Yia Mas

KALO MINA 🏺 Καλό μήνα! Welcoming October and our ancestral women’s retreat with a look at the threshing floor. 🌾 Last month, we hiked to my husband’s family’s ancestral alonistra (threshing floor; here used interchangeably). I’ve always been fascinated by threshing floors, but standing there on those sun-baked stones, I felt an instantaneous connection, joking to myself that nothing brings out my inner pagan quite like an alonistra. We need to host a gathering here in the future!

Slide through to explore how this seemingly simple stone circle became a sacred portal for winter fertility rites, the birthplace of ancient Greek theater and dance, and a key point of connection to our ancestral ways (and literal survival).

Across Greek islands and mountain villages, women wove and stitched protection spells, ancestral lineages, and cultural influences directly into the cloth. If you want to learn more about the WHY and what this language reveals, something is coming. 🧿

And yes, I consider our ancestors artists for this, even if it was “required” “craft.” Keep an eye on this space 🧿

Anyone else?

Cretan pattern

Image from thebenakimuseum 💙 women’s clothing from Pontos.

Cretan embroidery

Cyclades

FDF wearing Kosti, Thrace. Thank you Lindsey 💙

PODCAST EPISODE 🏺 I BELONG NO WHERE, I BELONG EVERYWHERE: On diaspora longing, nostgalia tripping, why AI ruins the process, and peak internet fetishization of Greece by influencers and brands such as Zara.
 
In this solo episode, filmed in a full emo puddle just few hours after my parents left, I speak to the emotional tug-of-war of growing up in the Greek diaspora. Specifically, I dive into that tricky, bittersweet feeling of belonging to more than one place at once, asking us all to dig deeper than the typical “we’re not American /Australian/whatever enough there and not Greek enough in Greece.” If you’ve ever felt stretched between cultures, homes, or identities, and/or if you’re craving a real conversation about how we relate to land, place, and culture in the digital age, his one might resonate. 💙 AND! Sorry for saying “like” so much - I’m a millennial; it’s a bad habit.

I also muse on how social media is slowly ruining the mystique of Greece by making it “always available” through content, turning the land into an always-on aesthetic and slick marketing tool.

Note! This episode has been fixed: Thanks to my folks who listened when this dropped this earlier this week, I’ve re-uploaded the video so the missing ending has been restored. No clue what happened there…

FINALLY: perhaps it’s called be-longing because we always be longing ;) jokes aside, I invite you to reflect on your relationship with your roots. I think being diaspora and/or severed from ancestral lands correlates with a desire to connect and define oneself by said land. For most of my Greek friends and family, there is no obsession with being Greek or celebrating it - they simply are. They are modern people going about their lives! It almost seems like an “other” ness is required to put all of this on a pedestal… but that’s a conversation for another podcast. Stay tuned…. We’ll flesh it out. 💙🧿

RIP ANNIE DILLARD: and ode to brilliant American writer who accidentally brought Heraclitus into my life. 🏺Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, which is, IMHO, better than Walden, opens with a quote from the pre Socratic philosopher Heraclitus. I must admit that this is how the philosopher entered my life as a college student: via a book written so poetically and spiritually about nature in, of all places, my home state of Virginia.

🏺I recently saw that Dillard passed and felt the internet didn’t make enough of a fuss over it. I cannot suggest her writing enough. If you love Mary Oliver, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and/or Walt Whitman, Dillard needs to be on your list.

This personal discovery of Heraclitus was one of the earliest seeds planted for Yia Mas. I read it around the same time I read the Tao Te Ching, and it was one of many small “aha” moments revealing that a lot of what I was seeking in Eastern philosophies and spirituality could also be found right there in my own lineage and culture. I just had to dig deeper and broaden my POV.

I loved learning that in 2001 Dillard retired from teaching at Wesleyan, and in 2007 she decided to stop working entirely. She was tired and wanted to spend the rest of her time reading, painting, and enjoying life. “I’m tired,” she told New York magazine. “I worked so hard all my life, and all I want to do now is read.” Highly, highly relatable, Annie. 🫠🥹

Most of the writing is longer than IG-friendly quotes. But I’m sharing a few snippets here. Dillard’s ability to zoom in and out of macro/micro perspectives is extremely wise and, frankly, very psychedelic.

Sending gratitude to Annie’s body of work, a smooth passage to her spirit, and wishes that she may rest well on the other side. 💙🌾 First two images are from the Fokida region which we will visit on our upcoming October retreat - beyond excited to reconnect with my ancestral lands. Next is Andros, then Ikaria, and finally, Milos. All are places where I’ve felt profound, consciousness shifting connection to nature.

You’re invited: OUR 5th GREEK GRACE RETREAT IN THE CYCLADES 🌊 🧿 Registration is live to join lulu soni and Χριστίνα July 24–31, 2027 for a week of peak summer practice and joy.

We can’t wait to return to Amorgos (also Kristina’s summer home), where your days will include movement and breath practices, taking it “siga siga,” dreamy dips in the Aegean, local culture, and, as always, an incredible crew.

☀️This retreat is timed with Leo Season: the season of the heart, of expression, and feeling very alive. Expect joy, playfulness, and a deep nervous system reset.

