Alchemy Learning Center
The How of Why
Where Life Strategy Meets Alchemy
For years, we’ve put our heart and soul into these Alchemy retreats, and watched the transformations unfold —for every person who has attended. The retreat becomes the Alchemical cauldron for your practice, discovery, and transformation. Most of us live our lives asking “How” before we’ve ever really asked “Why.” How do I make this work, how do I afford it, how do I get there — and somewhere in all that asking, we lose the thread of what we actually wanted in the first place. In the Thirteen Appearances from the Ling-Shu classical text, it is clear that the ancient Chinese belief is that the Why comes first. Once you know your Why — truly know it, in your heart, not just your head — the How arrives on its own.
This retreat is built around putting the Why before the How. Six days to ask yourself Why, maybe for the first time in years or this lifetime. Six days inside the Alchemical cauldron, with people doing the same real work, so you don’t have to figure out your How alone.
- The How of Why: find your Why, and the How will find you.
- Six days of immersive Alchemy — the beginning of your Life Strategy path, and how to help others walk theirs.
- The tools to turn Alchemy into action, not just insight.
September 9–14, 2026 at the Sweetwater Branch Inn in Gainesville, FL with additional treatments days September 8th and 15th – 16th
We’ve watched real transformations at our retreats — the kind of change that happens when a group of people come together in person, inside the Alchemical Cauldron that we all create, supporting each other and allowing for the full expression of their spirits.
This year, Jaye and Leta will guide you gently into Alchemical Life Strategy — building on what you already know about Alchemy, the Five Elements, and the Nine Palaces to better understand your curriculum to actually live the life you want to live.
Asking better questions, honing your listening skills, observing how you move and hold your body, discovering the courage to hold the mirror up for yourself or for another, going into the void of your heart… these are all themes we will experience together.
The Alchemy Treatments hold the depth of this tradition. Alchemy Life Strategy is the force that turns it into inspired action.
This might be the only time Jaye and Leta teach this material live and in person together, before Jaye starts training the next generation of teachers to carry this work forward.
“I would like this work to enter your life in a deep and meaningful way — not just something you collect as theory and notes you may or may not read again. The “goal” is to feel it in your body, mind, and heart. Taking an honest look at yourself, and being around other people having the same experience, helps build that deep somatic, felt sense. Self-awareness is a beautiful skill to have. The only requirements for this kind of work are curiosity and honesty, along with an open heart and an open mind*. Humor and lightness about this serious work will also be explored and, hopefully, discovered along the way! I feel that once you truly understand this system we have created, your Alchemy practice could move exponentially along your path… or not! It’s up to you!“
— Jaye
*open heart/open mind – terms and conditions may apply. ❤️😜
“I see how people’s lives change through Alchemy — and then I see them not knowing how to live that new life. That’s where Alchemy Life Strategy becomes critical. Chinese Medicine was never meant to just heal people back to the life that got them in trouble in the first place. It’s meant to facilitate real progress — to bring a sense of fulfillment, and ultimately, a life well lived.”
— Leta
WHAT IS AN ALCHEMY LIFE STRATEGY SESSION?
Alchemy takes you down a path of true transformation — into your true, authentic self. But once you arrive at that new place, at a new you, you may find yourself not knowing how to live this new life. You didn’t have the mentors or the teachers from your past to understand this new way of being. No one taught you that yet.
Alchemy Life Strategy is about listening deeply to your soul, and helping you find your new way of being and doing your life — of fulfilling your purpose and intent in your own manner, the way you were meant to.
Alchemy Life Strategy is most useful for those who have already undergone their Alchemy treatments — the Thirteen Ghost Points, the Heart Pains, and the first stages of the Nine Stages of Alchemy — the work that clears the baggage of this lifetime that was getting in the way of you being you.
However, it can be part of your Alchemy journey from the beginning as a way to begin to answer the very important questions: “Who Am I?” and “What Do I Really Want?”
A DAY IN THE ALCHEMY CAULDRON
Each morning begins outdoors, while the air is still cool and the day is new. We will practice Qi Movement together as a group.
The daily schedule will be experiential classes and fun exercises, as well as the occasional outing. We will explore some of the various topics related to Alchemical Life Strategy: the Five Elements, the Nine Palaces, the Void of the Heart. This is where the Alchemical Life Strategy stops being a framework you have heard about and becomes something you can feel move through your own life.
As the sun sets, the rhythm will shift again. You will gather for group activities, such as Art and Alchemy, Alchemical Five Spirit meditations, Alchemical Music Appreciation Night, Alchemy Stone Medicine (time permitting) and more. There will be scheduled free time to explore the area, but please no alligator wrestling on this trip! 🐊
Rooms and most meals are included in your tuition.
We have ONE partial scholarship/work spot left. If you are interested, please write us an email, in your own words why you would like to attend.
We keep our retreats intentionally small, by design — small enough for everyone to be truly seen, and for the group itself to become part of the cauldron. If this work is calling to you, maybe it’s time to answer. We think so.
