The Sacred Passage
A New Year Journey of Purification,
Presence & Renewal
Dec 27 2026 - Jan 3, 2027
“On this path, let the heart be your guide.” ~Rumi
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.” — Rumi
“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” — Rumi
What are you ready to leave behind, and what is asking to come alive in you?
Something powerful lives at the threshold between one year and the next. A natural pause. A chance to step out of the usual momentum, clear some of the noise, and take an honest look at what you are carrying with you. Most of us rarely give ourselves enough space to do that. We move from one season into the next, one responsibility into another, often without stopping long enough to ask what still belongs in our lives and what has already run its course.
Instead of beginning the year with What should I accomplish?, we turn toward a different question: What is Life asking of me now?
Join us in Costa Rica for a New Year passage of clearing, reflection and renewal. Surrounded by jungle, flowing water, tropical warmth, and the vitality of the living Earth, we begin with three days of gentle cleansing to help lighten the body, quiet the mind, and release what has accumulated emotionally. Fresh organic juices, herbal elixirs, living foods, movement, breath, meditation, journaling and direct connection with the elements all become part of that process.
The clearing reaches beyond the body. As we simplify what we take in, the noise begins to settle, and we can feel more clearly what nourishes us, what we have outgrown, and where our life force wants to move.
From there, we enter two quieter days of deep reflection, silence and listening. This is time to be with what has surfaced, let the year speak back to you, and meet yourself without rushing toward an answer. The final days turn toward intention, vision and creation, gathering what has become clear and beginning to give shape to what is seeking renewal and wishing to be born in the year ahead.
The Sacred Passage is a chance to step into the new year differently: lighter in the body, clearer in the mind, more connected to yourself and to Life, and with a deeper sense of what you are actually ready to live.
Benefits
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Feel lighter, clearer and more alive in your body, mind and spirit
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Reconnect with your deeper desires, instincts and sense of direction.
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Release restrictive patterns and habits that no longer fit who you are becoming.
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Let nature guide you into deeper vitality, wisdom and strength
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Enter the deep quiet of your heart and reconnect with what is most true in you.
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Create the space for clarity, energy and fresh possibility to emerge.
Retreat Information
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Flexible, based on constitution and needs — designed for deep nourishment and ease.
Day 1: ARRIVAL & ROOTING
Private welcome tea & orientation with Lorenna & Shantree
Ayurvedic diagnosis (pulse, tongue, conversation)
Light grounding meal
Evening river meditation & elemental grounding ritual
Day 2: CLEANSING THROUGH EARTH & WATER
Morning: Gentle movement, warm herbal infusion, and breathwork
Midday: Cleansing Ayurvedic meal + digestive herbal tonic
Afternoon: Plant medicine walk & personalized herbal oiling (abhyanga or self-massage)
Evening: Herbal steam or foot bath, reflection journaling
Day 3: FIRE – DIGESTION, TRANSFORMATION & SOUND
Morning: Fire-centered breathwork, solar elixir
Midday: Kitchari or broth + Ayurvedic spices for digestion
Afternoon: Sacred Sound Journey & chakra tuning
Evening: Fire ritual for letting go
Day 4: AIR & ETHER – LIGHTENING & EXPANSION
Morning: Elemental movement, nature immersion
Midday: Liquid cleanse option (juice or broth) or light sattvic meal
Afternoon: 1:1 Integration Session + Creative Visioning
Evening: Stargazing & silence
Day 5: REINTEGRATION & RETURN
Morning: Closing ceremony by the river
Final personalized guidance session: diet, herbs, rituals for home
Departure after brunch
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Ecovilla Costa Rica is a remarkable embodiment of uniqueness and beauty, seamlessly blending regeneration living with the breathtaking natural environment. Nestled amidst lush landscapes, next to the majestic machuca rio its eco-friendly architecture harmonizes with the surroundings, showcasing the beauty of natural materials and thoughtful design. The vibrant community thrives on principles of permaculture and regenerative agriculture, creating a living ecosystem nested next to the muchuca river that not only produces organic food but also enriches the local biodiversity.
The beauty of Ecovilla lies in its strong sense of community, where collaboration and shared values foster deep connections among residents. This nurturing environment encourages holistic wellness and nature-connection, enhancing individual and collective well-being.
Overall, Ecovilla is a sanctuary that embodies the harmony between human life and nature, inspiring those who seek a conscious and fulfilling lifestyle in a beautiful, interconnected world.
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For more information & to register, contact 519-652-9109 or 519-652-023
Email info@thelivingcentre.com
We're here to guide you every step of the way! -
1. Deposit Requirements:
A deposit of $1000.00 US is required upon registration to secure your spot.
The deposit is non-refundable but can be applied to future retreats if cancellation occurs.
2. Cancellation Policy:
45 days or more before the retreat: Full refund of any payments made (minus a cancellation fee of $200 US).
30 to 45 days before the retreat: 50% refund of total payment.