Throughout our week together, we will weave daily movement practices with the land and pace of island life:
🏺Intentional movement: Daily yoga, Somatics, Katonah Yoga®, breathwork, Greek dance, all in open-air shalas overlooking the sea.
🏺Ancient paths: Walks through historic villages and along stone trails to a cliffside monastery hanging over the Aegean.
🏺Culture: Greek cuisine, exploring Aegean herbs, and local festivities and traditions.
🏺Shared meals: Long, unhurried meals of fresh Greek/Mediterranean food.
🏺The Big Blue: Amorgos feels raw and timeless. Swim in the waters that inspired the cult French film Le Grand Bleu.

Note for teachers: Lulu andK ristina are certified Katonah Yoga® teachers; all yoga practices are bankable towards your certification hours.

🐚EARLY BIRD PRICING IS LIVE 🐚This retreat sells out every year. Give yourself yourself something to look forward to and take $200 off: use code EARLYBIRD for (valid through October 15).

You know the deal! Link in bio for more details and inclusions, room options, and to reserve your spot.

Photo 4 by past retreater Tory Rust 💙🧿

Ancient wisdom ⚖️ modern applications. We are welcoming the fall equinox by juxtaposing some of our favorite ancient thinkers with relatively modern perspectives.

🏺We think a lot about how to find balance between timeless wisdom and how to live in our increasingly digital, fast-paced world. As the equinox is a seasonal threshold and a time where the light is balanced; I see it as an opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been *and* where we want to be. It’s also the beginning of Libra ♎️ Season! No coincidence that Libra’s symbol is a scale, and the sign is associated with justice, balance, and harmony.

after many years of teaching, a workshop literally called “Ancient Wisdom, Modern Wellness,” it’s fun to visually pair the old with the new.

Swipe through to explore the pairings 🌾🧿

Ζωντανό σύμβολο της λαϊκής γαστρονομικής αλλά και χειροτεχνικής κληρονομιάς των Κυκλάδων, ο Βαγγέλης Μενδρινός μαγειρεύει κάθε χρόνο σχεδόν 5.000 μερίδες πατατάτο στο πανηγύρι της Αγίας Παρασκευής στην Αμοργό.
Δείτε το άρθρο στον σύνδεσμο: t.ly/MooMC

SIGA SIGA ISN’T JUST FOR SUMMER 🌾🏺🧿 As the season of slowing down and savoring summer comes to an official end, I’ve been reflecting on what all this “slow living” and “Siga Siga” talk is all about. A question I find myself asking repeatedly when fed with the inevitable deluge of European summer “slow living” content is this, “is it slow living, or are you just on vacation.” Notably, this type of content, often featuring older folks, is being used to market myriad products - but that’s another topic altogether.

🏺Here are some thoughts on how to carry this mantra through the busier seasons of life… because the truth is, life gets BUSY! And our ancestors (nobility excluded) weren’t simply lounging around, eating grapes, either. Most Greek peasants hard worked to sustain themselves. Many things about their way of life may seem appealing now, especially in an age when many of us are disconnected completely from the land. But we can acknowledge what we’ve lost in modernity *and* how we have it a whole lot easier thanks to, say, the washing machine. We can acknowledge how the endless scroll is damaging our brains! *And* try to find the good in our yearly routines, which make the sweet summer pause even sweeter.

I have more thoughts on this, perhaps it’ll become a substack? To be continued…

GREEK FALL MAGIC IN ARACHOVA 🏺 The fall equinox looms - and so does our October retreat. It’s fitting that we’ll spend time in Arachova on this journey, a town known for its weaving traditions and hand-woven flokati rugs. Nestled on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, autumn is a magical time to experience this picturesque place before the winter ski crowd descends.

Arachova’s history is deeply woven into the landscape. In antiquity, these mountains were revered as the home of the Muses and the domain of Dionysus. Local folklore even holds that the town’s legendary weavers were blessed by Athena herself.

Beyond these mythical ancient tales, Arachova played a role in modern Green history, notably as the site of a pivotal victory during the Greek War of Independence. It’s also always been a pit stop for my family on our drive to our village, Lidoriki.

With stone architecture that has a very “practical magic” vibe, crisp mountain air, and rich artisan heritage, it’s a seasonally perfect destination for fall and a reminder that Greece has so much to offer beyond the coastline. 🧿 ONE ROOM LEFT TO JOIN US!

NEW YIA MAS PODCAST 🏺 with Nomiki Konst 🧿

Whew, friends. We covered a lot of ground on this one!
Nomiki Konst and I reconnected from our respective islands for a deep dive into everything from Greek geopolitics and Greek/Italian folk magic to her family’s roots in Epirus and its fascinating (and often tragic) history.

And yes... the island internet gave us a run for our money , so forgive a few dropped frames, awkward pauses, and lost moments along the way. Think of it as leaving a little to the imagination!

If you don’t already know Nomiki, she’s a brilliant investigative journalist, political strategist, and founder of both Kefi Strategies and Matriarch (an organization training working-class women to run for office). She was a national surrogate for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 campaigns, served on the DNC Unity & Reform Commission, and has helped lead major grassroots victories nationwide. You might also recognize her as the co-host of Rising or from her commentary across CNN, MSNBC, and SiriusXM.

Grab a cafedaki (or aperitif) and give it a listen this weekend 🏺listen for free on Spotify or Apple Podcasts:)