Camp Athena

Over the weekend we held our first retreat, at Camp Athena in Julian, California. Athena was the goddess of civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, craft, and justice. She was a warrior and a leader, and inspired the name of our camp.

A message from the hosts...

Welcome to Camp Athena, the first annual Ax Collective retreat held in Julian, California. Your mountain getaway features community and solitude, laughter and reflection, fine food and fresh air. We created a theme for the weekend--Changemakers: Women Redefined, which we hope will inspire you individually and drive meaningful discussions collectively.

Sarah + Jen

We met in Wynola on Friday night for live music, brick oven pizza, fresh rhubarb pie, and root beer floats. Just a short drive to the property, we hauled in an extraordinary amount of gear, drank some wine and retired to our assigned "bunks:" Cuyamaca, Kumeyaay, Laguna, and Pioneer. Saturday morning we rose bright and early for coffee, fruit, yogurt, granola, banana bread and hard boiled eggs. 

Bellies full, sunscreen slathered, we hiked to the gazebo for our first session. For the weekend exercises Jen gave each of us a  a charming little 100% recycled journal from ecojot, complete with a Yasutomo Stylist pen.

What woman (fictional or real) has most influenced and/or inspired you? In what ways has she made an impact on your life? How would you best live your life in her honor?

 

We wrapped up the morning session and trekked back to the cabin for electives and lunch (and rattlesnake sighting!). Jen taught the gals to make lanyard key chains, I gave a tutorial on vision boards, and Melissa + Karina set up a lovely spread of tuna, chicken, and egg salads, greens, watermelon and beet salad, and veggie tortilla chips.

The afternoon was a dreamy summer day-napping, walking, lanyard creating, and vision making. There was time to reflect and journal on the questions set for later in the evening.

“I know that people, after a certain point, forget what they believe in and what they intended to do. They become hindered by society's culture and the way things should be done. If their fear and anxiety were removed, they would intuitively know. Under coats of protective behavior and years of concern lies a simple path requiring courage to walk on." 

What makes you feel most strong? When do you feel most weak? 

When did you begin to acknowledge your own strength and power? If you haven’t yet, then what is holding you back?

At four o'clock we welcomed happy hour, hosted by the talented mixologists Jana + Miranda. Campari cocktails were a perfect antidote to the dusty meadow day and I swear insalata caprese and hummus never tasted better. We took a moment in the sun to admire our visions, and set up for dinner under the stars.

 using old magazines and recycled shopping bags we crafted our dreams; a makeshift chandelier of rusty chainlink and globular string lights; dining al fresco; somehow there was exactly enough room for each of our vision boards...

A true collaboration, we feasted on tofu, veggies and brown rice, and a spicy salad. To top it off, we celebrated Heidi's Birthday with the most delicious Julian Pie, served a la mode (thanks Annie!). After a very noisy visit from a large spotted toad we escaped the moths and bugs and adjourned to the cabin for the rest of the night's discussion.

Everyone woke up Sunday morning to a perfectly executed egg dish from Jen, complemented by bacon and mini-powdered donuts. After sharing a few good sighs and plenty of hugs, half of the group departed. The rest of us made the most of our freedom and sat under the big Black Oak tree sharing our dreams and troubles. 

my irregularly woven "kite"; magic wands and god's eyes

Next year--same time, same place?

xoxo

Sarah

P.S. I can't wait to see Karina's pictures, as I only had my little PowerShot and I know she captured some beautiful images.