Voice Medicine Retreat

Location icon
Casa Floresta, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Date
January 10 - 16, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Voice Activation; exercises to open your voice and establish a personal vocal practice
  • Voice exploration through emotion
  • Getting started in Harmony; how to find harmonies to accompany the main melody
  • Improvised Song & Sound techniques
  • Vocal Toning & Tuning
  • Song writing & composition
  • Circle singing workshops
  • Song sharing; learn over 20 new medicine songs & chants
  • Forest Path Chanting Concert
  • 4 nights/ 5 days shared accommodation at the lakefront Casa Colibri
  • Casa Floresta Lake Temple
  • Optional Add-on; Ayahuasca Ceremony Jan 17th and 18th With Letizia Xiuh and Shahaf Schvarzman

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

Join a transformative 5-day retreat led by Hayley Saraswati, Letizia Xiuh, and Shahaf Schvarzman, presenting the unparalleled power of your voice as medicine. Dive into a deep blend of voice work, yin & restorative yoga, ritual, and ceremony, all to unearth authenticity, expression, and connection. In the protective embrace of our retreat community, you'll traverse self-care, intimacy, vulnerability, and the profound depths of music and singing. This is more than just a retreat – it's a journey to unchartered territories of consciousness, rich with inspiration and connection.

This unique retreat is not just about self-discovery. It's about transformation and healing. We provide a nurturing environment that fosters change, helps in shedding old beliefs, and paves the way for new insights. Whether you're bathed in bliss or navigating inner purification, we will support and guide you. As you return to your Self, you will carry away unforgettable memories, soulful music, and integrative exercises to elevate your everyday life and connection to your own voice as a healing tool. 

The retreat welcomes both women and men, regardless of their musical background. Whether you're eager to unveil the beauty of your voice, see vocal exercises as healing rituals, or are a therapist looking to broaden your horizons, this retreat has something for you. Activities range from Vocal Discovery and Sound Baths to Song Circles, all set amidst the serenity of a private cove on the shores of Lake Atitlán. What sets this retreat apart is its unique blend of music, self-discovery, and connection to the earth. It's about liberating your voice, and in turn, your power, all while forging deep connections with your heart and soul. Embrace a journey that will transform fears, ignite love, compassion, and joy, and introduce you to the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Atitlán. Come, be a part of this magical expedition that promises inspiration and a renewed direction for your life.

 


Highlights of the Retreat;

Voice Activation; exercises to open your voice and establish a personal vocal practice
Voice exploration through emotion 
Getting started in Harmony;  how to find harmonies to accompany the main melody
Improvised Song & Sound techniques
Vocal Toning & Tuning
Song writing & composition
Circle singing workshops
Song sharing; learn over 20 new medicine songs & chants
Forest Path Chanting Concert
4 nights/ 5 days shared accommodation at the lakefront Casa Colibri
Casa Floresta Lake Temple 
Optional Add-on; Ayahuasca Ceremony Jan 17th and 18th With Letizia Xiuh and Shahaf Schvarzman

 


Flow of the Days
8:00 - 9:00 am Vocal Practice

9:00 - 9.30 am Smoothie & Tea Break

9.30 - 11:00 am Morning Workshop

11:00 - 1:00 pm Brunch 

1:00 - 3:00 pm Afternoon Workshop 1

3:00 - 3:30 pm Snack

3:30 - 5:00 pm Afternoon Workshop 2

5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner

6:30 - 8:00 pm Evening Activity

 
Your Retreat Facilitators

Hayley Saraswati
Hayley Saraswatī embodies the essence of the creative Mother, balancing loving softness with a graceful strength. Her powerful presence inspires and empowers others to step into their full potential, through vibrant authenticity and awakening to the expansive joy of the heart.

Since creating The Yoga Forest, the Conscious Living Retreat Center she founded in 2009, Saraswatī has wholeheartedly offered herself through the path of devotion; offering kirtan, sound ceremonies, voice workshops and singing circles, Forest Path medicine retreats and Sound Ceremony Trainings for the past decade and a half. Her dedication to creating and holding a safe space allows the veils to fall away, inspiring spontaneous expression and the authentic embodiment of the Truth - all is Love. 

