The Hidden Place

A Day-Long Retreat with The Elderberry & Kat Maier

What would happen if you embraced, instead of rejected, your dark side this winter?

Sunday, January 25th, we come together at Sacred Plant Traditions in Charlottesville, VA to fully embrace the winter season.

Register

Ceremony

We will have an opening and closing ceremony to drop into the space and offer gratitude for the land and all its inhabitants. We will give ourselves the time and space to move at our own pace while remembering the sacredness of ceremony. 

Plant Journey

We’ll be leading a plant journey — a somatic exploration of energetic plant medicine — meant to guide you through a gentle shadow integration practice.

Nourishing Seasonal Lunch

We’ll be serving herb-inspired fare appropriate for the winter season while exploring the best ways to nourish your kidneys and adrenals through food.

Kidney Medicine + Working with Fear

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Water element corresponds with the season of winter, the kidneys, and our relationship to fear. In this workshop, we’ll offer some ways to work with fear on both the physical and psycho-spiritual level and how that connects to the health of our kidneys/adrenals.

Herbal Day Camp is an invitation to mirror the energy of each season and remember that you are a part of nature. We observe each of the distinct seasons that Virginia offers us, along with the astrological weather, to host a day-long retreat that allows you to feel both fully present to your unique experience AND immersed in the larger energies that are moving through the collective and through the earth.

Our theme this year is: inviting your shadow in for tea. The dark, slow moving, hibernation time that is winter is a potent time to explore the dark, hidden, shadow-y parts of ourselves. These are the parts of us that we normally choose to avoid, shove down, and ignore. At this years gathering, we invite you to not only accept, but to embrace, your shadow…invite it to sit at your table. Why? Because it’s easier to move forward on a purposeful path when all parts of us — our light and our shadow, our conscious and our unconscious — are unified and embraced.

Sunday, January 25th 10am - 4pm

Bridge Between the Worlds, Keswick, VA

Exchange: $190

  • "I always feel rejuvenated after attending day camp :) "

  • "This was honestly so amazing! It's the most rested and spiritually connected I have felt in years! The food was delicious and I'm so thankful it catered to all different dietary preferences. Thank you for such a wonderful time!"

  • “I’m leaving today feeling nourished and whole”

  • “I’m feeling so empowered, and more connected with plants and with nature.”

  • “…and lunch was delicious!”

FAQs

  • Where: Sacred Plant Traditions in Charlottesville, VA

    When: Sunday, January 26th 2026 from 10am - 4pm

  • We ask that you join us for the entire day.

    We want to create a container where nourishment and rest can deepen over the course of the day.

    We are not offering half-day passes.

  • Kids 14 - 17 are welcome with a parent or guardian. Both the parent and the teen need to purchase a ticket.

  • You’ll be creating a nest that will be your home base for the day. Bring a cushion, a blanket, warm clothing, and anything you’ll need to make yourself feel cozy.

    Bring a covered vessel for tea. 

    Bring a notebook to capture those little “Aha!” moments

    Optional: something for the altar (you can either leave it or take it back at the end of the day)

  • If you can no longer join us, please email us as soon as you can. We are not offering full refunds for this event. If you cancel by January 21st at 11:59 pm, we will refund you half of your event ticket price. If you cancel on January 20th or later, we are unable to refund you, but you are welcome to give your spot to someone else.

  • Yes, we will provide materials for all of the days activities. You’ll go home with some herbal gifts as well :)

Register

Meet Your Guides