Set amongst a Breton horse-herd, join us for a transformative journey facilitated by

a South African Zulu nature guide and a Dutch Tibetan Buddhist facilitator.

5-DAYS RETREAT: 5 - 11 July 2025

With Sicelo Mbatha & Annick Nevejan & Saint-Jean’s team and thirty horses in Brittany, France

“Every encounter with wild creatures has brought symbolic messages to me; has brought me teachings that I could never find in a textbook. It has been my life’s path to rekindle the wildness in all of us; to bring people into the presence of wildness, and help open their souls to its beauty, wisdom, and infinite power to heal.”             Sicelo Mbatha

During this retreat, we will explore how to align with the ‘story of interbeing’; feeling our kinship with all life by learning to build and co-create spaces for renewal, reciprocity, healing, and reverence - specifically with the more than human world. For this we have the opportunity to engage with a large horse-herd, born and bred at this event’s unique location 'Saint Jean' and the surrounding Celtic Forest of Brocéliande in Brittany, France.

Sicelo Mbatha

We have the fortune to have Sicelo Mbatha joining us, a spiritual nature guide from South Africa, who will be our guide in fostering deep connections between humans, the horses and nature. He will invite us to learn from the indigenous Zulu wisdom of his people to ensure the right relationship with the vast community of life – and to act as a member of this larger family. We will explore experientially what inner and outer leadership emerges or revives from being grounded in care and interdependence.

Who is it for?

For anyone who is curious about deepening their connection with the human and more -than - human world. We hope to welcome people from diverse fields and background - from early-career professionals to elders, leaders, change agents, grassroots activists, coaches, artists, caregivers, social entrepreneurs and anyone else who is curious about how to play their part in the thriving of all life on Earth.

We ask participants to fully engage with the whole program, to have an intention to be open, curious and co-learn. Some prior experience in meditation, or other introspective disciplines is preferable. No experience with horses is necessary; no riding is involved.

For more information contact Annick Nevejan through our contact page of Spiritual Ecology Netherlands or through www.nevejan.net

What participants shared after this retreat in July 2024

'A wonderful web emerged, in which each could become who they were. Without the unnecessary interference of questions and explanations. What was there was allowed to be there, took firm shape or flew with the wind.

It was like being allowed to sit for a moment at the source of life, like being allowed to flow with your little stream with the great stream that carries us all. Something like that.'  Hermien Buyse

'The retreat left a strong impression on me, which is still having an enormous effect three weeks later. Christine's farm and the surrounding areas and landscapes were of great and profound beauty. She entrusted us with her own rooms and her beloved horses with an unconditionality that went straight to my heart. Annick and S’celo, who were the heart of the retreat, were incredibly empathetic and wise in guiding the deep and sensitive processes that several exercises triggered in me. They complemented each other perfectly in their very different ways.

For me the highlight of the retreat was the individual exercise in the encounter with me and one horse. The decision to go my own way in the way I relate to the horse was triggered and supported by everything that took place around this encounter. This unique experience has brought deep healing and is something I can draw on again and again. There were two points in the program that I found very touching: The Solo in the forest and the Truth Mandala according to Joanna Macy. The silence during the night walk, the encounter with the forest in the dark, the moon, the bat, the bumblebees in the flowers, all had a powerful effect through the silence in the group.'  Maria von Lenthe

'There is so much I can say about this retreat.

But let me stick to my experience with my son in the car on the way home to Amsterdam.

My son had also followed this retreat.

He is twenty-seven years of age.

He started the retreat, withdrawn, not able to express himself, closed.

He thought: what am I doing here.

On the way back home, which lasted for twelve hours he was a completely different person.

I can’t remember my son so vivid, joyful, full of speech, communicative.

He was open and loving.

Interested and clear.

We spoke for hours in a row.

I was very touched and moved by this metamorphosis.

And I enjoyed every minute of it.

He felt trust and he felt safety in himself.

I must say, I was gratefully flabbergasted.

He said: I am glad I said yes.'   Kees Hartveld

'I have been home for over two weeks now and still feel the retreat with the horses in my body. The week has brought me so much closer to nature...In short, Annick and Sicelo's guidance, Christine's immense hospitality and her dedication with the horses, Sioux the dog and the sublime meals made this retreat an unforgettable experiential journey. I will definitely be there again next year!' Evelyn