About The Living Centre
Shantree (Walter) Kacera opened Spirit of the Earth, ‘The Living Centre’ in 1983 to fulfill a dream of being in the country and learning how to live in accordance with the laws of Nature. This he did wholeheartedly, creating a beautiful and sacred space for healing and learning, originally known as "Balance Life Gardens". He was joined by Lorenna Bousquet-Kacera in 1997. Over the years the Centre has offered life-inspiring programs and services to thousands of people on their evolutionary journey.
The purpose of The Living Centre is to promote a renaissance in human thought, values and conscience based on healing, eco-sustainability and openness. Our wish is to grow together as global citizens; to contribute towards the creation of a culture based in peace; as we look to life and common humanism as the core values for a sustainable society.
The principal courses offered at The Living Centre integrate physical, emotional, spiritual and ecological health and well-being as the four essential factors in achieving human potential, success, and creating a healthy, happy, balanced life and society. These courses are: The Sevenfold Path of Peace, Ayurvedic Living Nutrition, Shamanu Earth Wisdom Teachings, Visionary Herbalism
You are welcomed to join us to learn, heal and reconnect with your soul in our beautiful 50 acres of gardens and forest. And for your enjoyment please see our photo gallery of the Centre.
The Living Centre Mission
The mission of 'The Living Centre' is to support the evolution of humankind and the Earth through the raising of
consciousness. To be evolutionary co-creators actively ushering in a society based in the laws of Nature and fashioned by the principles of peace, joy and love.
The Centre is dedicated to offering programs designed to support life-affirming education and leadership. The intention is to contribute to the expansion of human consciousness through educational courses, services, products and a lifestyle that nourishes the health of body, mind, emotions, community, nature and spirit.
The Living Centre Gardens
Founded in 1983, Spirit of the Earth ‘ The Living Centre’ is a 50 acre educational sanctuary with wild meadows, forest-woodland, tranquil pond and organic fruit orchards and gardens. The land has always been organic. The spacious surroundings offer you a wonderful setting for relaxing, learning and reconnecting with your soul.
We are located in the heart of Canada's Carolinian zone which is the southernmost region of Canada and contains more rare plants and animals than any other part of Canada. Scientists report about 2,200 plant species, 400 bird species and 47 reptiles and amphibians. It contains species found nowhere else in this country. Its southern location and proximity to the great lakes give it a milder climate than the rest of Ontario, with longer summers, and lower snowfall.
The dynamically alive energy of the land and wide range of wild life are all a part of what makes this a safe haven for you to learn and grow. The Centre is known for its unique circular medicine wheel herbal forest garden and edible medicine trail through our beautiful Carolinian forest. Our lovely teaching lodge is surrounded by a 1000 sq. ft. Earthship solar greenhouse which provides organic produce for nine months of the year.
Sacred Medicine Wheel Herb Garden.
Our circular herbal medicine-wheel garden was 
established in 1983 as an Herbal Education and Nature Awareness teaching garden. The garden began with a few handfuls of medicinal plants. Within ten years the garden was known across Canada as one of the most diverse gardens of its kind with over 500 species of medicinal and edible herbs.
The Garden is designed as a medicine wheel with eight spokes or paths that lead to the centre of the Garden. In the centre we a have a pole planted that reads "May Peace Prevail on Earth" to remind everyone who enters the Garden that peace can be found within our hearts and in nature. There are four paths that divide the garden into the directions: East, South, West and North and these symbolize the four elements: Air, Fire, Water and Earth and the fifth element Ether/Space/Spirit is symbolized in the centre.
Each of the eight sections grows the herbs that support the health and vitality of one of the eight body systems. Much of the herbal medicines made at
The Living Centre come from our garden and are sold through the Apothecary Clinic.
Thousands of people have gathered in circle around the Peace Pole to meditate, give thanks, commune and to absorb the abundant healing energies and generosity of the Earth.
Tea gardens, the Elemental Rose Garden, Heart Garden, our one acre vegetable garden, wild flower gardens and more, bless the Centre with their abundant nourishment, and thrilling the senses with their beauty, scents, tastes, textures and sounds.
An edible medicinal forest trail is in the process of being completed. We have much to learn from the wild plants and even more to gain nutritionally. Regular herb walks are offered, and of course, the gardens provide a place for people to relax and reconnect with soul, self and Nature.
