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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260320T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260322T150000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220201T152704Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230725T102554Z
UID:34314-1774018800-1774191600@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Wild & Sacred nature retreat ~ 25th to 27th of August 2023
DESCRIPTION:I want to enroll  \nThree days to get more deeply in touch with our natural selves in a magical setting. In this retreat\, silence and meditation come together with shamanic practice and ceremony. We will guide you on a healing\, relaxing journey to beautiful places in nature. \nWe start each day with silence and meditation. Our focus of the day is loving care for the body\, our feelings and emerging thoughts. The 4 dimensions of human nature help us deepen our connection with nature. After breakfast\, we go into the forest. For most of the day\, we will be outside. By holding ceremonies for Water\, Fire\, Earth and Air\, we find more connection with our natural selves and the living world around us. \nSome of our activities throughout the days: meditation\, silent walks\, ceremonies\, time alone in nature\, fire and togetherness. Community and silence are our guides through the days\, the simplicity of being in a natural andnurturing environment with beautiful people. \nProgramme of our days \nDay 1 – Theme: grounding and grounding | element: Earth \n15:30 Arrival at Chamai: welcoming\, practicalities of our days together\n16:30 First introduction circle\n18:00 Free time: honoring the land\n18:30 Dinner\n20:00 Silent walk in nature \nDay 2 – Theme: Freeing and finding space\, connecting and being together | element: Air & Fire \n08:00 Morning meditation & yoga\n09:00 Breakfast\n10:00 Sharing circle\n11:00 Silent walk to nearby place. Solo stay in nature with lunch\nAir ceremony to release and find space within yourself\n15:00 Free time in the afternoon (swimming in the Ourthe)\n18:30 Evening meal\n20:00 Fire ceremony: standing in your own power\, music and sharing \nDay 3 – Theme: purify and relax | element: Water \n08:00 Morning meditation\n09:00 Breakfast\n10:00 Sharing round\n11:00 Silent walk to the source\n12:00 Solo stay in nature with lunch\nWater ceremony: to bless and purify yourself\n15:00 Final round of sharing and farewell \nAccommodation during your stay \nDuring the retreat you will stay overnight at Chamai\, in the Old Presbytery of the village of Hodister\, in the Ardennes. You will stay in a spacious room with 2 or 3 people. Private rooms are only possible with a limited number of registrations and on payment of an extra fee. Staying in the tent in the beautiful garden is also possible. During the day\, we hike to special nature spots nearby. We also prepare delicious vegetarian meals every day with herbs and greens from our own garden. \nAll meals are provided during the retreat. If you like to eat regular snacks in between\, 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. \nRegistration and prices \nStandard price: 490 euro\nSupporter & business price (also if you would like an invoice): 590 euro \nIf the standard price is a barrier for you\, you can contact us and we will see if you can participate at a reduced rate. \nDeadline to register is at the latest 10 days before the start of the retreat and after payment of your participation fee. Later is not possible due to organisational reasons. \nYour registration for the weekend 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\, stating your name + Wild & Sacred retreat and date. \nIf 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. \nThe Wild & Sacred retreat is a weekend that we organise on a regular basis throughout the year. The next dates will be in May 2024. You can already enroll through chamaicentre@gmail.com and receive an Early Bird discount. \nGuides of the retreat \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie 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. \nwww.chamai.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/wild-sacred-natuurretraite-18-tot-20-november-2022/
CATEGORIES:Rewilding,Weekends
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251011T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251016T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20250508T073834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T155943Z
UID:38476-1760198400-1760630400@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Mirroring Training for guides\, coaches and leaders - 11 to 16th of October 2025 - LAST PLACE
DESCRIPTION:This training will offer participants the opportunity to develop the Art of Mirroring for empowerment. Mirroring draws upon the ancient art of storytelling and learning through the oral tradition. Our stories will focus on our own human nature in relationship to the wider Natural world we belong to. \nEach morning we will undertake a wilderness threshold crossing in a different landscape through which to explore aspects of our psyche\, drawing on a four directions eco-centric model of human development. In the afternoons we will gather to ‘mirror’ back these stories to each participant. Training in the art of ‘mirroring’ will be of particular use for anyone offering threshold crossings or solo work to individuals or groups through offering support to the stage of integration or return. Mirroring for empowerment is both a practice and an art that serves to deepen and clarify a particular story\, as well as to honour the storyteller. \nIn this training participants will be required to wear two ‘hats’\, being both in the role of participant and trainee facilitator for each threshold crossing and mirroring. Integral to this training is the willingness and capacity to engage with a depth of personal introspection during each threshold crossing on the land as this is actually the ground that matures our own ability to facilitate such work with others  – this is actually the ground that matures our own ability to facilitate such work with others. In this way the training is designed to offer both the opportunity for exploring our own psyche through participating in self-generated ceremonies on the land\, as well as to develop our own unique way of mirroring and storytelling with other people. \nThroughout the human story people have made use of wilderness and the Mirror of Nature as a means of gaining clarity in life or marking significant life transitions. Individuals have crossed the threshold into wild places to attend more closely to the movement of soul\, to remember what is at one’s core\, what is most important. \nThe wider context of this training is the inseparability between our own well-being and empowerment\, and the health of our people and the wider Earth community to which we belong. Initiatory work is at heart about belonging; finding our particular place and deepening our capacity to engage in the work we are called to do in the times we are living through\, so that we can become a good ancestor to those who come after us. \n \nAreas of learning \n∙ Practice with the art of ‘mirroring for empowerment’ and the mythologizing of story in support of integration of threshold experiences \n∙ Exploration of an eco-centric model of human development as a theoretical framework from which to facilitate threshold crossings.\n\n∙ Self-generated ceremony within the liminal space and meeting the land as ‘mirror’. \n∙ Utilising the practice of ‘Council’ as a tool for the creation of safe container for sharing where diversity\, vulnerability and honesty are foundational. \n∙ Experiential understanding of how the natural world can serve as a refuge and catalyst for personal maturation and individuation\, supporting an increased resilience in meeting the challenges of our times. \nAn overview of the four-directions wheel we will use as a template for the programme: \nSouth: Spring to Summer – childhood \nThrough the lens of the eco-centric wheel\, life is born in the Spring and moves towards the full growth of Summer’s childhood. The healthy child develops through bonding with both the human and more-than-human community. Within our nature-based work the invitation of this season & stage of life is to become intimate with the sensuous body of the earth; coming to know the myriad forms of life as our extended relations and sensing that the land is not just a backdrop for our human experience\, but rather an intimate companion in our own maturation. The love of the South is the love of the sensuous world\, so needed in a culture that is dominated and driven by conceptual ways of inhabiting life. \nWest: Summer to Autumn – adolescence \nAs Summer fades to Autumn\, so too childhood passes into adolescence. Here we experience the dropping away of playful innocence and an increasing introspection into who we are\, what we bring to life\, and what our place is within the world. The West is the love of soul\, the willingness to descend into the shadows of the psyche and though this uncover a deeper sense of who we are and what we have to give. It is in this often challenging place that we are invited to attend to our wounding\, and through this begin to harvest the gifts connected with these wounds. Within the eco-centric developmental wheel\, we also open to our relationship with the wounding of the more-than-human community\, and are drawn to extend our circle of care to include this larger community of life. \nNorth: Autumn to Winter – adulthood \nAutumn in turn releases into Winter. Here\, in the long journey of adulthood\, we take up the challenging responsibility of developing the ‘delivery systems’ and the collaborative relationships that allow us to bring forth our unique gifts and offer our lives to our people and to this world. In an eco-centric model of development\, adulthood is about service to both human and ecological communities\, and in this module we explore what our lives are most deeply committed to\, what the ‘center of gravity’ is that our lives revolve around\, what we most deeply care for and take responsibility for. Through our work together on the land we explore the role of community and nature-based practice in nourishing our inspiration and resilience to engage with the magnitude of the challenges we are living through. The love of the North is the love of the ‘give away’ and what we find is that in giving our lives away\, we ourselves are nourished. \nEast: From winter to spring – elderhood \nThe long Winter must at length give way to the freshness of Spring once again. In the cycle of the human journey this last stage is elderhood. Elderhood in this model is defined by an expanded sense of identity\, and a deepening trust and surrender to the process of life or the mystery that holds us. An elder here is not just defined by years\, but by the depth of their character and the quality of presence of who they are – others are inspired to live more fully through knowing them. In an eco-centric wheel\, the elder’s identity and sense of spirituality is bound up with the wider natural world\, and thus is an ecological identity and an ecological spirituality. The East is the love of ‘Spirit’ or ‘Mystery’\, that which invites a surrender\, trust and identification with the larger processes of life that carry us all.  \nAccommodation and venue \nDuring the training\, you will be staying at Chamai\, in the Old Presbytery of the small village of Hodister in the Belgian Ardennes. You are housed in a spacious room with 2 or 3 people. Private rooms are only possible in case of a small number of participants. Camping in the garden in your own tent is also a possibility. \nDuring our days together\, we will be practising mostly outdoors and staying in wild places closeby. We will also be preparing delicious vegetarian meals with herbs and vegetables from our own garden. If you enjoy eating snacks in between meals\, feel welcome to bring some to share with the group or for yourself. Tea\, coffee and water are provided. \nReservation and pricing \nRegular price: 690 euro\nSupporter & Business price (if you want an invoice for your company or support someone with less financial means): 690 euro + 21% \nReduced price: 590 euro (2 places\, on demand via email)\n\nTo register for the training\, please send us the following application form: https://forms.gle/VjeYFSVDb3p9QNgh6\n Your registration is complete and your place secured\, when the total amount of your participation is received. Bank details are: BE12 7340 4886 7292 – Sophie Vandenkerchove. Please send us the contribution with the following reference “Mirroring training 2025 – your name”.  \nCancellation policy \nIf the training is cancelled by the organizers\, your deposit will be fully refunded. If you cancel your participation\, part of your contribution will be withheld to cover the costs of your cancellation. Two months before the start of the training\, this will be 25% of your participation\, one month before 50% and 2 weeks before: 75% of your contribution. \nThe team \n \nProgram facilitator – Rupert Marques \n My background is in environmental and outdoor education with an emphasis on experiential approaches to exploring ecological identity and personal agency. For several years I trained and guided with the School of Lost Borders (U.S.) in Contemporary wilderness rites of passage\, and now offer this work here in Europe. The other thread of my livelihood centers on contemplative practice. I have practised in the insight meditation tradition for over 25 years in Europe\, America and Asia\, and teach at various retreat centers in Europe and beyond. In recent years I have sought to bring the fields of contemplative practice and wilderness immersion together. This has been supported by living and working at Ecodharma\, a contemplative retreat community in the Spanish Pyrenees dedicated to the movements for social justice and ecological sustainability. I currently work with individuals and organisations offering a range of retreats and training that explore personal empowerment and resilience in service of creating a more just and beneficial human presence on this Earth. \n \nRetreat host – Sophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie 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 center\, 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.
