Costa Rica, June 2022
We had a vibrant inaugural eco retreat May 26-June 6 in Monteverde and Guanacaste, and are delighted that the experience continues to unfold in meaningful and impactful ways for everyone.
We were deeply honored that Abuelo Carlos Huizton and Paula Colandí joined us one evening and morning at Finca Camino Nuevo in Monteverde for story sharing along with a land and peoples honoring ceremony. Carlos is an elder of the Huetares people and a leader in the creation of the nine medicine circles of Costa Rica. The Huetares were until colonialism the most powerful and organized tribal nation in what is now Costa Rica. They reside in the central region. Paula, originally from Colombia, joined him in support. Paula works with various tribes in Costa Rica, including the Huetares and Bribri. A central part of our mission is to do what we can to develop kinship relations of mutual trust to raise awareness of folks' lived experiences and support them.
In the Monteverde photo, Abuelo Huizton is standing second from left, Paula behind and to the left of Choke, a director/co-founder of MBEI. Sarah Sampson, a director/co-founder of MBEI, holds Abuelo's hand drum. Lauren Landau, one of our wonderful co-hosts at Camino Nuevo, is to the right of Choke. Keith McDaniel, who owns the amazing Camino Nuevo and co-hosted us, is in the back row in naranja. Amber, the elder's amazing translator is standing next to Paula. Choke shared a tea ceremony to honor our guests.
The others pictured (intentionally foregoing last names for privacy) from the right are Johnnie (artist and qi gong teacher), Chad (professor of religion, social justice facilitator), Sabrina (business person, early-stage entrepreneur of sustainable, off-grid housing for families), Alex (business person and MBEI collaborator, as well as yoga instructor and ecodharma practitioner), Dominique (yoga therapist, climate activist with Climate Reality), Leo (transformational voice/leadership facilitator and leader of "Awaken Wildmen"), yours truly, Susan (licensed professional counselor, contemplative practitioner), and kneeling by Sarah, Tamera (author, teacher, social justice activist, and contemplative practitioner).
Lin visited for the first weekend and was unable to make the group pic. However, she is in this pic taken her last evening, in the back row second from left by Sabrina.
Lin is also a business person as well as ecodharma teacher/facilitator with Sacred Earth Sangha of the New York Insight Meditation Center and the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center in Colorado.
Also not pictured is Jahbo Samauma Shambho from OneNature.Earth in Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica whom we collaborated with on an amazing forest bathing experience. We are looking forward to continuing to work with Jahbo and his community.
The jungle scene is at Alya Retreat Center, with Shlomo Eizencott standing fourth from the right. Shlomo has worked so intentionally for many years to grow Alya. What was land suffering from the shock of commercial timber and ranching, is now rejuvenated jungle teeming with life and beauty and healing. Shlomo and the land are one. You can feel it when you go. We are very much looking forward to returning to Alya later in fall 2023 or early winter 2024, though there may be an optional add-on to the June 2023 program to travel there the week prior to Monteverde for jungle and ocean healing. We will update you as plans unfold.
The generous donations we received allowed us to financially support four members of our group, as well as provide support to Jahbo's organization and the Huetares. Thank you donors! You make this possible though your thoughtful gifts!
