Finding Venus
A body-positive rewilding for bold-hearted women who are done with shrinking.
This Isn't a Fix-Yourself Retreat
Because darling, you were never broken.
What we’re doing here is remembering.
Remembering what it feels like to move without shame.
To laugh from the belly.
To drop the performance and reclaim the parts you exiled long ago—thighs, bellies, sass, softness, rage, joy.
We’re not here to transcend the body. We’re here to descend into it. With mud, with magic, with mirth.
What We Actually Do (and Why It Works)
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Gather in circle—not the scary kind, the sacred-and-silly kind.
- Learn how to Needle felt goddess dolls while we unpack our body stories.
- Say true things. Sometimes cry. Often laugh-snort.
- Walk barefoot on the land until your nervous system exhales
- Get your chest covered in golden clay and photographed for an exhibition
- Wash off in the ocean if you choose to (complete dopamine boost)
- Become part of the Luscious Order of Golden Shield Maidens.
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Let go of crap that was never yours to carry (especially the “good girl” mask).
This is ritual disguised as art class, therapy disguised as play.
Come and scrub off body colonization like a bad fake tan.
Your Ultimate Ride or Die
Your body? She’s not the project.
She’s the partner.
The keeper of your story, your strength, your magic.
The first one to have met you when you arrived on the planet and will be the last one to say goodbye when you leave. The ultimate ride or die.
Somewhere along the way, society taught you to spend more time polishing her than driving her to the places you dreamed of going.
This workshop is a call to rewild. To remember in your sinews who you really are.
You were never broken.
You don’t need fixing.
You just need space to come home to yourself.
This is that space.
Creative. Sacred. A little cheeky.
Just like you.
The workshops Origin Story
A one-day creative journey to reclaim your body, rewrite your story, and rediscover your power.
"Auntie Mandi, am I fat?"
She was five. I was stunned.
How do you explain to a little girl that her body is already perfect, that she is enough—when the world is already telling her otherwise?
I didn’t have the words. So I answered her in art.
That moment sparked a journey—one that led me to create Finding Venus, a one-day, trauma-informed workshop designed for women who are ready to heal, reclaim, and celebrate the truth of their own bodies.
What Happens in the Workshop?
We begin by creating a safe, sacred space—a space where your body is welcome, exactly as it is.
We explore body herstories—the messages we've absorbed, the words we've carried, the beliefs we’ve been told.
We use nature as a teacher to help us remove untruths from our belief system.
We map these onto our skin with paint, wiping away the words that no longer serve us and replacing them with words of our choosing.
We seal these new truths with golden clay, a ritual of transformation and self-acceptance.
Plus a lot of giggling, laughing, probably some wiped tears too.
This is not about “fixing” yourself—because you were never broken. This is about remembering who you are.
This video was taken at the Great Barrier Island Finding Venus Workshop. Each workshop is different and will reflect the land it is hosted on and the time of year that it happens and the needs of the women who are partaking.
Is This for You?
This workshop is for women 18+ who:
Are ready to explore their relationship with their body through creative expression.
Want to feel seen, safe, and supported in a group of like-minded women.
Are okay with the possibility of tears, laughter, and deep emotional shifts.
Are ready to rewrite the story of their body in a way that is loving, empowering, and uniquely their own.
This workshop isn’t for those currently experiencing acute trauma that makes group settings overwhelming. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out—we can help guide you toward the best support.
What Women are Saying
"It was like stepping into a new version of myself—one where my body was finally my own."
"Before this workshop, I didn’t even realize how much of my body story wasn’t mine. I left feeling lighter, freer, and full of love."
"Life before Finding Venus. Life after. That’s how I describe it."
I can’t promise you a perfect experience. I can promise you an unforgettable one.
Common Questions
What do the workshops cost?
This sort of workshop normally costs several hundred dollars. However, Creative Communities has underwritten the majority of the workshop fees, so all you have to pay is $45 per person. This is the same for the online version.
Not so fun fact: the latest body shame research shows that, on average, body shame costs a person $6867.00 per year in lost days, mental health, and medical expenses. So think of it like a very profitable investment in yourself.
Can my underaged daughter come to the workshop with me?
At the moment, the Finding Venus experience is designed for women aged 18 and over. It’s a deeply personal and creative journey best suited for adults ready to explore body stories and self-compassion in a safe, sacred space.
Are there workshops or events I can do with my daughter?
Yes! Please make sure to tick the box that you want to attend one of our future mother daughter workshops and we will let you know when and where we are running our next ones.
What if I want to come but can’t afford the workshop fee?
Just sign up for a scholarship and we will be in touch. We have had people donate scholarships so if you need one let us know.
What makes this a safe and supportive space?
This workshop is trauma-informed, body-positive, and held with compassion at its core. We use somatic and creative practices to gently explore your relationship with your body. There’s no pressure to share more than you want to, and you are welcomed exactly as you are—no need to fix, hide, or shrink.
How can I stay updated on future workshops for me or my daughter?
Easy! Just tick the add me to the mailinglist part of the form below and sign up for our email list. You’ll get updates on upcoming events, early bird pricing, and special offerings—plus the occasional cheeky love note to your inbox.
I see that some are done outside and some inside what will be the case with mine?
This depends mostly on the weather. For Masterton we have booked a Woolshed / Bach on a pretty remote section of the beach out north of Castle Point. The woolshed is rustic but we thought this would be a fun component of the whole workshop. True rural NZ. Plus we could keep the costs down by not going fancy. This one will be limited to 20 people. The workshops in Eltham and Palmy are happening into winter. There will be a polar plunge option in local bodies of water if you choose. We will decide on the day based on the weather and the keenness of participants.
These are some pictures of the Castle Point Venue
Is this an overnight retreat?
No the time for the workshop is 10-5pmish. Figure 6pm just to be safe. There is a holiday park in Castlepoint that has rooms as well as several Bach's for hire in the area on Book a Bach if you want to make it a weekend with the girls.
What else is on offer?
