"The dark night descends on a soul only when everything else has failed...

This, says John, is the beginning of blessedness. This is the choiceless choice when the soul can do nothing but surrender".

— Mirabai Starr, Luminous Darkness 

It is fundamental to make space inside us to hold all of our stories with love and compassion, even those dark places we have disowned. The stories that our bodies hold need to be recognized and tended to.

We need each other as a community to be witnessed and witness others in times of adversity. As a society we need to learn how to hold space in a loving and safe environment for the adversities we go through in our lives.

FEATURING:
Renowned Mystic Scholar and Teacher
Mirabai Starr
Immersion in the countryside surrounded by natural beauty of a Mexican pueblo
November 2-7, 2022
Rancho El Batán, Donato Guerra, Mexico

WE WILL EXPLORE: 
•The dark night of the soul
•Archetypes
•Myths that have held us as a mestizo culture in Mexico
•Day of the Dead celebration. 

 ·Learn how to make a traditional Mexican altar and all the symbology
•Mexican humor that we use as a shield to protect us through our adversities 
•Grief and loss rituals and ceremony

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• 5-night accommodation at Hacienda
• 3 meals per day (for full days) farm to table, fresh local ingredients
• Daily sessions with Mirabai 
• Nature walks, yoga, somatic exercises
• Evening programs, music and dance, chanting, ritual, peer session
• OPTIONAL: transportation from and to Santa Fe, Mexico City to Rancho 

     El Batán in Donato Guerra with an extra fee.

RETREAT PROGRAM

• Wednesday 2

• Arrival 4:00pm to 7:00pm
• Dinner 7:00pm to 8:00pm
• opening circle, introductions, intentions and chant circle 8:00pm to 10:00pm

• Thursday 3
• Somatic Yoga 7:30am-8:30am optional
• Breakfast 9:00am-10:00am
• Lecture Mirabai Starr Dark Night of the Soul 10:00am-12:00pm
• Tea break 12:00pm-12:30pm
• Grief and Loss class with Patty Bueno 12:30pm-2:00pm
• Lunch 2:00pm-3:30pm
• clay workshop with Adelia 3:30-4:00
• Building Altar de Muertos with Pilar Cordero 4:00pm-7:00pm
• Dinner 7:00pm-8:00pm
• Somatic Exercises & Chant Circle [Optional Offering] Evening Activity from 8:00pm-9:00pm

• Friday 4

• Somatic Yoga 7:30am-8:30 optional
• Breakfast 9:00am-10:00am
• Mirabai Starr 10:00am-12:00pm
• tea break 12:00pm-12:30
• Release Ceremony with Patty Bueno 12:30pm-2:30pm
• Lunch 2:30pm- 3:30pm
• Clay workshop with Adelia 3:30-5:00
• Sound Healing & Cacao Ceremony with Osiris 5:30pm-7:30pm
• Dinner 7:30pm-8:30pm

• Saturday 5

• Somatic Yoga 7:30am-8:30 optional
• Breakfast 9:00am-10:00am
• Mirabai Starr 10:00am-12:00pm
• Tea break 12:00pm-12:30
• Grief Workshop Patty Bueno 12:30pm-2:00pm
• Lunch 2:00pm-3:00pm
• clay workshop with Adelia 3:30-4:00
• Pilar Cordero 4:00pm-7:00pm
• Dinner 7:00pm-8:00 pm
• Silent guided Night Walk from 8:00pm - 9:00pm

• Sunday 6

• Somatic Yoga 7:30am-8:30am optional
• Breakfast 9:00am-10:00am
• Mirabai Starr 10:00am-12:00pm
• clay workshop with Adelia 12:30-1:30
• Leisure 1:30pm-2:30pm
• Lunch 2:30pm-4:30pm
• Closing Altar Ritual Pilar Cordero 4:30pm-7:00pm
• Dinner 7:00pm-8:00pm
• Fire and Dance Circle 8:00pm-10:00pm

• Monday 7

• Closing Gratitude Circle 7:30am-8:30am
• Breakfast 9:00am-10:00am
• Departure 12:00pm

*Program is open to changes as we see fit to best serve the group.

