The Alchemy of Fire and Water

Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico

HS
Heather Smith
  • Email address verified
1 review
Apr 5 - 12, 2025
Group size: 14 - 19
The Alchemy of Fire and Water
Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico

Heather Smith
  • Email address verified
1 review

Apr 5 - 12, 2025
Group size: 14 - 19

About this trip

In the alchemical tradition, the Fire Element is considered to hold teachings that serve in our soul’s growth and evolution. To the alchemist, the Water Element embodies the fluidity inherent in that evolution, and the nurturance that is vital for the flow of our life force energy. 


When we join the two alchemical elements of Fire and Water, we join two opposites, creating oneness from duality. This blending is one of the absolute principles of alchemy, for the true integration of Fire and Water is said to catalyze the heart of the Flower of Life, the symbol that represents our life force energy and the unification of mind, body, spirit, breath, and consciousness.


This April, join Heather Smith and Danielle Clothier, as we embark on an adventure of alchemical transformation designed to support each of us in moving further along our collective evolutionary path while consciously nurturing our own soul’s unique growth, purpose, and intention.


What’s included

  • Retreat Program/Tuition
    2x Daily Yoga Classes, Evening Circle Ceremonies & Yoga Nidra, Additional Excursion to Las Cuevas Beach Caves, Traditional Temazcal Sweat Lodge
  • 7 Nights Accommodation
    Choose from a variety of gorgeous rooms, from Ocean View Suites to Garden Suites, Standard Guests Rooms, and the Women's Dorm.
  • 3 Buffet Meals A Day
    Every dish is made using fresh ingredients from Mar de Jade's organic farm, and features vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes as well as fresh fish, seafood and chicken.
  • Coffee, Tea, and Fruit
    visit the snack bar at any time to enjoy coffee, tea, fruit, bread, and stellar homemade organic peanut butter and mango marmalade.
  • Shuttle To/From PVR
    For your ease and comfort shuttle and shuttle arrangements to and from the Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, in Puerto Vallarta are included in your retreat package.
  • Temazcal
    A traditional sweat lodge to purify the body and mind. This sacred guided ceremony takes us through four puertas, or doors, representing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing.
  • Las Cuevas Beach Caves
    An hour and a half guided hike through the jungle over an extinct volcano to the "Las Cuevas" (The Caves) beach, where we will enjoy the ocean and return on a 15 min boat ride.
  • All Resort Facilities
    Including use of all pools, hot tubs, beach chairs, palapas and hammocks, yoga studios & props.
  • All Taxes
    All taxes associated with Mar de Jade Wellness Resort and Yoga Center are included in your retreat package pricing.

What’s not included

  • Airfare
    To/From Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, in Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
  • Additional Spa Services
    Including therapeutic massage services in a variety of styles: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Thai-Yoga, Reflexology, among others. The spa also offers various beauty treatments.
  • Additional Excursions
    Isla Coral Snorkeling, Humpback Whale Watching, Altavista Ancient Indigenous Petroglyphs, La Peñita" Market, "La Tovara" Mangrove, Sayulita" Surf Town, Salsa Dancing Class, Spanish Lessons
  • Bar Drinks
    Stop by Mar de Jade's, La Palapa Bar to enjoy cocktails made with fresh ingredients, wine, and local artisanal beers. Non alcoholic smoothies, juices, cocktails, and fresh coconuts are also available.
  • Resort Staff Gratuities
    We suggest budgeting approximately $10-$15 USD per night in cash. Tips gets distributed amongst all staff members (kitchen, maintenance, housekeeping, etc).

Available Packages

The Dorm Room
Deposit:$500
Only 3 left

Have a little crew? Okay sharing with others? The Dorm Room is ideal for the budget conscious traveler that would like to share with four other people. The Dorm Rooms are simple yet spacious Guest Rooms that have garden views and a loft accessed by a spiral staircase. The bottom level has 1 King bed or 2 Twin beds and a bathroom; the loft has 2 Twin beds. Some rooms feature an additional futon bed on the bottom level. All rooms have hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning.


Please Note: If you are coming with friends these rooms need to have a minimum of 4 people and you can choose to make them co-ed. If you aren't coming with friends, you may be sharing with others from our group OR Mar de Jade may assign others staying at Mar de Jade to this room, in which case Mar de Jade requests that Dorm Room occupants be Women Only.

$2,080
Deposit:$500
Guest Room (Double Occupany)
Deposit:$500
8 left

Prices based on Double Occupancy: 2 people minimum


Guest Rooms are decorated in bright and cheerful Mexican textiles and colors, providing a well-appointed option for those seeking simplicity and comfort. Choose from 1 King bed or 2 Double beds. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, natural  bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning.

$2,380
Deposit:$500
Guest Room (Single Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
Only 1 left

Guest Rooms are decorated in bright and cheerful Mexican textiles and colors, providing a well-appointed option for those seeking simplicity and comfort. Choose from 1 King bed or 2 Double beds. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, natural  bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$2,980
Deposit:$500
Garden Room (Triple Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
Only 3 left

Prices based on Triple Occupancy: 3 people minimum


Garden Rooms are either crafted in a Mexican style, with natural rock walls and hand-painted mosaics, or with an airy Mediterranean feel with floor to ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light and fresh breeze. Choose from 1 King or 2 Double beds. This accommodation option also has a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Each room has a spacious en-suite bathroom, natural bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$2,360
Deposit:$500
Garden Room (Double Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
Only 2 left

Prices based on Double Occupancy: 2 people minimum

Garden Rooms are either crafted in a Mexican style, with natural rock walls and hand-painted mosaics, or with an airy Mediterranean feel with floor to ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light and fresh breeze. Choose from 1 King or 2 Double beds. This accommodation option also has a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Each room has a spacious en-suite bathroom, natural bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$2,640
Deposit:$500
Garden Room (Single Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
Only 1 left

