The Sacred Passage
A New Year Journey of Purification,
Presence & Renewal
Dec 27 2026 - Jan 3, 2027
Join us in Beautiful Costa Rica
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're ready to live.
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 emotional buildup. Ayurvedic wisdom, coupled with fresh organic juices, herbal elixirs, living foods, movement, breath, meditation, journaling, and direct connection with the elements, becomes part of the process of clearing, reflection and renewal.
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.
“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?”
Benefits
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Vitality & Clarity
Feel lighter, clearer and more alive in your body, mind and spirit
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Inner Direction
Reconnect with your deeper desires, instincts and sense of direction.
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Release & Renew
Release restrictive patterns and habits that no longer fit who you are becoming.
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Nature's Guidance
Let nature guide you into deeper vitality, wisdom and strength
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Deep Listening
Enter the deep quiet of your heart and reconnect with what is most true in you.
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Fresh Possibilities
Create the space for clarity, energy and fresh possibility to emerge.
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December 27, 2025 to January 3, 2026
This daily flow offers a general outline of the retreat experience; specific timing and content will shift to honour individual and group unique rhythms, needs, and dynamics.
Days1 begins with dinner at 5 pm. followed by an evening session
Days 2 & 3 - Sessions are focused on cleansing the body. Meals will be light, with fresh organic green juices and high-vibe smoothies
Morning & afternoon sessions with a rest time after lunch
Dinner & an evening session
Days 4 & 5 - Takes up deeper into the cleansing of body, heart & mind.
Morning and afternoon session with 3 full live plant-based meals
Evenings will be open for personal contemplations
Days 6 & 7 - Celebrating renewal and new beginnings
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Day 1 — Arrival & The Threshold
Dinner • Welcome • Opening Circle
Guests arrive, settle in and share dinner together. The evening is simple and welcoming, giving everyone time to land, meet one another and begin stepping out of ordinary life.
The opening circle introduces the journey and begins with:
Day 2 — WATER
Cleansing • Flow • Release
Rivers and waterfalls begin the passage by helping us soften, clear and let go. This is the first full day of gentle cleansing with fresh juices, herbal preparations, living foods, movement, breath and time near flowing water.
We begin noticing what has become stagnant, what we have been holding onto, and what is ready to move.
Day 3 — FIRE
Transformation • Vitality • Renewal
Fire takes us deeper into change. As the body begins to feel lighter and clearer, we turn toward what needs to be transformed, digested or completed.
This day can include more energizing movement, warming practices, sunlight, fire ceremony, and reflection on the habits, patterns, and choices ready to change.
Day 4 — AIR
Breath • Space • Perspective
Air opens things up. After release and transformation, there is more room to breathe, reflect and see life from a wider perspective.
Breathwork, walking, spacious movement, journaling and time in nature help loosen familiar ways of thinking and create room for something new.
Day 5 — ETHER
Dreaming • Potential • Emergence
Ether is the space of pure potential. After the clearing of Water, the transformation of Fire and the spaciousness of Air, we enter the quieter inner territory where something new can begin to reveal itself.
This is a day for dreaming, listening and reconnecting with the part of ourselves that has always known what we need and where we are being called. We create enough space for what has been waiting underneath the noise to finally come forward.
Through silence, meditation, journaling, solitude in nature and gentle inner inquiry, we begin sensing what wants to emerge.
Day 6 — EARTH
Grounding • Commitment • Intention
Earth brings the dream into form. What became visible in Ether now asks for roots, structure and commitment.
This day is about grounding what has emerged into clear intentions for the year ahead. We look at what needs to change in daily life, what we are willing to commit to, and what will help these intentions become something lived rather than simply imagined.
Through grounding movement, time on the land, reflection and intention setting, each person begins giving shape to the life they are ready to step into.
Day 7 — Integration & Crossing Forward
Morning Practice • Closing Circle • Departure
The final morning gathers everything together. Through gentle practice, reflection and closing ritual, we celebrate our passage into this next cycle of our lives.
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La Ecovilla: Your Retreat Location
La Ecovilla Costa Rica is a remarkable embodiment of uniqueness and beauty, seamlessly blending regeneration living with the breathtaking natural environment. Nestled amid lush landscapes beside the majestic Machuca River, its eco-friendly approach to living harmonizes with its surroundings. The community thrives on permaculture and regenerative agriculture, creating a living ecosystem beside the Machuca River that not only produces organic food but also enriches local biodiversity.
Collaboration and shared values foster deep connections among residents. This nurturing environment encourages holistic wellness and connection with nature, enhancing individual and collective well-being.
Overall, Ecovilla is a sanctuary that embodies the harmony between human life and nature.
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Registration Details:
Deposit Requirements:
A deposit of $ 1,000.00 USD is required upon registration to secure your spot.
Final payment is due Nov 1, 2026
Payment in USD can be made through PayPal, e-transfer to info@thelivingcentre.com or Wise
For more information, contact
Email info@thelivingcentre.com
WhatsApp number: 519-652-9109
We're here to guide you every step of the way!Cancellation Policy:
45 days or more before the retreat: Full refund of any payments made (minus a $200 US cancellation fee).