Weaving together her passion for ceremony, beauty and natural design, she has since designed and created Kula Maya Boutique Hotel & Spa, and the recently built Casa Floresta family home and Ceremonial Center.

Hayley Saraswatī is also one of seven co-founding members of the Kula Collective, an organization weaving together diverse holistic experiences and educational yoga offerings through combined passions and a collective intention of global awakening.

 


Letizia Xiuh
Born in Venezuela, Letizia Xiuh has been living and sharing her medicine magic in the Sacred Valley of Peru for almost a decade.

A Medicine Woman by blood, she holds 5th generation native medicine lineage from the North of Peru and since training as an Ayahuasquera has sat in and held over a thousand Ayahuasca ceremonies.

Letizia also holds powerful and transformative Sweat Lodges that are guided by the elements, Medicine cross teachings and her own studies and experiences of the Red Road.

Her commitment to the medicine path, is guided by grace and has led her to sit with elders and masters from a vast array of tribes and traditions - giving her an unparalleled depth of insight and wisdom. She has completed a first commitment learning from Grandmothers of the Mexican Moon Dance and keeps learning with elders who hold Peyote Medicine from the Wixarika-Huichol tribe. 

Guided by the Medicine Cross and nature based spirituality, including the 7 Directions teaching in how she lives and serves, Letizia holds a heartfelt mission to heal all our relations. A talented musician and beautiful songstress, she offers ancestral sound healing and song as part of all her offerings. She offers a safe and nurturing sacred space as she guides you to journey into the depths of your being to find your own capacity to heal and connect to your highest potential and purpose.


Shahaf Shvarzman
Shahaf is a musician, medicine woman and a tattoo artist who love to connect with spirit in all forms of art. She has been living in Peru for the past 7 years and recently moved to Costa Rica, working with the medicine for 10 years. As part of her commitment to medicine path, she works with the Amazonian tribes of Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil learning their traditions an music. 

With the Shipibo tribe, she has studying with master plants such as bobinzana, noyarao, chiricsanago through dietas and jungle living. From the Brazilian tribe huni Kuin, katukina, nukini and the Santu daime community learning the ways of nixipa, daime, rapé, sananga and kambo.

She is supporting and holding ceremonies of abuelita and wachuma, with love en respect for all of the traditions and cultures. 

She is also committed to the path of the moon dance and the pipe prayers.

Guiding circles of voice opening as a tool of expansion, connection and expression, 

understanding the power of your voice as a tool connect with divinity. Music is one of her biggest passion, she’s studying and collecting music from different cultures around the world. 

Her original music is shared online and can be found on Spotify. 

Shahaf offers her hand poke tattoos as a ritual of transformation and integration for significant moments in her clients life in a ceremonial and sacred space.
Pricing
Pricing for 6 nights:
USD$1195 Shared Accommodation at Casa Colibri (next door)

USD$1595 Private Accommodation at Casitas Aurora* (next door)

USD$795 Offsite**

With extra 3 night Add-on (2 Aya Ceremonies with Letizia Xiuh & Shahaf Schvarzmann)

$1795 Shared Accommodation (9 nights total accommodation)

$2295 Private Accommodation (9 nights total accommodation)

$1145 Offsite (Temple sleeping)

Schedule

Flow of the Days

8:00 - 9:00 am Vocal Practice
9:00 - 9.30 am Smoothie & Tea Break
9.30 - 11:00 am Morning Workshop
11:00 - 1:00 pm Brunch
1:00 - 3:00 pm Afternoon Workshop 1
3:00 - 3:30 pm Snack
3:30 - 5:00 pm Afternoon Workshop 2
5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner
6:30 - 8:00 pm Evening Activity
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Forest Path, Casa Floresta, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Directions

To arrive, take the boat from San Marcos in the direction of Panajachel and be sure to tell the driver Casa Floresta Pasajcap (if they do not know it, say next to Casa Colibri Pasajcap) before you get on the boat, as it will be the first stop. You will need to pay Q5 to the driver.