This program is for you if:

 ·You are looking for tools to navigate through grief and loss

·Are searching for community to share a safe container to process grief.

·Are a psychotherapist, Grief Counselor, Coach, Health Provider and are looking for tools to accompany others through loss.

·Would like to deepen in the understanding of the dark night of the soul and learn more about this subject.

PROGRAM DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Flights and travel to and from Mexico City to Rancho El Batán.

THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

... AND THAT’S OKAY.  THIS INMERSION IS NOT FOR YOU IF:

⚠️ You need to be on your phone for hours of the day (there is limited Wi-Fi connection at rancho El Batán) and we have a pretty full schedule.

⚠️ If you are not comfortable with experiencing venturing outside your comfort zone.  The only way out of our dark night of the soul is through. It takes trust to surrender to the vulnerability of those places we revisit. 

***Know that we are creating a safe container to hold space for all of us and that we want to be soft and loving for these tender places. 

⚠️ You don't feel a full "YES" when imagining yourself in Circle and doing your deep dark night of the soul work.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• This retreat is filling up very quickly. The only way to secure your spot is through a deposit. 
• After you choose your accommodation preference you will receive an email with the link to secure your space by making a 50% or full amount deposit. There is a a non-refundable $500 USD fee if you need to cancel for any reason.
• We cannot stress enough that there is limited space in this immersion and spaces are expected to fill. 

Pricing: 

Depending on the type of lodging you choose (availability is first come/first serve):

·Single bed shared room $1,200 USD per person 

Deposits: If you can deposit through Paypal we would appreciate it! 

*Mexican bank account 50% payment or full of the amount of the sleeping accommodation of your choice.

*Add 6% commission to your reservation and 50% or full amount deposit via Paypal.

We will send you a link to make your payment when you have chosen your accommodation preference.

Cancellation policy:

• You can request a refund before September 30th regardless of the cause. Please keep in mind there is a $500 USD deposit that is non-refundable once you have registered. 

·The total cost of the retreat must be covered by September 30, otherwise we cannot hold your place.

·If for any reason we have to cancel the retreat, we will refund 95% of the cost within 30 days of the cancellation.

· We will not reimburse travel expenses.

Transportation to Rancho El Batán to and from Mexico City

🚍 We will be offering transportation on November 2nd at 3:00 pm, leaving from Santa Fe, Mexico City to Rancho El Batán, Donato Guerra, State of Mexico which is an hour and a half outside of Mexico City and back to Santa Fe, Mexico City on November 7th leaving at 12 noon from Rancho el Batán with an extra cost. Please allow yourself 2 hours travel time from the Benito Juarez International airport to and from Santa Fe, in case of heavy traffic.

We recommend you arrive in Mexico City on November 1st and leave on November 8th, to avoid the chance of missing your flight.

THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

... AND THAT’S OKAY. THIS IMMERSION IS NOT FOR YOU IF:

⚠️ You need to be on your phone for hours of the day (there is limited Wi-Fi connection at rancho El Batán) and we have a pretty full schedule.

⚠️ If you are not comfortable with experiencing venturing outside your comfort zone. The only way out of our dark night of the soul is through. It takes trust to surrender to the vulnerability of those places we revisit. 

***Know that we are creating a safe container to hold space for all of us and that we want to be soft and loving for these tender places. 

⚠️ You don't feel a full "YES" when imagining yourself in Circle and doing your deep dark night of the soul work.

OUR COVID COMMITMENT

We are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Currently Mexico does not require proof of a negative test result or full vaccination to enter the country. However, to ensure the safety of our participants and the local community, we require proof of a negative test result via PCR test taken no more than 48 hours prior to the event for BOTH fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

If you are coming from abroad, you are required to purchase Travel Insurance for your time in Mexico. This will protect you in the event that you are required to fly home early or are unable to join us last minute due to an unforeseen emergency. Coverage should include any COVID-related and medical-related cancellations.

Warmly

Patty and Pili