“…Is it not possible that middle age can be looked on as a kind of second flowering, a second growth, even a kind of second adolescence? (…) The signs that presage growth, so similar, it seems to me, to those in early adolescence: discontent, restlessness, doubt, despair, longing, are interpreted falsely as signs of decay - when really they might be angels of annunciation. Angels of annunciation of what? Of a new stage of life, where one might be free at last.”
- Anne Lindbergh, Gifts from the Sea
WHAT WE’LL DO
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rites of passage
over the days the rites of passage will help you move through the grief of all that you’ve been holding, the grief of what you were never allowed to be, and the joy of what you’re now becoming.
we will hold rites of passage to unmask. maybe you wore one mask in the summer of your life, perhaps you wore twenty. we’ll identify every single one and take them off.
we hold vigil together. the woman who has so gracefully served you up until this moment, deserves a proper ceremonial farewell.
and finally we will rise, like the feather phoenix, to the woman on the other side.
expect tears, dance, joy and sorrow.
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cellular replenishment
we will explore what it means to eat food that benefits the female body and her cycles, and what foods especially benefit a smooth(er) transition through perimenopause and menopause.
this is not about being on a diet. ranarp’s food will help you remember what really feels good in a yummy, effortless, real sensory savoring way, without any of the pretenses of spiritual wellness. true wellbeing comes from joy, the joy of mouth watering, truly replenishing food, made with love and local ingredients.
we will focus on women-friendly, warm, nourishing food and herbal infusions, possibly throwing a woman-focused, herbal infusion workshop in the mix.
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yoga & breathwork
the body needs to be moved to be moved.
together with steph sanders we will move gently through soft yoga flows meant to awaken the body and open the heart. from there we go deeper - into breathwork practice.
breathwork is the practice of using the breath to reach and unlock emotions that have been locked in the body. it’s a way to shortcut the thinking mind and reach emotions and grievances that we might not be aware of. breathwork is somatic magic and steph will be there to guide and hold you through the sessions so that whatever comes up to the surface can be held and honored in the most loving way.
What’s included
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Yum Bjäre fare
Bjäre is a veritable cornucopia of delicious local foods, and together with our trusted chefs, we gently caretake this treasurechest of ingredients from farm to table.
We serve mouthwatering fare that specifically caters to the lushness of the region and utilizes all the beautiful local veggies, berries and greens we can find. We especially have a thing for soulfood, and cooking food that will feel warm, filling and nourishing, from the inside out.
Every retreat includes full board with a generous selection of breakfast items, lunch, and dinner, as well as fruits and snacks for the day. When possible we collaborate with our neighbour, the strawberry farmer, to bring some of the sweetest and juiciest strawberries to our guests.
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Private or shared room
Enjoy a restful night’s sleep by the ocean in our newly renovated, colorful British country-style villa.
All room types have access to a lush and large, joint livingroom area where there is a kettle of tea a’brewing and access to snacks and fruits. You also have access to a large, newly built shower room with an ocean view and a laundry room, if need be.
There are no private bathrooms in the villas. The rooms (6 in total) share access to 5 separate showers and 3 toilets.
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Rituals & sessions in historic mill
All our sessions and rituals are performed in our historic watermill-turned-studio, a space where the elements invite you to introspect, shake, dance, speak, listen and connect - with yourself and with others.
This space has been used since the 1700s and has carefully been recrafted into a retreat space using inspiration from both local history and japanese temple architecture.
We enjoy spectacular sunsets and the sound of the stream (Möllebäcken) to the west and a warming fire in the heart of the room. In here you also find everything you will need for the session; from yoga props to warming blankets.
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Scenic Bjäre nature
The Bjäre peninsula is one of the most popular vacation spots in Sweden, for good reason. This beautiful, womb-like space is often referred to as the “Tuscany of Sweden” for its rolling hills, proximity to the ocean and rich farmlands.
Ranarpskvarn is nestled in the heart of the Bjäre peninsula, just by the ocean, in an area that is protected as a natural reserve. We share this space with many endangered and protected bird species, two major streams, and many seals and foxes. The biggest takeaway from Ranarp is really mother nature herself.
The villas have access to a private trail leading down to the ocean through a little enchanted forest of our own. There’s also a private garden with ocean views and plenty of resting spaces to withdraw and unwind.
Lina Rosa Åsberg
main facilitator, rites of passage
Lina is a social anthropologist, a mother of three, a midlife midwife (through training with Sarah Durham Wilson), a tarot-reader and an honorary sister in the Sisters of the Valley. She’s also the founder of Ranarpskvarn.
Lina in her own words:
As social anthropologist, I have extensive knowledge of the deep cultural significance of rites of passage within all human history and all human cultures, but also the profound lack of such rites in modern society.
As “modern” beings we live in a childlike, consumption-focused culture which measures our worth through our proximity to youth and access to physical resources. Our way of living goes tipsy-turvy to human history where elders have been reverred for their wisdom and rites of passage has been a way for older generations to hand down knowledge of the stages of human life to the generations coming after them. In my work officiating women through the”summer” (mother) part of their life to their fall (midlife/witch/queen) I try to bring some of those traditions back, holding space for women to reflect on how life has come to change and shape them and also creating a ritual container through which women can not only come to accept but celebrate and revere the very rich soil that is midlife.
In western culture, we often hear of the “maiden - mother - crone” triad which is a strange simplification of a woman’s life that completely leaves out fall - the season she goes to harvest - and for good reason. The fall season is the most plentiful but also the most potent. This is the season where women decide to upend their lives and do what suits them best. Of course, in a society that thrives off of women’s unpaid labor, such a change is not always appreciated.
My many moon ceremony circles with the Sisters has allowed me to tap into the power of pagan ritual and joint communion. I’ll be using that experience along with my training as a midlife midwife by the powerful writer & activist Sarah Durham Wilson to officiate women into the richness that is their second act.
❤︎ Lina
Stephanie Sanders
co-facilitator, teaches yoga & breathwork
Steph Sanders is a yoga and breathwork teacher, retreat facilitator, and someone who has always been curious about what helps us feel more connected to ourselves, to each other, and to the lives we’re living.
Originally from the mountains of Colorado and now based along the coast in southern Sweden, Steph has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years and teaching for over 16. Along the way, she studied at university in Australia, backpacked through Central and South America, worked with a nonprofit in rural Uganda, and eventually built a life and family in Sweden. Those experiences, along with motherhood and all the different seasons life brings, have shaped the way she sees the world and naturally find their way into her teaching.
Her work brings together yoga, breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, self-inquiry, and community. More than any one practice, Steph loves creating spaces where people can slow down, get curious, connect with themselves and others, and experience what can shift when we give ourselves the time and space to truly be present. Her offerings are a mix of movement and stillness, meaningful conversation, reflection and rest, good food, and time together. At the heart of it all is something pretty simple: creating a little space away from everyday life to connect, be curious, and come back to what matters.
Connect with Steph on Instagram at @stephsandersyoga or explore more of her work at stephsandersyoga.com.
More teachers & collaborators to come
“in filling the well, think magic. think delight. think fun. do not think duty. do not do what you should do—spiritual sit-ups like reading a dull but recommended critical text. do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery.”
book your room, come transform.
Sleep safe and sound in one of our 4 single rooms. You’ll have access to a beautiful, shared livingroom area in British style, a garden with ocean view, full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea and snacks) as well as all teaching materials needed to participate in the retreat. Yoga mats and props are available on site in the yoga studio for yoga & breathwork sessions. Showers & bathrooms are shared.
Payment plans available.