26 July - 1 August | Summer retreat

NATURE REFLECTING

A week to reflect and create with nature

What to Expect

In this week, we find time, space, and community to explore where we are — inside and outside. Through meditation and movement, we arrive at poetic expressions of ourselves. Using what we collect in nature, we create. This week explicitly offers room to make things, by hand and together.

Sometimes we find what we were not looking for. We thought we were looking for something, but we find something else, an unexpected moving little treasure… That’s serendipity.

In this week we welcome moments of serendipity. 

❋ Serendipity

The moving meditation sessions are led by Zoe Joncheere. She gently invites our bodies to move, to explore, to be quiet or wild, and listen. Through active meditation and guided conscious dancing we get to know ourselves a little further. We collect information and find how that is reflected by more-than-human nature surrounding Amiglia. 

❋ Moving Meditation

Esther van Casteren will guide us with her expertise as a visual artist, first helping us attune to what nature offers us to create with, and then introducing techniques to bring those materials to life. We will sculpt, draw, print, sew…

What we create becomes a meditative and poetic reflection on ourselves, on life, and on nature. Picture a long table in the shade where we work together—while those who prefer their own rhythm can find a quiet corner somewhere at Amiglia and create there, too.

❋ The joy of making 
❋ A Supportive Space

We prioritize comfort, safety, and respect—so you can show up as you are and feel free to follow your own needs.

❋ Expert Facilitation

Led by experienced guides who know how to hold space, encourage participation, and keep things moving with purpose

Daily Schedule

Reflecting Nature Week

The program consists of:

Nobody’s Dance morning practice

Daily one hour session of dream sharing + guided active and silent meditation.

Daily two hour session of artistic invitation and guidance.

Time and space to further create in your own rhythm

Evening session of sharing and visualisation.

Practical Details

Nature Reflecting Week

Accommodation is full board:

  • private or shared room, always with bathroom
  • sheets and towels included
  • three home-cooked vegetarian meals a day (where possible with vegetables from the garden)
  • Find more about the accommodation here.

Price:

  • The basic price is the price to stay at Amiglia as a guest. 
  • Private room: €450/6 nights
  • Shared room: €330/6 nights
  • The donation suggestion for the program is €440. We want this retreat to be accessible for those who truly feel called to participate, regardless of their budget. We trust that those who can, will contribute a larger share. To keep prices democratic, and because it is connecting us to each other, your are asked to do one hour of karma yoga a day (cooking, dishes …)

  • What I love about Esther is her love of making things, her soft sparkling joy about creating, whether that is drawing, sculpting, or bringing together materials collected during walks in this world. I am moved by her humble being, her sense of gratitude, and her lively presence.

    Zoe Joncheere

  • She is. With an open heart and abundant trust, Zoë moves through life. She dances, she guides. She creates a space to be yourself and follow your senses, just by being her. I love her lightness and playfulness, her gentle strength, and her refined sensitivity to see beauty in simplicity.

    Esther

How It Works

  • The retreat starts on Sunday with an evening session. We like you to land at Amiglia before.

    We’ll end the retreat on Saturday in the morning.

  • Amiglia offers private rooms and shared rooms. Check out on our website what suits you best.

  • Provide us with all the information we need. You can also tell us if you would like to arrive on an earlier day or stay longer. Don’t forget to mention if you have a special diet.

  • We will confirm your registration and you will receive an email with extra information a few weeks before the start of your retreat.

    We will also provide you with information about how we like to receive your donation once you have arrived.

  • It’s easy to come by train to Amiglia. The Spigno (Monferrato) railway station is at less than 5km and we are happy to pick you up (for free). The closest airport is Genova. Sometimes it’s more convenient to fly to Milan. Let us know if you are looking for co-driving partners. Maybe we can help.

Book Your Stay

This retreat takes place:

26 July - 1 August | Summer retreat