Accommodation

Shared rooms and offsite accommodation options are available.

6 Nights - Shared Accommodation Casa Colibri
6 Nights - Private Accommodation Casitas Aurora
6 Nights - Offsite
9 Nights - Shared Accommodation Casa Colibri + Ceremonies
9 Nights - Private Accommodations Casitas Aurora + Ceremonies
9 Nights - Offsite Retreat + Temple sleeping for Ceremonies

Venue & Amenities

Casa Floresta, Pasajcap, Guatemala

The recently built Casa Floresta is directly on Lake Atitlan in Pasajcap, between San Marcos la Laguna and Tzununa. This is the home of the Forest Path Temple where Sound Ceremony courses and Forest Path ceremonies are held exclusively in Guatemala.
With lake access in a clean and quiet private bay for swimming, Casa Floresta is a beautiful space conducive for the transformational work.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegetarian meals.

What's Included

  • Accommodations, meals and tuition

What's Not Included

  • Airfare, airport transfer, health insurance etc.

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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First time-Highly Recommend
I am so glad I chose Forest Path for my first aya immersion ceremony. I did 4 nights total with 3 ceremonies. I felt very safe and well taken care of by the entire team. Very important for my first time. Really really nice facilities. Great bathrooms near the temple. The temple is beautiful, right on the lake. I had so many wonderful break through sand this really changed my life. The food was excellent. The schedule was perfect. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you have decided to try aya, this is a wonderful place to start. You won’t regret it!

5.0
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Beautiful, beyond words experience
I was very nervous and scared before this ceremony as it was my first time sitting with Ayahuasca. I had many fears from what I've heard others say about their experience. I approached Ayahuasca very respectfully and slowly, asking her to please be gentle with me.
She was extremely loving, delicate and gentle with me.
She helped me realize that fear is darkness and we are beings of light. She helped me realize that I always have and always will be divinely protected and guided.
As tears of pure love and joy fell down my cheeks I laughed all my fears away as I realized all of what she was saying.
I am honored to have been able to sit down with Ayahuasca in such a beautiful place.
The Icaros sounded divine, I am sure that angels were sitting with us as Letizia was singing.
I have great respect and trust in Jaya and Hayley, having known them from before already, I knew this was the right place and time to sit with this divine magical medicine.
I have been practicing meditation and yoga for years now, and I had just finished a month-long meditation course the day before the ceremony.
I believe all of his helped.
I encourage anyone looking for soul medicine to sit with Ayahuasca, specially in such a safe and secure environment as Casa Floresta.

The only advice I can give is be sure to prepare yourself beforehand, to be respectful, come with an intention and ask her to be gentle, she will !

It took me almost a month to write this review. I took a long time to integrate.

I am grateful beyond words and so happy to be able to tell others with all sincerity, there is nothing to fear but fear itself 💫

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Mafer

🪷🙏🏼💗

5.0
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Amazing heart opening experience!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I had an amazing time at this retreat and it is more than what I could have hoped for.
The organization and facilitation was impeccable with all the little details taken care of.
The organizers and facilitators were devoted to providing the best experience to all participants.
The location and view is magnificent!
It was hard to leave as my heart and my voice felt so open and I felt connected to my SELF as well as to the group that has become like a family!

5.0
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Amazing experience at Forest Path!
I had an amazing time at this retreat and it is more than what I could have hoped for!
The organization and facilitation was impeccable with all the little details taken care of.
The organizers and facilitators were devoted to providing the best experience to all participants.
The location and view is magnificent!
Big Thank You to all organizers and participants, I hope to be back again soon!

5.0
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Beautiful, safe space for ceremony
Had a very beautiful time at Forest Path - the space held and create by Hayley and Jaya and the rest of the team was great - the physical location is amazing - and everything surrounding the retreat organized.

Highly recommend - a much lighter, sweeter, ceremony experience as well, if that is what one is seeking