How can we integrate a spiritual response to the ecological, social and political crises we are facing? At this time of great uncertainty in the world - in which we are seeing the impacts of climate emergency and war - we need to find the strength to put compassion into action.
We welcome you to join us on this 5-day immersive learning journey, if you yearn for time out to deeply connect with yourself, with each other and nature.
During the retreat we will explore how developing kinship with ourselves, each other and all forms of life has the potential to transform the root causes of the polycrises; weaving ourselves as humanity back into the web of life. This radical paradigm shift requires decolonizing our mind, a deeper listening from a more humbled place within how to become a human being for all life to thrive. We hope both new and old members will join for this transformative journey!
"We remember. And
we re-member -- we
enter again into
membership with the
community of life
through our language,
through our
imaginations, and
through our bodies."
by Gavin van Horn on the Art of Kinning
The retreat will take place again on the land of a Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre, just 30-minute south of Charleroi in Belgium. With this year special guest teacher Sicelo Mbatha, a spiritual nature guide from South-Africa. Check-out our website for more information and how to register
Set amongst a Breton horse-herd, join us for a transformative journey facilitated by a South African Zulu nature guide and a Dutch Buddhist facilitator.
5-DAYS RETREAT: 5 – 11 JULY 2025
With Sicelo Mbatha & Annick Nevejan & Saint-Jean’s team and thirty horses in Brittany, France
“Every encounter with wild creatures has brought symbolic messages to me; has brought me teachings that I could never find in a textbook. It has been my life’s path to rekindle the wildness in all of us; to bring people into the presence of wildness, and help open their souls to its beauty, wisdom, and infinite power to heal.” Sicelo Mbatha
During this retreat, we will explore how to align with the ‘story of interbeing’; feeling our kinship with all life by learning to build and co-create spaces for renewal, reciprocity, healing, and reverence - specifically with the more than human world. For this we have the opportunity to engage with a large horse-herd, born and bred at this event’s unique location: Saint Jean and the surrounding Celtic Forest of Broceliande in Brittany, France.
Sicelo Mbatha
We have the fortune to have Sicelo Mbatha joining us, a spiritual nature guide from South Africa, who will be our guide in fostering deep connections between humans, the horses and nature. He will invite us to learn from the indigenous Zulu wisdom of his people to ensure the right relationship with the vast community of life – and to act as a member of this larger family. We will explore experientially what inner and outer leadership emerges or revives from being grounded in care and interdependence.
Who is it for?
For anyone who is curious about deepening their connection with the human and more-than-human world. We hope to welcome people from diverse fields and background - from early-career professionals to elders, leaders, change agents, grassroots activists, coaches, artists, caregivers, social entrepreneurs and anyone else who is curious about how to playing their part in the thriving of all life on Earth.
