Widows to Warriors Retreat
A Sacred Passage for Widows Standing at the crossroads of her life.
You survived the shattering. Now you’re standing in the in-between.
You’re not who you were.
You don’t know who you’re becoming.
And you’re exhausted from carrying everything alone.
You’re functioning, but you’re not really living.
Widows to Warriors is a sacred retreat for widows in this exact space – where the old life is gone, the next chapter feels overwhelming, and yet… something in you still wants more.
A place to rest. To be seen without explanation.
To remember yourself, gently, among women who understand.
Portugal | April 20–26, 2026
Only 12 widows • deeply held • no fixing required
hosted by mary gardella
I see you…
Let’s be honest. Widowhood is fucking hard.
It not only breaks your heart – it breaks your identity, your rhythm, your sense of safety.
The life you knew is gone and somehow, you’re still expected to keep going.
You’re holding everything now..
The decisions.
The finances.
The kids.
Your grief.
Your exhaustion.
And a body that feels unfamiliar and emotional in ways you didn’t expect.
You had a life before. You were capable. Busy. Needed.
And now you’re doing the work of two people while surviving one of the most painful losses imaginable.
Starting again feels terrifying. Staying where you are feels suffocating.
And yet… you’re here.
Because something in you is quietly facing forward – even with fear and exhaustion.
That’s not weakness. That’s your warrior spirit.
The Liminal Phase
There’s a name for the space you’re in.
It’s called the liminal phase —
the space between who you were and who you’re becoming.
It’s disorienting. Lonely. Numbing.
And most widows live here far longer than they want to.
Not because they’re broken, but because no one teaches us how to cross it.
Widows to Warriors exists for this exact moment.
Not when you’re healed.
Not when you’re confident.
Not when you’ve figured it out.
But now —
when you’re tired, unsure, longing, and quietly refusing to give up on life.
Sisterhood
There is a specific kind of loneliness that comes with widowhood.
You can be surrounded by people — family, friends, coworkers —
and still feel completely unseen.
Because most people don’t know how to sit with grief that changed you.
They don’t understand the version of you that exists now.
And you get tired of explaining… minimizing… pretending you’re okay.
At Widows to Warriors, you don’t have to explain yourself.
You’ll be with women who recognize the pauses in conversation.
Who understand the weight you carry.
Who know when to listen — and when to pour the wine.
This isn’t networking.
It isn’t group therapy.
It’s sisterhood — formed when widows gather honestly, without armor.
Many women tell me this is the first place they felt truly seen since their loss.
Not fixed. Not pitied. Seen.
THIS RETREAT IS A GUIDED PASSAGE
Widows to Warriors is not group therapy or counseling.
There is no pressure to analyze your grief, retell your story, or “process” anything before you’re ready.
Instead, I guide you through a carefully curated journey — one that creates space in your body, your heart, and your inner world.
Through gentle practices, ritual, movement, reflection, creativity, time in nature, and shared presence, we slowly loosen what has been held tight — often for far too long.
Some moments are quiet.
Some are expressive.
Some are deeply moving.
All are optional.
You are always in choice.
This retreat is about awareness, embodiment, and remembering —
not fixing, diagnosing, or forcing transformation.
It’s a passage — from holding it all together… to allowing yourself to be held.
Who This Retreat Is For
You look like you’re doing “okay” —
but inside, you’re just getting through the days.
You’ve learned how to function, how to hold it together, how to carry everything — while feeling disconnected from your own life.
You don’t recognize yourself anymore. The woman you used to be feels far away.
And the idea of “starting over” feels exhausting, not exciting.
You’re lonely in a way that doesn’t get touched.
You’re tired of explaining.
You want connection with women who already understand.
And beneath the numbness and fear, there’s a quiet knowing:
I can’t go back.
And I don’t want to live the rest of my life just surviving.
This retreat is for widows standing at the crossroads between survival and living –
ready for something to shift, even if they don’t know what comes next.
What you’ll experience…
You won’t leave with a plan for your future.
You will leave with something far more grounding.
You go home with a body that feels safer to live in – less braced, less on edge, more present.
Your nervous system remembers how to soften,
so you’re no longer living in constant survival mode.
You feel more anchored in who you are now.
Not who you were before the loss,
and not who you think you’re supposed to become.
You carry a lived sense of being held,
and a sisterhood you can return to.
You will still have grief —
but it will no longer be the only thing running your life.
This retreat doesn’t take your pain away.
It changes how you live with it —
long after the retreat is over.
This retreat doesn’t rush your healing.
It simply gives you the space —
and the sisterhood —
to begin choosing yourself again.
Your Investment
€5888
€2,888
This includes:
- 6 nights, 7 days
- All accommodations and meals
- All retreat programming, practices, and ceremonies
- An intimate container limited to 12 widows
- Support before and after the retreat
This is not a vacation.
It’s an investment in your life — after loss.
Flexible payment plans are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t feel ready for something like this?
Most women don’t feel ready.
They feel tired. Unsure. Vulnerable.
Ready is not a prerequisite here.
This retreat isn’t about being confident or healed — it’s about arriving exactly as you are.
If something in you is quietly saying, “I can’t keep doing this alone,” that’s enough.
I’m afraid of being overwhelmed by my emotions. What if it’s too much?
That fear makes complete sense.
This retreat is intentionally slow, spacious, and deeply grounded. There is no pressure to share more than you want, no expectation to “process everything,” and no pushing past your limits.
You’ll be supported to listen to your body, take breaks, step away when needed, and move at your own pace. Nothing here is forced.
Is this group therapy or grief counseling?
No.
Widows to Warriors is not group therapy and not a clinical grief program.
It’s a guided, experiential retreat focused on rest, nervous-system regulation, embodiment, reflection, ritual, time in nature, and connection.
Grief is honored — not analyzed.
What if I don’t know anyone? Coming alone feels scary.
Almost everyone comes alone — and almost everyone leaves deeply connected.
This is a small, intimate circle of widows who understand without explanation. You don’t have to introduce yourself with your story or perform in any way.
Connection unfolds naturally here — in shared meals, walks, laughter, tears, silence.
You will not be alone.
Will I be expected to share my story in a group?
No.
Sharing is always optional. Silence is respected. Presence is enough.
Some women speak. Some listen. Some do both over time. All of it is welcome.
Is it too soon after my loss… or too late?
There is no “right” timeline in widowhood.
Some women come a few years in. Others much later. What matters is not when you lost your partner — but where you are now.
If you’re functioning but not really living…
if you feel stuck in the in-between…
this space is for you.
What level of physical mobility is required for this retreat?
This retreat does require a moderate level of physical mobility.
Over the course of the week, we’ll be walking on uneven terrain, spending extended time outdoors, participating in embodied practices, and taking part in experiential activities such as beach walks and offsite excursions. Some days involve longer periods on your feet and movement that cannot be fully modified.
You do not need to be athletic or physically fit.
You do need to feel comfortable with:
- Walking moderate distances
- Standing for periods of time
- Navigating outdoor environments such as sand, paths, and natural terrain
- Participating in gentle but active movement experiences
While everything is guided with care and choice, this retreat may not be the right fit if mobility is significantly limited or if sustained walking and movement would feel unsafe or overwhelming for your body.
If you’re unsure whether this retreat will support you well, I welcome you to reach out. I’m happy to talk it through with honesty and care — your comfort and safety matter deeply.
What will the days actually feel like?
Gentle. Spacious. Human.
There is a rhythm — but no rush. Time for rest, reflection, embodiment, conversation, creativity, ceremony, and being in nature. Time together and time alone.
This is not a packed schedule or a productivity retreat.
It’s a soft landing.
What’s included in the retreat?
Your retreat investment includes:
- 6 Nights, 7 days in Portugal
- Luxury accommodations in a peaceful, natural setting
- All meals during the retreat
- All guided practices, circles, ceremonies, and experiences
- A deeply held container limited to just 12 widows
- Support and connection before and after the retreat
Flights and travel insurance are not included.
What is the investment? Are payment plans available?
The investment for Widows to Warriors is $2,888.
Payment plans are available to make this feel more supportive and accessible.
Details are shared during registration.
This is not a vacation — it’s an investment in your life, after loss.
What if I say yes… and then feel scared?
That’s part of the process.
Fear doesn’t mean you’re making the wrong decision — it often means you’re standing at the edge of something meaningful.
Support begins the moment you reserve your place.
You won’t be navigating this alone.
A Note From Me
I didn’t create this retreat because I have figured widowhood out.
I created it because I have lived this season – the debilitating exhaustion, the bone chilling fear, the gut wrenching identity loss, the business of death, the painful process of solo responsibility, the invisible loneliness, and that quiet ache of longing for more.
I am still on this long journey, too.
I don’t lead from ahead of you.
I walk beside you.
This is widow to widow.
Human to human.
Reserve Your Place
12 women. One sacred circle.
A beginning — when you’re ready.
If you’re still reading… there’s a reason.
You don’t need certainty.
You just need a place where you don’t have to carry this by yourself anymore.
© 2025 All rights reserved