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/mirroring-training-for-guides-coaches-and-leaders-11th-to-16th-of-october-2025/
CATEGORIES:Trainings
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250912T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250914T150000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20250125T111405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T114400Z
UID:38115-1757689200-1757862000@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Earth Solo - 24h Vision Quest in the forests - 12 to 14th of September 2025 - LAST PLACE
DESCRIPTION:For thousands of years\, natural peoples have created valuable ways to celebrate the most important transitions in a human life. At a time when our contemporary culture lacks meaning\, remembering these ceremonies offers tremendous opportunities to make sense of the most profound changes in our lives. \nThe Earth Solo is a contemporary version of such a rite of passage or Vision Quest. Spending time alone in nature brings you back to the essence of what you want to stand for in your life\, who you really are and what path you would like to walk. \nA Solo like this can be done at any time in your life. It is ideal if you want to give a big change more space in your life (e.g. within your relationship\, your family or your work)\, take on a new role\, face a personal challenge or get clarity on an issue that has been bothering you for a long time. A Solo aims to give personal growth and transformation an extra push\, in the gentle maneir. During the journey\, Nature’s Mirror and Community support will be your guide to greater self-insight and clarity about your life path. \nWhat to expect during the Solo \nDuring the Solo\, you will spend 24 hours in a remote forest of Chamai in the Ardennes\, alone\, with no contact with the outside world and no distractions. \nOn the first day\, we meet at Chamai\, get to know each other and begin initial preparations for your solo time in the forest. On the second day\, we will delve into Steven Foster and Meredith Little’s Four Directions model\, which will become the guide for your solo time in the forest. We deepen your intention together\, until it is crystal clear to you and you feel empowered to take the necessary step. On the third day\, you will be prepared for your Solo time. \nThen you step over the threshold\, into the ceremony. \nYou spend an afternoon\, a night and a morning alone in the forest\, with only the essentials. This is a time to become intimately receptive to your own life and take your place among the other nature beings in the forest. You will be supported during the ceremony by the guides waiting for your return to the nearby basecamp in the forest. We welcome you back to the community of humans with a delicious brunch. \nThen there is time to rest\, after which we share the stories of our Solo time in circle. This is one of the most moving and heartwarming aspects of the journey together: witnessing and being affirmed of each other’s essence as human beings. Our last morning together we spend integrating the Solo experience into your daily life and the Solo succession process. \nStay\n \nDuring the preparation and integration of your Solo\, you will stay with in the private forests of Chamai. You sleep in your own tent or we can provide a hammock if you haven’t got a tent. We prepare delicious vegetarian meals with herbs and vegetables from our own garden every day. If you like regular snacks in between meals\, be sure to bring the necessary for yourself\, or possibly to share with the group. Tea\, coffee and water are always provided. \nRegistration and prices \nStandard price: 590 euro\nSupporter & Business price (if you want an invoice for your company or support someone with less financial means): 590 euro + 21% \nYour registration is complete as soon as you have completed the following registration form and transferred the full registration amount to the following account: BE12 7340 4886 7292 – Sophie Vandenkerchove\, mentioning ‘Earth Solo 2025’. \nGuidance \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie feels deeply connected to inner and outer Wild Nature. She has practised Zen meditation in the Korean tradition for many years and received several ordinations in Druidism and Celtic Shamanism from her own region. She also trained as a Wilderness Rites of passage Guide at the School of Lost Borders in California. Most of all\, Sophie can be found in the woods or hiking the pilgrim routes in the Ardennes\, where she received her most profound insights about life. Sophie grew up in the forests of the Ardennes\, where\, as a child\, she knew a strong connection to the land of her ancestors. After wandering through wild places in the cities\, she moved back to her ancestors’ village. There she founded Chamai\, a retreat centre where she leads trainings\, Vision Quests and weekends in nature. \n 
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/earth-solo-24h-vision-quest-in-the-forests-12-to-14th-of-september-2025/
CATEGORIES:Rewilding,Weekends
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250509T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250511T150000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20250125T105934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250403T102233Z
UID:38109-1746802800-1746975600@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Joyful Dance of the Wild Soul - 9 to 11th of May 2025
DESCRIPTION:During this retreat\, we connect with the dance deep within you\, the joy of your dream\, the wild soul that wishes to dance through you… Nature is a blissful and rewarding womb to dance your dream back or more to life! Through silence\, yoga\, dance & nature experience. \nA nice holiday\, contraction time and time for yourself. We connect with the wild nature around us in the Ardennes\, and the wild nature within us! \nJoyful Dance of the Wild Soul \nA yoga\, dance & nature retreat to recharge\, slow down\, enjoy\, connect with nature\, eat good food\, socialise around the campfire and much more! \nCentral to this retreat:\n– connecting with nature\n– connecting with the primal elements\n– experiencing deep peace\, silence\, love\n– movement\, yoga\, dance\, walking\n– recharge\, re-energise\n– coming home to a joyful community of people \nDaily structure \n– Silence in the morning\n– Morning: movement meditation\, tibetan tantrayana yoga\, sharing circle\n– Afternoon: nature\, walking\, connection\, peace\, just being\, relaxing\, doing nothing\, dancing\n– Evening: mantra wisdom\, vision dance\, freedom dance\, sufi initiation \nWelcome\nto the birth of all that is new in you! \nStay \nDuring the retreat\, you will stay with Chamai\, in the Old Parsonage of the small village of Hodister\, in the Ardennes. The retreat centre and house are located in the small and quiet village\, surrounded by woods and meadows. Delicious vegetarian meals are provided. You stay overnight in a spacious room in pairs or threes. Private rooms are possible with a limited number of registrations and on payment of an extra allowance. Staying in the tent in our beautiful garden is also possible. During the day\, we are indoors or in the beautiful surrounding forests. \nRegistration and prices \nStandard price: 490 euros\nSupporter & business price (if you would like an invoice for your company): 490 euros + VAT \nSocial rate: on request via email\, 390 euros. \nYour registration is complete as soon as you have completed the following registration form and transferred your contribution to the following account: BE12 7340 4886 7292 – Sophie Vandenkerchove\, mentioning Joyful Dance retreat 2025. \nIf you cancel your participation\, part of your contribution will be withheld to cover the administrative costs of your cancellation. Two months in advance 50% of your contribution will be retained\, one month in advance 75% and less than one month in advance the full amount. If you can find a replacement participant\, however\, your participation will be fully refunded. If the retreat has to be cancelled due to organisational reasons\, your registration will always be fully refunded. \nGuidance \n \nGert Daniels \nGert is a treasure of a 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 (dance\, singing\, martial-arts for vulnerable children and young people and schools)\, and thanks to many teachers worldwide he gives 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\, 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.
