a cozy

bohemian

winter writing retreat

A soul-stirring 4-day, 3-night women’s retreat immersing in creative expression and embodied storytelling—a sacred space where poetry, movement, ritual, inner journeying, connection, and nature weave together to awaken the stories within.

〰️

A soul-stirring 4-day, 3-night women’s retreat immersing in creative expression and embodied storytelling—a sacred space where poetry, movement, ritual, inner journeying, connection, and nature weave together to awaken the stories within. 〰️

Here

storytelling is more than words on a page

it lives in your body, your breath, your presence

allowing it to move through you with power and truth

Here

your story is held in the luminous threads of shared experience

Here

your voice is both your own and part of something greater

interwoven with the stories of others

each thread strengthening the whole

This is an invitation to slow down, to feel, write, create, express—to honor the weaving of your own becoming.

Come as you are. Leave feeling rooted, expressed, and alive.

come

Nestled in the foothills of Appalachia, lies an oasis in the valley of mountains - a haven for artists | writers | creators in the form of a globally influenced Bohemian-style abode. House Boheme in Rutherfordton, NC is an image straight out of a dream.

Here, the land itself is a storyteller in early winter. As the land softens into stillness, words, like roots, grow in the unseen. This is a time when inspiration shifts inward, mirroring nature’s own retreat. The stark, skeletal beauty of bare branches against the sky encourages raw, unfiltered creativity. Your art, writing, and movement take on a distilled, essential form in this season.

The Woven Word Retreat is designed to honor this sacred pause, weaving together movement, rest, and expression. Through yoga, Yoga Nidra, guided writing, and more, we embrace winter’s hush, allowing what is hidden beneath the surface to emerge—raw, real, and ready to be spoken.

As soon as you enter, the creatrix within will stir.


experiences

  • Yoga Nidra & Reiki with Kate Wargo

    Let it all fall away-the weight you’ve been carrying, the energetic knots tangled in your body, the creative blocks that have kept your voice quiet and your hands still. This is a space to unravel. To soften. To surrender to the deep well of stillness within you.

    Through the dreamlike descent of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) you’ll be guided into the in-between, that liminal space where the thinking mind dissolves, and what’s been buried beneath the surface begins to stir. Here, you’ll release the old, clearing space for something new to rise.

    As you drift, Reiki energy will flow through the space like a whisper, gently untangling what’s been stuck and infusing you with creative renewal. It’s a subtle, sacred alchemy—a dissolving and a becoming.

  • Forest Bathing with Christa Hebal

    Step into the hush of the trees, where the wind moves through the branches like a song you’ve almost forgotten. Here, you’re invited to slow down, to listen—not just with your ears, but with your whole being. The land holds stories, the earth hums beneath you, and as you sink into its rhythm, something in you begins to loosen. No rush. No need to reach for anything. Just a quiet remembering. This experience culminates with a wild-foraged tea ceremony from the land with snacks.

  • Yoga with Tara Eschenroeder

    Infused with poetry from her self-published collections Collecting Feathers, Landing hOMe, and Sacred Details. Tara will take you on a journey hOMe. While drinking in the sacred sounds of heartbeat and breath, we will take the ability to listen and feel even deeper within. We will tap into that intuitive sense of knowing; how and when to move and when to be still. Allow yourself to reconnect to that sacred animal within and the poetry that is your practice, ultimately reminding us how to simply be free both on and off of the yoga mat as we continue to author the most epic novel of all; our life

  • with Morgan Woelflein

    Poetry has always been in the realm of women. The first poet we know by name is a woman, Enheduanna, a priestess who wrote poems to the Goddess Inanna. For thousands of years poetry and story were woven into ancient feminine spiritual rituals. Goddess temples were where women could go to read, write, dance, make music, and create art.

    There is poetry found in the body of woman. In the way a woman moves. In the folds of her flesh. In the patterns of her skin. In the raw truth of her body, her womb. Every woman deserves to see the poetry within her. Every woman can access the creative current that holds the truest truth of our existence.

    In Poetry of Woman we will write from the magic born of womb and pussy. Through practices centered on nourishing the female nervous system and honoring the female body, you will be guided to the dark place where all poems live. Here you will unearth the ancient language of woman that lives in your soul.