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 the event of an emergency or illness.
5. Retreat Cancellation:
If the organizer cancels the retreat, all payments will be refunded in full.
6. Changes to the Policy:
The organizer reserves the right to amend this policy. The organizer will communicate any changes to participants.
Retreat Information
What’s Included
All-Inclusive 7-Day Retreat
Pricing includes accommodations, meals, and full retreat programming.
Early Bird Pricing (Until Nov 1, 2026)
Shared Room: $2,250 USD
Private Room: $2,750 USD
Regular Pricing (After Nov 1, 2026)
Shared Room: $2,550 USD
Private Room: $3,050 USD
Payment plans available upon request.
Spaces are limited to 6 participants to preserve intimacy and depth of experience.
Retreat Package Includes:
7 nights of accommodation at La EcoVilla
Full retreat program with two guides
Ayurvedic constitutional assessment, Eco-somatic practices, plant alchemy, and daily somatic sessions
Organic, plant-based meals, juices and herbal elixir
A private s 1:1 session with Lorenna or Shantree
(Does not include airfare or transportation to La Ecovilla)
Lorenna Bousquet-Kacera &
Shantree Kacera RH, DN, Ph.D.
Lorenna and Shantree are founders of The Living Centre, an eco-spiritual education sanctuary established in 1983 in Ontario, Canada.
Shantree is an elder herbalist and a practitioner and educator in Ayurvedic and nutritional practices. For over 50 years, he has explored fasting and cleansing processes as methods to clear, renew, and deepen one's relationship with Life. He is the author of "Spiritual Nutrition" and "Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis." As a lifelong teacher of regenerative living, herbalism, and Earth-based spirituality, Shantree’s work integrates living nourishment, the body's intelligence, nature, and spirit
Lorenna is an eco-somatic guide, ceremonialist, and the founder of Shamanu: Earth Wisdom Teachings. For over 40 years, she has investigated the connections between the body, Earth, spirit, and the profound transitions of human life. Through movement, ceremony, silence, cleansing, and communion with the living world, she helps individuals listen inwardly and navigate times of change with greater presence. Her work encourages people to release what no longer serves them, reconnect with what is essential, and open to what is trying to emerge.
Together, they bring a wealth of lived experience, practical wisdom, and long-standing facilitation to The Sacred Passage.
âśş Frequently Asked Questions âśş
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This retreat is for anyone standing at a threshold in life - - ready to clear what feels complete, reconnect with what matters, and create space for renewed vitality, clarity and direction. It is especially suited to those who feel called to slow down, listen more deeply, reconnect with nature, and begin the new year with greater intention and aliveness.
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No. This retreat is designed to meet you where you are. Whether you're just beginning or already have experience, we'll guide you step by step with accessible teachings, practices, and personalized support. Our choice to keep groups small allows for greater personal care.
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Yes. This is a gentle cleansing process, not a complete fast. The first days include fresh organic juices, herbal elixirs, living foods, simple plant-based meals, rest, movement and supportive cleansing practices. The intention is to lighten the body and reduce what you take in, so you have more energy and space for reflection, renewal, and deeper listening.
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What makes The Sacred Passage different is that it isn’t simply a wellness retreat focused on relaxation or a single practice. It is a carefully held journey of clearing, reflection, renewal and intention, guided through the five elements and supported by nature, nourishing food, movement, silence, ceremony and deep listening.
It is also shaped by the depth of experience Lorenna and Shantree bring to the process. Together, they offer more than 100 years of lived practice, teaching and exploration in health, regeneration, spirituality and relationship with the living Earth. Each brings a distinct yet deeply complementary body of knowledge, with a shared commitment to helping people live with greater vitality, resilience and aliveness at every stage of life.
Their work is grounded in practical experience. Over decades, they have guided thousands of individuals and groups through processes of healing, renewal and personal transformation. They bring a seasoned ability to hold space, listen carefully to what is needed, and support each person in ways that are creative, gentle and responsive to the moment.
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The food is fresh, organic, plant-based-vegan and designed to support the cleansing and renewal process of the retreat. Depending on the day, this may include organic juices, herbal elixirs, smoothies, fresh tropical fruits, living foods and nourishing meals prepared with local ingredients.
Yes, we can accommodate common dietary sensitivities and special dietary needs when we know about them in advance. Please let us know so we can plan accordingly to support you safely and comfortably.
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You’ll receive a detailed welcome package with packing suggestions. In general, bring comfortable clothes, a journal, any personal items, and an open heart.
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For travellers coming directly from Canada, USA and most places in Europe, Costa Rica does not require specific vaccinations for entry.
Yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended for Costa Rica itself, because there is no yellow fever risk in the country. However, proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required if you are arriving from, or have recently travelled through, certain countries where yellow fever occurs. Requirements can change, so participants should check current Costa Rican entry requirements and speak with a travel-health professional before departure.
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Travel to and from the retreat centre is not included in the retreat price. We will provide detailed travel recommendations and support you in planning your journey.
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.