IFS & Women in the Wild

Listening to Nature, Listening to Self

October 30-November 1, 2026

Mount Madonna Center
445 Summit Rd, Watsonville, CA

Facilitated by Ellen Grossman
COST: $600

Reserve your space for this special weekend with a  $100 deposit today!

2 Partial Scholarships are available for those with financial need in the BIPOC and  / or LGBTQ+ community. The scholarship covers 50% of the workshop cost for the weekend, but you will still need to reach out to Mount Madonna to pay the commute / camping or lodging fees, depending on your preference. Email sioux@mcaft.com to inquire.

Easily sign up for our Interest List HERE.

This retreat is for women who are longing to reconnect with themselves, deepen their relationship with nature, and cultivate greater access to the wisdom of Self.

At the heart of Women in the Wild is what Ellen calls a sacred conversation in nature—a living, two-way dialogue with the more-than-human world. Trees, streams, stones, wind, and soil become companions and mirrors, helping us notice what is happening inside us with greater curiosity and compassion. Through metaphor, sensation, imagination, and presence, nature often reveals aspects of ourselves that have been waiting to be seen.

From an Internal Family Systems (IFS) perspective, we all carry many different parts within us. Some parts strive, manage, protect, caretake, achieve, or hold everything together. Other parts may carry grief, fear, loneliness, longing, or burdens from earlier chapters of life. In the spaciousness of nature, these parts often become easier to acknowledge and understand. The natural world offers a gentle environment for slowing down, listening inwardly, and developing a deeper relationship with our internal landscape.

This is not about hiking far or doing anything "right." It is about becoming curious. It is about listening. It is about creating space for the parts of us that are often overshadowed by the busyness of everyday life. Nature has a remarkable way of helping us access qualities that IFS calls Self—calm, clarity, compassion, curiosity, confidence, courage, creativity, connectedness, and perspective.

Each weekend follows a simple and supportive rhythm. We begin by gathering in Council, where stories, reflections, and themes naturally emerge. As participants listen inwardly, they are invited to notice what parts of themselves may be asking for attention and what questions are seeking deeper understanding.

From there, each woman embarks on a solo wander—not to travel far, but to listen closely. Participants are invited to bring their questions, intentions, and parts into relationship with the natural world. A weathered tree may evoke resilience. A winding stream may illuminate a path forward. A fallen branch, an open meadow, or a quiet stone may offer unexpected insight. Nature often speaks through image, metaphor, feeling, and intuition, helping us understand ourselves in new ways.

Participants then return to community, where reflections are shared and witnessed. As Ellen often reminds us, community is always present—both in the web of life surrounding us during our solo time and in the circle of women who gather afterward. Through witnessing one another's experiences, insight deepens, connections strengthen, and healing unfolds collectively as well as individually.

These retreats are intentionally held at the cross-quarter points of the year—times long associated with transition, reflection, and wisdom traditions. The October 2026 retreat invites a turning inward, offering space for integration, harvest, and deeper reflection on the journey of the year. The May 2027 retreat aligns with spring's fullness, growth, and emergence, inviting participants to explore what is wanting to bloom within them. 

Many women choose to attend both weekends, to deepen community and connection with each other. This rhythm also allows each woman to discover how their relationship with their parts, their Self, and the natural world evolves across the seasons. Together, the retreats create an ongoing cycle of listening, growth, integration, and renewal.

No prior experience with Internal Family Systems (IFS) is necessary. The retreat welcomes women wherever they are on their journey.

 In the spirit of Nature Connection, we encourage you to consider camping or the cabins near the campground.  We will be meeting in a circle there before and after our wilderness wanders. Of course, most of all we want you to be comfortable--so please choose whichever accommodations you prefer.

All meals are vegetarian with vegan and gluten-free options available. The Mount Madonna kitchen staff prepares meals with fresh, high-quality ingredients in carefully prepared menus, incorporating organic and local products whenever possible. They can accommodate most special dietary needs and requests.

Please note that this is not a formal training course, and is not intended as a didactic training on how to apply this information in your work with other people. Retreats are designed to enhance your life, support your personal growth and promote well-being. That being said, engaging in experiential activities and getting more familiar with your own internal system is a wonderful way to learn the IFS model and continue to deepen your proficiency with it professionally.

Any and all deposits and/or payments for the workshop portion of our retreats / courses are non-refundable and non-transferable. Lodging payments are refundable according to the guidelines of each particular retreat center. Please note that there will be no refunds for any reason for the workshop portion, including illness. Thank you for your understanding