Roots of Renewal 2024
Year-End Plant Medicine Retreat
4-Day Spirit Voyage
Val-David, Quebec (Montreal)
- December 27 to December 30, 2024 -
$2275. CAD
(note: limited to 5 voyager registrations)
We provide the setting, guidance and expertise. Nature provides the medicine to enable you to experience the liberating power of awe and wonder, and most importantly the relief you seek.
We have known of the therapeutic and life transforming potential of psilocybin mushrooms since the 1950‘s. Now we have dozens of recent studies from diverse sources that affirm the unrivaled healing and life enhancing potential of psilocybin mushroom sessions in the right setting.
- we bridge the gap between ancient and modern teachings; mushrooms are a spiritual experience, not a clinical ego experience...
Roots of Renewal:
Plant Medicine Retreat
December 27 to December 30, 2024
As we approach the end of 2024 and prepare to welcome the new year, our retreat offers a serene sanctuary for reflection and rejuvenation. Imagine yourself immersed in the tranquil embrace of winter's beauty, surrounded by the pristine landscape and ere, the crisp air and gentle snowfall create a peaceful backdrop, inviting you to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.
As day turns to night, gather by the crackling fireside, where the glow of the flames mirrors the warmth and unity shared among retreat participants. Engage in heartfelt conversations, exchange stories, and forge deep connections with kindred spirits who, like you, are on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.
At Vita Lotus Retreats, we also invite you to savor the rich, comforting flavors of our cacao and mushroom teas. These ancient elixirs are known for their ability to deepen spiritual experiences, foster inner healing, and reveal profound insights.
Located just an hour outside of Montreal, we have created a haven designed to empower your return to a state of innocence and peace, offering a perfect transition from 2024 to 2025.
Vita 2024 Roots of Renewal...
Why Register?
Nordic Thermal Spa and Massage Experience: Unwind in the peaceful embrace of our Nordic thermal spa, where the healing contrast of hot and cold immersions will rejuvenate your body and mind. Enhance your retreat with a 60-minute massage.
Playful Energy with Snow and Holiday Lights: Embrace the magic of winter with adult activities in the snow, surrounded by the shimmering glow of holiday lights. Engage with the crisp air and vibrant energy of the season - reconnect with your inner child, and lightheartedness to uplift your spirit.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Pranayama: Begin each day with invigorating Vinyasa flow yoga, combining breath and movement to awaken your body and mind. Paired with pranayama (breath control) exercises, these sessions will energize you, fostering mindfulness and a deeper connection to your body.
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Forgiveness and Gratitude Ceremonies: Engage in sacred forgiveness and gratitude ceremonies, designed to open your heart and foster emotional healing. In the forgiveness ceremony, you'll release old patterns and self-limiting beliefs, offering forgiveness to yourself and others. In the gratitude ceremony, you’ll reflect on life’s blessings, cultivating an attitude of appreciation and acceptance.
Facilitated Guidance: Throughout the retreat, our experienced facilitators will provide personalized support to ensure a safe and transformative experience. They are dedicated to creating a nurturing, supportive environment, offering insights and assistance whenever needed, so you can fully immerse yourself in your journey of self-discovery.
Nourishing Meals: Savor nourishing and delicious meals, specially crafted to support your body’s natural detoxification process. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared to enhance your journey and complement the healing effects of plant medicine, all while satisfying your taste buds.
Heart-Opening Cacao Ceremony: Participate in a sacred cacao ceremony, infused with the spirit of forgiveness and connection. This heart-opening ritual, combined with psilocybin, allows you to access deeper emotional layers, fostering introspection and emotional release. Known as the "food of the gods," cacao will help you embrace forgiveness and open your heart to transformative healing.
Integration and Reflection: Set aside dedicated time each day for integration and reflection, where you can process your psilocybin experiences. Through group discussions and personal reflection, these moments offer a space for sharing insights, gaining deeper understanding, and learning from one another’s experiences.
By incorporating playful winter energy, Nordic spa experiences, massages, yoga, forgiveness, and gratitude ceremonies into our Vita Roots of Renewal Retreat, we offer a holistic approach that nurtures body, mind, and soul. Reconnect with nature, embrace stillness, and find deeper transformation in this serene, winter sanctuary as you prepare to enter 2025 with clarity and peace.
