About this Retreat
Nikki grew up just outside Toronto, Canada and currently lives nestled amongst the Andes in the Sacred Valley of Peru. As a teacher dedicated to working with people with special needs and at-risk youth, she has devoted her life to being a support to others.
Coming from a background of addiction and depression, she was called to Peru in 2018 to start working with her teachers Bernard Kashagen and Chase Moore for a deep dive into her healing. Wanting others to experience the grace of the medicine as she has, she offers a safe space of presence and love, weaving in various mind, body, and energetic practices. She is a balance of grit and softness, embodying permission for each guest to explore their unique experience with the medicine.
With deep reverence for the magic that unfolds in ceremony and thereafter, she meets each individual where they’re at. She loves to play with life and you’ll often find her cracking jokes and laughing, seeking lightness and joy amidst the challenges of life.
Testimonials:
“Nikki is a rockstar! I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of different people in the psychedelic/plant medicine world. I’ve met good ones, average ones and terrible ones. Nikki is one of the best. She’s easy to work with. Kind and generous. She knows how to listen without inserting her own narrative or story. And she doesn’t give unsolicited advice (a sign of a pro). The emphasis has always been on me figuring my own shit out. No gurus. No high and mighty vibes. Nikki’s there if I truly need help… but otherwise, it’s between me and the medicine. That ability to step back is quite rare, and it’s why I think she’s one of the best people I’ve worked with. It’s where the magic happens, where I’m free to learn in my own way. If you’re looking for a psychedelic experience, with lots of crazy visuals and a peak experience, as well as someone to tell you what to think, believe and feel (a guru, in other words), Nikki’s not for you. But if you’re looking for the truth, about yourself and about life, and you’re willing to work for it, come what may (whether it’s beautiful, terrifying or somewhere in between), Nikki is a wonderful guide to the medicine. I trust her completely.” ~ John
“Nikki is an incredible facilitator - she is simultaneously a wise sage and salt-of-the earth in a beautifully balanced way. During ceremony, I felt really safe and cozy in her presence, like I had total permission to be myself and show up however I needed. I have historically had a difficult time purging, and I was finally able to purge in my ceremony with Nikki and that was a huge relief. She has a really solid foothold and connection to source and what is sacred, which helped me orient over and over again in ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony and I am deeply appreciative of my time with Nikki.” ~ Melanie
It is such a joy to be in a Huachuma ceremony with Nikki. She brings in so much love and light to her work... lots of laughs too. Her medicine has helped me tremendously in working through my past traumas and my overall mind-body-spirit alignment. I always feel safe and comfortable in Nikki's ceremony space. Nikki is a true professional, and her passion for her work and medicine comes through in all aspects of her life. I can't recommend her highly enough to those called to work with Huachuma. ~ James
Details of this retreat
Sacred Huachuma Experience
We invite you to experience the new paradigm of plant medicine care at Ananda Lodge.
Designed as a holistic, trauma-informed approach, we are here to guide and support you throughout the entire process. At Ananda Lodge we stand behind a duty to provide a space and a level of care that is attuned, empathetic, and rooted in the knowledge of trauma’s neurobiology. We believe this level of presence and care is essential for our guests to realize the full healing benefits of the medicine. We invite you to come experience the difference.
Experience the magic of intimacy, safety, and Huachuma in this all-inclusive 8 day/7 night retreat hosted by our somatic, trauma-informed medicine carrier, Nikki Szeghalmi. Trained in Peru, Nikki embodies a compassionate and grounding approach to working with the sacred medicine of Huachuma. Held in a stunning private location, surrounded by the enchanting magic of Mother Nature. Limited to only 8 people, this retreat is unlike any other you will experience.
Intimacy, Somatic Wisdom, & San Pedro
Supported by a medicine carrier trained in somatic trauma plant medicine facilitation, guests will experience 3 sacred ceremonies in luxury accommodations. Each guest will enjoy single, king bedrooms with open-air showers, Guanacaste wood finishings, and private balconies with a stunning ocean view.
