7-day Elements retreat guided by antroposophical therapies

 

Discovering your true potential through earth, water, air and fire

Welcome to this unique journey to yourSelf, where earth, water, air and fire accompany you. The elements are the essential building blocks of the universe, the world around you and the world within you. They are the creators of humans, animals, plants and minerals. They form your body, your life forces, your soul and your spirit.

Experience the primal substances of your creation.

During this extraordinary retreat you will immerse yourself in a total experience. Experience your elements through anthroposophical medicine, offering a powerful triptych of art therapy through wet in wet painting and modeling, healing eurythmy and rhythmical massage therapy. You can enjoy delectable organic vegetarian meals, forest baths, sauna sessions, swimming, and other activities to harmonize the elements within yourself and unleash your full potential.

Everyone is unique and has a unique ratio of elements. Balancing these creates healthy confidence, vitality and freedom to make conscious choices that enrich your life.

Are you passionate by nature? Do you feel emotions and moods intensely? Are you more of a doer or a thinker or rather a dreamer? Do you like quiet and simplicity or rather new experiences? Fatigue, stress, fear, anger or sadness arise when one or more elements are out of balance. During this retreat you will learn to know, restore and care for your unique balance with professional guidance. The healing power of the natural environment, with all four elements present, will help you unwind and reconnect.

Course targets

• Discover your authentic nature through the rhythm of the elements.
• Balance the elements within yourself on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Indulge yourself with nourishment for body, soul and spirit.
• Experience the connection between your body and the earth. The world within - and around you reveals ist value and richness.
• Recharge amidst a beautiful natural landscape where the elements flourish to the fullest.
• A multi-day experience close to home gives you the space to truly recharge.
• When the elements are in harmony, you experience balance, confidence, support, vitality and freedom to make healthy choices and live your dreams.
• Get moving for yourself, discover new creative possibilities and share this journey with like-minded people.
• Create a unique foundation to shape your daily life in a renewed way.

Mother Earth at rest envelops me in her dark robe.
Smoothly the stream glides through time.
My hands pour me the water of life.
The wind rustles through the green canopy.
And blows away my distant thoughts.
I feel the light of the sun shining on me.
And this warms my golden heart.
(Lore Verhaeghe)

Each day we delve into one element: from earth to water, air to fire. The elements work together and are inseparable: The last two days we connect all the elements into one whole. Thus we come to an "element-sounding whole".

Program

Art therapy - wet in wet painting
In wet in wet painting you paint with watercolor on wet paper in transparent layers, the colors can breathe and flow as an image of your soul. This brings you close to yourself, into your heart. You discover the world of the elements through the typical colors and archetypal images of the mountains, the ocean, the wide sky and the burning fire. (Guided by Lore Verhaeghe)

Art therapy - modeling
You bring your energy from your head through your heart to your hands. You ground. You center through the primal form of the sphere and let new elements emerge from there. You make a metamorphosis journey through heaviness, flow, lightness and your power. (Guided by Lore Verhaeghe EN/DE/NL)

Eurythmy
Eu-rithmy means 'a good flow'. Eurythmy dance movements promote the physical, emotional and mental intelligence of your body. Eurythmy moves you inwardly and outwardly by activating and harmonizing your feeling, thinking and actions. Both music and language, as well as silence, images, natural forces and soul reveries can give rise to eurythmical movements. Discover your own earth, water, air and fire through dance and movement! (Guided by Griet Missinne DE/NL)

Rhythmical massage therapy
During a rhythmical massage treatment, the four elements or four bodies (physical, etheric, astral and spiritual) are brought back into a healthy relationship. With gentle, warm, rhythmical movements and healing oils on the skin, deeper muscle layers and the organs, stuck energy is brought back into motion. Whatever is out of balance is integrated into the greater whole of your total Self. The treatment is followed by a period of rest in which balance is further restored. Your Rhythmical Massage Therapy treatment during the retreat can be booked at arrival (CHF 100 for 1 hour treatment with Sam Deraeve EN/DE/NL).

Forest Bathing - Shinrin Yoku
In the beautiful landscape that surrounds you, you experience the elements in their natural setting. Here fire, air, water and earth work together to form a whole. Through simple and playful nature observations/meditations and artistic assignments you open your senses and let the elements reveal themselves as recognition of your own being. (Guided by Lore Verhaeghe)

Vegetarian gastronomy
Discover the beauty of nature on your plate, in color and shape, flavors and scents that caress your tongue and heart. Conjured with love, enjoy the richness of the elements in a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner, vital spring water, and desserts, … (Offered by the Kientalerhof kitchen team)

And more soothing activities
During the week there is the opportunity to warm up with sauna, to swim in the energized water of the natural swimming pond. You can recharge in the sun and enjoy the silence and peace around you. You are invited to walk in an unspoiled area where nature can fully speak to you, …

Practical daily schedule*

Choice between Formula 1 or Formula 2 (please indicate when registering):

Formula 1
8 - 9 am breakfast
9.15 - 12.15 am wet in wet painting
12.30 - 1.15 pm lunch
1.15 - 4.15 pm lunch break
4.15 - 6.15 pm eurythmy
6.30 - 7.15 pm dinner
7.15 pm evening break

Formula 2
8 - 9 am breakfast
9.15 - 12.15 am eurythmy
12.30 - 1.15 pm lunch
1.15 - 4.15 pm lunch break
4.15 - 6.15 pm modeling
6.30 - 7.15 pm dinner
7.15 pm evening break

*) The daily schedule applies from Saturday to Tuesday and on Thursday. Wednesday is an integration day with forest bathing (experiencing the elements in nature) in the morning or afternoon (9h15-12h15 or 15h15-18h15) and free time.
Friday, March 28th: 19h30: Introduction to the retreat.
Friday, April 4th: Breakfast from 8-9h, 10am departure.

In the breaks/free time you can enjoy a rhythmical massage or sauna, swim in the swimming pond, enjoy the healing pristine environment in silence and peace, hike in the mountains, enjoy the river and waterfalls, …

Previous experience

No prior knowledge is required. You do not have to be able to paint, sculpt or dance, no artistic talent required.

Please take with you

Eurythmy: Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Footwear like gym shoes that provide good contact with the ground (some will be available).
Indoors: Slippers are recommended.
Art workshops: Wear an apron or clothes that can get dirty.
Nature excursions: Dress appropriately for outdoor activities, such as hiking boots, rain gear, and sun protection.

Who?

Center of Healing Arts
Experience the Art of Healing through art therapy, rhythmical massage therapy, holistic coaching, eurythmy, dance and movement, a vital and healthy environment, … Our center offers Self Development for anyone who wants to unfold and develop their growth in all areas of their life. We support self-development at every stage and in ist unique form, just as every plant has ist own time and rhythm. With the necessary love and attention, care and dedication ist full potential unfolds in authentic beauty.
www.centerofhealingarts.com