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Simply put, individuation is about transformation. It means being willing to embrace a lifetime of full-fledged metamorphosis analogous to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly over and over again. It means letting go of the defining characteristics that make up our identity for the sake of becoming something further enhanced by the Self, with a capital “S”, the Divine spark within us. The pain in this process is the pain of breaking through our own limitations. The joy is our increased capacity for living and feeling at home within ourselves, and experiencing our wholeness.' -  Bud Harris, Ph.D.

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WE GATHER ON THE LAND, TO MEET OURSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND RECONNECT…

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Steeped in earth based ancestral tradition, Elements of BEing is a full sensory rite of passage, a seven night residential retreat that explores the mystical and magical journey of our wild, indigenous, and all knowing nature through wisdom of place.

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Together, we gather in what is a dedicated time for conscious exploration, soul remembering, birthing the new, and BEcoming. We immerse in the sacredness of landscapes, gifting the opportunity to journey the inner realms and rediscover the wisdom of the ancient clay, within and throughout. We allow ourselves be enchanted once again by wild land listening and the magical opportunity to commune with elementals and nature spirits in old growth forests, crystalline waterfalls, and rock pools. We will be sung to and soothed by the sounds of the sea, embody the cycles of the ocean, and experience a calming of spirit, a clarity of focus, a becoming of stillness, and a profound sense of inner peace. We will tune into the earth’s powerful healing frequencies and experience the numinous landscape around us and within us, as one. We will rediscover the true meaning of abundance and soul nourishment, lovingly gathering on land and shore and co-creating for the mind, body and spirit. We will experience what it is to reclaim our roots, examine our blood, and divine the bare bones so that we may gain insights and understanding on how we can meet ourSelves fully. 

 

The Elements of BEing retreat explores symbolic, energetic, and psychological form, and ways of cultivating inner divinity through nature based activities, creative meditation, daily rituals, and radical BEing. The tapestry of this offering is lovingly woven to gift you the opportunity to reconnect, befriend yourSelf and heal with focused intent.

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A TIME TO SLOW DOWN, REDISCOVER BEAUTY, RECLAIM EARTHLY MAGIC, AND EMBODY LIVING POETRY…

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During our week together you will discover how it is to be part of this primal land of natural beauty and extremes, a place where you can experience both the story of the Earth and the epicness of space, a place where you explore nature at its most raw and powerful, and receive much needed gift of time to recognize and embrace this within yourSelf. This is a time devoted to cultivating and aligning your own inner nature - human presence infused with wild landscapes that both allows and reveres aliveness in its fullest expression. It is time dedicated to exploring the wild edges of BEing, to observe the borderlands of where we have allowed ourselves to become hardened, and the opportunity to enter a place filled with infinite possibility and trust.

 

HEART SONGS FROM THE (H)EARTH...

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Throughout the retreat we explore sustainable, loving ways of letting found elements of nature inform our personal spiritual expression and practice. These wild ingredients situate prayer and poetry in the world, offering a sort of ‘terroir’, stories of time and place through which we can learn and grow. They cultivate intimate awareness, both of the land surrounding us and within us, as well as the qualities inherent to each ingredient themselves. As we work closely with what we gather, stories are revealed and we begin to hear its whispers, its wisdom and secrets, and learn how it is an integral part of healing our own mind, body and spirit. These secrets are only revealed when we slow down, observe, listen mindfully, and allow nature, both around us and within us, to express itself fully. Through this sacred journey we relearn to commune once more with prima materia (Source Material), and find the eyes and ears within as we pass through the door to the unknown country inside.

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HONOURING THE WHOLE...

