Our Wild Bonds Mother-Son retreats are designed to honour one of life’s most important transitions: a boy’s step toward healthy, grounded masculinity.

At the heart of this journey stands Jo O’Dell - father, mentor, and fire keeper - a man whose life’s work is devoted to healing the masculine and reconnecting families with the sacred roots of life.

Jo has guided hundreds of men and boys across Australia through rites of passage that blend ceremony, somatic release, and sacred play. He’s not here to “fix” boys. He’s here to help them remember - their breath, their truth, their strength, and the bond with the woman who first carried them.

At our Wild Bonds Mother–Son Retreat, Jo leads a two-part rite of passage:

1. A preparatory circle for mothers to gently loosen the energetic hold, honour your son’s growth, and meet this transition with grace.

2. A rite of release for boys where movement, voice, and primal expression become medicine. Here, boys are witnessed, celebrated, and invited to step forward into their emerging manhood with open hearts and grounded confidence.

Jo’s own journey ... from never knowing his father to being adopted into a Yolŋu family during his spiritual pilgrimage ...has shaped the depth and authenticity of the spaces he holds. Every circle, every fire, every story he shares is infused with tenderness, reverence, and a deep respect for the path of both mother and son.

This is more than a few nights away away.
It’s a moment that could shape your son’s relationship to himself - and to you - for the rest of his life.

Sending love,
Daniela & The Gather Project team

Journaling/Reflection Prompts

For mothers of sons:

1. In what ways do I still “hold” my son as a little boy? How do I feel about loosening that hold?
2. What qualities of healthy masculinity do I most want to see flourish in my son?
3. How do I currently express trust in my son’s ability to navigate life?
4. Where might I unconsciously try to protect my son from feelings that could grow him?
5. How do I hope our relationship will evolve as he moves toward manhood?

Mini Practice: Hand on Heart (2 minutes)

1. Sit quietly, one hand on your heart, one on your belly.
2. Take three slow breaths, softening your body with each exhale.
3. Picture your son in a moment from the retreat that made you proud or moved you.
4. Silently repeat: “I honour your becoming. I trust your path. I love you.”
5. Breathe it in, letting the feeling settle in your heart.

Why The Gather Project?

As our children grow, so do the challenges...and the opportunities.
Sometimes their struggles mirror our own unhealed patterns.

Other times, we’re gripped by silent fears: Will they make good choices? Will we stay close? Will they be okay? At The Gather Project, we believe the most powerful way to support our children is to start with ourselves.

When a mother softens, heals, and reconnects with her own inner strength, her child feels it.

Whether you attend with your daughter, your son, or on your own, this retreat is a chance to pause, reflect, and transform.

Through guided workshops, movement, storytelling, and meaningful rituals, you’ll gain the tools to:
- Communicate with more clarity and confidence
- Understand your child’s inner world, and your own
- Celebrate their coming of age with presence and love
- Break generational patterns and create a new legacy of connection You’ll share unforgettable moments—laughing, learning, adventuring, and resting.

You’ll make space for real conversations and create lifelong memories.

And you’ll do it all in the company of like-minded mothers who are also walking this beautiful, brave path. Whether you’re navigating adolescence with your child or reclaiming yourself...this retreat is for you.

Join us to embark on a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and connection.