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/joyful-dance-of-the-wild-soul-9-to-11th-of-may-2025/
CATEGORIES:Dance & Yoga,Silence,Weekends
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250328T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250330T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20250125T105125Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250125T105305Z
UID:38103-1743163200-1743350400@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Druidic nature weekend - Power of Stone & Fire - 28 to 30th of March 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deepening the power of Stone & Fire \nDuring this druidic weekend\, connect deeply with the Ancestors and their knowledge of ancestral abilities. We delve into the crafting of Flint and into Fire through Friction\, connecting to the transmissions and mysteries surrounding Stone and Fire. \nOur Ancestors honoured the deep connection they had with Nature. During the weekend\, you will be introduced to the main druidic principles and cosmology of our Ancestors\, thus stepping a layer deeper into the Ancestral skills. At the same time\, you will learn the first steps in the beautiful art of Stoneworking and make your own Fire Arch for friction. \nStay \nDuring the year-long course\, you will stay with Chamai\, in the Old Parsonage of the small village of Hodister\, in the Ardennes. The retreat centre and house are located in the small and quiet village\, surrounded by woods and meadows. Delicious vegetarian meals are provided. You stay overnight in a spacious room in pairs or threes. Private rooms are possible with a limited number of registrations and on payment of an extra allowance. Staying in the tent in the beautiful garden is also possible. During the day\, we are mostly outdoors in the surrounding fields and forests and for herbal preparations we work indoors. \nEnrolments & prices \nStandard price: 490 euros\nSupporter price (if you wish an invoice for your company): 590 euros \nYou can register for the druidic nature weekend by filling in the registration form. You are only registered when you have transferred the registration fee to the following account: BE12 7340 4886 7292 – Sophie Vandenkerchove\, with the mention ‘Druidic nature weekend – Stone & Fire″. \n(*) If you cancel your participation\, part of your contribution will be withheld to cover the administrative costs of your cancellation. Two months in advance 50% of your contribution will be retained\, one month in advance 75% and less than one month in advance the full amount\, provided you cannot find a replacement participant. If the weekend has to be cancelled due to organisational reasons\, your registration will be refunded. \nThe Team \n \nWerner Pfeifer \nWerner Pfeifer grew up in Namibia\, where he lived on a bush farm. As a child\, he walked alone through the bush\, together with his dog. He taught himself to hunt and did so for many years. Later\, he travelled widely across the country\, including to ancient Stone Age settlements. \nFrom one of his teachers Ole Nielsen\, he learned traditional archery in Denmark and eventually specialised in making replicas of the Northern European Stone Age.Together with his colleague Gianluca Massalini\, he  accompanied several Stone Age immersions and experimental archaeological trips to Namibia amon the indigenous San Bushmen and in Europe. \nFor several years now\, Werner has been living in the Stone Age village in Dithmarschen\, Germany. There he guides groups through the Stone Age and teaches them ancestral skills such as archery\, weaving with natural materials\, fire by friction and much more. \n \nStefaan Loncke \nStefaan Loncke was initiated in 1989\, traditionally trained since 1995 and holds ancient oral traditions\, lineage and priestly ordinations. He has been a member of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids since 2013. Together with his wife Cin\, he founded Ahawa\, House for Life Deepening\, in 2014\, where he passes on the ancient shamanic and druidic tradition\, as well as brings lunar\, seasonal\, wedding\, baptismal and funeral ceremonies\, individual healing and counselling. \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie is deeply connected to the inner and outer Wilderness. She trained as a Wilderness Rites of passage Guide at the School of Lost Borders in California. She received several ordinations in Druidism and Celtic Shamanism and has been practising Zen meditation in the Korean tradition for many years. Most of all\, Sophie can be found in the woods or hiking the pilgrim routes in the Ardennes\, where she received her most profound insights about life. Sophie grew up in the forests of the Belgian Ardennes\, where\, as a child\, she knew a strong connection to the land of her ancestors. After wandering through wild places in the cities\, she moved back to her ancestors’ village. There she founded Chamai\, a retreat centre where she leads trainings\, Vision Quests and weekends in nature.\n \n 
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/druidic-nature-weekend-power-of-stone-fire-28th-to-30th-of-march-2025/
CATEGORIES:Rewilding,Rites of Passage & Ceremony,Trainings,Weekends
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20241010T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20241013T150000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20221019T121734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T080418Z
UID:34800-1728572400-1728831600@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Essence of Creation retreat ~ 25 to 28th of April 2024
DESCRIPTION:The Miracle of Creation.. \nEverything you do\, everything you plan\, everything you dream or desire is a process of creation. In this three-day retreat into the ocean of creation\, we explore what is still holding us back from living our dreams fully! \nEvery day\, we will dive into our temple. Through the way of silence\, the way of nature\, the way of yoga and the way of dance. \nThe essence of this retreat: purification and creation \nPurification: all the elements of this retreat revolve around purification! The silence\, yoga\, nature will support you in this. The Sufi dance is a healing dance that is ideal to purify our inner waters. We enjoy me-time while doing a relaxing spring cleanse for the four bodies: physical\, emotional\, mental and spiritual. \nCreation: whether you are facing a new phase\, a new project or another creation\, or wish to open up to a new path for yourself or your relationship. The secrets of the process of creation will certainly come in handy. We expore this through guided meditation\, creative expressions (drawing\, painting\,..) and Vision Dance. \n7 elements programme of each day: \n* Silence of Nature \n* Water: Movement Meditation \n* Earth: Slowing Japanese Butoh movements to briefly let go of the speed of the outer world and dive into the timeless freedom of your soul. We also connect with the Earth every day during our walks in nature. \n* Wood: Tibetan Tantrayana yoga and Tog-Chöd sword yoga \n* Fire: Freedom dance & Vision Dance \n* Air: Vision and creation \n* Chi: Healing Sufi dance\, dance of love and freedom \nThe Sufi dance is a way to purify our inner self to get to the universal source in us. It is a beautiful dance combining the vertical connection with the Masculine principle – beautiful thoughts\, wisdom and action and the Feminine principle – beautiful feeling\, love and being. When the masculine and feminine energy in you are dancing together\, when they both marry in your Heart\, you are bringing beautiful Children into the world: your dreams\, your actions and deeds. \nIn these times it is important to step through the big changes\, to explore and take creative actions on your path. This retreat will support you in this. \nWelcome Whirling Heart! \nAccommodation during your stay \nDuring the retreat you will stay overnight at Chamai\, in the Old Presbytery of the village of Hodister\, in the Ardennes. You will stay in a spacious room with 2 or 3 people. Private rooms are only possible with a limited number of registrations and on payment of an extra fee. Staying in the tent in the beautiful garden is also possible. During the day\, we hike to special nature spots nearby. We also prepare delicious vegetarian meals every day with herbs and greens from our own garden. \nAll meals are provided during the retreat. If you like to eat regular snacks in between\, 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. \nRegistration and prices \nYou can enroll for this retreat through gertdaniels@msn.com \nSocial price: on request via email\nStandard price: 490 euro\nSupporter and business price (also if you want an invoice or support someone with low financial income): 590 euro \nIf you register and pay 4 weeks in advance\, you receive a 40 euro early booking discount. Your place is reserved upon receipt of the advance payment of 150 euro via bank transfer via vzw We See You : BE75 7370 3060 4351\, stating “Essence of Creation and date + your name”. \nIf the weekend has to be cancelled\, the deposit will be refunded. If you cancel yourself\, the deposit is not refundable. You may also always add an additional donation of your choice to your payment – thanks to your contribution\, many children and young people from youth care and asylum centres can enjoy Gert’s sessions in resilience training and martial arts. \nThe Essence of Creation is a retreat we organise on a regular basis throughout the year: the next dates for the Essence of Creation retreat is 10 to 13th of October 2024. You can already send us an email at chamaicentre@gmail.com to enroll – you will then receive a Early Bird discount. \nFacilitation team \n  \nGert Daniels \nGert is a treasure of a man\, as a dance and yoga teacher he enjoys life. He invites everyone to live from the Heart and Feeling. He is director of the non-profit organisation We See You (dance\, singing\, martial-arts for vulnerable children and young people and schools)\, and thanks to many teachers worldwide\, he gives the innumerable treasures to those who need 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 already\, he is co-organiser of men’s gatherings to guide men more in heart and feeling and inspire young men. Cocreator of the tribe of the Heart\, where every Heart is desperately needed in this time of great change. Let’s dance the change you love to see in the world! \nwww.gertdaniels.dance en www.wcud.be \nAssistence \n \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie 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. \nwww.chamai.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/essence-of-creation-retraite/
CATEGORIES:Dance & Yoga,Weekends
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20240318T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20240319T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20240116T084108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T084544Z
UID:37001-1710756000-1710867600@chamai.be
