Wise Presence
Jivamukti Yoga and Meditation Retreat
Casa Farsetti, Tuscany — October 3–5, 2025
Set in the hills of Castelfiorentino, Casa Farsetti is an old stone residence surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. Once a family home, it has been restored as a space for gatherings and creative retreats.
In early October, I joined Wise Presence, a Jivamukti yoga and meditation retreat guided by Constanza, Diletta, and Valentina. Together they created a weekend focused on awareness, simplicity, and balance — the kind of qualities that often get lost in everyday life.
When I arrived, the late afternoon light was soft over the hills. The main house opened into a kitchen and dining room with a long table beneath exposed wooden beams. Upstairs were the bedrooms and bathrooms, each furnished with vintage pieces, warm terracotta walls, and windows overlooking the Tuscan countryside.
My room began with a large stone fireplace and small sitting area, leading into a living room with a record player and a collection of vinyls. Beyond that was the bedroom, lined with shelves of art history books. It felt like stepping back in time.
As someone always exploring new ways to deepen my meditation practice, I was curious about the Jivamukti approach — its blend of philosophy, movement, and sound. I took it as a sign to go.
The Retreat
Mornings began with meditation and breathwork, followed by open Jivamukti yoga sessions guided by Diletta. We’d then find time to rest before a meal prepared by Valentina Raffaelli — a culinary explorer and storyteller known for her work in sustainable food culture.
Her meals were vegan, seasonal, and full of texture, taste, and — most notably — love. Each dish felt like its own work of art: layered in colour, scent, and composition. The tables themselves were a continuation of that artistry — set each day with different ceramics, linens, and wildflowers. Every detail felt considered, a reflection of the girls’ intention to make beauty part of the experience.
The setting changed daily — by the pool, beneath the gazebo, or on the deck overlooking the Tuscan hills. From there, you could see small chimneys releasing thin curls of smoke — like scenes from a storybook.
Evenings were for meditation, mantras, poems, and quiet conversation. Diletta’s knowledge, calm presence, and gentle voice made the experience deeply memorable. She shared teachings that continue to stay with me in my everyday life.
What stayed with me most were the people — friendships that formed easily and unexpectedly. The kind you only find when you travel far enough to meet them.
Afterwards
The theme of the retreat was living in the present and letting go of what no longer serves. Simple in theory, harder in practice. But the experience shifted something for me. I began to see how much freedom exists in presence — without judgment, without the need to control what comes next.
Back home, that awareness continues to shape how I work, rest, and connect. I’m learning to prioritise time, health, and relationships with the same attention I give to my creative work.
Wise Presence wasn’t about transformation. It was about remembering — that presence is the foundation of everything.
WRITTEN BY JODIE REYNOLDS