RETURNING TO OUR SENSES:
A Women’s Circle in the Rainforest

February 9 - 16, 2008

Join us in a sacred women’s circle in Costa Rica where we will be staying at the Samasati Nature Retreat and Eco Resort in the Talamanca region, situated on 250 acres of virgin tropical forest overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  We will gather for circle time each day in the beautiful palapa that will hold our sacred selves and stories.  In addition, we will explore the beautiful rainforest, trek through waterfalls, journey to the nearby Caribbean ocean and meet indigenous healers.

We are continuing to widen our women’s circles, both in terms of women joining our circles and the places to which we travel.  Our work continues to exist in the context of our commitment to creating ever widening circles of love, light, and compassion in our communities and the world.   We are living in a time where action and intention are critical to save the earth and ourselves.  As we feast on the amazing riches of the rainforest, we will be forever changed.  May we fully appreciate the diversity and treasures that our precious earth holds.  In this week, we would like to offer an intention for us to pay particular attention to our senses.

Returning to Our Senses:A Women’s Circle in the Rainforest is a rich and potent metaphor, and a quite literal instruction for all of us at this time.  This invitation reflects our intention to develop a reverence for our bodies, which are the threshold of our sensory nature.  Simultaneously we will develop a kinship with our mother, the earth, and all of our creature brothers and sisters.  The rainforest, rivers and oceans in Costa Rica are teeming with life that needs our love and protection.  As we regain our senses, our bodies become healthy enough to contain vast amounts of spirit, love and light . . . ripe, courageous, juicy, red . . . full of spirit seeds . . . and sweet as pomegranates.

Then as grounded, sensual beings we are in the powerful position to take right action in the world.  We imagine this retreat as a time to heal old wounds, playfully explore our senses, and reflect on our unique gifts to offer to the world.  We also fully expect the enormous breath of the rainforest and the wonder of the Rico people to move through us in mysterious and healing ways, and to inform and ignite our voices with wisdom as we return to our world.

We are planning three journeys during the week.  On the first day, we will go with a professional guide on a rainforest canopy adventure.  As we go from one platform to another, we will learn about the vegetation, animals, and herbs that the indigenous people use.  Another journey will take us into the heart of the Bribri indigenous reserve.  We will honor two of the last shamans from the tribe, and be in their sacred space where rituals and healing take place.  Our final journey will be waterfall trekking, where a guide will take us to a majestic waterfall.  Playing in the falls, the water will massage, renew, and cleanse our bodies and spirit.

Samasati has plenty of activities right on the premises during free time  – yoga, massage and other spa treatments, bird watching, snorkeling, or simply enjoying quiet time in your private bungalow set in the midst of the forest.  There will be vans available to take us to the nearby beaches along the Caribbean.