    You Will:

    • learn of the first poets, the Priestesses who wrote for the Goddess

    • become more in tune with your body, pleasure, and creativity

    • open your body to the wisdom of the Goddess like the ancient feminine oracles

    • dance in ritual with your sisters

    • share stories of your female body in a safe space of only women

    • receive writing prompts based on the wise words of women

    • remember that you hold the creative force of the universe in your body

    Disclaimer: This experience may involve nudity. If you choose to dance naked in the flames--wonderful! If you don't--also wonderful! This ritual is about deepening your connection to your own body and your own womanhood. Hugs and hand holds are welcome if you need loving touch. There will also be no sexual contact between participants or facilitators.

  • with Tiffany Narron

    Let's come together  to slow into our senses, nourish our bodies with gentle sensuous movement and allow forward our very own poetry as prayer. I will be guiding the space with somatic movement to explore slow and sensual movement alongside a curated selection of poems to read, explore and then write to prompts in-between movement and breath. No writing experience is necessary, just an open heart, body, mind. Come as you are, share as you’re comfortable. Nourish your body and harvest your winter dreaming seeds.

  • A special live performance by local popular singer/songwriter, Lillie Syracuse.

  • Saturday evening will be more than just a meal—it’s an embodied experience, a celebration of the stories we carry and the selves we are becoming. As we gather for dinner, you are invited to arrive dressed in an outfit that reflects an archetype you’re embracing in this season of your life (optional, but encouraged).

    Perhaps you feel called to embody The Wild Woman, The Poet, The Mystic, The Lover, The Healer, The Queen, The Warrior, The Seer—or another figure who whispers to your soul. Your outfit can be as subtle or as bold as you desire—a flowing dress, earthy textures, regal layers, symbolic jewelry, or a single piece that holds meaning for you.

    This is an evening of witnessing, reflection, and creative play, where we weave together our presence, our voices, and our archetypal energies into a shared story. Come as the version of yourself that is ready to be seen. Let this be a night of transformation, expression, and deep connection—a space where we honor the many layers of who we are and who we are becoming.

your weavers

Kate

Kate Wargo (your host) is a writer, poet, and storyteller who explores the thresholds of transformation through language, rest, and the subconscious.

  • A certified Yoga Nidra facilitator in the ISHTA lineage and a Holy Fire® III Karuna Reiki® Master Teacher, she is passionate about the power of dreams, neuroscience, and the body’s innate wisdom. Her work blends poetic storytelling, deep rest, and energy healing to guide others into the quiet spaces where creativity and self-awareness take root. Through words, breath, stillness, and Reiki, she invites you to listen, unravel, trust the unseen, and bring forth the stories within.

Tiffany

Tiffany Narron is a Full Spectrum Doula, counselor, and writer living in the mountains of North Carolina.

  • She honors the roots of nature-based systems of wellness and reciprocity, of ceremony and story, and their deep influences in her life and work and is committed to centering them to co-create communities of presence and care. Writing is one of her love languages and gifts. She feels her writing allows the everyday flow of living to fuse with the symbology, ritual, folklore, and deep reverence found in nature. The dreamlike prose that emerges holds yearnings of the spirit and prayers that capture the delicate details of this living, interweaving them into self and our shared collective journey.

Morgan

Morgan Woelflein is a feminine wisdom keeper, writer, yoga teacher, and guide for women. Her work is a spell to awaken the Goddess, a spell to soothe the soul and body of woman.

  • Weaving her studies of menstrual health, female sexuality, and ancient feminine spirituality into her offerings allows Morgan to support women to come home to the unique wisdom of their bodies. Through womb yoga, soul-deep mentorship, and practices for female sexuality she guides her clients to return to a place of nourishment and nervous system regulation.

    Since completing her Yoga Teacher Training in 2021 she has been teaching yoga and holding women's circles at local studios in addition to working with women 1:1. Morgan is constantly deepening her knowledge through continuing education and many days spent reading books on the Goddess.

    Morgan's poetry channels the primordial Dark Feminine and her love for the Goddess shines through all she brings to the world.

Christa

Christa Hebal is a lover of this wild and wondrous world and one of her greatest passions is sharing that love with others as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide.