SUMMARY:TWO LAST PLACES - Trailing intensive with Rene Nauta – 18th until 19th of March 2024 (English)
DESCRIPTION:In this 2-day course\, you will learn a wide range of skills needed to find and follow a fresh trail. The classes are structured so that everyone can participate at their own level. It can also be a great step as preparation for a Trailing evaluation. \nThe first day is focused on learning all the techniques. There we focus on a trail laid by humans\, but the techniques for tracking remain the same.\nOn the second day we go to an area where we can trawl. So there the focus is more on literally finding and following a fresh trail. And approaching game unseen. \nTrailing is a never ending story… \nDay 1 – Trailing exercises \nAfter an explanation of trailing we go out and you are busy in the field all day. The group size is deliberately small\, so that everyone is regularly ‘in the lead’. You learn to recognize a fresh trail. In what direction and at what pace did this animal run? The terrain where we practice has an enormous variety of surfaces; from dusty sand\, humus\, moss\, ferns\, to grass and leaves. A great opportunity to learn a lot!\nAm I still ‘on track’? What do I do if I’m not (anymore)? Is that bird alarm because of me? What tracks have other animals left behind? Where is the wind coming from? \nDay 2 – Following a fresh trail \nWith the knowledge gained\, we will go to another area where we can track game (fallow deer). Here you will be taught some new techniques and skills: stealth; how do you walk without being seen and without making a sound? How do you use your “peripheral vision? What if you see an animal that hasn’t seen you yet? How do you get closer? How do you get away again unseen? We only communicate with hand signals\, and you will get an explanation about that too. An excellent opportunity to put into practice all the knowledge you acquired on day 1\, supplemented with these new skills\, with -hopefully- a real game as a reward at the end! \nAccommodation during your stay \nDuring the retreat you will stay overnight at Chamai\, in the Old Presbytery of the village of Hodister\, in the Ardennes. You will stay in a spacious room with 2 or 3 people. Private rooms are only possible with a limited number of registrations and on payment of an extra fee. Staying in the tent in the beautiful garden is also possible. During the day\, we hike to special nature spots nearby. We also prepare delicious vegetarian meals every day with herbs and greens from our own garden. \nAll meals are provided during the retreat. If you like to eat regular snacks in between\, 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. \nFacilitation \n \nRené Nauta \nRené is an expert in animal tracks and trained as an evaluator for CyberTracker International. He traveled with natural populations through Namibia and attended training courses in England. Together with his partner Beke\, they founded the company “EXTRA – Make Outside Your Home” in 1997. He enjoys sharing his passion for nature with other nature lovers. \nRegistration and prices \nYou can enroll for this intensive training through chamaicentre@gmail.com. \nStandard price: 490 euro\nSupporter and business price (if you want an invoice or support someone with low financial income): 590 euro \nDeadline to register is at the latest 2 weeks before the start of the course and subject to payment of the registration fee. Later is not possible for organizational reasons. \nYour 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 + Trailing intensive and date. \nIf the weekend has to be cancelled\, the deposit will be refunded. If you cancel yourself\, the deposit is not refundable. \nI subscribe
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/trailing-intensive-with-rene-nauta-18th-until-19th-of-march-2024-english/
CATEGORIES:Rewilding,Trainings,Weekends
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20231231T113000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20231231T113000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20210611T131111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230725T103700Z
UID:32500-1704022200-1704022200@chamai.be
SUMMARY:1-1 Nature mentoring sessions - 2023-2024
DESCRIPTION:I want to enroll \nAre you looking to reconnect more deeply with Nature\, are you looking for a break or do you need some support on your path? \nI offer mentoring sessions in Nature online or on location\, both with or without accommodation. The sessions are always preceded by a first online meeting\, in order to clarify your needs and create an ideal mentoring for you. \nPlease contact chamaicentre@gmail.com for more information about the sessions. \nPricings: \nAn online mentoring session: 60 euro VAT per session of 1 hour\nA day of mentoring on site (3 hours of mentoring\, one night and meals included): 290 euro VAT\nA weekend (sa-sun) of on-site coaching (6 hours of mentoring\, two nights and meals included for two days): 450 euro VAT \n 
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/nature-coaching-all-year-round/
CATEGORIES:Mentoring
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://chamai.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/313991791_1341334003310372_804115047983420021_n-e1681553007442.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20231116T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20231119T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220211T104831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T081723Z
UID:34681-1700146800-1700409600@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Joyful Dance of the Wild Soul retreat - 6th to 9th of June 2024
DESCRIPTION:Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.”\n― Rumi \n\n\n\nDuring this retreat\, we invite you to let magic be born within yourself in a special and simple way. This retreat is perfect to recharge\, rest\, enjoy nature in full spring\, refuel your energies! To receive nourishment for yourself\, your relationship\, your work. But above all to spend time and get space for your own soul and body and connect to a beautiful community of like-minded people! \nWe connect with nature around us in the Ardennes\, and nature within us. \nWhen the world around us is in a transformative storm\, everything is going very fast; chaos and anxieties are there. But in the eye of the storm\, you can discover during our days together that there is a blissful silence. Not a passive silence\, but a living\, vibrant\, vital silence. \nJOYFUL DANCE OF THE WILD SOUL \n\n\nA nature & silence retreat to recharge\, slow down\, enjoy\, connect with nature\, delicious food\, beautiful walks in the countryside\, simply being cosely together at the stove or campfire. And much more! \n  \n\n\nCentral elements of this retreat \n– connecting with nature in spring\n– connecting with the primal elements\n– opening the sacred doorways\n– wisdom around rites of passage and nature as a powerful initiator\n– experience deep peace\, silence\, love\n– recharge energy\n– coming home in a joyful community of people \n\nOur daily programme \n– Morning: meditation\, silence\, sharing circle\n– Afternoon: nature connection\, hike\, solo time\, connection\, peace\, just being\, relaxing\, doing nothing\n– Evening: socialising by the campfire\, sharing poetry\, singing\, gazing into the fire\,… \nOn our last day together\, we also celebrate the Beltaine ceremony together\, honouring manhood and womanhood! \nRegistration and prices \nSocial price: on request via email\, 390 euro (max 2 people) \nStandard price: 490 euro\nSupporter & business price (if you want an invoice\, or want to support someone who is struggling financially to join): 590 euro \nDeadline 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. \nAre you registering at least 2 months before the retreat? Then you will get an early booking discount of 70 euro\, if you transfer the full participation fee in one go (not valid for social pricing). 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 + Joyful Silence of the Wild Soul and date. \nIf you cancel your participation\, a part of your enrollment fee 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. \nThe Joyful Dance of the Wild Soul is a retreat we organise regularly throughout the year: the next retreat dates are 7 to 10th of November 2024. \n\nFacilitation team \n \nSophie is a beautiful treasure\, a wise woman with an innately warm heart for all that lives\, a deep soul listener\, an initiator in the nearly-lost-sacral-wildness\, an initiator and guardian of the wildness of nature and its inhabitants\, a guide in the land-of-not-knowing. She guides nature retreats\, solos and Vision Quests in and around her centre Chamai in the Ardennes. Several years ago\, she returned to her grandparents’ home in a small village in the Ardennes to dedicate her life to herding wildness\, listening deeply and caring for the Earth. \nSophie was trained at the School of Lost Borders in California\, founded by Steven Foster and Meredith Little. She also took courses in Spiritual Ecology\, the Way of Council and the Work that Reconnects. She also finished a four-year training in Druidism and Celtic Shamanism and is a Dharma Teacher in Training in the Korean Zen tradition. In her workshops and pathways\, Sophie works around rites of passage and time alone in nature\, silence retreats and forest art. In these\, she integrates the power of ceremony with her love for the land of her ancestors and her powerful connection to all life and beings in nature. \nwww.chamai.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/joyful-silence-of-the-wild-soul-13-tot-16-oktober-2022/
CATEGORIES:Dance & Yoga,Silence,Weekends
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20231020T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20231022T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220119T162824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230725T101925Z
UID:34755-1697814000-1697990400@chamai.be
SUMMARY:LAST TWO PLACES - Sacred Doorways weekend - Walking the Path of Initiation through Nature - 28 to 30th of July 2023
