Fall Equinox Nature & Nurture Retreat

Join us where the forest meets the sea, in one of the world’s largest & most beautiful archipelagos - to celebrate the Fall Equinox in CommUnity with: ✨Dance, Meditation & Yoga guided by an experienced teacher; ✨Daily Rituals with Mayan Ceremonial Cacao facilitated by a trained Sacred Facilitator; ✨Forest Walk to Forage Edible Mushrooms; ✨ Opportunities for Sauna & Cold Dips in the Baltic Sea; ✨ Shared Rooms at Local B&B Hotel NAGU OAK TREE; ✨& Healthy Plant-Based Meals Prepared by Professional Chef Lauri Ovaska!

✨ What to expect / an approximation of our schedule for the weekend:

We will work in flow with the energy of the group & taking into consideration fluctuations in the weather. We hope to have time for all of the suggested activities. The exact order & timing may be subject to change. The schedule as it appears below is an approximation, to give an idea what you can expect. All activities are optional. We hope you will join us as often as possible, especially for our opening & closing ceremonies; but more important to us is that you listen to your body, your heart & your own individual needs - so that you can leave on Sunday feeling nourished, nurtured & refreshed for the week ahead.

FRIDAY

Arrive & Settle In at Nagu Oak Tree

Openining Ceremony with Mayan Ceremonial Cacao

Free Time to Nurture Yourself - Alone or in CommUnity / Option to Swim in the Sea or Walk in the Forest

Welcome Dinner

Chill Time / Option to Sauna / Outdoor Fire ~ weather permitting

SATURDAY

Morning Meditation with Cacao Tea & All Levels Gentle Yoga

Breakfast

Nature Walk in the Forest - Optional Chaga Tea Meditations & Foraging of Edible Mushrooms

Lunch

Free Time to Nurture Yourself - Alone or in CommUnity / Siesta / Possibility to Swim in the Sea

Cacao & Dance with DJ Set

Free Time / Option to Sauna

Dinner

Yoga Nidra

Chill Time, Option to Sauna, Outdoor Fire ~ weather permitting

SUNDAY

Morning Meditation with Ceremonial Cacao & All Levels Gentle Yoga

Granola & Smoothie Bar

Free Time to Nurture Yourself - Alone or in CommUnity / Option to Swim in the Sea or Walk in the Forest

Integration Circle

Goobye Brunch

Closing Ceremony

Free Time to Nurture Yourself - Alone or in CommUnity / Option to Swim in the Sea or Walk in the Forest

Travel Logistics: The retreat will take place inside our home & in the surrounding forest, which is about a 5-10 minute walk from the neighboring B&B Hotel where you will sleep and about 10-15 minutes walk to the Sea. You are welcome to arrive early on Friday & stay later on Sunday. We have plenty of space for parking, for those planning to arrive by car. Buses run throughout the day from Helsinki Airport to Turku & then from Turku to Nauvo. The last bus to Turku leaves Nauvo somewhere around 18. The B&B Hotel where you will sleep is only about a 5 minute walk from the bus stop in Hangslax. We will confirm exact bus schedules in September. If you would like to spend any additional nights at the B&B Hotel, just send us an email to info@rakaskakaw.com; and we can put you directly in touch with the wonderful owners. Likewise, if you would like to extend your trip in the archipelago, please email us & we are happy to offer suggestions for other activities.

Get to Know Your Hosts, The Rakas Kakaw Family:

🤎 The Cacao Rituals, Medicinal Movement Practices, Ceremonies & Connection Exercises will be lead by Rakas Kakaw Founder, Nicole Flora Cramer. Nicole is a trained & experienced Cacao Guide, Sacred Facilitator of healing circles, and Teacher of Dance, Gymnastics & Yoga with over fifteen years experience teaching movement. Nicole has studied with Mayan elders from K'iche, Kaqchikel & Tzʼutujil lineages to deepen her understanding of cacao & Mayan culture. She works in ongoing partnership with The Mayan Wisdom Project.