 Garden Rooms are either crafted in a Mexican style, with natural rock walls and hand-painted mosaics, or with an airy Mediterranean feel with floor to ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light and fresh breeze. Choose from 1 King or 2 Double beds. This accommodation option also has a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Each room has a spacious en-suite bathroom, natural bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$3,480
Deposit:$500
Ocean Room (Triple Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
6 left

Prices based on Triple Occupancy: 3 people minimum


These top of the line suites at Mar de Jade are bright and airy, with floor to ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony with an ocean view. Comfortable and well appointed, each room has a sitting area with a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Choose from 1 King or 2 Double beds. Private bathrooms feature bathtubs with a separate  shower,  natural bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$2,520
Deposit:$500
Ocean Room (Double Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
8 left

Prices based on Double Occupancy: 2 people minimum

These top of the line suites at Mar de Jade are bright and airy, with floor to ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony with an ocean view. Comfortable and well appointed, each room has a sitting area with a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Choose from 1 King or 2 Double beds. Private bathrooms feature bathtubs with a separate  shower,  natural bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$2,880
Deposit:$500
Ocean Room (Single Occupancy)
Deposit:$500
Only 3 left

 These top of the line suites at Mar de Jade are bright and airy, with floor to ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony with an ocean view. Comfortable and well appointed, each room has a sitting area with a futon that can be made into an additional bed. Choose from 1 King or 2 Double beds. Private bathrooms feature bathtubs with a separate  shower,  natural bath amenities, hot water, in-room safe, mosquito screens on windows, ceiling fans, and air conditioning

$3,880
Deposit:$500


Itinerary

Finally, At Last...
Day 1

4:00pm               Arrival and Check-In

6:30-7:30pm      Dinner

7:45-8:45pm     Opening Circle

Your Organizer


HS
Heather Smith
1 review
Heather's yoga classes weave elements of modern movement science, somatic exploration, and drills for increasing strength and stability, into classes that are designed to prepare our western bodies for more advanced traditional yoga poses. Her classes are designed to be accessible and welcoming for all levels, and seek to leave the practitioner feeling grounded, embodied, empowered, and centered. She believes that our willingness and efforts to show up – both to our mats and to our lives – is the true embodiment of our asana practice.

Reviews

BB
Thank you, Heather, for this wonderful experience and the opportunity to join with women in yoga and hiking communion. First, I cannot express how much I appreciate you providing me with the loft bedroom suite. It was lovely and gave me the privacy and sleep I needed for such an intense experience. Second, the hike, the yoga, the qigong, the time, the space, the food - too much but someone (me) needs to exercise more self control – were all perfect. I couldn’t have asked for anything different. Third, I am so thankful for you accepting me as a woman and including me in women’s spaces. I know everyone is not so comfortable with that as you are – and I am grateful and appreciative for it. I do have two concerns to share with you – and we can discuss them further offline if/when you would like. I totally understand that many of the women who attended are experiencing major life transitions and welcomed the opportunity to hear their stories. I feel the discussions of the womb are so important to women, and I would never ask you to change it. And I know you were sensitive to me being the only woman in the group who likely could not fully identify with this. There really isn’t an “ask” here – just a request for continued sensitivity to women who were not born in female bodies. This next topic is more difficult for me. When I am in public, I fully expect to be misgendered. Even though I present fully female, my voice betrays me to many people. So I did expect there to be some adjustment period this weekend. However, I did not expect the level of misgendering that I experienced. What was most devastating to me was when it occurred in the final circle from someone who I had cared for and who told me they felt safe with me. After being misgendered by them, I did not feel safe at all with them. I continue to not understand how someone can see me – who I am and how I present – and misgender me. Perhaps they really don’t see me. Thankfully, Rachel, Amy and Olive took care of me Sunday. I would hesitate to attend another retreat unless there was a frank discussion of gender up front. I found in the end I didn’t even know what pronouns to use for Olive. I would also caution any other non-binary women about attending if this discussion were not to happen. I love you, Heather. You are one of the most incredible people and women I know. I also understand these events are exhausting for you, and it is totally unreasonable to expect you to be able to take care of every person in every situation that could arise. So please don’t put any personal responsibility on yourself for what I experienced. We all can strive to do better at taking care of each other.
By Bobbie B for 2nd Annual Women's Yoga and Hiking Retreat on Sep 18, 2024
Hi Bobbie, Oh my heart... Let me first say thank you Bobbie for your courage and willingness to share with me the ways in which you were injured this weekend. I am SO incredibly sorry to learn that you felt unsafe at any time during this retreat. Please know that my utmost intention was to create an inclusive container of acceptance and support in which each one of us could open into the arms of each other. The fact that the container felt unsafe for you, shows me that I have much growth and work to do around shining my light of awareness on where I am moving through the world in a way that is causing harm, pain, or re-triggering trauma for others. Being in relation is hard. We were wounded in relation, we can be re-triggered in relation, yet we also heal in relation. That being said, containers can only be cathartic when we feel safe and not re-triggered within them. I definitely understand your hesitancy to attend another retreat. Please know that I take this to heart. I am revisiting my capacity to be the person to bring these types of spaces and places into the world. I am so sorry that my blind spots caused you pain, Bobbie. I am grateful for your willingness to share. I want to say that I learn through you, but it is not your responsibility to teach me. I shoulder that responsibility to will reconsider my capacity to be a facilitator of these types of spaces for gathering until I have fully examined where I am functioning in the dark. Be well my kind friend. And thank you. Heather
By Heather Smith on Sep 18, 2024
HS