Galena, Illinois
Located in the woods of beautiful Galena, Illinois
~ Retreats Across America ~
September 21–23, 2026
Alchemy of Transformation
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Autumn Equinox — A day of equal dark and equal light.
Come bring yourself back to balance.
A Sacred Autumn Journey Back to You
Join Lisa Gniady in the peaceful countryside of Galena, Illinois, for a restorative three-day women’s retreat aligned with the Autumn Equinox—a meaningful moment when darkness and light come into balance.
Surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature, we will step away from our everyday responsibilities and create space to breathe, reconnect, and listen within. Through meditation, movement, sound healing, energy work, intuitive exploration, and sacred ceremony, you will be supported as you release what feels depleted or fragmented and return to your natural center.
This intimate retreat is designed to help you restore your energy, regain equilibrium, and awaken the radiance that is ready to emerge. Come as you are and allow the experience to unfold.
Restore. Balance. Elevate.
Each day builds upon the last, guiding you through a thoughtful progression of releasing, realignment, and transformation.
Tentative Schedule:
Spirit Guides the flow of activities.
Monday, September 21 — Restore
Embody Balance | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Opening Circle and Releasing Affirmations
Breathwork and Guided Meditation
Gentle Yoga and Moving Affirmations
Crystal Meditation
After lunch: 30-minute Sound Healing and Drumming to regroup and restore
Intuitive Exploration and Reflection
Light Code Activation — Embody Your Gifts
Evening Experience | 7:00 PM
Shamanic Journey and Fire Ceremony to release and clear.
Tuesday, September 22 — Balance
Attain Equanimity | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
September Equinox Alignment Meditation
Chocolate Chakra Clearing Meditation: Seven custom chocolate meditations with breath, movement, and sound threaded throughout the day
After lunch: 30-minute Sound Healing and Drumming to regroup and restore
Light Code Activation — Harmony, Equanimity, and Balance
Evening Experience | 7:00 PM
Channeling and Intuitive Playground.
Wednesday, September 23 — Elevate
Awaken Radiance | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
BreathWalk in the Galena countryside
Morning Meditation
Gentle Kundalini Yoga
After lunch: 30-minute Sound Healing and Drumming to regroup and restore
Closing Circle Integration: Create your Personal Balanced Triangle with geometric anchoring
Light Code Activation — Radiate Your Light
Goodbyes
Are you ready to see what will be revealed to you?
The Vision of a Typical Retreat Day
Mindful Practices
Guided meditation and breathwork
Gentle Kundalini Yoga
Moving affirmations
Intuitive exploration and reflection
Energetic Healing
Sound healing and drumming
Crystal meditation
Light Code Activations
Energy clearing and integration
Sacred Connection
Opening and closing circles
Channeling and intuitive guidance
Shamanic journeying
Fire ceremony and releasing practices
Restoration & Community
Time in the Galena countryside
Space for journaling and contemplation
Community connection and sharing
Casual evenings in historic downtown Galena
A note from Lisa: My retreats are always guided by Spirit. I follow the planned theme and schedule, but individual activities may change based on the energy of the group, weather, timing, and the needs of those attending.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
All scheduled daytime activities for the pass selected
Meditation, yoga, breathwork, sound healing, drumming, intuitive guidance, and Light Code Activations
Tuesday’s Chocolate Chakra Clearing experience for eligible in-person passes
Evening experiences when included in the selected package
Overnight accommodations for guests purchasing a lodging package
Daily breakfast for overnight guests
Access to the virtual livestream for Zoom participants
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
Transportation to and from Galena
Overnight accommodations for commuters and single-day participants
Lunches—please bring your own lunch each day
Dinners and beverages in downtown Galena
Personal purchases and additional activities
Travel insurance, which is strongly recommended
Chocolates or other physical materials for Zoom participants
Evening programs not included in the selected package
Saddleback House Photo Gallery
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Saddleback House Backyard
Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath secluded home with wooded surrounding
Amenities: Off Street Parking | Deck and Gas Grill | Nestled in the Trees for Seclusion
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Pine Room
Twin and Full Bed
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Green Bed Common Area
Twin Bed
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Acorn Room
King Bed
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Sage Room
Queen Bed and One Twin
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Crescent Room
King Bed
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Fire Pit
Let your conversations linger around the warmth and light of the fire pit, creating a cozy atmosphere and a sense of community.
