The Path of Eros & Ecstasy
A Sacred Pilgrimage to Greece
Coming 2027
In a time when old systems and illusions are unraveling, the ecstatic is the ground from which true vision emerges: a way of being that roots us in the fullness of our humanity while pointing us to our divine potential.
I joined Kirstin’s Eros & Honey retreat in Greece during one of the most tender seasons of my life. What unfolded there changed me.
Kirstin holds a rare balance of scholar and mystic, sensual woman and grounded facilitator. I didn’t feel coached, rather I felt invited into deeper self-knowing. Through her guidance, I was able to reconnect with aspects of my own living eros that had been dormant for some time.
She is a powerful role model for what embodied, healthy, mature feminine sexuality can look like — lived with intelligence, integrity, and ease.
Kim C.,
Retreat Leader & Founder, Own Your Ohm Health
Are you called to the sacred path of Eros & Ecstasy?
To feel fully alive—not as a fleeting high, but as an everyday way of being?
To embody your eros and awaken both intuition and inspiration?
To experience ecstasy as your natural state, born of radical intimacy with Life itself?
To embrace all of your humanity—grief, sadness, anger, awe, compassion, and joy—and radiate courage and beauty?
To connect deeply with sacred lands through ritual, ceremony, prayer, and rejoicing?
To be guided and uplifted in your vision as you delve into mythic teachings and walk the path of ancient mystics?
If so, please join us on an epic pilgrimage to Greece in June of 2027,
where we’ll reclaim our life force, cultivate ecstasy, strengthen our spiritual gifts, and anchor collective vision in service of Life on this planet.
There is no greater gift I’ve given myself than to be led on a sacred pilgrimage guided by Kirstin. The Path to Eros and Honey was nothing short of an epic journey into the deepest layers of who I am as a human, as a woman. Immersed in the ancient lands of Delphi and Crete while being dipped in the way of bees and their medicinal, luscious honey, I found myself stripped of all external influences, face-to-face with the pure essence of why I exist, my calling to myself, and my service to community.
Experiencing Kirstin's personal knowing, her extraordinary devotion, and her unwavering strength in guiding others to their inner truth was profoundly moving. Her commitment to her own paths of devotion and service is palpable and inspiring, making the entire experience both transformative, gratifying, and pure fun.
Kate K.,
Nurse, End of Life Coach
The ecstatic path is a journey of descent and return that asks us to be taken by what we fear and what we love, and to stay with ourselves as we are undone and remade by what we meet.
It's the state of radical aliveness we experience when eros, the animating principle of Life, is fully embodied rather than restrained—when we trust our longing, honor sensation, and meet grief and beauty without turning away.
Ecstasy, from the Greek "ékstasis" (ἔκστασις)—to stand outside the habitual self—is not mere transcendence or detachment, but a surrender so complete to this body, this life, this moment, that what is most familiar reveals itself as sacred.
Greece is a land that pulses with eros and a mythos rooted in ecstasy.
Gods and goddesses don’t stand above human life, but move through it: Aphrodite rises from sea-foam, desire incarnate; Dionysus dissolves the seam between nature and culture, order and rapture, rewilding our rites of devotion; Persephone eats the pomegranate and tastes the fertility in descent, the freedom in return. During our 8-day pilgrimage, we are guided not by myth as story alone, but by its living intelligence, encoded in the animate land itself—allowing Greece’s caves, seas, temples, and stones to initiate us through felt, embodied encounter rather than concept or explanation.
Our pilgrimage starts with a visit to Eleusis, ancient site of the Eleusinian Mysteries,
the most sacred, secret, and enduring initiation rites of ancient Greece whose archetypal story of descent and return—Demeter and Persephone—frames our journey.
From here, we drive up Mt Parnassus to Delphi,
whose name derives from delphys, the womb. Long devoted to embodied oracular knowing, Delphi is an ancient chthonic center of Gaia worship, where the Pythia, both serpent-goddess and human oracle, uttered prophecy for centuries. While in Delphi we’ll enjoy a private guided tour of the expansive archeological site containing the temples of Apollo and Athena as well as the Pythia, who was consulted about important decisions by statesmen and philosophers throughout the ancient classical world.
On the morning of the summer solstice, we’ll hike to the awe-inspiring Corycian Cave.
This remote 40-chamber cave is only accessible by a steep, single-lane road, and is where the less affluent (and perhaps counter-establishment) sought contact with the Divine through communion with Pan, God of the Wild, and Dionysius, God of Ecstasy. Following our ceremony in the dark womb of the Cave, we’ll return to Delphi for a sunset celebration of the longest day of light in a lush open-air garden overlooking thousands of ancient olive groves and the mouth of the Ionian Sea.