DESCRIPTION:I want to enroll  \n“Since before time\, I have been free. Birth and death are only doors through which we pass\,\nsacred thresholds on our journey.” – Thich Nhat Hahn \nOur 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. \nToday\, many of us have forgotten this language of reciprocity. \nOur 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. \nDuring 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. \nIn 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. \nDuring the Sacred Doorways weekend\, we explore the following important doorways: \n– Rediscovering True Intimacy and connection with Nature \n– Opening the senses to the natural world \n– Cultivating presence and awareness \n– Listening and reading the Land & communicating with other beings – Cultivating relationship of reciprocity and gratitude \n– Experiencing the world as Self and great Beloved \n– 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…) \nAccommodation & stay \nDuring 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. \nAll 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. \nRegistration and prices \nSocial price: on request via email\, 390 euros (max 2 people)\nStandard price: 490 euro\nSupporter & business price (if you would like an invoice or want to support someone who is struggling financially: 590 euro \nDeadline 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. \nAre 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). \nYour 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. \nIf 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. \nThe 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.  \nFacilitation team \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie 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. \nwww.chamai.be \n \nGert Daniels \nGert 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. \nwww.wcud.be\nwww.gertdaniels.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/sacred-doorways-weekend-29-tot-31-juli-2022/
CATEGORIES:Rites of Passage & Ceremony,Trainings,Weekends
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230623T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230625T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20230106T165610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230621T093746Z
UID:34307-1687539600-1687708800@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Rewilding weekend -  6 to 8th of August 2023
DESCRIPTION:Rewilding the forest together \nIn recent years\, we have been hearing more often how our forests in Belgium are slowly disappearing. Beside deforestation\, persistent summer droughts\, numerous tree diseases and soil acidification are not making things better. \nYet we feel it is possible as a community to rewild our forests in a meaningful way\, to make our contribution to a future with lots of nature for the next generations and to be able to give them these beautiful values too. \nSophie’s ancestors had forests in the Ardennes for generations. Step by step\, we would like to rewild our forests with the community and take you all on this journey. We like to share our knowledge about the forests\, get practical during the weekends and find the most beautiful connection there: with the forest and with each other. \nEvery Rewilding weekend is an opportunity to dive deeper into your connection with nature through the seasons\, to contribute to a meaningful project that will benefit many more children and young people in the near future. Also to learn\, step by step\, in a concrete way\, how you might re-wild your own garden\, forest or meadow or start a community project. You will learn how to set up windbreaks\, about native trees and plants and their properties\, ecological and sustainable forest management. You can be introduced to some or all phases\, ranging from study\, observation\, preparation\, planting and maintenance. \nSpecifically\, we start by rewilding a spruce forest that had to be cut down due to a beetle infestation. We are turning it into a cosy\, natural grove\, a Sacred Grove for the community\, where we can do nature observation\, hold sharing circles with groups and nature ceremonies. Furthermore\, we are also rewilding other forests. This runs in phases\, with different projects in different places. \nAccommodation & stay \nDuring 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. \nAll 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. \nProgramme of each day \nFriday \n5 pm: arrival and installation\nDinner\nIntro to the weekend and intention circle\nEvening walk or cosy time at the fire place \nSaturday \nMorning: open space for meditation and yoga in the temple hall\nBreakfast\nBriefing and theoretical input\n3h of service to the forest\nLunch in the forest with fire\nAfternoon: free\, hike with the group\, or optional extra input around plants and herbs\nDinner\nObservation & part circle\nEvening walk or socialising \nSunday \nMorning: open space for meditation and yoga in the temple hall\nBreakfast\nBriefing and theoretical input\n3h of service to the forest\nLunch in the forest with fire\nAfternoon: tree blessing ceremony\nFinal observation & part circle and farewell at 4pm \nDates of the Rewilding weekends \n18 to 21th of May – weekend for fathers or mothers and sons 8+ (with Gert) – Building a forsest camp with natural materials & making fire – element: Fire – FULL\n\n23 to 25th of June – Tracks\, paths & clearings for nature observation – element: Earth (you can also join the Wild Awareness forest week that starts 3 days earlier and your participation to the Rewilding weekend will be covered). More info on our Retreat page! \n6 to 8th of August – Building bridges and water basin repair – element: water (you can also join the Wild Awareness forest week that starts 3 days earlier and your participation to the Rewilding weekend will be covered). More info on our Retreat page! \n13 to 15th of October – weekend for fathers and sons (with Gert) – Building forest camp & making fire – element: Fire\n\n10 to 12th of November – The Big Tree Planting Weekend \nRegistration and prices \nStandard price for a Rewilding weekend is 300 euro \nIf you want to participate with your family\, the standard price is 300 euros per adult for the weekend and 50 euros per child (<12 year) or 100 euros per youth (<21 year). Are you coming with 2 adults and 2 or more children/young people? Then you get a discount of 25 euros per family member. \nSupporter-Businness price: 350 euro (if you want an invoice or support our Rewilding project – we will buy and plant additional trees with your participation) \nAre you registering at least one month before the weekend? Then you get an early bird discount of 50 euros\, if you transfer your full participation in one go (not valid for social pricing). \nYour 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 + Rewilding weekend and date. \nIf you cancel your participation\, a part of your enrollment fee 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. \nWe are organizing a rewilding weekend several times this year: the next retreat dates are 6-8 August and 23-25 October. You can already enroll for these dates\, simply send us an email and you will get an Early bird discount. \n  \nFacilitation team \n\n\nSophie Vandenkerchove\n \nSophie 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. \nwww.chamai.be\n\n \n\n\nFelicitas Lang\n\n \nFelicitas is a Green teacher at an MBO school in South Limburg in the Netherlands and followed extensive training in nature and environmental education\, including Jon Young’s 8 Shields teaching method. \nIn 2018\, she founded the training institute Natur-Erleben. Her mission with her work is to connect people\, with themselves and with their natural environment. She does this mainly in a playful\, accessible and active way. \nShe also offers herbal walks\, conscious nature experiences\, team-buildings in nature and also courses\, where you learn how to make your own household and personal care products based on natural ingredients. \nNatur-Erleben on Facebook \n\n\n\n\n\n\nGert Daniels\n\nGert 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. \nwww.wcud.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/rewilding-weekends-17-tot-19-februari-2023-en-nog-andere-data/
CATEGORIES:Rewilding,Weekends
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://chamai.be/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BDE13220-71FC-4DB4-860F-D612A5FB6B2E.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230621T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230625T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20230106T161116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T081052Z
UID:34302-1687359600-1687708800@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Wild Awareness forest week - 1st to 4th of August 2023
DESCRIPTION:A four-day retreat in the forest for yourself and in community. \nDuring this retreat\, you spend a week in a community in a magical place in the woods of the Ardennes. You live off grid\, sleep in a tent or hammock and connect deeply with nature through meditation\, rest\, walking. You get extensively in touch with your own Wild Nature. There are moments together in group and also plenty of time for yourself in nature. \nBeing together as a community in nature gives you renewed confidence in yourself. In this way\, you naturally become aware of who you are and how you can be a part of the forest. We support each other to embrace our own presence\, be there for ourselves and grow with the forest in this Greater Presence. \nProgramme of each day \nWe start each day in silence with meditation and reflection. Then we have breakfast together. Each of the participants and facilitators take on a task in the camp each day\, either in the morning or in the evening: gathering wood\, fetching water\, making fire\, cooking\, doing the dishes\, etc. After the day’s tasks\, we hold a sharing circle and then everyone takes their lunch and follows their own path in the afternoon: resting\, writing\, meditating by a stream\, going on a day hike\, collecting plants\, woodworking\, making a nature work of art\,.. Sometimes we meditate on a question that came up in the sub-circle or give each other an assignment or exercise to get more deeply in touch with our own Wild Nature. \nBy late afternoon we return to camp\, after which we enjoy cooking together and sharing our stories of the day by the campfire (as happened in the tribes). The evenings are mostly free\, but there is always the opportunity to create a ritual together\, dance or sing. The first days of the week you stay mostly in the close vicinity of the camp\, with lots of rest\, time for yourself and nature. The last 2 days you will help in Chamai’s community rewilding forest project on site or in the surrounding forests. \nDay 1 – Grounds in the forest \n15:00 Arrival at Chamai retreat centre\n16.00 Departure to basecamp in the forest\n16.30 Introductions and practical arrangements\n18.30 Supper\n19.30 Free evening \nDay 1 to Day 3 – Connecting together in the forest \n08.30 Silent meditation and yoga\n09.15 Breakfast\n10.00 Share circle\n11.30 Day tasks\n12.00 Making lunch and free afternoon\n13.00 Free afternoon: hiking\, nature connection exercises\, time for yourself\n17.00 Return to camp\n18:30 Supper\n20:00 Free evening around the campfire with songs\, music\,… \nDay 4 – Rewilding day \n08.30 Silent meditation and yoga\n09.15 Breakfast\n10.00 Making lunch\n10:30 Briefing and theoretical input\n11.00 Community work in the forest\, lunch by the fire\n15:00 Free\n17:00 Dinner\n19:00 Observation & part circle\n20:00 Social gathering \nDay 5 – Rewilding day & farewell \n08.30 Silent meditation and yoga\n09.15 Breakfast\n10.30 Make lunch\, pack\n11.30 Briefing and theoretical input\n12.00 Community work in the forest\, lunch by the fire\n14.30 Nature ritual\n15:00 Final observation and part circle\n16:00 Farewell \nOn the last day\, we end around 3pm in the forest. We will then return to the retreat centre to collect our cars and say goodbye to each other. \nRegistration and prices \nSocial price: on demand via email\, 490 euro (max. 2 persons)\nStandard price: 590 euro\nSupporter & business price (if you would like an invoice): 690 euro \nDeadline 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. \nAre you registering at least 2 months before the retreat? Then you will get an early booking discount of 70 euro\, if you transfer the full participation fee in one go (not valid for social prices). \nYour 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 + Wild Awareness forest week and date. \nIf you cancel your participation\, a part of your enrollment fee 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. \n\nGuides of this retreat \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie 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. \nwww.chamai.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/wild-awareness-zijnsweek-21-tot-25-juni-2023/