Less than 30 days before the retreat: No refunds will be issued.
3. Transfer Policy:
Participants may transfer their registration to another person up to 30 days before the retreat. Notification must be given in writing.
4. Special Circumstances:
A partial refund may be considered on a case-by-case basis in case of emergency or illness.
5. Retreat Cancellation:
If the organizer cancels the retreat, all payments will be fully refunded.
6. Changes to the Policy:
The organizer reserves the right to amend this policy. Any changes will be communicated to participants.
What’s Included
All-Inclusive 7-Day Retreat
Pricing includes accommodations, meals, and full retreat programming.
Early Bird Pricing (Until October 15):
Shared Room: $2,250 USD
Private Room: $2,750 USD
Regular Pricing (After October 15):
Shared Room: $2,550 USD
Private Room: $3,050 USD
Payment plans available upon request. Spaces are limited to 12 participants to preserve intimacy and depth of experience.
Retreat Package Includes:
7 nights of accommodation at La EcoVilla
All organic, plant-based meals
Full retreat program with two guides
Group rituals, movement, plant alchemy, and somatic sessions
Optional 1:1 time with Lorenna or Shantree
Materials, tools, and plant elixir supplies
(Does not include airfare or airport transportation)
The Sacred Passage
A Journey of Clearing, Renewal & Conscious Becoming
Every so often, it feels right to step away from the usual rhythm of life and make some space. To clear out, simplify, listen more closely and notice what is asking to change. The beginning of a new year can offer exactly that kind of threshold.
This experience is about much more than fasting. Fasting is one part of the passage, but so is how we meet each day, what we take in through our senses, how we listen to the body, and what becomes visible when life is stripped back to what is essential.
We will keep things simple with fresh organic juices, herbal elixirs and living foods, along with movement, breath, forest immersion, silence, ceremony, rest and time beside the living waters of Costa Rica. The tropical forest becomes part of the experience, not just a backdrop, but a place that helps us soften, slow down and remember something deeper.
Clearing the Body, Opening the Heart, Listening for What Comes Next
There is no need to force anything here. We work with the body, respecting its rhythms and allowing each person to move through the experience in their own way. Some of our time will be shared and some will be solitary, with space to walk, sit with the trees, rest, journal, breathe and simply be.
We will also offer practical guidance on cleansing, fasting, nourishment, and returning to food gently and consciously. The intention is to create conditions where the body can lighten, the mind can settle, and deeper listening can begin.
What interests us most is what happens when we become quiet enough to notice. Food tastes different. The forest feels more alive. The body begins to speak more clearly. Things we have been carrying can start to loosen, and questions that have been sitting beneath the surface may finally have room to emerge.
Something ancient lives in stepping away from ordinary life to mark a passage. People have always gone into the forest, the desert, the mountains or places of stillness to seek clarity, release what has completed its season and listen for what comes next.
The Sacred Passage invites you to do that now. Clear some ground, return to presence, and make room for possibility as one year closes and another begins.
The Sacred Intelligence of Fasting
There is a point in fasting when it becomes about much more than food.
As the continual rhythm of eating quiets, another kind of nourishment becomes available. The senses sharpen. The inner world becomes more spacious. We begin to notice what we consume beyond food: thoughts, information, habits, emotions, noise and the endless demands on our attention.
This is where spiritual fasting begins.
Our retreat brings together ancient fasting wisdom with living foods, herbal preparations, silence, movement, breath, ceremony and immersion in the natural world. Rather than approaching fasting as deprivation, we enter it as a conscious relationship with Life.
What Are We Truly Hungry For?
Hunger has many voices. Some belong to the body. Others arise from habit, emotion, longing or our need to feel connected and alive.
During the weekend, we will explore hunger as a teacher rather than something that must immediately be satisfied. What appears when we stop continually filling the space?
We will create room to listen to the body, heart, mind and spirit together, allowing fasting to become a doorway into greater clarity and a more intimate relationship with ourselves.
You will leave not simply having completed a fast, but with a different understanding of nourishment: what gives you life, what consumes your life-force, and what you are ready to carry forward.
What People Are Saying
“I expected the fasting to be the hard part. It wasn’t. I left feeling lighter, clearer and somehow more myself.” ~Hanna
“Something shifted for me on the second day. I was sitting alone in the forest and realized I hadn’t felt that quiet inside for years. There was nothing dramatic about it, just this deep sense of being present again.” ~Michael
“I was nervous going in. By the end, I felt completely nourished.” ~Claire
“The biggest surprise was how much energy I had. One morning I woke up clear, rested and genuinely excited for the day. I came home realizing how much I want to simplify things in my life.” ~Daniel
âśş Frequently Asked Questions âśş
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Yes. Payment plans are available directly through our website via Afterpay. Afterpay allows new users to pay in installments for orders up to $2,000 CAD. If you've used Afterpay before, your limit may be higher depending on your account history.
