The Synthesis Institute

Exceptional. Marvelous. Even though I didn’t know the majority of the megapode facilitators before the retreat, I felt almost immediately at home with them. They proved an enormous resource throughout the retreat. Their teamwork was a remarkable model for me going forward as well. I felt supported, held, and given space to grow in my own way. Magnificent!

The experience of being TOGETHER was even more mind-blowing than I’d expected. I already knew that this was an extraordinary group of people — but I had no idea of the extent to which that was true until we were physically together in one place. The openness, attentiveness, attunement, intelligence. and gentleness of the staff was extraordinary.
On how the Immersion informed one’s personal practice: “I feel an even greater draw than usual to slow down, spend time in nature, and give myself space to breathe. The conversations I had with both fellow participants and staff will be influencing my personal practice and my outlook on life for a long while. The experiences of the retreat went very deep indeed.

Everyone was super-helpful, respectful, and friendly. Couldn’t ask for better.

I would emphasise how the different lenses all worked to inform each other and therefore made the overall offering richer. I would also talk about how Synthesis has consistently promoted the value of "walking the walk", so not just lip-service, but the actual lived embodied commitment to our own wholeness; only then can we be taken seriously to facilitate someone else's journey towards wholeness.

It’s difficult to know quite where to start in describing how these days exceeded all my expectations. I have never been looked after as well on all levels. Like staying with your favourite grandmother with benefits. From the minute we arrived, I left welcomed, safe, held. The walk from taxi to room - guided and handed over between Synthesis staff.. I learnt so much about myself, to witness how to hold space in the most gentle and exquisite way, about the real meaning of communitas that has affected me at a cellular level and will stay with me forever. To experience such love and kinship - such understanding. I left forever changed. Forever grateful.

Quite an exceptional group of people who clearly had incredible passion for the work. Staff almost floated at times. The way they held space, cared with lightness and compassion for those journeying and afterwards. The acts of kindness. For each and everyone of you. Thank you - including the amazing chefs and people who did our laundry.

This training provided diverse and thorough lessons with excellent facilitators. The four lenses were beautifully blended within each track, one supporting the other. The amount of information seemed too much at time, yet it all worked, especially when there was enough time for pod meetings. The faculty is brilliant! The support (again, Courtney is the bomb) team were so helpful, especially with details around practicum and Immersion. And I cannot say enough about the learning mentors and the capacity they had to hold each pod member with such respect and care. I know more about myself as a practitioner because we all, as a larger cohort, supported each other and will continue to support each other through Immersion in The Netherlands. Thank you Synthesis. This was an amazing Journey - like the ceremony: it showed me what I needed and connected me with myself and others.

How do we create a more beautiful world for our children? How do we restore the sacred that has been lost from our lives? How do we live lives of compassionate, loving kindness, grounded in our bodies, in traditions but also in all the precious knowledge that science offers? How do we live our lives as fully expressed individuals, while also being vital contributors to the societal networks? I went in to the psychedelic training with all these questions- and not only was I taught precious lessons but most importantly, I was SHOWN. That a more beautiful world IS possible, that the sacred CAN be restored. That we can have difficult, challenging experiences, and still be held in calm, loving, kindness. What the people at Synthesis have created is the most profound, exquisitely beautiful experience of my life, that has opened up hope and unlimited possibilities for me and my family.