🤎 The food & music we enjoy during our retreat weekend will be lovingly prepared by Nicole's beloved partner, Lauri Ovaska - aka DJ Laku. Lauri is a professional chef - with over 15 years of experience - and an amateur DJ with a deep love for flavorful food and a lifelong passion for music. When we dance & in the background of our indoor activities, you can expect to hear an assortment of global tunes selected by Lauri. Lauri will also prepare the delicious meals & snacks that we offer you throughout the weekend, as a nourishing gift - from Mother Earth to your tastebuds.

✨What is ceremonial cacao?

Cacao is a gentle plant medicine native to Central + South America. Theobroma means "food of the gods" in Latin, and cacao is an Olmec term meaning "bitter" and "water." This sacred heart-opening plant, which has been a central component in ancient Mayan culture for thousands of years, is now hailed in the Western World as a "superfood" packed with numerous nutrients that boost mood, ease stress + help fight disease.

From the Mayan perspective, ceremonial cacao is not simply a food; it is a SACRED MEDICINE intended to be consumed with conscious intention. In theory, cacao comes from the fruit of the same type of tree as all the other chocolate you’ve ever consumed. A few factors differentiate genuine ceremonial cacao from other cocoa products, however; including the history, production process & supply chain. The cacao we will drink in our circle comes from a Mayan-owned collective in Guatemala. The cacao beans are grown organically & regeneratively by indigenous farmers. Then the beans are turned into blocks of ceremonial cacao in a few steps. Almost the entire production process from planting to packaging of cacao “tortillas” is done by hand, following a centuries-old sacred process that has been handed down generation to generation within indigenous Mayan families. 

Consuming ceremonial cacao helps us return to the spiritual essence at the core of our human experience, easing connection with ourselves & with one another as well as nourishing our bodies, minds & spirits.

🤎Those who are sensitive to ceremonial cacao may choose to drink cacao tea instead. If you're allergic to cacao, we can also make a different heart-opening warm drink for you. Everyone will have an opportunity to try our delicious cacao tea as well as other plant-based teas & infusions during the weekend.

✨Who’s Invited?

Everyone native to Planet Earth is warmly welcome in our inclusive community cacao gatherings, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. If you are new to ceremonial cacao that’s not a problem. During our time together, nothing is forced or required other than showing up with an open heart. We follow strict safe space guidelines & ask that participants refrain from drug & alcohol use during all of our cacao events, including retreats.

✨ We believe that connection thrives best in smaller groups; therefore, space is limited to maximize intimacy.

✨ We need a minimum of 5 registered participants to hold a CommUnity Retreat.

✨ Tiered Pricing - includes all activities, meals, snacks & lodging:

Early Bird Rates until August 22nd - Regular 350€ 🤎 Reduced 325€ 🤎 Supporting 375€

Tiered Rates after August 22nd - Regular 400€ 🤎 Reduced 375€ 🤎 Supporting 425€

During times of growing wealth inequality, tiered pricing intends to make healing spaces more inclusive by making participation more financially accessible for all. Those who are able to pay the Supporting Rate help enable those with lower income to participate at a Reduced Rate. If the cost is the only reason keeping you from saying yes, email us at info@rakaskakaw.com to describe your situation  - additional discounts, exchanges, payment plans, or student/BIPOC scholarships can always be arranged.

Feel free to email us with any questions. A few days before the retreat, you can expect to receive an email with more details including our address, how to prepare for drinking ceremonial cacao, and what to bring with you for our NATURE & NURTURE weekend together in CommUnity. In the days leading up to our retreat, we will also invite you into a private chat group to communicate & coordinate with other retreat participants.

🤎 Book your seat in our Retreat today by purchasing your ticket here.

If you prefer to pay via bank deposit, send us an email to info@rakaskakaw.com & we will send you an invoice.