when the nature beings walk with you 

Fri-Sun 2.-4. August 2024

Forest therapy center, in the Saimaa archipelago in Finland

The retreat guides are Helena Karhu and Sanna-Kaisa "Ratanaula" Ilmarinen

We invite you, a unique and important member of the nature family, to step into the common boat that will take us to the island of Saimaa. The journey across the water is our rite of passage, during which we step into another time and into the realm of nature spirits. This time is an ancient time, where we get to be completely present to our tree of life. By the tree of life we ​​mean the whole that you are, with all your roots of life, your body, and your purpose of life, in the opportunities given to it.

On the first day of the retreat, we connect with the earth - the past, our roots, saying good things about everything that has brought us to this point in our lives. Helena’s and Sanna-Kaisa's nature meditations and inspirational speeches about nature and nature spirits guide the course of the nature retreat. We will get to know each other by meditatively walking through the nature of the island. Sanna-Kaisa opens her secret books to us, in which she has written messages from trees and birds…. we get to hear which summer plant spirit guides and power birds guide our course. We will take a meditative drum journey together with the spirits of nature.

On Saturday, we start the morning with meditation and gentle movement. Tree of Life movement meditation connects us to our mission as a part of nature, and strengthens our focus to complete our tasks. We create a sacred circle from natural materials.

You will get strength, inspiration, and encouragement from the retreat for your life purpose - or perhaps you will come here to calm down, find a suitable direction and gather strength in your life situation. You can come to the retreat just as you are - and together we gently accept our sensitivity and our own energy - this is where we are. You get communal strength and power when we are here together.

On Saturday, we also make incense from natural materials. Incense can be used for various important moments, when you want to sanctify, purify, give thanks for what you have. We get to know the island's plants and bring suitable herbs with us as well.

On Sunday, we reach for the tops of our tree of life and the green leaves of the branches. We open our mind and heart to new inspirations and our own potential, which keeps us nourished even after the retreat. We do a couple exercise together in nature, where we listen to nature's guidance for our life path. We listen to power birds.

The retreat takes place at the beautiful Haapasaari Island in Saimaa, which is located near Imatra, South-East Finland. We are staying in an ecological forest village on a private island under the protection of a pine forest. Forest Therapy Center is a place dedicated to forest yoga, nature connection and forest therapy in the middle of Saimaa's most beautiful nature. What better place for our connection to the Tree of Life!

 Retreat guides:

Helena Karhu is an experienced instructor of retreats and nature-inspired courses, cultural producer and researcher. Helena's life's work is for well-being, nature and peace, and the development of folk knowledge and culture in House of the Bear (www.karhuntalo.com), which she founded. Helena is a North Karelian by birth, and still enjoys her ancestors' lands, even though she has also lived for a long time in different parts of the world. The spirit of Northern ancestors and nature invites her to tell more about the nature of the north, the original nature-spirited tradition, and to combine archaic methods and the possibilities of modern culture.

Sanna-Kaisa "Ratanaula" Ilmarinen is a folk healer, professional cupper and teacher of cupping. Sanna has many decades of experience, and she works at the Hermanni sauna in Helsinki. Currently, she works for the balance of nature, mainly in the peace of the countryside in Onkamaa. Sanna has long, varied, and colorful life experience, which makes her a great life teacher for those who meet her. Sanna is an experienced Lapland visitor, and radiates pure natural energy. Sanna is an artist, and for example, her joint work with Suvi Suvereen is a neo-Kalevala bird series, which was seen in January at the Lux Helsinki - light art event in January 2020 and in the Punkaharju art cave in summer 2020.

Sanna-Kaisa and Helena are united by their relaxed and encouraging care for the participants of the retreat, where each participant is respected, loved, and heard as everyone is. Together, Sanna-Kaisa and Helena are a balanced and inspiring teacher duo who bring joy and inspiration to the course of the retreat. This retreat is their 12th retreat together.

Is this the retreat for me?

No previous experience is required for the retreat. Maybe this is your 1st retreat ever, or you've been to retreats many times.

Retreat location:

Forest Therapy Center is a wonderful mecca of forest yoga and well-being in Haapasaari near Imatra. Haapasaari is only a 5-minute boat ride from Imatra harbor, so you can easily get to the retreat destination by public transport as well.

We stay in an ecological forest village on a private island under the shelter of a pine forest, in shared rooms.

Additional information:www.metsaterapiakeskus.fi

Registration:

You are welcome to reserve your place for the nature retreat by sending an email to info@karhuntalo.com

The retreat participation fee is 220 EUR incl. retreat program and 24% VAT. In addition to this, accommodation with full board (from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch) is 169 EUR/person/2 days in a shared room with own linen + boat trips 15 EUR/round trip.

The price does not include travel and insurance. Participants in the retreat are obliged to familiarize themselves with Karhu Talo's disclaimer and cancellation conditions and agree to them when registering:

https://www.karhuntalo.com/booking-and-cancellation-conditions

Preliminary program of the retreat:

Friday:

-16.00 Boat trip to the island, participants' arrival and accommodation

17.00 The retreat begins -  circle, movement meditation

18.00 Dinner

19:00

Inspiration from Ratanaula's secret books - trees and birds communicate

A drum journey among the guardians of nature

Saturday:

08.00 Breakfast

09.00 Retreat program

Morning Meditation – 3 Suns

Morning song

Inspiration from Ratanaula's secret books - trees and birds communicate

Mandalas of nature - volatile art from natural elements - Creating a sacred circle from natural materials

Break

Sky meditation

12.00 Lunch

Break until 15:00

15.00 Retreat program

Tree of Life movement meditation

Guided gentle relaxation

Making incense from natural materials

Break

Sky meditation

18.00 Dinner

Sauna / Evening bonfires

Sunday:

08.00 Breakfast

09.00 Retreat program:

Morning meditation, morning song

Tree of Life movement meditation

As a couple exercise: Shamanic Medicine Walk

12.00 Lunch

13.00 Retreat program: Talking stick circle

14.00 The retreat ends - boat trip back to the mainland

Feedback from the summer retreat 2021:

"The retreat weekend gave me more than I could have expected. It was clearly intended that I participated in this and right now! My self-esteem and also my self-esteem got a boost and this has already brought big things to my own life. Also my mission in life and what I want to do got more confirmation. I'm already on that path I was, but now I also got additional confirmation and confirmation that I am on the right path. I'm not at the finish line, and I probably won't be, but now I'm enjoying this journey and what it brings. :) I felt that at the weekend, the forces and energies in us/moving would have been able to even move mountains! Now I feel liberated and grateful and happy! Thank you!" Miia Saarinen, Helsinki

"Thank you for a great weekend. I am really glad that I came and I feel that the retreat was exactly what I needed now. The feeling is different than it has been for a long time, maybe a new direction for life is being found. Thank you ♥️!” Summer retreat participant

"I still haven't sent you feedback about the retreat with you and Sanna-Kaisa. It was perhaps difficult to put into words everything that it meant to me, and the weekend brewed in my mind and body for a long time afterwards. And it's still brewing. The program was a great and gentle whole. I was impressed with the assignments and everything we did. It was wonderful and really important to be able to see and experience how attentively and gently and at the same time you guided the course of the weekend and what we did with a nice jump. Thank you for existing and doing your valuable work <3.”

You are warmly welcome to join us!