- as we move from one year to the next, our retreat becomes a bridge to deeper clarity, with every shared moment becoming a step towards healing and renewal -
Friday:
✹​
5 p.m
Arrival to Lodge
Room Assignment
Get Cozy
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5:30 to 6:30 p.m
Orientation
Meet Your Facilitators
Educational History
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6:30 p.m
Cacao Heart Opening
Forgiveness Ceremony
Dyad Communication
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8 p.m Dining at Chalets
Fondue Dinner
9 p.m to 10 p.m
Sharing Circle
Campfire w/Mushroom Teas
Saturday:
✹​
8 a.m
​Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Pranayama Breath
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9:30 a.m (dining at chalet)
Intention Setting
Light Breakfast
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11:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m
***Nordic Thermal Spa***
Nordic Light Lunch
60-minutes Nordic Massage
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6 p.m
Begin Session Journey
Blind-Fold Indoor Experience
Ecstatic Dance
Rhythmic Expression ​​
{approximately 5 hours}
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12 p.m
Lights Out​
Sunday:
✹
8:30 a.m
Psychedelic Breathing
Gratitude Ceremony
Intention Setting
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10 a.m to 4 p.m
Begin Session Journey
Winter Forest Experience
Nature Appreciation Play
(approximately 5 hours)
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5 p.m to 6 p.m
Individual Time
Journaling and Reflection
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7 p.m Dining Nearby
New Years Intention Celebration
Restaurant
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10 p.m to 11 p.m
Star Gazing
S'mores and Campfire Stories
Monday:
✹
9 a.m
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Wake-up Central Nervous System
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- Integration Coaching
- Maintaining Peace
- Maintaining Spiritual Maturity
Embodying and Understanding
- Daily Practices
- Micro-dosing
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11:30 a.m (Dining Nearby)
Breakfast French Crepes
Restaurant
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What Extra to Bring:
Backpack w/water bladder
Winter Boots - Hat - Winter Coat - Gloves - Sweaters - Socks - Sandals -
Pants (no jeans) - Cozy Clothes
Clothing Layers - Journal - Swim Suit
Our suggestions at the right moment,
may help you make a pivotal discovery or retain and important insight.
Essential Role of Facilitators...
When we seek empathogens for therapeutic or self-improvement purposes, we are often striving to break free from entrenched patterns of thought and emotion that have impeded our ability to heal and evolve.
Psilocybin Mushrooms act on the brain by fostering new neural connections,(communication) enabling novel ways of feeling and thinking, unlocking fresh new perspectives and emotions - an effortless release, with the ability to observe without judgement.
The setting amplifies this experience, providing a safe-space for release, opens us up to heightened states of awareness, but the true potential lies in how the experience is guided and processed. It’s not just the empathogen itself that unlocks these profound insights — it's the quality and focus of the experience, which can be shaped and enhanced with skilled guidance.
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Experienced facilitators are key to navigating altered states, offering safety and the expertise to guide the journey toward deeper healing. They ensure the experience stays focused and meaningful, while also helping participants integrate the insights gained into everyday life — a crucial step for lasting transformation.
Many who seek spiritual or entheogenic experiences lack the tools to fully access and stay open to the various levels of consciousness. Without guidance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. A skilled facilitator provides support, clarity, and helps reconnect you with your inner wisdom, ensuring the healing extends beyond the session. Their expertise increases the likelihood of breakthroughs, making the process far more impactful.
" It's not the young, rather the middle age who need to have an experience of numinous proportions to help negotiate the mental habits cemented into the brain."
- Carl G. Jung -
Connect to Wholeness
- Thrive Life, Not Just Live it -
We do indeed live in a wondrous and enchanting world, but for many of us the wonder and enchantment has faded or even, disappeared entirely. When this happens we lose our deeper connection to spirit and our sense of harmony in the world.
This can happen due to emotional and physical trauma, anxiety, depression, personal loss, a dysfunctional cultural environment, relationship changes, perpetual suffering or unrelenting stress. We also live in a world that is desensitizing and changing at a breakneck pace.
As a result of any combination of the foregoing, we lose our connection to the deeper aspects of our being; our spirit wanes, we feel fragmented and often times, can even feel lost.
In a state of wholeness we:
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are confident in our life path.
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have an enhanced ability to concentrate.
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feel exuberant about life in general.
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experience a deep and fulfilling gratitude.
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have more compassion and empathy.
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feel a profound connection to the universe.
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feel a deeper connection to spirit.
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are no longer hobbled by tragedies of our personal history or conceptual hang-ups.
Find the relief to restore your sense of wholeness, reinvigorate life and renew your vision of yourself and the world - returning home with a long-lasting, permanent shift. We are confident in our method and approach we offer and, we look forward to being the journey with you to Reclaim Your Life.
Personality is a strategy devised by a child. Our true, original self lays under our personality, in the trans-personal ground of our being, at our core. -- Maia Pollan
Inner Healing Intelligence
We put you in-touch with your innate ability to heal and grow, and to empower you to be responsible for your own healing. Turbulent and often difficult emotional processes may be easier to work with and resolve when we tap-into this Intelligence.