  • She was born and raised in the ancient mountains of Northeast Tennessee and has lived in Asheville, NC for 25 years.  Christa's adventurous heart has led her on many fulfilling journeys around the world, forever widening and expanding perceptions of what it means to be an enlivened interconnected being of this earth.

    She loves to help others find balance and encounter wholeness through embodiment and nature connection practices that support healing for people and planet. Christa has had a professional bodywork practice for 19 years as a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, practitioner of Ortho-Bionomy®, Usui Reiki Master, Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist, Clinical Aromatherapist, and Certified Traditional Herbalist. She is also currently certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. 

    Christa is thrilled to immerse in nature with others and share the practice of forest bathing as an ANFT Certified Guide.  She feels deeply inspired to share forest bathing as an integral experience for our personal and collective remembrance and evolution during these transformative times.

Tara

Tara Eschenroeder (she/her)— a 500 hour E-RYT, RCYT, YACEP, CTA Certified Coach, and self-published author.

  • With some teachers, the lessons are planned. They are practiced. They are rehearsed, and they are perfected to a tee, but Tara Eschenroeder offers a different experience. Teaching was Tara’s Dharma long before she realized it. She grew up with a bow and arrow in her hands, learning to pull back with just enough aim and control to send her arrow into the abyss, knowing and trusting it would hit its intended mark. And so she enters each class, each workshop, each lesson, each experience…having prepared her body and mind to become that bow - that vessel - that lesson…letting that arrow fly... weaving its way into the provided space and landing wherever it is intended.

    Tara felt that call in 2007 when she first felt the spark of a tiny flame. And instead of approaching that flame fearing the heat, she chose to approach it with love, stoking the fire that was burning within for her passion of yoga. By the end of 2009, she received her 200 hour RYT under Arlene Bjork and Grace Yoga Training Systems. She continued to follow what she knew and trusted her path to be, and she obtained her 500 hour RYT through Om On Yoga under the guidance and wisdom of Jennifer Elliott.

    When practicing with Tara, no two classes, workshops, or experiences are ever the same. Students are not told what to do, they are empowered to listen to their own bodies. And while there are general cues throughout of “warrior” and “downward dog” (sometimes accompanied by their Sanskrit name), one is also just as likely to hear cues of “listen to the animal within,” “move through honey, “ride the wave of your breath,” or, simply, just an encouragement to “dance.” Her mentoring and life coaching sessions follow a similar pattern. Mentees are not told what to do but instead empowered to listen within with offered guidance- never forced, and always an open-minded invitation to explore. Tara’s Psychology degree from James Madison University, Elementary Education License from Mary Baldwin College, and coaching certification from Yoga2Life give her a studied foundation for helping others, but it’s her natural instincts and open heart that help students see the best in themselves.

    Asheville, NC is Tara’s hOMe where she has the honor of teaching, guiding and presenting throughout the community. She also spends much of her time around the country and outside of holding workshops, retreats, classes, and presenting at festivals. She has also received additional teaching credentials with Project Yoga Richmond and YoKid Stretch Your Limits, as well as served as an Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica. Yet, so much of her teaching is done off of the yoga mat. Tara openly and outwardly lives the teachings has been inspired to share. Just as she would encourage a student falling out of a pose to take themselves lightly, she does the same as she navigates through challenges. And just as she would encourage a student to trust themselves as they spread their wings into something new on the mat, she is a living example of trusting what she knew was her calling as she spread her own wings. She approaches life with that same love that she used to approach that initial flame, and she encourages each person with whom she comes in contact with to do the same. And by doing so, she is living out her truth and her Dharma of being a vessel of blessing.

    Sat Nam.

    Namaste.

your experience includes

your experience includes

 

+4 Days / 3 Nights all inclusive accommodation at House Boheme in Rutherfordton, NC.

+All meals freshly prepared by a local private chef.

+Daily experiences facilitated by creative powerhouse women.

+Live performance by local singer/songwriter, Lillie Syracuse.