While in Delphi, you’ll enjoy a beautiful room (single or double) at Hotel V.
Perched on the very edge of town, Hotel V is distinct for its unfettered, breathtaking valley views and easy access to the 4,000 year-old footpath to Kirra—the very path walked by pilgrims to Delphi for thousands of years. You’ll have ample time in the early mornings and afternoons to soak in the sun on your private balcony, rest on your sun-splashed bed, and explore the many shops of local artisans just a short walk away.
From Delphi, we fly to Crete,
cradle of the Minoan civilization, a matrilineal society that flourished for nearly two thousand years without standing armies or military conquest. The Minoans were revered for their sophisticated art, architecture, and life-centered governance, so much so that their vision of nonviolent civilization is still invoked today on the walls of The Hague.
While on Crete we’ll be treated to a private tour of the labyrinthine ruins of Knossos,
where the Minoan society flourished and women, particularly the priestesses, were held in high regard. The next day, we’ll journey to the remote Trapeza (Kronian Andron), a sacred mountaintop cave used by the Minoans for thousands of years for ceremony and devotion, and where the infant Dionysius was hidden by his mother Rhea.
Our Cretian adventure culminates in a daylong journey by off-road jeep to Prevali Beach,
where we’ll soak up the Mediterranean sun, bathe in crystalline blue-green waters, and swim to a sacred sea cave where together we’ll sing to our vision of rebirth and renewal.
While on Crete we’ll be bathed in luxury at the gorgeous Dalabelos Estates, one of Europe’s premier wellness resorts.
Nestled in the heart of Crete at the foot of Mt Ida, Dalabelos’ rolling hills are draped in vineyards, olive groves, and fragrant wildflowers, and 85 percent of their delectable, award-winning food is grown in the organic orchards, vineyards, and gardens on site. Each room is filled with original art, handwoven textiles, and plenty of sumptuous Cretian sunlight.
Kirstin is incredibly seasoned at walking women through transformative experiences. I have been so lucky to experience two retreats led by Kirstin, and have witnessed her gift of recognition and how she honors each person on their path. Each time I speak with Kirstin, she intuitively meets me where I am, guides me forward, and supports the embodiment of my authentic self with her deep presence and devotion to healing. She is gifted at designing each retreat with artful intention, tapping into poetic and profound teachings, insights, and reflections, and holds us as we step back into reality. She facilitates these journeys with a graceful yet immense capacity, while playful and full of light. I am deeply grateful for Kirstin!
Ali H.,
Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Our Journey, Day by Day
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Meet at 12:00 pm in the arrival hall B at Athens International Airport with your local tour-guide. Depart for Eleusis where we’ll visit the archaeological site and museum
Drive to Delphi via air-conditioned bus (~2.5 hours). Check-in at V Hotel
6:30 pm: Golden Hour Welcome Circle and Opening Ceremony on the ancient path to Kirra
8:00 pm: Celebratory Welcome Dinner overlooking the majestic Sacred Valley and Gulf of Corinth
10:00 pm: return to hotel for long night of sleep and renewal
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Relaxed morning. Buffet breakfast at Hotel V overlooking the Pleistos Valley.
10:00 am – 12:30 pm: Morning Circle
Free time for lunch in town
Early afternoon: walk as a group to the Castalian Spring for purification before entering the sanctuary of Apollo.
3:00 pm: Meet our local guide in front of the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, for a tour of the Sanctuary of Apollo and the site of the Oracle
7:30 pm: Patio dinner overlooking the Pleistos Valley at the award-winning Taverna Vakkos
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Buffet breakfast at hotel
9:00 am: pick-up from Hotel V and drive to Livadi, where we’ll hike the trail to the Corycian Cave
Ceremony, song, and offerings in the Corycian Cave
1:30 pm: transfer from Livadi and to the mountainside town of Arachova for lunch and shopping on your own
4:30 pm: transfer from Arachova to Hotel V in Delphi
6:30 pm: transfer from the hotel to Maniatis Restaurant for Summer Solstice Dinner and Celebration in an outdoor garden overlooking ancient olive groves and the mouth of the Ionian Sea
10:30 pm: transfer back to Hotel V
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Buffet breakfast at hotel, relaxed morning
10:00 am: Morning Circle
Free Day in Delphi for exploration, shopping, and integration
Optional hike on the ancient footpath to Kirra
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Check-out after buffet breakfast at hotel
8:00 am: pick-up from Hotel V and transfer to Athens Airport for flight A3 314 to Heraklion (depart at 1:25pm; 55-minute flight)
2:20 pm: arrive at Heraklion Airport. Transfer to Dalabelos Estates for check-in
Late afternoon for settling in, pool time, and exploring gardens and grounds
Outdoor Welcome Dinner prepared by our host, Maria, at Dalabelos Estates
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Buffet breakfast on patio overlooking ancient olive and lemon groves and fourth-generation farm
9:00 am: Morning Circle
12:00 pm: pick-up from Dalabelos Estates for a guided tour of the archeological site of Knossos, ancient Palace of the Minoans
2:00 pm: transfer by bus to Heraklion for a guided tour of the stunning Archaeological Museum and a walking tour of the capitol city
Return to Dalabelos ~6:00 pm. Relax and unwind before dinner.