A Magical Experience!
Within the first day intimacy and rapport were created with the cohort and it only grew and intensified from there. It was fun, emotional, deeply moving, connecting, educational, and a spiritual experience for all there. Being in that immersive environment was so helpful to better understand the Nine Palaces, the Five Elements, the Ghost Points treatment, and the Heart Pains. It’s not easy to find the words to convey how special this retreat was. Thank you Leta and Jaye!
Our Journey Together
We’ll explore and experience over the course of the retreat:
- Alchemy Life Strategy — experienced through observation, exercises with others, or as a client supervised by Jaye
- The Five Elements and Nine Palaces – the foundation of Alchemy Life Strategy work
- Connecting from the Void of your own Heart — experiencing how this work also needs you to connect from the void of your heart
- Advanced Alchemical Meditations — accessing expanded states of awareness
- Morning Tai Chi and Qi Gong — building a sustainable rhythm of moving your Qi and centering your energy for Alchemical purposes
- Group treatment observations — sharing insights and witnessing transformational work together
- Five Element Music and Movement — bring your favorite songs (dancing optional, joy encouraged)
- Alchemical Calligraphy and Talisman Crafting — engaging the Four Arts of Chinese Philosophy
You will also participate in Alchemy treatments as a group — as a client, observer, practitioner, or supervisor, depending on your current cultivation. We’re joined this retreat by Leora Esterra, who will help supervise, coordinate, and inspire throughout the week, and Brittney Chowning, who will also be with us in a supervisory role.
NCCAOM and CA CEUs pending.
Join us for a six-day immersive experience designed for Alchemists-in-Training ready to grow, reflect, and reconnect with the heart of this work.
Being an Alchemist means working with transformation—your own and/or others’.
As we help others change, we change too—often in deep, unexpected ways. Over time, these shifts build. They deepen our awareness, sharpen our intuition, and move us forward on our spiritual path. For many of us, this is why we started healing work in the first place—to feel connected to something real, alive, and meaningful as we help others do the same.
This is an immersive, experiential retreat where we will live and breathe Alchemy together, learning from the teachings and from one another. We’ll draw on each other’s Elemental energies and cultivate transformation as a collective.
Whether you’re brand new to Alchemical studies or have years of experience, you are welcome here.
- Wed, Sept 9
- 4:00-7:00 Arrival, Check-In
- 7:00–9:00 Class and meditation
- Thurs, Sept 10
- Class Activities
- Dinner together
- Fri, Sept 11
- Class Activities
- 6:00 Dinner together
- 7:30–9:30 Night activity
- Sat, Sept 12
- Class Activities
- Dinner on our own in Gainesville
- Sun, Sept 13
- Treatments and Shadowing
- 6:00 Dinner together
- 7:00–9:00 Final ceremony and meditation
- Mon, Sept 14
- Morning activities and final wrap-up
- Noon departure
- Afternoon: possible treatments or Gainesville excursions for those staying on
Sweetwater Branch Inn
The Sweetwater Branch Inn, located in historic downtown Gainesville, is part of a Victorian complex which offers all the amenities you would expect in a world-class inn, plus much more. Featured on PBS’s series “Country Inns USA,” Sweetwater Branch Inn is graciously decorated and historically preserved, offering its visitors a unique lodging experience. Surrounded by the magnificent McKenzie Gardens, the McKenzie House, dating to 1895, is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
We will be assigning rooms to students once the entire roster is determined. Please let us know if you wish to share a room (and have found someone to share with you!).
Retreat Fee: $3,500 ($3,000 Early Bird by July 15th)
$1,000/mo if payments started by July 15th
Your Retreat Fee Includes:
- All rooms are private with private bath. Additional fees will apply for additional nights prior-to or after the retreat dates.
(You can share a room and receive $250 refund off the base price, however, you are responsible for finding a roommate. Please let us know if you wish to get a shared room.) - Breakfasts and Lunches included for all days, plus 3 dinners. All other dinners will be off-site on your own. (Please list any dietary restrictions, allergies, or food preferences we should know about.)
Observation and Treatment Opportunities
Practitioners can observe Alchemical treatments with Leta, Jaye, certified practitioners, or apprentices with tutorials before and after. Shadowing fees are included in your overall retreat fee.
During this retreat, we will have opportunities to observe, receive, and or give a Nine Stages of Alchemy (one hour) treatment. These will be done as part of the retreat schedule. We will also have Alchemy Life Strategy partner exercises.
Is there a virtual attendance option?
This retreat is an in-person only event. This is work that requires presence. We look forward to seeing you in-person!
If my plans change, can I get a refund?
Plans can change and we want to offer as much flexibility as possible. If you register and then are not able to attend the retreat, these are your options.
Cancellations:
If you would like to cancel your registration, you may do so up until Aug 9, 2026. You will receive a full refund minus a $200 processing fee.
Due to the requirements of our venue, registrants that send cancellation requests on or after Aug 9, 2026 will not be eligible for a refund unless we can fill the spot.