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The body possesses an extraordinary and intricate healing process, constantly striving towards restoration. This inherent ability to heal is exemplified by the ever-present healing of a cut or a bruise. Similarly, the psyche also demonstrates a profound intelligence and capacity for healing, as evidenced by the transformative power of plant medicine.
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Through these substances, the hidden depths of our psyche is unveiled, revealing a remarkable healing potential, extending beyond the physcal realm.
Set and Setting
Set refers to, "where you are in your life,: what beliefs you may have, how you think and essentially the internal make-up of yourself."​ Setting refers to, "external factors: who you are with, where you are and the environment the medicines are taken in." ​
We feel the set and setting are crucial elements in optimizing the journey of the voyager and enhances their awareness to explore uncharted territories within themselves that may have otherwise been neglected.
As guides we recognize that the environment must fosters comfort, safety and openness. By carefully cultivating the set and setting, we aim to provide a supportive space where voyagers can fully immerse themselves, allowing you to delve deeper in your subconscious.
Transformation Support
It is encouraged to discuss openly any strong feelings, fears or concerns that may have arisen during your experience. The concepts that you encounter on a visionary voyage can be challenging to interpret, and may require skilled guidance. ​
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Psychedelic guiding has three stages; preparation, experience and integration. Thoughtful attention to all three stages is needed to maximize the opportunity for a positive outcome
We collaboratively work with you to analyze the information and make sense of it, helping to connect the dots and uncover meaningful insights. Our role is to support the exploration in synthesizing your individual perspectives into a cohesive narrative, fostering a deeper understanding and integration.
Personality is a strategy devised by a child. Our true, original self lays under our personality, in the trans-personal ground of our being, at our core. -- Maia Pollan
Release Old Patterns
Empathogenic experiences enabled by plant medicines such as psilocybin mushrooms have unequivocally demonstrated unrivaled efficacy in the treatment of these conditions.
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Freedom from PTSD
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Unshackle Trauma
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Overcome Alcoholism
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Alleviate Depression
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Relationship Issues
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Narcotic Addiction
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Suicidal Idealization
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​Obsessive Compulsions
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Ease Anxiety
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Anti-social Behavior
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Mitigate Eating Disorders
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Loosen Grip of Terminal Illness
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Address Mortality Fear
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Undesirable Habits in General
Our method of guidance is based on the principle of inner healing intelligence. As a result, we adopt a non-directive approach allowing for organic guidance to unfold. Over the years psychedelic guides have discovered, like the body, the mind possesses an innate ability to heal. However, for mental-emotional conditions an external catalyst is often needed to initiate this transformational process.
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Our non-directive setting creates a space where advice-giving is set aside and the participant's own insights take center stage. Our goal is to empower the 'explorer' to uncover profound discoveries about themselves, with minimal interference or influence from our end.
We feel the true integration of the explorer's experience occurs after their journey. allowing them the freedom to fully process and internalize the insights gained. This is where us, as your guide, will actively engage in the integration process by facilitating open discussions, providing guidance and encouraging reflection.
In the dance of spiritual awakening, mushrooms can be graceful partners, leading us through the labyrinth of our own consciousness and revealing sacred truths within. -- Maia Pollan
Cozy Cottage Retreat
Our retreat offers a unique and enchanting accommodation experience in charming shared-space cottages nestled amidst the tranquil beauty of nature. Here, you'll find yourself surrounded by lush greenery, soothing sounds of birdsong, and a sense of serenity that envelops you throughout your stay.
1. Intimate Cottage Atmosphere:
- Serene Shared Spaces
- Our thoughtfully designed cottages provide a cozy and intimate atmosphere, ideal for fostering connections and creating lasting memories. Experience the warmth and comfort of shared spaces, where you can unwind, share stories, and forge new friendships with like-minded individuals.
2. Nature-Inspired Interiors:
- Rustic Elegance
- Step into your cottage and be greeted by a harmonious blend of rustic charm and modern comforts. The interiors are tastefully decorated, drawing inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty, ensuring a visually pleasing and serene ambiance.
3. Tranquil Surroundings:
- Embraced by Nature
- Each cottage is strategically positioned to provide a sense of privacy while still allowing you to feel connected to the serene surroundings. Whether you choose to relax in your private room, lounge on the cottage's private porch or explore the shared outdoor spaces, you'll be immersed in the tranquility of the oasis.
4. Shared Facilities:
- Community Spaces for Connection
- Our shared facilities offer spaces for connection and relaxation. From cozy lounges to communal dining areas, you'll have ample opportunities to bond with fellow retreat participants, exchange stories, and create meaningful connections.
