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The Still Life

The Still Life

The Still Life: Discover Doorways in Downtime

Tuscany, Italy – Dates 15-20th October, 2019

At the heart of this programme lies an invitation to the ‘solo’ – a 24 hour solitary immersion into deep nature, awe and wonder. Inspired by the traditional Vision Quest, the ‘solo’ has been practiced by many people and cultures across time.

Living in a time where we spend increasing amounts of time indoors and online this programme promotes slowing down and creating space in wild nature. The invitation is to connect with a deeper sense of yourself and your place in the world. We practice this through balancing what John P Milton refers to as your ‘three natures’ – outer nature, inner nature, and the deeper nature of life.

Our time together includes wild swimming, awe inspiring landscapes, nature connection practices, meditation and techniques of council and ceremony – ways to communicate from the heart and share stories around a roaring fire. All this is held and contained within a carefully designed programme drawing on lessons from ancient wisdom and Nature as guide.

If you are a looking to make more space in your life, navigate change, go deeper on your path or connect with awe and wonder then this programme may be just right for you.

This retreat is also a great first step for those considering a Way of Nature Full Length Vision Quest.

This immersive experience begins with grounding and opening up the senses; a process about letting go as much as it is about trying to achieve anything. This balance of presence and relaxation, or yin and yang, is at the heart of everything we do and begins with the intelligence of the body.

After the 24 hour solo, we return to our base camp, to share stories and insights from the experience, and to explore how to take any lessons back to home and to work. As part of this integration phase we offer a group call in the months after the programme. Adrian and Natasha also offer 1:1 mentoring sessions as a support to ground these learnings into your everyday life.

Why fast on a 24 hour Solo?

Fasting helps us  enter ‘betwixt and between’ state. The shift in perception that emerges can help us to be more present to ourselves and Nature’s messages. Fasting is recommended and optional.

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“I would strongly urge you to get involved with Way of Nature. What they are doing is unique and, quite simply, essential.”

– Ryan

Guides

Natasha Lythgoe

I guide individuals and groups through life transitions with nature. With over fifteen years experience leading programmes that connect people back to their true nature I have been moved and honoured to witness countless stories.  What I call The Big Listen, listening and attending to what has purchase on your heart and the stories that live underneath whatever work you do in the world.

My approach which can be understood in terms of ecotherapy, nature connection and rites of passage embraces a reciprocal process that sees personal development and therapy as a part of nature as a whole. This way of working weaves together the main threads of my life; creativity, dharma (truth), mythic journeys, the intelligence of the body and nature.

I am a member of the Wilderness Guides Council, an accredited Mindfulness teacher and an ordained Buddhist nun. I have a PGCE, a Masters in Fine Art and am currently training with Stephen Gilligan in generative therapies.

Adrian Kowal

Adrian is a wilderness guide, adventurer and grower of movements. Through his long and deep interest in wellbeing and inquiry, he blends together practices for more balanced living, contemplative tools for self-knowledge and an intimate playful way of experiencing our inner and outer landscapes.

Adrian has been catalyzed by his guide training with John P. Milton and draws on his exposure to hundreds of wellbeing practioners through his wellbeing centre – Evolve in a multitude of healing and thriving modalities. He has been leading Men’s Groups for many years and is passionate about creating safe containers in the groups that he leads to enable a more intimate level of sharing.

What really gets Adrian juiced up is exploring remote rivers, introducing the joys of wild camping to others, ‘up-side-down’ fires and time alone in the wilderness.

Dates

Tuesday 15th October – Sunday 20th October, 2019

Location and Travel

The base-camp has a wild-wood, fire-pit, beautiful river running through and is right on the edge of the a dormant volcano and the largest beech forest in Europe.

The programme will take place in a mountainous remote area of Tuscany, Italy. The nearest transport hub is Pisa, from which trains run to the city of Grosseto. Grosseto is where you will be picked up and dropped off.

Price Booking

The cost of the retreat includes: Transfers to and from Grosseto, accommodation which is camping (with your own tent), all guiding and tuition, all meals and a group call three months after the programme has finished to reconnect and share.

The price is £625

Early Bird price is £550 for registrations before 31st March 2019.

Bursaries: £450*

*We are able to offer two reduced price bursary places on this retreat. To apply, please email us at [email protected] with a short description of who you are and why you would like to come and be part of the journey.

Booking

To book, please complete this registration form, following payment instructions at the end. If you have any questions or would like to explore what is involved by phone please email Natasha who will be happy to help.

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