CLIMATE IN COMMUNITY
This is a weekend of deep sharing, listening and contemplation about our changing climate. Expect fire ceremonies, forest therapy, a sound bath, cacao and foraged teas.
Oct 13th - 15th, Just Love Forest
$375 for all programs, room and board
What is the intention of these retreats?
Our climate is changing. And the effects are far reaching. We now experience them in our daily lives. Most people we talk to are having a similar experience -
One day you read something and there is hope for change. The next day may trigger deep grief as you witness the pain, fear and suffering of these rapid changes.
We are in a period of extremes. And most of us long for consistency.
These retreats are not about teaching or solutions. They are not about wallowing in despair. And equally, they are not about unwarranted “hopium.” These are experiences to explore our collective emotions. We are reconnecting with the tools of deep listening, fire, nature, sound and community. This is a journey to get closer to your truth.
The intention of these retreats is to free ourselves from overwhelm and numbness. The hope is to become in touch with what is and to keep moving in a good way. The gift is to fall back in love with nature as ourselves.
This is a life of resilience.
Join us if you feel called.
Your Guides
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Brandon has worked on environmental and climate-related initiatives for the past 15 years and has been actively involved in promoting policies that help the planetary healing that is currently underway. His work chronicling the social impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill along with his time lobbying Congress for carbon pricing has put him face to face with some of the most instrumental leaders in the environmental justice movement. Brandon is an avid backpacker and his travels have taken him into the deep woods of Sweden, Tasmania, Colorado, California, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains in his native Southeastern United States, where he often goes to recharge. He has been a steward of Just Love Forest since its inception and was certified as a Forest Therapy Guide in 2021 by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. He serves as Firekeeper of the Stone Peoples Lodge, a native sweat lodge ceremony in north Georgia that convenes community for healing, growth, and transformation around each full moon.
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In 2019, Tyler Thompson was inspired to bring his father’s ideas to life. That is, to find a way to coordinate collective consumer action to advance market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Tyler is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Albania 2013-15) and cross-continental cyclist (7,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West, Florida). He has worked in government, for-profit and civil society sectors, including a corporate stint at Delta Air Lines.
Tyler and John’s work to ignite a green-consumer revolution begins in Tyler’s hometown with Atlanta Green Market events and a corresponding online marketplace for local, sustainable goods called The Environmental Solutions Store (TESS).
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Bala is the Head Steward of Just Love Forest. He’s a Georgia native and lover of nature. He began stewarding the forest three years ago. He’s also a forest therapy guide certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and a certified mindfulness meditation teacher graduating from Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach's 2-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certificate Program through the Awareness Training Institute and the University of Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. As part of this 2-year program, he also completed a 6-month DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Accountability) training.
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In 2015, after graduating with an M.S. in neuroscience, I followed an aching in my bones to leave academia. Soon afterwards, I began dramatically awakening to the Spirit-World realm and consciously embarked on my own healing journey.
During a master plant ceremony, I asked how to align fully with my soul mission and heard one clear word----SOUND. Thus, I began apprenticing under a Cherokee/Taíno/Choctaw healer, learning medicine songs from various lineages. This communion allowed my classically trained operatic sound to break into something much more powerful----my true voice. Soon thereafter, I began receiving medicine songs through my direct connection with Source Love.
After my vocal rebirth, I began helping others birth their authentic voices. I am honored to witness such powerful healing transformations as people’s hearts crack open, touched by their unique sound.
Our first Forest gathering will be oct 13th - 15th
This is a weekend of deep sharing, listening and healing with fire ceremony, labyrinth walking, forest therapy, a sound bath, cacao and foraged teas.
flow of the weekend
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13th
Theme: “Unpacking what you carry” deep sharing on our journeys and challenges
Arrival time at 5pm
Lite dinner will be served on Friday with tea and snacks in the evening. Please eat before arriving.
8:00pm - 10:00pm Opening fire gathering - Deep intro conversations in the yurt followed by a fire ceremony. This is a time and space to really share your journey and how climate has been a factor in it. We will have a chance to hear and know the paths of all who are sharing this experience with us.
Saturday, OCTOBER 14th
Theme: “Experiencing our emotional journeys in nature” - finding rest and resilience in the forest
7:00-8:00am - Morning meditation and breath work in the yurt
8:00-9:00am - Continental breakfast (bakery bread, nut butters, jams and fruits, teas and coffee)
9:00-11:00am - Morning discussion: How to Fall in Love with Nature
How to authentically be in relationship with precious natural spaces in your own way in the midst of climate crises.
11:00am - 12:00pm - Solo contemplation time
12:00 - 1:00pm - Lunch
1:00 - 4:30pm - Forest therapy experiences
4:30 - 5:00pm - Solo contemplation time
5:00 -7:00pm - Evening discussion: Exploring our experiences with climate grief
A somatic journey of tapping into grief and be aware of our bodies
7:00 - 7:30pm - Sunset gazing experience on Bhakti Mountain
7:30 - 8:00pm - Dinner on the mountain top
8:00 -9:00pm- Sound healing under the stars on the mountain top
sunday, OCTOBER 15th
Theme: “Resiliency as a renewal of a personal recommitment to ourselves” honoring our unique calls to self care & service
7:00-8:00am - Morning meditation and breath work in the yurt
8:00-9:00am - Continental breakfast (bakery bread, nut butters, jams and fruits, tea and coffee)
9:00-11:00am - Morning discussion resiliency with cacao ceremony
11:00am - 12:00pm - Solo contemplation time
12:00 - 1:00pm - Nature labyrinth resiliency ritual
1:00 - 2:00pm - Lunch
2:00 - 3:00pm - Closing discussion and gathering with foraged tea to offer to the land
3:00pm- Free time, clean up and departure
What’s THE Commitment?
The expectation is that you’ll be able to stay for the entire experience. arriving in time for the opening and staying for the closing. Community (common unity) takes commitment.
What does it cost?
$375+tax includes your stay in a beautiful, large canvas bell tent with one other tent mate who you’ll be paired with, all programs, wonderful hot showers and food. You will sleep on very comfortable tempur pedic twin or queen mattresses. If you are unable to pay this price and feel called to attend, please email bala@justloveforest.com.
Your Forest Home Awaits
We offer you a large, beautiful canvas bell tent with you own luxury tempur pedic mattress and linens. You’ll share this with up to one additional person.
716 acres of pristine, protected forest.
Our gathering space, a 30 ft yurt.
Hand-built with intention and love.
We also offer filtered municipal water, eco toilets and hot shower houses.
