The Ultimate Medicine Retreat
It begins with the owners, Kimberly and Jason. It's quite obvious they have put their entire heart and soul into building this place, and now that it is built, they have turned their huge hearts towards the people they serve. The amount of care and attention to detail is unparalleled. So much of an experience with plant medicine depends on the safety of the container. You have to be able to fully surrender into the moment and trust the process you're going through. Kim and Jason made this easy. The other facilitator they brought in, Dana, was also highly knowledgeable and an incredible coach throughout.
The ceremonies themselves were varied and different, ranging from a traditional evening ceremony to an extended ceremony at dawn with sound healing and numerous instruments to a ceremony facilitated by musicians and healers brought in from Colombia. This planned variation was beautiful and allowed me to go deeper into myself than ever before.
When not in ceremony, the pacing of the retreat was perfect. We had powerful integration sessions the days following ceremonies, which included group shares and dyad work, along with guided meditations. They also brought in external facilitators for breathwork (INCREDIBLE), cacao ceremonies, and optional massage, reiki, spinal alignment, and other services.
The food they served was easily the best food I have ever had in a retreat setting and some of the best food I've ever had in my life. The chef, Camilo, put his heart into every meal and connected what he was serving to the unique needs of each individual as well as the timing of food with ceremonies i.e. lighter, refreshing food surrounding ceremonies and heartier food when possible.
The setting was absolutely beautiful and exactly the kind of place that allows you to actually slow down and actually take the time necessary to work on yourself. And it was facilitated by true professionals with huge hearts. I can't recommend this place enough and it comes with my absolute highest praise. Whether you are new to the space or not, if you are interested in sitting with plant medicine, you should explore the options here.
Ananda Lodge is as special as they come.