Overview

From Spring through Fall, the retreats are held out in nature in the Cowichan Valley (about an 1h 10 minute drive from Victoria). In the colder months, they are held in the greater Victoria region. Retreats last one day, from 7am to 5pm.

The retreat is intended to help people with insight, healing, and transformation, no matter what their specific circumstances or issues are. The meditation will place you in an altered state but you will not lose your basic faculties. At the same time, it is powerful and surprisingly wide-ranging in its ability to help people with a variety of existential and psychological challenges.

Aside from the opening and closing process, the retreat is essentially a private journey, out in nature. Everyone is having their own experience, in their own natural spot. Periodically during the day, we will check in to see how participants are doing. We are also available at anytime during the retreat, should a participant need further assistance or want to go over things brought out by the meditation.

Aftercare

Retreats can bring to the surface profound matters related to our lives, in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms. Generally there is almost always a need for processing and integration work after retreats. In many ways, the retreat work also begins when you leave the space and go back to your “regular” life. Here are some tools and suggestions for aftercare and integration:

• After the retreat, if possible, try to book 1-2 days off from your work.

• Try not to be too busy right after the retreat and to not get back into the immediate swing of your life. In other words give yourself some real time and space to process the retreat experience.

• Journal about your experiences, feelings and thoughts.

• Consider going to counselling or psychotherapy, if you are not doing this already.

• Do a gentle body work practice (stretching, Yoga, Qi Gong etc.).

• Be mindful of the company you keep, in the days and weeks following the retreat.

• Avoid stressful conversations, people, situations, as much as you are able.

• Share your retreat experiences selectively, as not everyone can necessarily relate or be receptive.

• Try to be caring and kind to yourself.

• Rest well and/or longer than usual.

On our end, for those that are interested, we offer counselling sessions for the purpose of processing and integration. If you are interested in this service, please get in touch prior or after retreat.