CATEGORIES:Rewilding,Weekends
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://chamai.be/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/295676636_10224880067601241_8299870521042927460_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230512T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230514T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220521T153117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230615T045631Z
UID:34717-1683903600-1684080000@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Kitchery Witchery wild herbs weekend ~ Mother's Medicine - 12 to 14th of May 2023
DESCRIPTION:Connect with our wild native herbs and plants \nWould you like to learn more intuitively and practically about the wild plants and herbs found in our native forests? \nMany courses in herbalism mainly explore the scientific context of the plants and their chemical constituents. This is immensely valuable for those who would like to become herbalists and make it their profession\, but if you are an ordinary plant lover\, this can greatly inhibit your herbal enthusiasm. \nDuring the Kitchery Witchery weekend we explore a more intuitive and personal connection with plants as they were known by our nature-connected ancestors. We connect with the herbalist/herbalist in you and learn techniques to engage in direct communication with the plants. \nEach weekend we connect with up to 5-10 herbs and plants that can be found in season and go on a journey to connect with each of these plants individually\, learn to recognise them and learn about them. By the end of the weekend\, you will be able to distinguish them all\, know what to consult them for and they will have become your closest companions on every walk in the garden or forest. \nGradually\, we will discover how all plants can be our teachers\, and what they have to tell us about ourselves as human beings. \nIn addition\, during the weekend we will also collect the herbs\, you will learn about the harvesting process\, drying and the different ways to apply them\, which ones you can eat\, which ones are medicinal and their common magical uses. \nLearning areas \n– Respectful and conscious attitude towards the herbs and plants\n– Deep contact with the plants and herbs\n– Knowledge about the influences of lunar and solar phases\n– Drying and processing herbs in the best conditions\n– Working properties of the indigenous herbs \n– Ancient legends\, myths and transmissions around the herbs\n– Reviving and activating the herb and the basis of herbal magic for ceremonial use \n– Enjoying the beautiful nature in your own homeland\n– Relaxing and enjoying being together by a cosy stove in the evening\n– You will go home feeling wonderfully happy\, a lot of new plant friends at and some herbal creations of your own! \nAre you joining with your mother or daughter\, or a friend who is a mother for this Mother’s Day edition? Then you both get a discount. Read more at the bottom! \n\n\nAccommodation & stay \nDuring 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. \nAll 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. \nRegistration and prices \nSocial price: on request via email\, 350 euro (max 2 people) \nStandard price: 390 euro\nSupporter & business price (if you would like an invoice\, or want to support someone who is struggling financially: 490 euro \nDeadline to register is at the latest 10 days before the start of the retreat and after payment of your participation fee. Later is not possible due to organisational reasons. \nSpecial Mother’s Day edition: if you bring your mother as a daughter or another friend who is also a mother\, you will both receive a 150 euro discount together. The invited Mother will receive a little gift during the weekend. \nAre you registering at least 2 months in advance? Then you get an early bird discount of 70 euros\, if you transfer your full participation fee in one go (not valid for social prices). \nYour registration for the weekend 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\, stating your name + Kitchery Witchery weekend and date. \nIf 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. \nThe Kitchery Witchery weekend is a weekend we organise on a regular basis throughout the year. You can write us a message at chamaicentre@gmail.com and we will keep you informed as soon as the weekend is launched to be the first to register. \nFacilitation team \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie is a beautiful treasure\, a wise woman with an innately warm heart for all that lives\, a deep soul listener\, an initiator in the nearly-lost-sacral-wildness\, an initiator and guardian of the wildness of nature and its inhabitants\, a guide in the land-of-not-knowing. She guides nature retreats\, solos and Vision Quests in and around her centre Chamai in the Ardennes. Several years ago\, she returned to her grandparents’ home in a small village in the Ardennes to dedicate her life to herding wildness\, listening deeply and caring for the Earth. \nSophie was trained at the School of Lost Borders in California\, founded by Steven Foster and Meredith Little. She also took courses in Spiritual Ecology\, the Way of Council and the Work that Reconnects. She also finished a four-year training in Druidism and Celtic Shamanism and is a Dharma Teacher in Training in the Korean Zen tradition. In her workshops and pathways\, Sophie works around rites of passage and time alone in nature\, silence retreats and forest art. In these\, she integrates the power of ceremony with her love for the land of her ancestors and her powerful connection to all life and beings in nature. \nwww.chamai.be
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/kitchery-witchery-weekend/
CATEGORIES:Weekends,Wild harvesting
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221026T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221116T213000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220822T155942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230605T094523Z
UID:33662-1666810800-1668634200@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Deep Dive into Nature and Self: a four week online Solo journey - 26th of October to 16th of November 2022
DESCRIPTION:For centuries\, across many different cultures\, humans have spent time alone in nature. This ancient practice reconnects us deeply to Self and to the living world around. It supports us with marking life transitions\, stepping into new roles and finding clarity. For whatever intention may want to be lived\, this practice holds many gifts for humanity and nature alike. \nDuring the Deep Dive\, we will guide you into connection with your own Self as reflected by Nature through embodiment practices\,  eco-soul centric development\, eco-therapy and ceremony. The process is designed to deepen your relationship to Self and the place that holds you\, while being supported by a community. \n“To dwell on the land alone in reverence is a beautiful remembering of our profound humanness.” \nFlow of the Deep Dive Experience: \n  \n\nFirst Community Circle ~ Wed 26th October 7pm – 9:30pm CET\nGetting to know the group and landing in the topics of Deep and Spiritual Ecology. Introduction to practices for nature connection.\nSecond Community Circle ~ Wed 2nd of November 7pm – 9:30pm CET\nIntroduction to Rites of Passage in modern times and playful exploration of the Four Directions of Human Nature.\nThird Community Circle ~ Fri 11th of November 7pm – 9:30pm CET\nDeepening of container\, sharing and refining of personal intentions\, prepare to step over the threshold for our Solo experience.\nEarth Solo experience ~ Sat 12th of November until Sun 13th of November: Self held Solo time\nSpending one day (or more) alone on the land in a place of your own choosing over a weekend.\nWelcome back Ritual ~ Sun 13th of November 6:30pm – 9:30pm CET\nSharing of our experience and insights in Story Council. Guidance on how to integrate the experience over the days that follow.\nIntegration and Visioning ~ Wed 16th of November 7pm – 9:30pm CET\nCommunity Check-in about our process of integration.Visioning for future movement\, using the Four Shields Model to support us going forward. \n\nOver the 4 week process you will receive: \n\n5 online community calls on Zoom forming the basis of our community circles.\nMeditations\, rituals\, embodiment practices\nInput on Deep Ecology\, the tradition of Rites of Passage and the Four Shields Model of Human Nature\nAccess to an online community platform with stored resources and practices\nA buddy system as well as optional one-to-one support sessions with a trained guide\n\n\nYour guides \n\n\nCarolin Goethel \nCarolin is a Berlin based community weaver and facilitator. Drawing on her anthropological studies\, her work in leadership education and her passion for deep ecology\, she’s developed a varied toolbox to build cultures of interbeing. \nThe profound experience of her own vision quest led her to study eco-soul centric practices and guiding Nature Solo experiences with the Wild Minds Collective. \nWorking at the intersection of inner and outer systems change\, she seeks to empower citizens to build a life-sustaining future. \n\nJenny O’Hare \nJenny is a Deep Ecologist recently returned to Ireland following the call of her homeland. Her work focuses on the relationship between humanity and the rest of the living world\, and is deeply inspired by her own sense of belonging to living systems. \nDrawing on her background in Natural Sciences and Ecology\, and inspired by the ways that life informs life\, her work draws on Eco-psychology\, Spiritual Ecology and extensive training in Eco-therapy and Solo nature experiences. Listening to the living world is her most powerful guide! \n \nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie has followed training as a Wilderness Rites of passage Guide at the School of Lost Borders in California. She is a long time practitioner in the Zen meditation and apprenticing into Druidry and Celtic Shamanism. \nSophie runs a nature-based learning centre\, called Chamai\, in the home of her ancestors in Belgium\, offering residential retreats\, mini-vision quests\, sacred pilgrimages and initiatory work in and with Nature. \nIn her work\, she always interweaves the power of ceremony with her soulful love for nature and people. \nJoin us in uncovering the medicine and ancient stories of belonging that nature can bring!\n \nBooking your place \nYou can book your place through our Dandelion platform: https://dandelion.earth/events/6299d209799f58000c99d66a
