Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia
Up to 8 in group
Flexible Dates
About this Retreat
Eileen is a multi-talented individual with a diverse range of skills and experiences. She is a dedicated Plant Medicine Practitioner, a former humanitarian worker, a skilled journalist, and an intuitive tarot reader. Eileen has spent the last 12 years living in Cambodia, where she has been working hard to revive the country's ancient wisdom-keepers and their traditions, which were nearly lost during the Khmer Rouge era.
Eileen's journey began with a profound realization during a sacred medicine ceremony in the jungles of Ecuador, which opened up new possibilities for her. This experience has inspired her to pursue her passion for helping others discover their true purpose and live a life of courage, accountability, vulnerability, and personal freedom.
Today Eileen is using her extensive wisdom to guide her clients towards embracing their highest selves and opening up portals of freedom, abundance, and prosperity.
Eileen's work is enriched by her deep wisdom of the ancient science of the I Ching and modern Gene Keys, which she is passionate about studying. She has the opportunity to work with a diverse group of clients, including founders, academics, entrepreneurs, educators, and creatives, to help them discover their dharma and fulfill their true purpose in life.
Eileen started Somaya to encourage young Cambodians to embrace their sacred indigenous roots and embark on a path of radical healing and empowerment. Eileen McCormick's unwavering commitment to her soul's mission and dedication to reviving ancient wisdom is truly inspiring. She is a visionary and changemaker who is making a profound impact on the lives of her clients and the cultural heritage of Cambodia.
Asmita, a gifted healer, was chosen by the revered gurus and priests of her community at a tender age. They recognized her unique ability to connect with the unseen, bestowing upon her the power to honor the extraordinary at an early stage in life. Immersed in enchanting Hindu and Indian texts during her childhood, she imbibed tales that kindled her perception that every individual she encountered was, in fact, divine in disguise (god in drag).
Drawing from an amalgamation of personal experiences and immersive training with plant medicine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, Asmita resolved to devote her life to supporting Asian communities and individuals of other ethnicities.
Her mission was to help them uncover the tools and vocabulary within their ancestral languages, enabling them to transcend the generational torment suppressed for far too long. Reflecting the essence of her name, which signifies a valuing of one's own intrinsic worth, Asmita embarked on a fool's journey akin to that depicted in the Tarot. She boldly stepped off the precipice and discovered her true self along the way, ultimately honoring and finding her soul purpose.
Now, honoring her Indian heritage, Asmita dedicates herself to holding space and sharing her ancient wisdom. Nurture, guidance, and encouragement are offered to all those brave enough to seek their own form of self-expression and to rediscover their innate self-worth.
Harley is a member of an ethnic group in Cambodia, and from an early age, she realized that her mindset was different from those around her. As a young girl, she had many questions in her head, but these questions never quite got clear answers. She married at 14 in a bid to escape her past and find freedom, but after just one year, she divorced and pursued her high school education.
Upon finishing school, Harley stumbled upon Khmer martial arts, which transformed her life. Through her training, she experienced something deeper, a spirit of a warrior that changed her perspective significantly.
In 2021, Harley had a crisis moment; she felt disconnected from her spirit and lost her connection to social life for six months. Her senior Bokator instructor, who has been teaching in Cambodia for over 10 years, was a source of comfort during this difficult time, texting her to wake her up from bad dreams.
Learning to navigate these spiritual test, Harley connected with the Master of Yant Khmer in Siem Reap to gain more spiritual understanding. She went on to explore emotional constructs further, involved strange dreams and strange stories, culminating in mastering profound and divine energies.
Harley is a wisdom keeper at Somaya retreats she helps those who embark on a journey of healing to find their spiritual potential through customised, whole-person care. Her bespoke approach takes into account one's emotional and mental psyches.
She is an exceptional compassionate practitioners who helps teach people how to use the warrior spirit to find pure awareness and strength. She has many master teachers that she continues to work with her. As she progresses to master ancient khmer magical arts she invites the global community to learn along with her.
Dr. Hiromi Kawai is a doctor who went to the Kawasaki Medical College in Kurashiki, Japan, and got her degree there.
She practices Japanese alternative medicine and treats muscle pain with a mix of Japanese acupuncture and painful massage. Traditional Chinese medicine is used in Japanese acupuncture. Thin needles are inserted into certain spots on the body. A painful massage is a type of massage that uses deep pressure to release muscle tightness. Painful massages started in Japan more than a thousand years ago. They use deep pressure to loosen up tight muscles. It helps break up knots and clumps in the muscles. There is pain for a short time, but it typically goes away after that and the patient feels relieved.
Dr Hiromi also uses the Asada method to treat cancer. The Japanese physician Dr. Teruo Asada came up with the Asada method in the 1970s. It is a way to kill cancer cells by exposing them to the mumps virus. For the Asada method to work, the mumps virus is injected into the growth. The virus then makes copies of itself inside the cancer cells, which kills them. The virus is made to attack only cancer cells and not healthy ones.
Cancers like breast cancer, lung cancer, and brain tumors have all been treated with the Asada method. But the method can have side affects for some people, so those who want to see Dr. Hiromi need to first go through a series of tests in the lab.
Details of this retreat
At Somaya retreats, guests have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of Plant medicine ceremonies, which are conducted over a period of 7 days, with a total of 3 ceremonies. Bokator is a highly spiritual practice that has been derived from a spiritual source. It was designed to awaken the warrior spirit and energy of the people of the Kingdom. We are excited to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for both local and international spiritual seekers to explore the sacred connections between Soma/Ayahuasca, Bokator arts, the spiritual presence of elephants, and other traditional Buddhist spiritual practices. Our aim it to provide a platform where we revive ancient Cambodian magic to rebirth the next generation of wisdom keepers.
