per REtreat — THEY FILL QUICKLY & WAY IN ADVANCE! BE AMONG THE 1st TO BE NOTIFIED.
Looking forward to hosting you or your group for an EMBODIED REtreat at Rooted & Reaching Lakeside sometime soon!