7:30 pm: Dinner and sunset on the outdoor patio at Dalabelos Estates
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Buffet breakfast at Dalabelos
8:30 am: depart from Dalabelos Estates with Ariadne, our local tour-guide. Drive to Lassithi Plateau
Lunch in small mountain village
Hike to Trapeza (Kronion Adron) Cave
Ceremony, song, and transmissions in Cave
Return late afternoon to Dalabelos Estates
Dinner and sunset on the outdoor patio of Dalabelos Estates
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Buffet breakfast at Dalabelos
10:00 am: pick up from Dalabelos Estates by private jeep and off-road journey to Prevali beach
Stop at local village for light lunch and shopping
Afternoon of swimming, sun, and relaxation in the Mediterranean Sea
Rebirthing Ceremony in mystical sea cave
Return to Dalabelos ~ 5:00 pm.
Early celebratory dinner on the patio at Dalabelos Estates
Closing Circle at Sunset
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Morning check-out
Group transfer from Dalabelos Estates to Heraklion Port (for those joining the VIP Extension to Cyprus) or to Heraklion Airport (for those returning home)
This day-by-day itinerary from the 2026 retreat is subject to change for 2027.
Meet Your Host
Kirstin Hotelling Zona, PhD is a sought-after Certified Embodiment Coach, Spiritual Mentor, Transformational Facilitator, and the author of Modern Mystic (Substack). In all of her work, Kirstin blends spiritual wisdom and scholarly depth, drawing on her 25 years as a professor and poet, as well as her training in the ancient arts of the Sacred Feminine and the Isis-Magdelene-Rose Lineage.
Kirstin also teaches and speaks about women’s sexuality, desire, and pleasure, and is a “demo” model for OMGYes, the widely known online instructional platform co-hosted with the Kinsey Institute that explores and educates about female sexual pleasure. She mentors private clients, runs intimate group programs and trainings, and has hosted over 35 retreats and sacred pilgrimages in both the U.S. and abroad.
At once intuitive and intellectual, sensual and spiritual, she has helped thousands of students and clients embody their eros and realize their soul-aligned impact. Committed to evolving our collective consciousness through the reclamation of eros and the Divine Feminine, Kirstin loves dance, writing, the coast of Maine, her two grown kids, and connecting with other truth-seekers who yearn to feel fully alive.
Meet Your Assistant
Shandi Paro is a visionary entrepreneur, beauty cultivator, and creatrix of 3rd Pyramid, a practice dedicated to the high-frequency art of Harmonic Enhancement. Bridging the ethereal and material, she integrates Interior Design expertise with vibrational medicine to curate spaces and lives of profound spiritual resonance. A devotee of the Rose and Lotus Lineages, Shandi brings a rare architectural integrity to the spiritual path, using The Beauty Way as a reciprocal system of healing between the self and nature. Through somatic movement and sacred retreats, she activates high-vibration hospitality across powerful lands to guide truth-seekers toward visceral reclamation of one’s own essence and radical self-discovery.
Kirstin recently led the most transformative retreat that I have ever been to. The setting was luscious and the activities were life-force propelling (a Temazcal, cold plunge, and ecstatic dance session, to name just a few), but what set this retreat apart from all others I’ve attended is Kirstin’s leadership and facilitation. Kirstin creates the magic. It is evident in both the environment and the energy that Kirstin spends months, if not years, preparing for her retreat experiences. She provides each participant with a level of safety that allows for deep investigation, release and healing. She authentically and unconditionally loves and cares for each individual and makes each person feel seen. She joyfully facilitates the process of expansion and she celebrates with each soul every step of the way. I knew that I wasn’t happy a year ago, that I put myself last on the list when caretaking. I felt lost. I wasn’t alive. I was sleep-walking through life and turning in the direction that others told me to. Kirstin has helped me re-align to my life force and to my vital essence. I say yes now to pleasure and to what makes me feel alive. I feel like I am me, and I am expressing my unique and vital light in this world!
