Your inner song
A Joy-Cultivating Retreat in Tuscany, Italy
May 11th - 17th, 2027
A week filled with creative exploration, soulful connection, and adventure in the sun-kissed Tuscan countryside.
There is a song inside you. Not a song you have to perform or perfect, but one that already knows who you are: your joy, your wholeness, your aliveness.
For seven days and six nights in the heart of Tuscany, we’ll make space to hear it. Through voice and movement, writing and stillness, shared meals and sunlit adventures, you’ll unwind, reconnect, and remember the magic of living life fully.
"I feel deeply satisfied, connected to community and myself, and inspired." —Kelley F.
ways we cultivate joy
Our retreat programming is designed to help rekindle your innate sense of delight and well-being through the following:
Creative Expression
A safe, playful space to explore your authentic voice and let your creative energy flow. We’ll sing, move, write, and make music. This isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about rediscovering the joy of creating and sharing together.
Stillness & Presence
Slow down and come back to yourself through yoga, meditation, mindful movement, and reflective writing. In the quiet, you’ll make room to listen inward and hear what your inner song has to say.
Community Connection
When we gather, magic happens. Through song circles, small-group sharing, meals, and adventures together, you’ll connect with like-hearted souls who help you come back to yourself. Come as strangers, leave as lifelong friends!
Nourishment
Replenish your cup so you can return to the world renewed and ready to shine. Savor fresh, home-cooked Tuscan food, sink into sound healings, and enjoy unhurried time to rest, wander, and take in the beauty of our surroundings.
Cultural Immersion & Fun
Step into the beauty and history of Tuscany and the nearby local town of Arezzo. Bike through the countryside, explore charming hilltop villages, soak in unique natural hot springs, and toast the evening with local wine. This is joy in its most delicious, living form.
"It’s impossible to walk away not feeling loved, supported, and inspired! I feel welcomed into a community that has lovely altered the course of my entire life!" —Erin C.
A DAY AT THE RETREAT
Imagine a week with a little less rushing and a lot more room to follow what feels good. Each day offers a gentle rhythm of movement, creativity, connection, adventure, and rest.
Morning: Let the birdsong and Tuscan sunshine be your wake-up call. Take your time over tea, enjoy a quiet moment to yourself, or ease into your own morning practice before gathering around the table for a delicious, home-cooked breakfast.
Morning session: Move, stretch, dance, breathe, and let your imagination wander. Through yoga, movement, and inner writing practices, we'll make space to listen to what's stirring inside and give your creative spirit room to play.
Afternoon: Follow your curiosity or your need for a little downtime. Linger at the villa, take a dip in the pool, or join us on one of our group excursions including an e-bike ride through the countryside of Val di Chiana, a peaceful soak in a local hot springs, and an afternoon exploring one of Tuscany's quintessential hilltop towns.
Evening: Find your voice in a song circle, make music, share stories, and gather around the table for a leisurely dinner filled with good food and good company, whether at the villa or a local trattoria.
Night: Let the day settle with a Lullaby Sound Bath or meditation, linger over conversation with new friends, or simply step outside and enjoy the quiet magic of a Tuscan night.
"Thank you for your magic: bringing kindred spirits to rest and nourishment." —Michelle V.
who this is for
This retreat is for you if you’re…
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Wanting a respite from the busyness of life, and craving space to slow down
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Longing to reconnect with your joy, your creativity, and your truest self
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Curious whether there’s a song inside you, or carrying many that want to come out
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Seeking a warm, like-hearted community to share the journey with
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Ready to set down the phone and the to-do list and let your authentic self emerge
No musical, yoga, or creative experience is needed. We believe everyone is creative and that singing is our birthright. All you need is an open heart and a willingness to play!
"I didn’t know that such loving, non judgemental creative communities existed….if you want more connection, creative inspiration, and have a song or two wanting to come out, this is for you….Frankly, if you are alive and human being, this is for you. Your life will never be the same in the most magical and wonderful way!" —Hannah S.
what you'll take home
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Your own inner songs: simple, heartfelt songs you can sing to yourself whenever you need a reminder of who you are
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A rested, replenished nervous system: the deep restoration that only comes from truly stepping away
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Practices to keep your joy alive: movement, writing, and voice tools you can return to in everyday life
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Renewed confidence in your voice: in song and in life
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Kindred friendships and unforgettable memories of Tuscany’s land, flavors, and people
I learned that I have all the tools I need. All I need to do is let my heart and creativity take me. I am owning my musical self in ways I have not been able to before." —Jen K.
our retreat venue
Our home for the week is Villa Sentire, a historic stone house built in 1869 nestled in the countryside of Civitella in Val di Chiana, just outside of Arezzo. Surrounded by olive groves, forests, and a spring-fed pond, the villa looks out over the sweeping Chiana Valley. Rustic Tuscan charm meets warm, minimalist design throughout.