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/deep-dive-into-nature-and-self-a-four-week-online-journey-26th-of-october-to-16th-of-november-2022/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220811T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220815T140000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20210218T143457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220726T140021Z
UID:32584-1660226400-1660572000@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Wild Earth Solo - ONE LAST PLACE - 11th to 15th of August 2022
DESCRIPTION:For thousands of years\, indigenous peoples of most cultures around the world have provided meaningful ways of marking transitions\, the passage from one life stage to another. In times when our contemporary Western culture suffers from a meaning crisis\, remembering and reappropriating these rites has great potential to reclaim meaning and mark our deepest transitions and roles as humans on earth. \nSpending solo time on the land enables us to reflect where we are in our lives\, who we are\, who we want to become and more broadly connect to the sacredness of being a human and a member of this wider Earth community. \nThe Earth Solo is a shorter and contemporary version of such a rite of passage or vision quest. It can be done at any given time in your life. It is the best preparation for a longer solo\, and also great if you want to mark a life transition \, step into a new role\, face a challenge or get more clarity on a topic. It aims to facilitate personal growth and transformation. Throughout the whole journey\, the mirror of nature will be your guide towards more self understanding and clarity. To dwell on the land alone in reverence is a beautiful remembering of our profound humanness. \nOur need for connection with the natural world lies in our genes. A time-out on the land can be an immense relief for our mind\, body and soul. The sounds of the forest take over\, we open our perception\, tune in with our senses and start discovering- with wonder and awe – the sheer beauty around us. \n  \nWhat to expect during the Wild Earth Solo\n \nDuring the Solo you will spend 24 hours alone on the land\, without distractions. \nOn the first day\, we will arrive\, get to know each other and start with some grounding contemplative practices as well as some singing around the campfire. \nOn the second day we will start with a morning meditation and then go out to meet the land. We will learn about the four Shields of Human Nature model and take ample time to share our intentions with each other. The evening might bring a storytelling circle around the fire. \nOn the third day\, you will be prepared for your solo time in basecamp. You will cross the threshold\, stepping into ceremony. You will spend an afternoon\, night and morning alone in the forest\, without food and only the bare essentials of gear. It will be a time to become intimately receptive to life and experience both the challenge and the beauty of taking our place amongst the other beings living on this Earth. You will be guided in and out of the ceremony. \nOn the fourth day\, we will welcome you back in basecamp with a blessing. You will have time to rest and integrate before we move on into Story Council. \nOur final evening and morning together will be devoted to incorporation. We will share the stories of our threshold time in Circle and explore its gifts for the life we return to. We will have our stories mirrored back by the guides and the community. This can be one of the most touching and heartfelt aspects of our time together: being witnessed and affirmed by those around you. \nThe whole process will be guided by experienced vision quest guides and coaches Sophie Vandenkerchove and Carolin Goethel. As a community practice\, we will also be cooking together. All meals will be yummy vegetarian/ vegan recipes made from local\, seasonal and organic ingredients. \nOverview of the days \nDay 1: Arriving. Arrival in the afternoon. Embodiment practice for landing. Council circle with the community. Campfire after dinner.\nDay 2: Severance. Morning Meditation\, Practice to Meet the Land\, Introduction to the 4 Shields Model\, Intention Sharing\, Storytelling.\nDay 3: Threshold. Solo Day: Preparation in basecamp. Ceremonial threshold crossing. 24h Solo.\nDay 4: Integration. Festive welcome back at basecamp. Return home\, free time to rest and chill. Story Council\nDay 5: Departure. Second half of Story Council. Embodiment Journey. Integration & Departure. \nRegistration \nThe standard price for the Wild Earth Solo is 480€ (VAT incl.). Prices include accommodation in shared rooms\, meals and guidance throughout the days. If you cannot afford the standard price but would still very much like to participate\, please send an email with your situation to chamaicentre@gmail.com. We will then get back to you to see what could be possible.  If you want to make a participation possible for someone who cannot pay the standard price\, you could support by paying the Supporter price of 540€ (VAT incl.).Registration is possible through chamaicentre@gmail.com. You are registered when you have paid a deposit of 250 euro on the following bank account: BE12 7340 4886 7292 (Sophie Vandenkerchove). The remaining amount has to be paid at least 2 weeks before the start of the course.With the following payment reference: “participation Earth Solo 2021 – your name”. \nFacilitation team \n \nCarolin Goethel \nCarolin is a community weaver and facilitator\, living in the city of Berlin\, Germany. Drawing on her anthropological studies\, her work in leadership education and her passion for deep ecology\, she’s developed a varied toolbox to build cultures of interbeing. \nThe profound experience of her own vision quest sparked her desire to guide others on this journey. She has since then been studying eco-soul centric philosophies and practices with the Animas Valley Institute. With the Wild Minds Collective\, she has been guiding participants of the four week online programme ‘Deep Dive into Nature and Self’ on their Solo journeys. \nCarolin places her work at the intersection of inner change and wider systems change. She works with other projects such as CitizensLab and Circles UBI Basic Income to empower citizens to build a life-sustaining future and new economy. \nShe has always been inspired by indigenous ways of being and seeks to infuse her work with the values of interconnectedness and reciprocity. She likes to facilitate in playful\, embodied ways and use the power of ritual to imbue life with meaning. She currently also co-hosts the “Church of Interbeing”\, a non religious Sunday ceremony.  \n\n\nSophie Vandenkerchove \nSophie is a lover of the Wild Soul\, within and without. She has followed training as a Wilderness Rites of passage Guide at the School of Lost Borders in California. She has also been a long time practitioner of Zen meditation in the Korean tradition and follows a 4 year long apprenticeship into Druidry and Celtic Shamanism. \nHer experience of  growing up in the forests of the Belgian Ardennes\, brought her a strong connection to the land of her ancestors already as a child. After roaming wild places in the cities\, she moved back to her village with the strong dedication to offer her life to the well-being and healing of the land. Out of this\, Chamai came into existence: a nature-based learning centre in Belgium\, where she offers residential workshops and experiential journeys with Nature. \nIn her work\, she always interweaves the power of ceremony with her deep love for nature and people. She is passionate about pilgrimages\, solo time in nature\, silent retreats and  experiences that bring together a good balance of adventure\, presence and gentleness. \nwww.chamai.be – www.facebook.com/chamaicentre \n 
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/wild-earth-solo/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220427T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220528T213000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220323T131611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220323T132424Z
UID:33249-1651089600-1653773400@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Inhabiting our Ecological Selves online community workshops - 27th of April & 24th of May 2022
DESCRIPTION:In these tumultuous times it is more important than ever to resource ourselves through a feeling of deep belonging to ourselves as ecological selves\, understanding the deep entanglement we have with the earth and all living beings in this living organism. \nInhabiting Our Ecological Selves is a monthly online workshop evening with the intention to build a Community of Practice of nature based practitioners over time. The evenings are open to anyone with a curiosity around nature connecting and relating\, or around the role of humanity in the world right now. They are especially suited to those active in the areas of human-nature relations\, personal human development\, conservation and / or environmental awareness. \nDuring each call\, there will be the opportunity to share with like minded individuals\, and to build towards a community of practice around nature centered activities\, all aimed at cultivating healthier nature relations. All are welcome! \nDuring each workshop evening we will explore one of following themes \n– The philosophy of Deep Ecology and its real life applications\n– Deep Time and our place in the story of Life\n– Connecting with our own Ecological Self\n– Processes to expand our ecological empathy\n– Learning about the importance of ceremony and longer immersions in nature to support the cultivation of our inner worlds \nAnd of course\, there will be beautiful poems\, stories\, sharing circles\, buddy conversations\, fun embodied practices with the whole group\, and most of all the joy of meeting each other amongst friends and spending a great time together while deepening our connection to the above themes! \nThe dates of following online workshops \nThursday 31st of March 2022\nWednesday 27th of April 2022\nTuesday 24th of May 2022\n \nIf none of these dates would works out for you\, but you would be interested to join us another time and stay informed about event\, you can send us an email to wildmindscollective@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Facebook: Wild Minds \nRegistration \nContribution for each evening: 10 EUR/ 15 EUR/ 20 EUR depending on your means (or more if you would like to support the collective in establishing widely accessible offerings going forward) \nTo