Somaya has locations in nature settings, and our longer-term retreat is based out of Terres Rouges Lodge in Ratanakiri province of Cambodia. This is done in partnership with the Airavata Elephant Foundation. People who go on Somaya retreats have a unique and life-changing experience. The retreats are meant to give people a deep look into Cambodia's indigenous cultures and customs. There, they can connect with the spiritual energy of the land and the elephants, who are considered to be the most spiritual animals in Cambodia.
The lodge
Terres Rouges Lodge is the only « boutique hotel » in the whole province of Ratanakiri.
Ideally situated on the edge of the Banlung lake, the Lodge is the combination of a Cambodian villa and luxurious bungalows in the middle of an exotic garden. It provides a unique opportunity to discover the history and the culture of the hill tribes, while taking advantage of the best services available in this remote part of Cambodia.
About Ratanakiri
Ratankakiri is a mountainous province situated at the north east of Cambodia,the population is sparse, mainly composed of tribes such as the Tampoun, the Kroeung, the Jaraï and the Katcha whose cultures and ways of life have remained practically the same since prehistory. Yet Ratanakiri did evolve a lot during the last decade, tens of thousands of lowland Cambodians have settled there converting much of the province to agriculture.
On these plateaus alternate bamboo forests, timber forests, clearings and scrubland. The region has a lot of waterfalls, caves, lakes, gold and precious stones mines. It is also home to the Virakchey National Park where wildlife is plentiful, the intrepid traveller might spot bears, wild boars, gaurs, eagles, hornbills and all sorts of birds…
Exploring Ratanakiri is almost as if you were going back to the origins of mankind.
Nature is superb, landscapes impressive, culture authentic but the trails are broken up, the red dust adheres to your skin and the conditions of life are harder than elsewhere in Cambodia.
About the retreat
At Somaya retreats, guests have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of Plant medicine ceremonies, which are conducted over a period of 7days, with a total of 3 ceremonies. What makes Somaya truly unique is the incorporation of the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator into the healing process. Bokator is a highly spiritual practice that has been derived from a spiritual source. It was designed to awaken the warrior spirit and energy of the people of the Kingdom.
The practice of Bokator is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the challenges faced during the Khmer Rouge regime, Grand Master San Kim Sean has worked tirelessly to revive this ancient art form and its teachings in Cambodia. Through his efforts, Bokator continues to inspire individuals to cultivate spiritual and mental courage.
We are excited to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for both local and international spiritual seekers to explore the sacred connections between Soma/Ayahuasca, Bokator arts, the spiritual presence of elephants, and other traditional Buddhist spiritual practices. This integration offers participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in the genuine spirituality of the Khmer Empire, a kingdom that once thrived as one of the greatest in the world and is poised for a resurgence.
Somaya Community not only preserves and revives traditional Cambodian practices, but also supports the promising field of psychedelic assisted therapy. We are excited to offer workshops throughout the retreat that will help us set positive intentions for each plant medicine ceremony. In the long term, we are optimistic about expanding towards mental health research.
Somaya Community not only preserves and revives traditional Cambodian practices but also supports psychedelic assisted therapy, which has the potential to bring about positive change. We are excited to offer workshops throughout the retreat that will help us set positive intentions for each plant medicine ceremony. In the long term, we are excited to explore opportunities to expand into the field of mental health research.
Experience the transformative and unique healing journey at Somaya Community, where you'll be surrounded by the ancient wisdom of plant medicines, the spiritual energy of Bokator, and the presence of sacred elephants, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Cambodia's rich cultural heritage. Join us for an unforgettable experience! Experience the rich spirituality of the Khmer Empire and join the movement to revive the ancient wisdom and healing traditions of Cambodia.
Even if you can't make it to our 7 day retreats, you can still enjoy a wonderful 3 day rustic jungle experience with us! The location is flexible and adapts to the changing rainy season. We are thrilled to offer the services of our highly skilled practitioners who are available for sessions in Phnom Penh. Please email us to learn more about how we can help you.
Somaya approach
we provide curated pre ceremony workshops or sessions to help guide and direct your attention to what you would like to get our of the ceremony. This is the time we will help you answer questions and help you to know what to expect during your shamanic tea ceremony.
Ceremony phase is done in a safe environment where plant medicines practitioners are there to help navigate your blocks and empower you to access the space where solutions and healing already exist with in you.
Integration is where you and the plant medicine practitioners give meaning to the insights you’ve gained and put into action the breakthroughs you’ve uncovered during your discovery and exploration sessions. Through tangible actions that can be integrated into your everyday life, we derive lasting change from your psychedelic experience.
Airavata Elephant Foundation
Somaya believes in reciprocity which is why we carefully selected the right collaborative partners to give the most to you and nature. In the old days every Ratanakiri tribe had its own elephants and the forests were so full of them that Vietnamese, Lao and Thai people came to capture them in Cambodia!
Elephants were on the verge of immediate extinction, as a result so was the knowledge and wisdom passed on from generation to generation by families of elephant hunters and mahouts. AIRAVATA Foundation decided to buy the very last remaining animals, Ratanakiriri could not be stripped of one of its most prestigious symbols.
Part of our packing price goes directly towards the elephants, the lodge that donates to the causes and indigenous and local people. We our committed to Finically transparency all our profits after expenditures goes back towards community projects in Cambodia, partial or full scholarships for local participants, and continue education and self development for our team.
*****this retreat is planned for 7 days every month****
***** Small group sizes max 8 participants******
***** please note we want to be as flexible as possible we only require that 1 participant sign up*****
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