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This retreat is an initiatory journey through the mandala of BEing - an opportunity to consciously and ceremoniously release, expand, grow, and ritually celebrate the beginning of the new phase of BEing - through the powerful medicine of the natural cycles and the Elements. Designed for the Seeker, this journey is a mindful choice to connect with one's Higher purpose, to acknowledge and embrace the Soul's unique journey, and salute the Spirit in one's existence with compassion and Divine Love. It is an invitation to become aware of the hidden aspects of Self and the larger surroundings, to transcend the stress of everyday life, choosing instead to fully embrace the dance that is the human experience and the gifts that it offers while we waltz. It is a time of profound self discovery, awakening, personal empowerment, transformation and adventure; an opportunity to grow beyond what you know yourself to be thus far and enter a discovery process about wholeness and the journey of healing. It is to choose change, to insist on hope and recovery, and to creatively engage in ‘The Work’ - the catalyst that enables us to come into the grace of one's place in creation. It is radical re-connection as a whole BEing with ALL THAT IS, at Point Zero.

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THE ENERGETIC FRAMEWORK FOR THIS RETREAT...

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This transformative retreat takes place in the lead up to Samhain, one of eight ancient festivals celebrated in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. Samhain marks the transition between the end (the dying) of one Celtic year and the beginning (the birth) of the next, and as such, carries with it the death, surrender, release of the old cycle, and the beginning of the new. Joining this Samhain gathering is an invitation to release the patterns of the past and be fully present, to slow down sufficiently to reconnect with one's breath, with nature and it’s cycles, to find beauty in small treasures, and to receive healing from the very matrix of creation. It is an opportunity to observe and reprogram on a core level, to re-connect, reclaim and enhance one's perception during this potent time. It is the mindful choosing to become open to the magic of nature, to discover sacred in the mundane, to reconnect with ancient inner knowing, and to re-assess one's practical needs. Through this, it becomes a journey of benediction, of Soul remembering and integration, so that we may align with intuitive authentic BEing on all levels. This is the gift of Samhain and the Cailleach - the wise elder.

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A TIME TO NOURISH AND NURTURE ON ALL LEVELS...

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Each day's offerings are lovingly curated to gently nurture, nourish, support and assist your BE-coming, so that you may dive fully into each stage of remembering and the natural process of blossoming into BEing. The activities will take place in a natural, informal, and relaxed surroundings, at a pace that allows you to absorb the experience fully. Conscious body nourishment is fully honored on this retreat and receives as much attention to detail as soul and spirit nourishment so that our inner and outer worlds are fully aligned. The SoulFOOD for this gathering is expertly designed to nutritionally and energetically support your healing journey through the element, chakra, luminous body, and physical body systems we work with each day. Our Elixir Bar is on offer throughout the retreat providing you with an oasis of herbal tonics, wild healing beverages, medicinal elixirs, native superfoods, plant and crystal remedies, and more. We also work with a special sensory selection of Niamh's alchemy, apothecary and ritual offerings each day. As an additional treat, a special range of skinfood is lovingly created for this retreat each year, to support and enhance your healing journey. This bespoke collection of natural botanical body care is created exclusively for your body ritual, spiritual bathing, radiance, wellBEing, and ceremonial pleasure.

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OUR NEST FOR THIS RETREAT...

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We always take alot of care to ensure we host our gatherings in the perfect surroundings, both inside and out, in spaces that are fully conducive to healing on all levels. Reducing carbon footprint, ecology, sustainability, and environmentalism are issues we are very passionate about, and our nest for this retreat meets all of our needs and wishes in this regard...and more.

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Our location for Elements of BEing is a 96 acre private luxury waterfront estate, nestled amongst the ancient oaks of Glengarriff Nature Reserve. The house is the masterwork of a famous Swiss architect and designed to blend perfectly with the glorious landscape of trees, meadows and water. Built of mellow local stone, this space makes full use of organic natural materials throughout and has forest and garden walks, panoramic views of Glengarriff Harbour and Garnish Island, and spectacular ocean views. The old growth native forest hosts free roaming deer, feral goats, and many more native wildlife species. Both Glengarriff Harbour and Bantry Bay are wildlife sanctuaries for the local sea eagle, cetacean, and seal populations.

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Each participant has their own large bedroom for this retreat and there is a maximum group size of six participants for this gathering.

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For full details of this residential program, please download our retreat brochure.