book your ticket\, please follow this link: https://dandelion.earth/o/wild-minds/events \nIf you have any other inquiries\, please send us an email to wildmindscollective@gmail.com \nFacilitators of the evenings – Wild Minds collective \n\nSophie Vandenkerchove \n \nSophie is a lover of the Wild – within and without. She has followed training as a Wilderness Rites of passage Guide at the School of Lost Borders in California. She has also practiced Zen meditation in the Korean tradition for several years\, and has received several initiations into Druidry and Celtic Shamanism. \nSophie grew up in the forests of the Belgian Ardennes\, where she nurtured a strong connection to the land of her ancestors as a kid. After roaming wild places in the cities\, she moved back to her village with a strong dedication to offer her life to the well-being and healing of the land. Out of this\, Chamai came into existence: a nature-based learning centre in the Belgian Ardennes\, where she offers residential workshops and experiential journeys with Nature. \nIn her work\, she always interweaves the power of ceremony with her soulful love for 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. \nSophie is also available for one-to-one sessions and guidance on individual connection to nature and guidance through life-changing stages through ceremonial work and solo time in nature. \n\nJenny O’Hare \n \nJenny is a nature-loving\, experience-it-all human kind of being. She believes most deeply in our absolute belonging to the natural world\, and in a beautiful reciprocal relationship between humans and the web of life. \nJenny is a Depth Ecologist and Nature Guide. That journey began in an enchanted and fascinated relationship with nature as a young girl\, which led to completing a degree in Earth Science\, and a Masters in Ecological Conservation\, alongside work with various environmental organisations. \nRealising the depth of human-nature connection far beyond the scientific realm\, and when a change of continent prompted a new learning of landscapes (both inner and outer) in 2015\, she began to explore and offer deeper ways of connecting with the living world. Jenny has pursued training in Nature Resonance\, Eco-Therapy\, Eco-Psychology\, Spiritual Ecology and Solo Nature guiding. Nature and soul have ever been her guide. Her own offerings draw on all of these modalities\, but hold simplicity at their core: our presence and participation with the world. \nHer work has recently included Seasonal Nature connection toolkits\, guided meditation practices\, Wheel of the Year ceremonies\, Eco-grief circles\, and supporting Wilderness Rites of Passage.\n \nCarolin Goethel \n \n  \nCarolin is a community weaver\, facilitator and life-long learner. She has always been curious about how humans can be in healthy relationships with each other and the earth. Drawing on her anthropological studies\, her work in leadership education and her passion for deep ecology\, she’s developed a varied toolbox for nourishing a culture of togetherness and inter-being. She currently hosts a mix of learning journeys\, nature connection retreats and community building workshops and likes to invite playfulness and embodiment. \nThe profound experience of her own vision quest sparked her desire to guide others on this journey. She has since then been studying eco-soul centric philosophies and practices with the Animas Valley Institute and nature based practice with EcoDharma. Carolin is inspired by indigenous ways of being and seeks to infuse her work with the values of interconnectedness and reciprocity. \nShe currently also works on building a local economic system via a community currency in Berlin and is fascinated by the ways in which inner transformational work and systems changing work in the world are entangled. \nCarolin is in the process of creating a new home base in the countryside to start stewarding the land and build bridges between the urban and the rural.\n \n  \nWe look forward to meet you at an evening! \nSophie\, Jenny and Carolin \n 
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/inhabiting-our-ecological-selves-online-workshop-27th-of-april-24th-of-may-2022/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220316T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220316T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T090504
CREATED:20220316T143758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220323T131226Z
UID:32876-1647417600-1647450000@chamai.be
SUMMARY:Inhabiting our Ecological Selves online workshop series - March until July 2022
DESCRIPTION:​​In these tumultuous times it is more important than ever to resource ourselves through a feeling of deep belonging to ourselves as ecological selves\, understanding the deep entanglement we have with the earth and all living beings in this living organism. \nInhabiting Our Ecological Selves is a monthly online workshop evening with the intention to build a Community of Practice of nature based practitioners over time. The evenings are open to anyone with a curiosity around nature connecting and relating\, or around the role of humanity in the world right now. They are especially suited to those active in the areas of human-nature relations\, personal human development\, conservation and / or environmental awareness. \nDuring each call\, there will be the opportunity to share with like minded individuals\, and to build towards a community of practice around nature centered activities\, all aimed at cultivating healthier nature relations. All are welcome! \nDuring each workshop evening we will explore one of following themes \n– The philosophy of Deep Ecology and its real life applications\n– Deep Time and our place in the story of Life\n– Connecting with our own Ecological Self\n– Processes to expand our ecological empathy\n– Learning about the importance of ceremony and longer immersions in nature to support the cultivation of our inner worlds \nAnd of course\, there will be beautiful poems\, stories\, sharing circles\, buddy conversations\, fun embodied practices with the whole group\, and most of all the joy of meeting each other amongst friends and spending a great time together while deepening our connection to the above themes! \nThe dates of following online workshops \nThursday 31st of March 2022\nWednesday 27th of April 2022\nTuesday 24th of May 2022\n \nIf none of these dates would works out for you\, but you would be interested to join us another time and stay informed about event\, you can send us an email to wildmindscollective@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Facebook: Wild Minds \nRegistration \nContribution for each evening: 10 EUR/ 15 EUR/ 20 EUR depending on your means (or more if you would like to support the collective in establishing widely accessible offerings going forward) \nTo book your ticket\, please follow this link: https://dandelion.earth/o/wild-minds/events \nIf you have any other inquiries\, please send us an email to wildmindscollective@gmail.com \n \nFacilitators of the evenings – Wild Minds collective \n\nSophie Vandenkerchove \n \nSophie is a lover of the Wild – within and without. She has followed training as a Wilderness Rites of passage Guide at the School of Lost Borders in California. She has also practiced Zen meditation in the Korean tradition for several years\, and has received several initiations into Druidry and Celtic Shamanism. \nSophie grew up in the forests of the Belgian Ardennes\, where she nurtured a strong connection to the land of her ancestors as a kid. After roaming wild places in the cities\, she moved back to her village with a strong dedication to offer her life to the well-being and healing of the land. Out of this\, Chamai came into existence: a nature-based learning centre in the Belgian Ardennes\, where she offers residential workshops and experiential journeys with Nature. \nIn her work\, she always interweaves the power of ceremony with her soulful love for 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. \nSophie is also available for one-to-one sessions and guidance on individual connection to nature and guidance through life-changing stages through ceremonial work and solo time in nature. \n  \n\nJenny O’Hare \n \nJenny is a nature-loving\, experience-it-all human kind of being. She believes most deeply in our absolute belonging to the natural world\, and in a beautiful reciprocal relationship between humans and the web of life. \nJenny is a Depth Ecologist and Nature Guide. That journey began in an enchanted and fascinated relationship with nature as a young girl\, which led to completing a degree in Earth Science\, and a Masters in Ecological Conservation\, alongside work with various environmental organisations. \nRealising the depth of human-nature connection far beyond the scientific realm\, and when a change of continent prompted a new learning of landscapes (both inner and outer) in 2015\, she began to explore and offer deeper ways of connecting with the living world. Jenny has pursued training in Nature Resonance\, Eco-Therapy\, Eco-Psychology\, Spiritual Ecology and Solo Nature guiding. Nature and soul have ever been her guide. Her own offerings draw on all of these modalities\, but hold simplicity at their core: our presence and participation with the world. \nHer work has recently included Seasonal Nature connection toolkits\, guided meditation practices\, Wheel of the Year ceremonies\, Eco-grief circles\, and supporting Wilderness Rites of Passage.\n \nCarolin Goethel \n \n  \nCarolin is a community weaver\, facilitator and life-long learner. She has always been curious about how humans can be in healthy relationships with each other and the earth. Drawing on her anthropological studies\, her work in leadership education and her passion for deep ecology\, she’s developed a varied toolbox for nourishing a culture of togetherness and inter-being. She currently hosts a mix of learning journeys\, nature connection retreats and community building workshops and likes to invite playfulness and embodiment. \nThe profound experience of her own vision quest sparked her desire to guide others on this journey. She has since then been studying eco-soul centric philosophies and practices with the Animas Valley Institute and nature based practice with EcoDharma. Carolin is inspired by indigenous ways of being and seeks to infuse her work with the values of interconnectedness and reciprocity. \nShe currently also works on building a local economic system via a community currency in Berlin and is fascinated by the ways in which inner transformational work and systems changing work in the world are entangled. \nCarolin is in the process of creating a new home base in the countryside to start stewarding the land and build bridges between the urban and the rural.\n \n  \nWe look forward to meet you at an evening! \nSophie\, Jenny and Carolin \n 
URL:https://chamai.be/en/event/inhabiting-our-ecological-selves-online-workshop-series-march-until-july-2022/
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