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Screened Porch
You can use your free time to write in a journal or meditate while taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
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Common Area
Kitchen: Full Kitchen | Cooking Utensils Provided | Refrigerator | Dishwasher | Microwave | Ice Maker
Amenities: Air Conditioning | Washer | Dryer | Linens Provided | Wood fireplace | Games | Wi-Fi
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Bathrooms
All bathrooms are shared!
Amenities: Soaking Tub in Bathroom | Walk in shower w/multiple showerheads
Choose Your Retreat Experience
Join us for the complete three-day immersion, attend in person while staying off-site, participate virtually, or select the individual day that calls to you.
Space is very limited!
Complete Experience
Full Three-Day Retreat with Lodging
Twin Room $999 per person Shared room
Single Room $1,111 Private room
Three-Day Passes
Off-Site & Virtual Options
In-Person Commuter$611 -Lodging not included
Full Virtual Zoom$333 -Complete livestream experience
Flexible Attendance
Single-Day Passes
Monday - In Person $222
Monday - Zoom $111
Tuesday - In Person $255
Tuesday - Zoom $122
Wednesday - In Person $199
Wednesday - Zoom $99
Monday: The in-person pass excludes the evening experience, which may be added for $44. The Zoom pass includes the evening experience.
Tuesday: The in-person pass includes the Chocolate Chakra Clearing but excludes the evening experience, which may be added for $44. The Zoom pass includes the evening experience but does not include chocolates.
More Info
All beds are single occupancy, sometimes in a shared room. If you are traveling with someone and want to share a bed, reach out for pricing.
All bathrooms are shared
Experience Historic Galena
“the town that time forgot”
Further details, including the retreat property address and packing list, will be sent closer to the retreat date.
TRAVELING
Closest airport to fly into is CHICAGO O’HARE INTERNATIONAL (ORD). About a 2 1/2 hour drive to Galena, Illinois. You can also try Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ). About 40 Minutes to the retreat house.
I suggest arranging for a rental car and carpooling with other retreat participants.
COMMUNICATION
I will create a Facebook Group that you can connect with other attendees to coordinate any travel plans…
Please Friend me on Facebook - Lisa Alpert Gniady and Lisa Gniady, and watch for an invitation to the Group.
Please Add Me as a contact for email – Lisa Gniady, info@lisagniady.com
Please join my email list
Refund & Cancellation Procedure
No Refunds or Cancellations
Retreat deposits and payments are nonrefundable. Refunds or discounts cannot be provided for arriving late, leaving early, illness, flight cancellations, travel delays, family emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Retreat accommodations and other expenses are reserved in advance. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance to protect their investment.
If Lisa Cancels the Retreat
If Lisa Gniady cancels the retreat, deposits and payments made directly to Lisa Gniady, LLC will be refunded, excluding credit card or transaction fees. Airfare, transportation, and other personal travel expenses cannot be reimbursed.
If the retreat must be canceled because of weather, a natural disaster, political upheaval, a pandemic, or another event outside Lisa’s control, a refund cannot be guaranteed. Any available refund will depend upon funds recovered from the retreat property and other vendors.
Protect your investment: Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Please wait to make nonrefundable travel arrangements until the retreat has been officially confirmed.
Please review Lisa’s complete retreat registration and cancellation information before submitting payment.
OTHER RETREATS ACROSS AMERICA
Why join the Retreats Across America series?
Make a difference in this world by re-energizing yourself!
Every Soul Awakening Series retreat in the "Retreats Across America" series offers the perfect environment for reinvention, renewal, and development. The intention is for peace, healing, and positive change for the earth, the location, and ourselves. This series of retreats around the United States weaves a web of energetic light, love, and healing.
See the country
Explore areas you might not travel to on your own
Visit high energy nature sites and sacred energy portals
Be a part of a growing community of Lightworkers
Unwind and recharge
Be inspired
Smile and have fun
Meet Your Facilitator
Lisa Gniady
WHY TRAVEL WITH LISA
Travel is my passion, and has been since my youth. I am fortunate to have stepped foot on over 7 continents and visited almost every state in the U.S. These adventures have opened me to a sense of wonder and freedom. Amazing personal growth has happened as I traveled. Every trip I embarked upon was like a wave moving me forward expanding my horizons.
Galena IL, is one of my Happy places. 30 years ago I was married there and it holds a special place in my heart. Let me share my happy place with you!
I invite you to join me on a journey to the light and be open to the adventures you will have, the people you’ll meet and unexpected gifts around every corner.
~Lisa Gniady
For More Information
Contact Lisa Gniady
info@LisaGniady.com
847-867-8630