++Commuter option available (limited)

4 Days / 3 Nights at House Boheme

an oasis in Rutherfordton, NC

      reach into creative waters      

experiences speaking to the creatrix within

mountain, water, + earth medicine 

stay in a secluded mountain forest

nourishment

Chef Kearsley from Kearsleys Kitchen brings a soulful, sensory dining experience rooted in the seasons and sourced from the land. Each meal is a celebration of local farms, wild ingredients, and global inspiration—artfully plated, deeply nourishing, and wildly flavorful. With a background in herbalism and foraging, Kearsley infuses each dish with a touch of the wild. Meals are designed to be both grounding and elevating—offering us a true taste of place and presence.

are you ready to go deeper?

Storytelling, soul connection, and community are profound pathways to personal transformation.

Here, nestled in the quiet beauty of House Boheme, you’re invited to step away from the noise and into a space where your voice can soften, stretch, and rise. Through embodied writing, creative ritual, and poetic reflection, you’ll drop into deeper layers of your own truth.

This retreat is tenderly woven for women who are ready to release what no longer serves, honor their stories, and step into what’s next with clarity and courage. You’ll be supported in exploring your longings, meeting your edges, and embracing the beauty of your becoming.

Guided by nurturing facilitators and surrounded by a circle of kindred spirits, you’ll move through a variety of experiences—all designed to open the heart, inspire creativity, and reconnect you with your innate wisdom.

This is a space to remember yourself.
To connect into a community of women.
To speak your truth.
To write it into being.

For the woman who longs to remember and express in sisterhood the sacred stories deep within the caverns of her soul.

  • Day 1

    2:00 PM - Arrival begins

    6:00PM - Welcome/Opening Ceremony

    7:30 PM - Dinner

  • Day 2

    6:30 AM - Coffee/tea

    7:30 - 9:30 AM - Breakfast

    10:00 - 12:00PM -Tending the Threads Circle (Yoga Nidra & Reiki/An Unraveling)

    1:00 PM - Lunch

    2:00-4:30 PM - Forest Bathing/ A Remembering

    4:30 - 6:00 PM - Integration time (journaling, walk, rest, read, etc.)

    6:00 PM - Dinner & Food Ritual

    8:30 PM - Live performance by Lillie Syracuse

  • Day 3

    6:30 AM - Coffee/tea

    7:30 - 9:30 AM - Breakfast

    10:00 - 12:00 PM - Tending the Threads Circle (Yoga/ A Homecoming)

    1:00 PM - Lunch

    2:00-4:30 PM - Poetry of Woman

    4:30 - 6:00 PM - Integration time (journaling, walk, rest, read, etc.)

    7:00 PM - Archetypal Dinner

    9:00 PM Fireside Ceremony/Reflections

  • Day 4

    6:30 AM - Coffee/tea

    7:30 - 9:30 AM - Breakfast

    10:00 - 12:00 PM - Poetry as Prayer/Closing Ceremony

a cocoon of creativity

a cocoon of creativity

01

Getting Here

Nearest Airport: Asheville Regional Airport

1 hour from Asheville, NC

872 Freemantown Rd, Rutherfordton, NC 28139

02

Arrivals/Departure

Arrive: Dec. 4 from 2:00-5:30pm

Depart: Dec. 7 from 12pm

03

Rooms

Beds are shared other than one bunk room

and a few private sleeping options.

investment

  • Storyteller's Rest

    A shared queen sized bed

    (3 available)

    $2,333 per person

  • The Muse Bunks

    Your own full or twin sized bed

    shared room

    (1 bunk room available)

    Twin sized bed - $2,447

    Full sized bed - $2,467

  • Writer's Nook

    Private room with a twin sized bed

    (1 available)

    $2,511

  • Poet's nest

    Queen sized luxury air mattress with cozy bedding. A perfect nest.

    In a shared room with two other women.

    Private: $1,755

    Shared: $1,977

    (1 available)

  • Dreamweaver

    A room and queen sized bed all to yourself.

    (2 available)

    $2,711

  • commuter

    This pass is for women who want to be part of the full retreat journey—sharing in the circles, the meals, the movement, the writing, the rituals—while returning to the comfort of their own bed each night.

    (2 available)

    $1,533

After your $440 deposit has been paid, the remainder can be settled in full or over 3 to 6 months.

