Narrative Coaching Retreat for Self-Discovery in Northern California Through Journaling and Myth Work
Uncover the Story Beneath Your Skin
Every transformation begins with a story—and too often, that story goes untold. Symposium: The First Gathering offers a sacred space to revisit, rewrite, and re-author the narrative of who you are becoming.
This six-day narrative coaching retreat for self-discovery unfolds November 4–9, 2025, beneath redwood canopies in Northern California. Through journaling, visualization, symbolic side quests, and coaching-style reflection, guests are invited into a mythic space of renewal and revelation.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in an old identity—or are standing at the edge of a new chapter—this self-discovery retreat in California helps you find the words, wisdom, and will to move forward. You don’t need to be a writer or a seeker. Just willing to sit with your truth, and let it speak.
Why Stories Heal: The Foundations of Narrative Coaching
At its heart, narrative coaching believes that the way we tell our story shapes the way we live it. By exploring old scripts, uncovering buried metaphors, and choosing new language, we begin to transform.
Rooted in narrative therapy, positive psychology, and mythic frameworks, this approach invites reflection without the pressure to fix. It's not about solving—it’s about seeing. As explained by the Narrative Coaching Institute, transformation occurs when we can sit with our story, reframe it with compassion, and write a new way forward.
At Symposium, we deepen this practice through:
Personal myth exploration
Symbolic journaling prompts
Guided visualization journeys
Group council and mirrored reflection
The result? A narrative breakthrough experience—gentle, powerful, and enduring.
Photo of Deer Haven, one of the our many unique cabin spaces. This cabin has three beds. Cabins have between 1 to 8 beds each and provide several different sleeping arrangements for Narrative Coaching Retreat for Self-Discovery. All cabin spaces are included in Symbolic writing retreat in the Redwoods.
Photo of Group Glamping Tents Setup in Sunset Meadow. We have 10 Glamping Structures that can be added with 1to 3 beds each. This can increase bed capacity of campus to 50 guests across 20 unique accommodation spaces.
Guides into Inner Realms
Julia Henning (@iamjuliahenning), founder of Symposium, serves as the lead narrative coach and mythic guide. With a background in psychology, immersive storytelling, and soul-centered facilitation, she helps participants reweave their life story with honesty and magic.
Mary-Grace Hogan (@marygrace_julianna) supports the writing process through reflective journaling sessions and one-on-one “Tea Time” dialogues. Her gift is helping guests find clarity through language—whether spoken or written.
Julia Farrell (@thegingerjules) designs symbolic frameworks and side quests that guide each participant into their personal myth. Her creative touch ensures the retreat isn’t just reflective—it’s alive with ritual and archetypal play.
Together, they form a circle of support, insight, and presence—ready to hold your unfolding.
A Place for Your Story to Land
At Spirit Camp, story isn’t told—it’s lived. Writing takes place in The Sanctuary, where copper light filters onto pillows, and silence becomes an ally. Solo quests happen on redwood trails, where journaling beside ferns or at twilight altars becomes part of the practice.
Evenings might include myth-letter exchanges, creative readings, or fireside storytelling. Free time allows for walks, naps, or spontaneous reflection with a new friend.
Accommodations range from private cabins to shared bunkhouses, all lovingly prepared and energetically cleansed. Meals are plant-based, organic, and designed to support clarity and emotional flow.
This is a personal myth journaling retreat that invites both structure and spaciousness—so your story has room to breathe.
The Redwoods Know Your Name
Set in Mendocino County, about three hours north of the Bay Area, Spirit Camp offers a peaceful forest haven for introspective work. The redwoods create a natural container for self-inquiry—quiet, grounding, and wise.
Accessible from San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Marin, and Oakland, this coaching and storytelling retreat in Northern California blends symbolic practices with earth-based immersion. No cell service, no performance—just deep listening.
It’s the perfect location for transformational journaling in Northern California, surrounded by silence, beauty, and breath.
FAQs for Storytellers and Thinkers
Do I need writing experience?
Not at all. Journaling is about presence, not perfection. You’ll be supported in expressing whatever wants to emerge, whether it’s a word, a poem, or a feeling.Is coaching 1:1 or group based?
Both. There are group storytelling circles and opportunities for personal reflection in Tea Time sessions. Every participant is met where they are.What if I don’t know my “story”?
That’s why you’re here. The retreat helps you explore, clarify, and uncover the narrative underneath your life’s surface. Curiosity is all you need.
Integration Ideas Nearby
After the retreat, let your reflections settle on the Big River Trail, a winding path that follows water, wind, and memory. Walk alone or with a journal in hand, letting your story integrate with the earth’s quiet rhythms.
For a more spiritual punctuation, visit The Temple of Kwan Tai, a historic site in Mendocino that blends Taoist tradition with coastal serenity. Many guests report feeling a sacred stillness here—perfect for closing a chapter or opening a new one.
Author the Next Chapter of Your Becoming
You’ve been writing your story all along. This is your moment to hold the pen with presence—and begin again.
Join us for six days of journaling, myth work, and guided reflection at Symposium: The First Gathering.
To explore more introspective and healing retreats, visit spirit.camp/retreats.
TOPICS:
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