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Yes. This journey is designed to meet you where you are. Whether you're just beginning or already have experience with elemental practices, you'll be guided step-by-step with accessible teachings, practices, and personalized support.
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All live sessions will be recorded and uploaded to your private community portal. You’ll have access to replays, resources, and weekly reflections to revisit whenever you need.
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Living on Life-Force weaves together Ayurvedic science, regenerative ecology, and somatic intelligence in a deeply embodied and earth-rooted way. It’s not just about adding practices to your life - it’s about transforming the ecology your life moves through. This is slow, soulful, and elemental work designed for lasting change.
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Each live session is 2.5 hours and takes place on Thursday evenings from 7:00–9:30 PM EST. These include experiential teachings, embodied practices, and community integration.
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Your 60-minute private session with either Lorenna or Shantree offers personalized support to help you integrate the teachings into your daily life. You'll explore your unique elemental constitution, current imbalances, and create a customized path forward.
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This is an intimate container with a maximum of 12 participants. This ensures depth, safety, and the opportunity for meaningful connection and personalized attention.
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You’ll need a stable internet connection and a device with Zoom capability. All other materials - like the workbook and community portal - can be accessed via a browser.
Still Have Questions?
If something is stirring or you’re feeling the call but aren’t quite sure yet, we welcome you to reach out. We’re here to listen, clarify, and walk with you as you explore if this journey is aligned.
Regular Package
Regular programming included.
âś” Private Indoor Accommodations: $700
Enjoy the comfort of a private room in our guest house or cabin.
âś” Program Only (No Accommodations): $550
Join us daily for the full retreat experience, then rest offsite in your own space.
All packages include:
Premium Package
Includes one hour private session with Lorenna or Shantree after the retreat.
âś” Private Indoor Accommodations: $900
Enjoy the comfort of a private room in our guest house or cabin.
âś” Program Only (No Accommodations): $750
Join us daily for the full retreat experience, then rest offsite in your own space.
Full weekend retreat access (Saturday 9:30 am to Monday noon)
Includes Shantree’s Newly Released Spiritual Fasting Book
Organic juices and herbal teas
Sacred space and tools for integration
Facilitators
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LORENNA BOUSQUET-KACERA
I am an eco-somatic guide, ceremonialist, and co-founder of The Living Centre, and for 55 years I have explored the relationship between body, Earth, spirit, and the deeper passages of human life. Through movement, ceremony, silence, fasting and communion with the living world, I help create the conditions for people to slow down, listen inwardly and meet times of change with greater presence. My work invites us to release what has run its course, reconnect with what is essential, and become more available to what is trying to emerge. As founder of Shamanu: Earth Wisdom Teachings®, I bring warmth, depth and grounded presence to The Sacred Passage, holding space for purification, reflection and the possibilities that can open when we step consciously across a threshold.
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SHANTREE KACERA, D.N., Ph.D.
I have spent more than fifty years exploring fasting as a way of clearing, renewing and coming into deeper relationship with Life. I am the author of Spiritual Fasting, and over the years I have guided many people in discovering what can begin to open when we simplify, empty out and listen more closely to the body and spirit. As co-founder of The Living Centre and a lifelong teacher of regenerative living, herbalism and Earth-based spirituality, my work brings together living nourishment, the intelligence of the body, nature and spirit. Through The Sacred Passage, I invite people to slow down, clear what has become unnecessary and become more present to what is asking to emerge. For me, this kind of conscious passage is a way of making room for renewal, clarity and a deeper sense of direction as we step into a new chapter of life.
Oct 10 -12, Saturday 9:30 am to Monday noon
Payment:
Spiritual Fasting Retreat Package without accommodations – $550 CA
Enter the Spiritual Fasting Retreat Package with Indoor Accommodations - $700
Includes:
✔️ Full access to the 3-day Spiritual Fasting Experience
✔️ All guided workshops and creative experiences
✔️ Organic, high-quality fresh organic juices (breakfast, lunch, dinner + herbal teas)
✔️ Sacred space at The Living Centre: nature immersion + sanctuary time
✔️ Reflection materials + tools for integration
Spiritual Fasting Premium Retreat Package without accommodations – $750 CA
Spiritual Fasting Premium Retreat Package with Accommodations - $900
Includes:
✔️ A 1.5 session with Shantree Kacera, Ph.D,
✔️ All guided workshops and creative experiences
✔️ Organic, high-quality fresh organic juices (breakfast, lunch, dinner + herbal teas)
✔️ Sacred space at The Living Centre: nature immersion + sanctuary time
✔️ Reflection materials + tools for integration
Join Us
Dates: Dec 27 - Jan 3, 2026
Regular Package
Accommodations: $700
One private session with Shantree after the retreat. (No Accommodations): $550
Premium Package
Indoor Accommodations: $900
One private session with Shantree after the retreat. (No Accommodations): $750
Pre-registration is essential for participation. Kindly register at least a week before the commencement date.
Please read our Commitment & Cancellation Policy.