Spend your free time lounging by the large pool overlooking the valley, gathering around the fire pit, or wandering trails through the hills. Mornings begin on the yoga balcony, with panoramic views that make it easy to arrive fully in the present. The villa is also home to a small, welcoming community devoted to mindful living who will greet you like extended family.
Accommodations: Enjoy a charming private or shared bedroom in the villa, a cozy wooden cabin, or a bell tent under the stars. In the main house, every two rooms share a comfortable bathroom. The cabins and bell tents have nice, clean outdoor toilets and hot showers with a view of the sky.
Cuisine & Meals
Meals at the villa are a highlight of the day. Fresh, farm-to-table vegetarian dishes are made from local, organic ingredients and served family-style around a long wooden table. Expect a delicious blend of Tuscan, Italian, and southern Indian flavors, drizzled with the villa’s own organic olive oil from the surrounding groves, and a delectable night of pizza fresh from the traditional wood-fired oven. On days out, you’ll also enjoy authentic regional cuisine and the colorful local scene at the village trattorias.
*Please Note: The villa is a vegetarian property, so all meals on-site are meat and fish-free. Eggs and dairy are included, and we’re happy to accommodate other dietary needs. Please let us know when you register.
what's included
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All in-house meals served w/local, organic ingredients
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3 meals out at authentic trattorias
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All retreat programming with Dana & Robin
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Access to retreat facilities:
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Large pool and lounging area
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Common spaces i.e. living rooms, patio with gorgeous view
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Surrounding gardens, nature paths, olive groves, forest and woodland
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Excursions & enriching cultural experiences including:
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E-bike tour through the Tuscan countryside
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A trip to a local favorite natural hot springs
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Outings to historical towns + Siena city visit
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In-house Italian cooking class
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Special offering by our hosts at the villa
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What's NOT Included:
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Airfare and travel to Villa Sentire
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Gratuity for cleaning staff
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Wine or other drinks at local trattorias
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Additional services, purchases, or activities not listed above
pricing
$4500 - Private Room in Villa
$4000 - Private Cabin
$3600 - Shared Room in Villa
$3500 - Private Glamping in Bell Tent
$3200 - Shared Glamping in Bell Tent
(All tickets in USD)
"I am overcome with gratitude for what I just experienced. You folks are among the most generous, talented, and kind I have met. You have given me this incredible reference point for what is possible when people create an intentional container that is full of love and acceptance. Thank you all!" —Jason T.
your retreat guides
This is a particularly exciting collaboration, and also a first for us! After years of supporting and cheering each other on through our individual retreats and creative ventures, Dana and Robin are finally coming together to create and lead an experience together. It's a natural cross-pollination of our passions, gifts, and approaches to helping others cultivating joy, creativity, and connection.
We both believe in the transformative power of gathering, in making space for people to show up as they are, and in the magic that happens when we bring our voices, experiences, and creative spirits together.
We'll bring our shared values of family and kinship into the week, and we're lucky to be accompanied by some of our own family members along the way. Our hope is to create a space that feels welcoming, familiar, and down-to-earth—a place where you can truly settle in, come back to yourself, explore, play, and feel right at home.
About Dana Hersh
Dana is a passionate teacher, facilitator, and intuitive practitioner offering doorways into inner wisdom. She combines her natural gifts of clairvoyance, training in various healing modalities, musicianship, and leadership to help people gain clarity and lead with heart and soul.
A lifelong explorer of the relationship between spirituality and everyday life, Dana brings a grounded, compassionate, and playful approach to her work. She loves creating spaces where people can deepen their sense of self-trust and together cultivate a sense of collective warmth, belonging, and delight.
Find out more about Dana at danahersh.com.
Dana simultaneously leads the individual and the group through a transformative process while developing a harmonious community of heart and soul. I walked away from this retreat with clarity, direction, insight, new friends, and a better person." —Sandy A.
About Robin Jackson
An award-winning songwriter, teacher, and spirited impresario, Robin has dedicated his life to creating connection through art and music. His work is rooted in the belief that everyone is creative and that we all need space to be seen, heard, and supported for our creative voices to flourish.
A touring musician for over 25 years, Robin has released three solo albums and collaborated with notable artists including Polish Ambassador, The Decemberists, Amanda Palmer, and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Through his popular Songwriter Soirees, retreats, and online courses, Robin has helped thousands of people unblock their voices, open their hearts, and reconnect with their creative nature.
Find out more about Robin at robinjackson.net.
"I am overcome with gratitude for what I just experienced. You folks are among the most generous, talented, and kind I have met. You have given me this incredible reference point for what is possible when people create an intentional container that is full of love and acceptance. Thank you all!" —Jason T.
Frequently asked questions
A glimpse into Past retreats