As part of our holistic approach to trauma-informed support, participants will be thoughtfully guided throughout the entire process with a plant medicine specialist trained in somatic trauma care who will provide 2 somatic preparation sessions prior to the retreat, and 2 integration sessions after the retreat.
JOIN US IN A DEEP MEDICINE EXPLORATION LIKE NONE OTHER
The Medicine
Echinopsis pachanoi, San Pedro or also known as Huachuma, is a cactus revered as a sacred plant medicine for over 3,000 years in Peru. Growing in the high altitudes of the Andes mountains, the cactus has been used for its powerful medicinal properties by South American peoples for thousands of years. The name 'Huachuma' comes from the Quechua language of Peru and translates to 'removing the head,' perhaps symbolizing the dissolution of the ego.
Despite being sometimes overlooked, Huachuma possesses profound healing properties, facilitating deep exploration of self-imposed barriers and limitations. San Pedro is unique in that it does not have the same pharmaceutical contraindications that are present with ayahuasca, allowing those on certain medications to potentially explore the healing benefits of the medicine.
Taken during the day, San Pedro invites us to slow down and take in the beauty around and within us. Known as the grandfather medicine, with experiences lasting anywhere from 8-12 hours, Huachuma is known for being empathogenic, promoting unity with self, others, nature, and the greater spiritual universe. It is a medicine of the heart where we can experience connection with our true selves.
What Makes Our Approach Unique
Trauma-informed care is not a ‘check the box’ process. At Ananda trauma-informed is a way of being and is woven into our entire Continuity of CARE process.
At Ananda Lodge Retreats, we believe in providing a level of care that is unprecedented in the plant medicine retreat business. Our process emphasizes intimacy, preparation through education and somatic resourcing, onsite individual and group processing, and post retreat integration for a wholistic and comprehensive approach to your care.
Starting with a thorough intake process, our goal is to begin learning about you, your background, and how we can best support your journey. Following the intake process, you will receive an individual 75-minute somatic preparation session. This session will help you define a clear intention and how to leverage your unique resources to go deeper with the medicine.
Prior to arrival, we will host a group orientation call where you can meet your fellow pasajeros and the onsite support team. We believe this step in the process builds additional layers of safety and support for you.
Upon arrival you will be intimately welcomed by your onsite CARE team. We will host an orientation session aimed at making you familiar with the property and the onsite CARE team.
Throughout your stay, you will have access to 1:1 sessions with an assigned trauma-informed CARE member who will be with you throughout. These sessions are optional, and designed to provide additional support as you process feelings/sensations/insights from your experiences. Over the retreat you will also be invited to group shares and somatic integration workshops that help aid in your journey, including nature and art exploration.
We understand that continued care post-retreat is critical in your journey of plant medicine work. Following your departure, it is our pleasure to continue supporting your unique path of integration.
As part of our continuity of CARE experience, you will receive two additional 1:1 integration sessions with a trauma-informed somatic integration specialist. These sessions, spaced out over a period of time, are designed to support your ongoing integration and healing work.
We will host an online group integration session aimed at strengthening the connection you made with fellow pasajeros. And you will have access to post-retreat programs designed to deepen your healing and transformation work.
Integration Beyond The Norm
At Ananda Lodge, we hold the integration journey with the same reverence and sacredness as we have towards the plants and the ceremony itself.
Integration is a sacred endeavor to be honored with time, commitment, compassion, and grace. In the process of integration, we grow a deeper relationship with ourselves and a deeper understanding of our true essence.
Post retreat we offer 3 levels of tiered integration, embodiment, and transformation programs to deepen weave together the wisdom from the sacred plants.
Our Ripple Effect Healing Packages place a strong emphasis on the Somatic process, the intricate relationship between the body and mind, and empowering pasajeros to reunite with the innate intelligence of the body.
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