There is a groundedness that is palpable right at the beginning of the four-day retreat. Maren Lander and Kwali Kumara exude a yin yang balance between them that settles the room in the first session. Maren requests that should anyone begin to cry or go through something deeply painful or moving that nobody go over to console them, explaining that to do so shuts down their process. We were asked to send love from our hearts in a non-physical way, guided to support the group from a distance within the circle, and allow everyone to be in each beautiful moment as it arises. I found this advice quite profound.
In the centre of the room is a shrine where many crystal skulls hold court with a deck of aptly named ‘Dark Goddess’ cards laid around them. Outside of them is a huge snake skin, which Kwali informs us has been recently shed from her 13ft Burmese Python named Kumi, which is short for Kumara.