“Sacred Conversations With Our Ancestors,” an annual ancestral experience hosted by Sacred Conversations, takes place on the east coast of the island of Barbados in a rural community facing the Atlantic Ocean, where many of the ancestors of those who were brought across as slaves are buried.
This year’s gathering will take place May 1-5, 2025. Sacred Conversations founder Simone Arthur returned home to Barbados in 2021 after spending nearly 10 years working with Barbados tourism in New York City, N.Y., U.S.A.
Upon returning, Arthur’s ancestors guided her to create and curate the annual ancestral experience.
“The message was to invite the diaspora back home and bring them to the ocean, bring them back to us,” she says.
During the guided four-day experience, attendees seeking deeper spiritual connection will participate in workshops and rituals focused on ancestral veneration, physical and spiritual cleansing, guided bodywork with Lana Sealy of Body Mekanix and nurturing Caribbean meals prepared by chef Dane Saddler.
Past participants Seana Peterson gives an enthusiastic review of the retreat, noting:
“I am so glad I made the decision to go, and so grateful to Simone and the ancestors that guided her to create this retreat.
“This experience allowed for deep spacious connection with myself, my ancestors and and the other participants and leaders. I learned about ancestral veneration, something I did not grow up at practicing.
“I now know how to approach my ancestors for guidance and feel closer to them and myself as a result. As an adoptee who did not grow up knowing my paternal and my paternal ancestry, this retreat gave me the opportunity to connect with ancestors I did not know in a safe and supportive environment.”
TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Arthur says she remains committed to creating transformational experiences for every participant, noting that attendees are greeted at the airport on arrival, escorted from immigration and baggage, and then shuttled away to the resort.
The culmination of the retreat is a celebrational procession to the Atlantic ocean to make offerings and prayers to the ancestors.
To be part of this experience, visit sacredconversations.com. Limited spots are available.
