In the Hopi language, the word koyaanisqatsi means "life out of balance”. Over four decades ago Godfrey Reggio created a non-narrative film based on this idea, depicting different aspects of the relationship between humans, nature and technology.
It could be said that while our culture champions individuation as a principle, it endeavours to make it as difficult as possible for us to do so.
Having moved into an era where the number of hours spent at work steadily climbs, scientists speak about the permanent state of jet-lag experienced by more than half the population.
The combined effects of reduced daylight from working indoors and greater exposure to artificial light in the evenings has led to a weakening of our body clocks and our ability to harmonise them. Struggling to wake in the morning, we come to rely on caffeine to jump-start us, resort to nicotine to us get through the day, before depending on alcohol or pills to help us sleep.
It becomes hard to question how functional our modern working lives are, let alone muster the energy to change them, when we are just trying to get through the day in a state of semi-exhaustion and disconnection.
Rewilding is a form of ecological restoration with an emphasis on recreating an area's natural uncultivated state.
Applying this principle to our lives, we can reconnect with our authentic self versus our inherited self. Disconnecting from the white noise allows us to reconnect with the natural world, other people and other living systems.
Rewild Retreats
Program Outline:
Day 1 - Reclaiming Place
The ache for home lives in all of us. — Maya Angelou
Morning Session
The program begins with you exploring the overculture, how it has shaped you and the importance of our collective orientation towards a hopeful future.
Lunch
Afternoon Session
This session will centre around how essential nature and natural living is, outlining a host of ways you can return to a simpler, more sustainable and satisfying lifestyle.
There is an optional waterfall walk for you to do at the end of the day. Exercise and time in nature allows you time to contemplate the days’ learnings.
Dinner (or the option for you to take in one of the local dining facilities)
There are a range of optional evening activities for you to enjoy, such as listening to or reading poetry, life stories, or enjoying a thought-provoking film or inspiring documentary.
Day 2 - Clarity & Resolve
Start your day with an optional meditation and/or yoga session.
Breakfast
Morning Session
In this first session, you’ll examine your mental diet and reevaluate your relationship with technology. Cultivating a stronger relationship with the natural world and what you feed your mind will help you attain and maintain equaniminity.
The world will ask you who you are, and if you don’t know, the world will tell you.
~ Carl Jung
Lunch
Afternoon Session
Upon integrating our connection with culture, nature, technology and our mental diet we becoming well positioned to discover and fulfill our life's purpose, the focus of this final session.
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
~ Howard Thurman
Included in your package is an optional stand up paddleboarding session, mountain bike ride or bush walk at the end of day 1 of your program (weather permitting).
Cost: $590 for a 2 day program *$50 discount on a weekday retreat
Inclusions: Accommodation, meals, workbooks, counselling and activities.
Optional session with a bibliotherapist. Learn more about our bibliotherapy service.
Definition: the act or process of dissolving: separation into component parts, decay, disintegration.
Having grown up on a sheep farm, Mike continued his family’s heritage until the invention of synthetic fibre decimated the wool industry in the late 1970s’.
Financial stress followed and soon his marriage collapsed. At age 40 he found himself in the thick of a midlife crisis and suffocating depression.
Belly of the Whale
Definition: the stage of a hero's journey during which the hero symbolically dies and then must be reborn.
A backpacker visiting his farm told him about a retreat centre in California that helped him through his own dark night of the soul.
In 1979 Mike took a chance and went abroad in search of a ray of light. While visiting Esalen he found a renewed sense of hope. He also met a chap who built yurts for a living.
Rebirth
Definition: A period of new life, growth, or activity; a revival.
The yurt builder offered to visit Mike in Australia and teach him how to make yurts.
It led to him discovering a real passion. In time, he created a yurt farm on his property which gave kids a unique camp experience be it milking a cow, getting electricity from the sun and wind or introducing them to natural building.
In his mid 80s’ he’s still doing what he loves with a supportive partner.
Being open to his mini pilgrimage to a retreat proved the catalyst to reshape his life.
Rewild Retreats
Forest Retreat NSW
I had such a beautiful time and was amazed at the absolute generosity and how welcoming the entire experience was! I felt so heard and seen and was able to gain so many answers (and leave with a lot more questions moving forward). I would definitely recommend any of the retreats to anyone who is either at their lowest or just someone who needs to realign and connect back in! I hope to be able to do more in the future and get more in involved in things like the women’s circle and other beautiful community style events! - Ena H
Rewilding Women’s Retreat
Such an insightful, clarifying and rejuvenating experience. I couldn't recommend it enough. This place spoke my language and helped me see where my blind spots/challenges are but also better then that, is it made me feel excited and enthusiastic about tackling them and what life has for me moving forward. Was just what I needed! Thank you so so soooooo much 🙏😊 - Elizabeth B
Instead of gaming love, master the game of love by understanding your core needs and the stumbling blocks between you and a lasting, enriching connection.
Our self-love retreat is ideal for singles working on relationship patterns and for those who could use some self care and greater appreciation for who they are & what they have to offer the world.
A holistic retreat involving creative expression, life guidance, relationship exploration & a range of activities such as astrology/numerology readings, tarot, breathwork, transpersonal counselling & more.