Molly M., PhD.,
Educational Director, Retreat Facilitator
Luxury Inclusives
• Transportation from Athens to Delphi
• 4 nights at Hotel V in Delphi, with private balcony and sweeping views to the Gulf of Corinth
• Private Guided Tour of Archeological Museum in Delphi & Sanctuary of Apollo, the Oracle, Castalian Springs, Treasury of the Athenians, the ancient Theater, & the Stadium
• Excursion to the Corycian Cave above Delphi
• Sunset Solstice Ceremony & Celebration in open-air garden of Delphi
• Air Travel from Delphi to Crete
• 4 nights at Dalabelos Estates, a 5-Star luxury eco-resort
• Private Guided Tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the first European civilization and the legendary home of the Minotaur (half bull and half man), the Heraklion Museum, and walking tour of the capitol city
• Daylong Excursion to Lassithi Plateua and Trapeza Cave
• Daylong Excursion via back-country jeep to Prevali Beach on the Aegean Sea
• All transfers, buses, and private cars
• Beautiful breakfasts and fresh, local, exquisite dinners
• Powerful ceremonies, meditations, and transmissions
• Daily guided movement and teachings
• Time for relaxation, exploring, shopping, and integration
Not included: Airfare to Greece, gratuities for tour guides and hosts, lunches on your own, alcoholic beverages
Your Investment
Early Bird Savings will be available!
PLEASE NOTE:
• Non-Refundable deposit of $1500 due upon registration
• Flexible Payment Plans Available
• Payments accepted via Venmo, Check, PayPal or major Credit Card (5% fee added for PayPal and Credit Card)
VIP GOLDEN EXTENSION
Includes personalized private coaching with Kirstin
If you’d like to deepen your journey, I invite you to continue with us to Cyprus for an additional 3-day VIP Golden Extension on the magical land of Cyprus, birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of sensuality, love and beauty.
Situated at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa,Cyprusis a land steeped in eros,
beauty, and sacred presence. Revered as the birthplace of Aphrodite, Cyprus rises from the sea in limestone and light, home to turquoise coves, dramatic coastlines, ancient olive groves, thermal waters, and mountain villages scented with citrus, jasmine, and herbs. The island moves at a slower, sensual pace—sun-drenched, elemental—inviting deep rest, pleasure, and integration. Long associated with love, fertility, and renewal, Cyprus is ideal for softening, savoring, and embodying the currents of eros and ecstasy awakened during our pilgrimage. This intimate extension includes abundant space for ritual, reflection, sea-bathing, shared meals, and unhurried presence.
During the VIP Golden Extension, you will be offered a private 1:1 coaching session with Kirstin to help you integrate your experience and carry forward your newfound expansion as you return to life back home.
The Golden Extension to Cyprus is for those who feel the call to linger
—to rest more deeply, integrate what’s awakened, and let the energy of our pilgrimage settle in as felt wisdom. We’ll spend these three days communing with the wild, making mandalas in nature, exploring waterfalls and secluded coves, and indulging the local food and wines! The VIP Extension offers a slower rhythm, more intimacy, and spacious time by the sea to savor the currents of descent and renewal, eros and ecstasy, and sacred devotion stirred by the pilgrimage. For those who stay, Cyprus is a soft landing as well as a luminous close.
In addition to all meals and excursions, the Extension includes transportation from Crete to Cyprus, seaside accommodations at the warm and welcoming Hotel Aphrodite, meals and excursions.
I went to one of Kirstin’s women’s retreats and was honestly blown away by her skillset. I gained so much that I could not stop thinking about it; the guidance and coaching were truly unimaginable. My connection with the group was one of the greatest forms of support I have ever had outside of my friends and family. I can honestly say that my work with Kirstin has improved my life in ways I cannot explain, and I will be eternally grateful for the skills I’ve developed, the perspective I’ve created, and the abundance of joy and responsibility I feel empowered to carry forth.
Tracy B.,
Therapist, Entrepreneur
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Besides your $1550 deposit, your trip is refundable until May 1st!
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Yes! The Path of Eros & Ecstasy welcomes men and women, as well as non-binary individuals, and is LGBTQ+ welcoming.
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To ensure individualized attention and the intimacy of a small group, this pilgrimage is limited to 8 guests.
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It’s your choice, but we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Depending on the policy you purchase, it may cover cancellation due to illness, accident, damaged or lost luggage and more! Having a policy that includes cancellation insurance may be the only way to get a full refund if you need to cancel at the last minute.
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It is your sole responsibility to obtain the needed documentation for your travel to Greece. If you are traveling from the United States, a valid passport is needed for your trips to and from Greece.
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Baggage restrictions may apply depending what airline you choose to fly with. Be sure to check any weight or size requirements on your airline prior to travel to avoid any surprises at the airport.
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You will fly into and depart from Athens, Greece.
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You can contact me at kirstinhotellingzona@gmail.com or shoot me a text at 309-829-3222