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LAST TWO PLACES – Sacred Doorways weekend – Walking the Path of Initiation through Nature – 28 to 30th of July 2023
20 October 2023 @ 15:00 - 22 October 2023 @ 16:00
“Since before time, I have been free. Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,
sacred thresholds on our journey.” – Thich Nhat Hahn
Our ancestors knew the land through its different seasons and movements. They were aware of the importance of community, with both humans and other creatures with whom they shared life. This not only enabled them to survive on earth, but also gave a deep sense of meaning to their lives. The beings shared their knowledge and skills with humans, and as humans, we were deeply involved in this ongoing dialogue of reciprocity, giving our attention and gratitude to the nature beings and maintaining a conscious relationship with them.
Today, many of us have forgotten this language of reciprocity.
Our sensitivity and connection with Nature has almost disappeared in modern humans, but it is far from lost. These connections are still present in us and can be reawakened in each of us.
During this Sacred Doorways weekend, we learn the necessary skills to recover and further develop our sense and experience of this intuitive exchange with the land. We connect as a community and dive deeper into themes that move us as Humans for the good of future generations. We strengthen our connection to our own Wild, Natural Being in order to become more in tune with our own lives and the surrounding World. In particular, we delve into the various Sacred Doorways that strengthen a life in tune with Nature and our own Wild Nature.
In our Western culture, there is an urgent need to (re)recognise the great Doorways of life and honour their wisdom, in order to keep the balance between culture and nature and to be able to close the divide again for the well-being of future generations. The Sacred Doorways are important teachings that encourage deep transformation.
During the Sacred Doorways weekend, we explore the following important doorways:
– Rediscovering True Intimacy and connection with Nature
– Opening the senses to the natural world
– Cultivating presence and awareness
– Listening and reading the Land & communicating with other beings – Cultivating relationship of reciprocity and gratitude
– Experiencing the world as Self and great Beloved
– Nature initiations: ceremonies and rituals to celebrate transition from childhood to menhood or womanhood, as well as other transitional phases (birth, marriage, building a house, starting a project, starting or letting go of work, divorce, death…)
Accommodation & stay
During the weekends, you will stay overnight with Chamai, in the Old Presbytery of the small village of Hodister, in the Ardennes. You will stay in a spacious room with 2 or 3 people. Staying in the tent in the beautiful garden is also possible. During the day, we are out in the forest most of the time. We also prepare delicious vegetarian meals with herbs and greens from our own garden.
All meals are provided during the weekend. If you like regular snacks in between meals, be sure to bring what you need for yourself, or possibly to share with the group. Tea, coffee and water are provided at all times.
Registration and prices
Social price: on request via email, 390 euros (max 2 people)
Standard price: 490 euro
Supporter & business price (if you would like an invoice or want to support someone who is struggling financially: 590 euro
Deadline to register is at the latest 10 days before the start of the retreat and subject to payment of registration. Later is not possible due to organisational reasons.
Are you registering at least 2 months before the retreat? Then you get an early bird discount of 70 euro, if you transfer your full participation fee in one go (not valid for social prices).
Your registration is complete as soon as you have sent an email to chamaicentre@gmail.com and transferred the full registration fee to the following account: BE12 7340 4886 7292 – Sophie Vandenkerchove, mentioning your name + Sacred Doorways and the date.
If you cancel your participation, part of your contribution will be withheld to cover the administrative costs of your cancellation. Two months in advance 25% of your contribution will be retained, one month in advance 50% and 2 weeks in advance: 75% of your contribution. If the retreat has to be cancelled due to external organisational reasons, your registration will be fully refunded.
The Sacred Doorways is a weekend we organise on a regular basis throughout the year: the next dates when the weekend will take place are 20 to 22 October 2023 and 9 to 11 February 2024. You can already enroll through email and you will then receive an Early Bird discount.
Facilitation team
Sophie Vandenkerchove
Sophie is a lover of the Wild – within and without. Sophie grew up in the forests of the Belgian Ardennes, where she nurtured a strong connection to the land of her ancestors as a child. After roaming wild places in the cities, she moved back to her village with a dedication to offer her life to the well-being and healing of her ancestral land. Out of this, Chamai came into existence: a nature-based learning centre, where she offers residential workshops and experiential journeys in and with Nature and collaborates with others. In her own work, she interweaves the power of ceremony and presenceness with her soulful love for her place, nature and people. She is passionate about pilgrimages, solo time in nature, silent retreats and all those experiences that bring together a good balance of adventure, presence and gentleness. Feeling and bringing each other home, is her life’s longing and service.
www.chamai.be
Gert Daniels
Gert is a gentle man, as a dance & yoga teacher he enjoys life. And invites everyone to live from heart and feeling. He is director and jack-of-all-trades of the non-profit organisation We See You (bringing dance, singing, martial-arts to vulnerable children, young people and schools). Thanks to many teachers worldwide, he brings countless inner treasures to those who can use them by being softly and listeningly present with what is. His specialities are the Sacred Sufi Dervish Dance and the Sword Dance (Tog Chöd Wisdom Sword). For years, he is co-organiser of men’s gatherings to guide men more in heart and feeling and inspire young and not so young men. Co-creator of the Tribe of the Heart, where every heart is desperately needed in this time of great change.
www.wcud.be
www.gertdaniels.be