5. Nature's Symphony:
- Serenaded by Nature
- As you settle into your cottage, allow yourself to be serenaded by the gentle sounds of nature. From the rustling of leaves to the melodious chorus of birds, the soothing symphony will lull you into a state of tranquility, ensuring a restful and rejuvenating retreat experience.
Expanding our consciousness to heal, requires a different sort of intelligence than how we have been schooled to think and learn. -- Maia Pollan
You Want a Retreat...to Revolutionize Your Story!
Maia's Message to You:
"Sacred mushrooms are the most promising safe entheogens to re-enter our culture."
Plant medicines are and can be the direct source needed to renew and restore an individual's connection to wholeness, while also inspiring their own health of being. Empathogens can and do relax the mind chatter to enhance our ability to approach and respond to life without egoistic patterns or misguided unconscious mental states of blame, shame, guilt, embarrassment, avoidance or judgement.
As a voyager, you are not having a drug experience, but rather, learning how to become open to your own inner worlds, reunite with one's self and make use of a vast range of experiences prior, during and after your journey.
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As your guides, we offer our unique complimenting skills to know the terrain, sense where you are in your journey and be able to advise or caution you where it is deemed appropriate. We serve as a steady and supportive presence; we understand our authenticity and awareness are an integral part of creating a warm and inviting set and setting and is, instrumental in having you feel safe and secure to transcend deeper heights of consciousness.
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We recognize we are doing sacred work and the importance of establishing a sincere relationship. We honor the trust you've placed in us to ensure you do have a transcendent experience based in compassion, healing, kindness and love.
For our sanity to be strong and flexible, we must be willing to allow for occasional expressions of spontaneous movement and action. -- Maia Pollan
What makes Vita Retreats unique?
Embark on a remarkable journey of self-exploration and growth led by Maia, a seasoned guide and facilitator with over 30 years of experience in organized self-guided, intimate and group psychedelic exploration retreats. Together, you will venture into the realms of healing and evolution, guided by Maia's expertise as a hermetic initiate, holistic cognitive therapist, psychedelic facilitator, and spiritual mentor.
Empowering Personal Journey: With Maia's complementary attributes and wealth of knowledge, her retreats offer a unique opportunity for renewal, refreshment, healing, and evolutionary growth. Through her guidance, you can experience powerful shifts in perceptions and develop healthier relationships that align with your true self.
Unlocking Transformation: Maia's extensive experience with various altering substances and emotional receptors, such as psilocybin (mushrooms), LSD, Ayahuasca, Changa, MDMA, Shamanic Rapé, DMT, and Salvia Divinorum, has revealed the potential of psychedelics to release cultural conditioning, trauma, addiction, and mental setbacks. Discover the potential for new neural imprints and behaviors that can lead to enhanced clarity and empowered decision-making in your life.
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Witnessing Healing and Release: Maia has witnessed the benefits of empathogens in releasing deeply embedded emotional addictions and challenging societal programming. She has also been witness to the healing and release of oppressed trauma, substance abuse, and various emotional and mental states, including depression, eating disorders, Tourette Syndrome, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety.
Expert Guidance and Support: With Maia as your guide and mentor, you can trust in her extensive experience and wisdom gained from 30 years of personal explorations. She is dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment for your inner journey, offering a resource of knowledge, inspiration, and support throughout your retreat experience.​​
Experience the power of psychedelics as tools for self-discovery and liberation, under the guidance of a trusted facilitator who is committed to your well-being and evolution. life has been that of a scholar, with a drive for information, deeper understanding and deeper connections, while freeing the minds of humanity from bondage and suffering.
Maia, a seasoned and esteemed guide, has personally guided thousands of individuals, just like you, in transforming their lives and altering their perspectives and relationships with themselves and the world. In addition, she collaborates with a team of experienced co-hosts and facilitators who bring their expertise and support to the transformational process. Together, they will assist you in unlearning, acquiring, remembering, and developing the skill-set needed to fully embrace the life that's waiting for you.
Choose a retreat with guides who can navigate their own altered states, because only then, can they know how to assist navigating your own.
Roots of Renewal --> Into 2025
4-Day Plant Medicine Cacao Journey
Val-David, Quebec (Montreal)
December 27 to 30, 2024
∞ Your Package Includes ∞
3- Night Luxurious Shared Accommodation
5 Delicious Meals
2 Snack Boxes for Day Outings
All Beverages
2 Plant Medicine Journey's
Cacao Infusion
Forgiveness Ceremony
Gratitude Ceremony
Breath Work Meditations
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Strom Nordic Spa
60-Min Nordic Massage
New Year 2024/2025 Celebration Dinner
Post Integration Included​​
$2275. CAD
- Transform your Life into Clarity -
