INTERNATIONAL GAY RETREAT
Sabbatical Announcement for 2025
Dear friends,
We want to let you know that we will be taking a sabbatical for the year 2025. This means there will be no International Gay Retreat or Intimate Connection Weekend during this time. The reason for this pause is that we need to dedicate our energy to a couple of other important projects in our lives.
We are considering returning in 2026, so if you’re interested in future events, please sign up for our newsletter through the contact form on our website. We’ll keep you updated and send an email if and when new events are planned.
As we take this break, we will deeply miss the incredible men who have joined us over the last 12 years, especially those who attended multiple times and became such an integral part of our community. Your presence, energy, and connections have meant the world to us, and we’re so grateful for all the memories we’ve shared together.
In the meantime, we’re excited to share that Hunter, from Spirit Journeys, will be organizing a Maria Magdalin trip in Europe in 2025, as well as hosting additional events in the USA. If this interests you, visit the "Spirit Journeys" page on this website or go directly to www.spiritjourneys.com for more details.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to connecting with you again soon!
Warm wishes,
Danny, Hunter & the GaySpiritFriends Team
2024 INTERNATIONAL GAY RETREAT
Joyful exploration, relaxation, fun and intimacy for GBTQ-men.
Co-created by GaySpiritFriends & Spirit Journeys.
When: Saturday Oct 5th - Thursday Oct 10th, 2024.
Check-In: Saturday, October 5th, 14.00h (2 pm)
Farewell: Thursday, October 10th, 12.00h (12 pm)
Where: Charneux, Belgium
IN SHORT: WHAT IS OUR WEEK ABOUT?
Join us on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment at our gay retreat, where the hero within you awaits. Step into the unknown, leaving behind societal constraints, and embrace your true identity with pride. Join fellow GBTQ men as you step into a safe space, where acceptance and belonging are nurtured. Our facilitators will guide you through the challenges, helping you unlock your potential to thrive. Explore the depths of your being in workshops designed to cultivate personal growth and connection. Return home transformed, armed with newfound confidence and new tools to grow and flourish.
The International Gay Retreat is built around four themes:
- Exploring the gifts in your shadows; what are our obstacles and challenges.
- Celebrating your unique talents and gifts; what are our character strengths and resources.
- Seeking a new vision and setting new intentions; what are our values that help us navigate our lives; setting meaningful goals.
- Integrating and implementing all of these new insights when you go home again.
WHY JOIN A RETREAT?
The magic of a retreat!
No matter how happy we are in life, a retreat offers us the opportunity to get away from the daily hustle of our lives and to distance ourselves from everything we think we know.
It offers the possibility to experience ourselves, others and the world in a new powerful way.
We create a safe space to re-experience what really matters to us, see our potentials and set new intentions.
With new intentions set, we can experience a new reality in our daily lives.
WHY A RETREAT for GBTQ men?
Connection and Community: The Heartbeat of the GBTQ Experience.
In a world that often feels isolating, connection and community are pillars of strength for GBTQ men. These bonds provide a sanctuary where we can express our true selves, share our joys, and navigate our challenges without fear of judgment.
Many GBTQ men face "gay community stress", the unique community-specific pressures and challenges within their communities. These unique stressors can impact mental and emotional well-being and can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety and depression.
This is where the power of community comes into play. Being part of a supportive group helps mitigate these stresses, offering a network of shared experiences. Within a nurturing community, we find acceptance and inspiration to embrace our individuality and collective identity.
At our retreat, we help men learn about self-care, mutual support, and forming healthy relationships. We will create an environment where vulnerability is met with compassion, and every story is valued. This collective healing experience strengthens our resilience, enriches our connections, and empowers us to bring these positive changes back to our daily lives.
By investing in these connections, we improve our well-being and contribute to acceptance and equality. Remember, we are stronger together. Let's cherish and cultivate these connections, for they are the heartbeat of our shared experience.
THE PROGRAM
We offer a variety of workshop experiences during the week and a multidisciplinary approach.
Some of the workshops that you will experience during the week will be described below.
21st CENTURY
CONSCIOUS CONNECTED BREATHING
Our breath is a powerful tool for health, healing, and transformation.
At the retreat, Hunter will introduce you to 21st-Century Conscious Connected Breathing.
He will provide you with amazing insight into your own breathing patterns, exercises to free your breath and practical skills you can use every day for the rest of your life.
Drawing from the latest discoveries of interpersonal neurobiology, polyvagal theory, sports physiology, and proven spiritual practices from around the world, the conscious breathing practices offered can set your breath and your life free.
With powerful conscious breathing, you can:
- Breathe easy, recharge, relax, sleep better, and feel more at ease in your body.
- Relieve the symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and the little traumas life brings.
- Cultivate awareness, self-love, authentic power, and spiritual connection.
NATIVE AMERICAN
SWEAT-LODGE TRADITION
Hunter will introduce you to the Native American Sweat-lodge tradition.
He has trained, been initiated, and been given permission by his Two-Spirit Native Elders to pour water for (to facilitate) this ceremony and share these teachings and has been offering profound and safe sweat lodge ceremonies for over twenty years.
Sweat lodges have been or still are a tradition in many cultures around the world, including here in Europe.
It is, among other things, a very powerful ritual for purifying body and mind, connecting you with your own truth, and revealing new possibilities in your life.
It has the power to transform you in ways you couldn't imagine.
Hunter will guide you through the process in a very gentle, loving, and expert way, with the greatest respect for everyone’s personal boundaries.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
The science of well-being and flourishing.
Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on understanding and promoting well-being, happiness, and fulfillment in individuals and communities.
An important element in positive psychology is identifying and leveraging individual character strengths and values. By recognizing and utilizing our unique strengths, such as creativity, kindness, or perseverance, we can align our actions with our core values, leading to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Setting meaningful goals that are aligned with our values and strengths is also crucial in Positive Psychology. By clarifying our aspirations and breaking them down into manageable steps, we can work towards realizing our optimal potential and leading a more purpose-driven life.
Our retreat will provide participants with practical tools and insights drawn from Positive Psychology to enhance their well-being, cultivate happiness, and navigate through life with greater meaning and fulfillment.
ABOUT OUR ACCOMMODATION
The old stone farmhouse dates back to + / - 1650 and originally served as a syrup distillery. Nowadays the farmhouse is used as a holiday accommodation after thorough renovation.
The accommodation is situated on a hill with beautiful views over the meadows. It is located in Herve, in the triangle Maastricht-Liege-Aachen. The accommodation has a large capacity and an interesting layout of rooms and floors. It exudes nostalgia and atmosphere and has many surprising rooms and corners to discover. The property also has a large attractive workshop space, where we will withdraw for the workshops.
OVERVIEW OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION