Northern Michigan Aqua Blue Beaches

Formed by glaciers over hundreds of millions of years ago. Now diligently preserved and protected.

Northern Michigan Lighthouses

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse has been guiding ships and sailors since it was built in 1852.

Take a Magical Walk Through A Place of Purity

Finton Natural Area near Northport - Majestic hardwoods, abundant wildlife, and wildflowers make this a must to hike.

Breakfast on the beach anyone?

Our cabin has it's very own private beach just steps away from our backdoor.

Don't you deserve an unforgettable sunset?

Surrender to your spirit and join me at the Bella Neo-Gaia's 2013 Founder's Retreat!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

A Soul Quenching Adventure Awaits You...

    This my friends is a vacation we daydream about and we know we deserve. I challenge you to look at how you can make this happen for yourself and why you must attend! Everyone who has been invited to this trip is going through a major transition; be it personally, professionally, mentally, and/or spiritually. When I started Bella Neo-Gaia it was to be a festival. Its cornerstones rested on the principles of co-creation, rejuvenation, expansion, and celebration. This retreat will satisfy all four. This is OUR "Gathering!"

    Spend 6 spectacular days and 5 fun filled fantastic nights in Northport, MI. It's a quaint little village-town that really does feel like it has been preserved from the ravages of time as well as the modern hustle and bustle. You are as alone as you want to be. While in town there are antique shops, a coffee house and a few other tourist attractions. We are only minutes away from Traverse City the cherry capital of the world. There is infinite amounts of activities, or if you so choose you can nestle yourself in the bosom of nature and surrender to a simpler, less noisy kind of living. All your distractions have disappeared. The mania that is our "civilized" society along with your stress is sure to melt away. Our private cabin is surrounded by woods and in our backyard is our own private beach.

    Now is the time to say YES to bliss. We are holding space for each others divine right to complete happiness. Feel the love and light of common unity. Get excited by how we the Sacred Feminine are willing to make active transformations. Soak up the natural ecstasy that is Gaia and I truly believe, this is that pivotal moment of grace and growth you've been seeking.  

     

    Let's take a tour shall we...

    Just in case you love daydreaming (like I do) I want to give you a glimpse of what you could experience at the Bella Neo-Gaia Founder's Retreat.


     
    So where is your compass guiding you?

    ~Road Trip Activities~

    The driver of each car will receive a small box in the mail with a little surprise for each person before the trip. 

    Some of these activities may seem silly but it can take the awkward out of the situation & if you're bored enough I am willing to bet a few get played. 

    Highly suggest everyone read this blessing before they start of to Michigan. (Please video tape if you can.) *I want to put together a video for our website.

    ~Safe Journey Blessing~ 
    First half written by: Dustin Thomas
    Second half written by: Asera Rain

    Let beauty abound, let grace surround. Let love, joy, peace, patience, forever be found...
    In our hearts, with our ends and our starts...
    In our light and in our truth and in every single thing we do.

    Bless this vehicle in which we ride.
    Bless the bodies in which we reside.
    On our safe journey may the sacred be found.
    Guided & protected; intrepid travelers destiny bound.

    ~And so it is.~     

     
    • Create an epic soundtrack. Burn cds or mp3 playlists. Enjoy the ride.
    • Take pictures and video on your journey!
    • Please buy a postcard from every state you drive-thru. We can make a collage in the cabin!
    • Sharpie Tattoos
    • 20 Questions. It's a good way to get to know one another.
    • Alphabet Affirmation Game.  Think of high vibrational words in alphabetical order... ex. abundance, beauty, caring, dependable... 
    • Hot Seat. Each person takes a turn in the “hot seat” being interviewed by the other passengers. The other passengers can ask any five questions they want of the person in the hot seat, who must answer. The person in the hot seat can refuse to answer one question by using a veto. Once all the questions have been asked, the hot seat transfers to a new passenger.

    •  Who Are They? Choose another car on the road and imagine the story of the passengers inside. Who are they? What is their relationship? Are they a group of spies, headed to thwart an international villain? Get creative and share your stories.

    • Odd Colored Car. At the beginning of the trip, each passenger chooses an odd or rare-colored car (yellow, purple, orange, pink, etc.). During the drive, passengers get a point for spotting cars of their chosen color. Alternate idea: passengers can steal points from each other if they spot another passenger’s car color first!

    • License Plate Decoder. Pretend that every license plate is a personalized message and decode it. “HDR 732″ might stand for “Hairdresser Diva Rollerderby, 7 days a week, 32 hours a day.”

    • Fortunately, Unfortunately. One passenger shares a statement beginning with the word, “fortunately.” As in, “Fortunately, I remembered to buy snacks at the gas station.” Another passenger must follow up with a statement beginning with the word, “unfortunately.” As in, “Unfortunately, I left them on the counter when I paid.” You can also switch the game around by starting with unfortunate ideas first.

    • Buzz Word. At the beginning of the trip, determine a word that will be taboo for the entire trip. (Choose something common, like “Mom.”) Give each passenger 10-20 paper clips. If a passenger says the buzz word during the trip, another passenger can buzz them by saying, “Buzz!” and collect a paper clip. Passengers must get careful and creative in their communication in order to win.

    • Tomato. One passenger is “it” and asks other passengers silly questions. The other passengers cannot smile or laugh, and can only respond to the question by answering, “Tomato.” If a passenger laughs or smiles, he or she is out. The last person out is the next person to be “it.”

    • Counting Cows. This game is perfect for drives through rural country. Passengers must count and keep track of cows on their side of the car. If you pass a cemetery, it wipes out the cow count for the passengers on the same side of the car. Passenger with the most cows at the end of the trip wins.

    • “No, it is not a _____.” A game of clues, rhymes, and stumping. One passenger is “it” and must think of a word (the more common and easy to rhyme, the better) and present a clue to the other passengers. If the word was “fly” as in a housefly, he or she might say, “I’m thinking of a word that rhymes with cry, but it isn’t pie.” The other passengers make guesses by giving clues to the “it” person, without revealing their guess word. “Is it something men wear around their neck?” The “it” person must figure out their clue and respond, “No, it is not a tie.” If a passenger guesses the right word, they win and become the next “it” person. Or, if a passenger stumps the “it” person with their clue, they also win and become the “it” person.

    • Casserole Game. One passenger starts by saying, “I’m making a casserole and I’m going to need artichokes.” Each passenger takes a turn reciting the previous ingredients and then choosing the next one, which must start with the next letter in the alphabet. See if you can get all the way to the letter Z.

    • Speak in Song. Carry on a conversation using only the titles or lyrics from songs. No singing allowed.

    • 50 Nifty. List 1-50 on a piece of paper and see if passengers can come up with all fifty states. If you get all 50, start a new round by listing each state capitol.

    • Presidents Game. List 1-44 on a piece of paper and see if passengers can come up with all 44 American presidents.

    • Listen and Draw. Supply each passenger with a paper and writing utensil. (Except for the driver, of course!) One person is “it” and draws a quick picture on his or her paper. Then, the “it” person must describe their picture to the other passengers, giving detailed instructions, until each of the passengers has completed their drawing. The passenger with the picture that most closely resembles the original, becomes the next “it” person.

    • Would You Rather? Take turns offering various options to other passengers, either wonderful, horrible, painful, embarrassing, or otherwise. Find out who would rather jump in a flaming volcano or sit in a cage of snakes.