Choose the room that best supports your experience. All pricing includes 3 nights at House Boheme, nourishing meals by Chef Kearsley, all workshops and circles, live music, poetry, ritual, and luxurious care.

  • This retreat is a women’s only retreat ages 18 and up. We will be in close circles and we know how much safety and inspiration that creates. Every woman is welcome.

  • Enrollment opens on Tuesday, April 22nd and closes Saturday, November 22nd.

    A $444 USD non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot.

    Payment plans are available after initial deposit. Square also has integrated Afterpay, a buy now, pay later service, allowing you to pay for the retreat in installments.

  • Not at all! This is for anyone who feels called to explore self-expression, creativity, and inner reflection—whether through movement, stillness, or words. No writing experience is necessary; this retreat is about discovering and honoring your unique voice in whatever form it wishes to emerge.

  • The $444 deposit is non-refundable, as it holds your space and helps cover planning costs.

    More than 30 days before the retreat – You’ll receive a refund of any amount paid beyond the deposit, minus a small processing fee.

    21-29 days before the retreat – You’ll get a 50% refund of any amount paid beyond the deposit or can apply the full amount (minus the deposit) toward a future retreat.

    20 days or less before the retreat – No refunds, but you’re welcome to transfer your spot to someone else.

    If for any reason I need to cancel the retreat, you’ll receive a full refund, including your deposit, or the option to roll your payment forward to a future experience.

  • Warm and cozy layers, and outdoor footwear – We’ll be moving, resting, and spending some time in nature, so bring clothes that help you feel comfortable and grounded.

    A journal and pen/pencil

    A Yoga mat and any comfort items such as a bolster or eye pillow

    A special item for our storytelling altar

    An outfit embodying an archetype you’re embracing in this season(optional but encouraged!) – For our Saturday evening dinner, we’ll gather in a space of celebration, storytelling, and shared transformation. This is your chance to step fully into an aspect of yourself that’s calling to be expressed.

    Think of an archetype that resonates with you right now—The Wild Woman, The Poet, The Mystic, The Lover, The Healer, The Queen, The Warrior, The Seer, etc.—whoever is whispering to you in this season of your life. Your outfit can be as subtle or as bold as you’d like, whether it’s flowing fabrics, earthy tones, dramatic textures, or a single piece that makes you feel like you’re stepping into this energy fully.

  • House Boheme is at 872 Freemantown Road, Rutherfordton, NC 28139

    Parking is available on site. Carpool if you can.

  • You may arrive to House Boheme as early as 2:00pm on Dec. 4.

    Opening circle begins at 6:00PM

    The retreat ends Sunday, Dec. 7 at 12:00PM.

  • In early December, Rutherfordton, NC, typically experiences cool temperatures with highs around the mid-50s°F and lows in the mid-30s°F. The weather is generally crisp and dry, though occasional rain showers are possible. It’s a transitional period into winter, so expect a mix of sunny days and overcast skies.

    Plan to dress in layers, bring a medium-weight jacket, and closed-toe shoes or boots to keep your feet warm. Mornings and evenings can be chilly, so bring a scarf, gloves, and a hat just in case.

  • Yes, all meals are included with the exception of lunch on Sunday since the retreat ends at 12:00PM. Snacks are always available.

  • Itinerary Taste:

    Morning Quiet Time/Coffee & Tea

    A nourishing home cooked breakfast

    Community Circle

    Workshop

    A delicious lunch

    Workshop

    Rest and snacks or a walk

    Dinner by our private chef

    Scroll up to view a more detailed itinerary.

  • Every room has either a private or shared gorgeous bathroom.

    Enjoy the serene natural surroundings with a panoramic view of the mountains.

    22 acres of forested trails leading to a private waterfall

    Appreciate art collected from around the world.

  • Yes, there may be opportunities for intentional, sacred nudity during the retreat. This could look like dancing under the moonlight, baring our breasts during Poetry of Woman, or simply reclaiming the body in safe, consensual spaces. Nothing is ever required—each invitation is just that: an invitation. You are always encouraged to honor your own boundaries and choose what feels right for you. This is a space of reverence, liberation, and deep self-trust.

    Please take that into consideration as you apply.

  • No problem! Contact Kate through the form at the bottom of this page titled “Contact”.