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.
Wellness Retreats Reviews
Self Discovery Retreat
Retreats for Self Discovery
There is a fine balance between living an unexamined life and going to the extremes of ascetism.
Ultimately, gaining greater self-understand should translate into practical action whereby the circumstances of your life grow more closely aligned to your most deeply held values and passions.
This personal development retreat is designed to draw out your truest essence and explore how you can develop a better relationship with yourself, loved ones and actualise your career dreams.
Self Discovery Retreats Workshops
AN IDEAL SPACE TO DO SOME YOGA, MEDITATION OR SILENT CONTEMPLATION
sacred space provides a great opportunity for self-exploration
Nestled in bushland, find Tranquility within the retreat space and outside it
within walking distance of the healing Mini Ha Ha waterfall
Self Discovery Weekend Retreat
Self Discovery Retreats 2022
Program Outline:
Day 1 - Guiding Lights
Morning Session
The program begins by having you determine your values and explore which areas of life they are aligning with and which areas they are lacking expression.
In order to live a rich life, everything about who you are must be one, in alignment, and in pure harmony. ~ Suze Orman
Mid Morning Session
In the second session, you’ll define your deepest passions, strengths and intelligences then contemplate how your career is helping or impeding the development and expression of these.
It is a pleasure to witness a human being doing what she or he was meant to do. We delight when we see a parent who truly loves taking care of children. There is such a sense of fit. ~ Scott M. Peck
Lunch
Afternoon Session
This session will delve into your soul blueprint. To create a masterpiece a builder will follow the specifications of architects and engineers. Understanding our metaphysical design adds a deeper layer to self-understanding than simply heeding our rational minds.
Computer Science: A study akin to numerology and astrology, but lacking the precision of the former and the success of the latter. ~ Stan Bootle
Mid Afternoon Session
The final session is centred around developmental psychology to explore the key changes and motivations surrounding the decade of life you currently sit in. You'll find it both illuminating and affirming to recognise that the changes you're going through are universal. Here you'll learn how others have navigated the life phase you're experiencing.
Our task is intimately related to our personal conflicts, we must court sickness, failure, or insanity in order to test the alternative whether the established world will crush us, or whether we will disestablish a sector of this world's outworn fundaments and make place for a new one. ~ Erik H. Erikson
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 - Confronting Shadow
Start your day with an optional meditation and/or yoga session.
Breakfast
Morning Session
In this first session, you’ll explore your blindspots. Conditioning that first occurs in our childhoods carries into our adult development. Awareness of our recurring stumbling blocks allows us to own and then transform our shadow aspect.
Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. ~ Carl Jung
Mid Morning Session
Here we will delve into love and relationships. Whether you’re in a partnership or single, this session is designed to help you strip away areas holding you back in relationships, while offering ideas on how to cultivate greater self-love and healthier attitudes and beliefs around love.
Today, we turn to one person to provide what an entire village once did. Is it any wonder that so many relationships crumble under the weight of it all? ~ Esther Perel
Lunch
Afternoon Session
We'll return to the sister sciences of astrology and numerology to illuminate our challenging aspects and explore karmic carry over from past lives. Understanding your makeup and the themes you’ve chosen to work on in this lifetime provide greater focus as well as self-acceptance.
As long as you consider the stars as something above the head, you will lack the eye of knowledge. - Friedrich Nietzsche
Mid Afternoon Session
The final session involves finding balance between the active and receptive, or masculine and feminine. Learning where we have suppressed aspects of each, or over activated them, plays an integral role in being able to align who we are with our relationships and our vocational expression.
When the Sacred Masculine is combined with the Sacred Feminine inside each of us, we create the ‘sacred marriage’ of compassion and passion in ourselves. ~ Matthew Fox
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.
What a wonderful little place to recenter! I was warmly welcomed and was shown to my cute little cabin that was warm, cute and cosy. Over the course of two days I gained so much clarity around my circumstances back home with the guidance of Marcus and his workbooks, numerology and astrology readings which really confirmed how important it is to stay in alignment with who you are and how your chart and numbers can show you this then on to Ginny who is such a warm beautiful soul that is so easy to connect with on all levels. I was given a beautiful tarot reading and the best reiki session I have ever had! If you need a break or help with the direction your life is going this is the place for you :)- Christina H.
Memoir Writing Retreat
When I arrived at your retreat space to work individually with you I had a draft of my story which to me seemed a little dull and probably incomplete. The question of bigger narratives revealed itself as we discussed my life events and also explored other tools focusing on the idea that we each have a life path we explore. You helped me to identify themes that I had barely thought of. With unsurpassed patience, you read through my draft word by word and along the way you shared insights that now “must” be included in the book - they are all so vital. Now as I look back over this week, I am in absolute awe of the themes you have highlighted. I have work to do - but I am excited and can’t wait to begin to incorporate them! Marcus, you have given me such a valuable gift - I feel uplifted because of the “truths” we discovered together and emboldened by your words as I embark on this next stage. I greatly appreciate all that you have given me and your great generosity of spirit, - Ros.
Small Business Development
After taking part in the Writes of passage 'Birth your Business' retreat in the lovely setting of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, I can't speak highly enough of Marcus and his program. I was so impressed and grateful to Marcus for his thorough mentorship as he offers a fountain of experience and information about getting your business off the ground and into the digital world. If you have a business idea that you would like to share with the world but are confused about how to get started than this is the program you need to take. - Anthony M
Life Purpose Retreat
We had a great weekend attending the Life Purpose Retreat. Such a pleasure to meet people like Marcus and Ginny. Both of them are very experienced and provide a lot of knowledge to help you out and give you some clarity on your new path way. - Tal G.
Blue Mountains Wellness Retreat
I recently participated in a two-day writer's retreat at Katoomba, which Marcus readily adapted to my circumstances. I've found Marcus to be insightful and easy to talk with and in seeking a different way of expressing my life thoughts, has enhanced and encouraged me. I'm planning on having ongoing consultations with Marcus. I recommend him to any other writers. - Peter H
Finding Your Purpose Retreat
Marcus was very helpful in getting me to understand why various parts of my life had impacted me the way they had, and how to move forward in the best way possible for not only myself but those in my close relationships. - Nic E
Creative Retreat
The retreat was exactly what I needed. My facilitator was calming and knowledgeable. I felt completely heard and understood. The round dwelling house is filled with heart warming art, books, cards and yoga/meditation items. I decided to switch off from the outside world and found a wealth of various teachings on my consciousness journey. The fresh wholesome food provided was delicious. I was also given plenty of time to myself to soak everything in my own time. I will definitely be back for many of the other events or retreats available here. I highly recommend it. ~ Sage M
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.
