High-Level Program Overview
Awaken is an invitation to remember who you truly are: whole, wise, and powerful. Guided by mycelial wisdom and held in a safe, trauma-informed container specifically curated for the queer experience, this retreat weaves ancient wisdom with modern care to support queer souls in reclaiming their innate vitality, clarity, and purpose.
Through two deeply held ceremonies, daily embodiment practices, and heart-centered integration, you’ll step into a space where your truth is welcomed and your potential is celebrated. Between ceremonies, the week flows with breathwork, movement, meditation, nature immersion, and creative workshops—each designed to help you embody your insights and live from a place of confidence and joy.
Who It’s For & Why People Come
Perfect for conscious explorers ready to:
- Connect with sacred plants in a safe, queer-affirming space.
- Remember and embody your innate wholeness.
- Step into greater clarity, purpose, and self-trust.
- Move past shame, outdated patterns, and self-limiting stories.
- Cultivate a deeper connection to your inner wisdom and the living world.
- Explore embodiment practices that spark creativity, self-expression, and queer joy.
- Reclaim the simple things that make life feel light, playful, and alive.
WhAT TO EXPECT
The Experience: Morning sun spills into the temple, warm against my skin. Last night’s journey cracked something open—washed away a heaviness I’d been carrying for years. Now the music starts, slow and delicious, a rhythm that sneaks under my skin before I can think. My hips sway. My arms rise. That old story—I’m not a good dancer—tries to surface, but I’m already laughing at it. It feels ridiculous now, like an old costume that never fit.
The beat builds and the whole space comes alive—bare feet stomping, fabric flying, bodies moving with abandon. Someone twirls past me, their grin wide and wild, and I can’t help but throw my head back and laugh. Joy floods in, uninvited and unstoppable. I’m moving not to perform, but because I can. The jungle hums, the drums pound, and my body is singing: I am here, I am free, and damn, I feel good.
Program Highlights:
- Two ceremonies inspired by indigenous lineage, held with expert, trauma-informed care
- Breathwork and intention-setting rituals to meet the medicine with clarity and heart
- Integration circles that are equal parts profound and heartwarming, where laughter and tears often share the same breath
- Daily meditation, reflection, and movement to keep your body and spirit humming
- Waterfall adventures to connect with stunning biodiverse nature
- Exploration of embodiment practices to consciously cultivate creativity, self-expression, and queer joy—welcoming the fullness of your emotions and experience
- Opening and closing rituals designed to foster reflection, connection, and vulnerability
- Thoughtful preparation before you arrive and compassionate integration after you return, so your growth keeps flowing
- Ongoing access to a vibrant online community of fellow journeyers who get you
- Facilitated by John Jacob Mubarak and Rocky Heron
Schedule Overview:
Mornings begin with intention—starting with meditation, reflection, and group sharing, followed by an embodiment practice. Late mornings bring breathwork, nature walks, or workshops designed to prepare body and mind for ceremony or deepen integration.
Afternoons flow between rest, riverside journaling, and skill-building sessions, with ceremonies held in the evenings on days 3 and 5. Between ceremonies, you’ll have time for grounding practices, integration, connection with others, and quiet reflection—balancing deep inner work with joyful moments in nature.
Investment & Logistics:
Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
Group Size: Limited to 20 participants for safety and depth of connection
Investment: Starts at $2,950 (see Program Guide for pricing details)
Scholarships: Available to those facing financial hardship, with documentation to support their application. Email welcome@qasa.house for more information.
Includes: All ceremonies, expert facilitation, accommodations, chef-prepared meals, airport transportation, preparation and integration support, and community access
Spiciness: Non-sexual sacred space, centered on empowerment, embodiment, and self-discovery
