Thursday, August 27 - Sunday, August 30
Escondido, California
You are invited to step away from the rhythms of everyday life, reconnect with what truly matters, and support your mind, heart, body and soul in coming into greater coherence.
This retreat draws from wisdom traditions that honor Spirit and nature as profound sources of healing, guidance and remembrance. During this sacred time, we will enter a shared ceremonial field through ritual, sacred song, movement, intuitive guidance, nourishing meals and time in nature—creating the conditions for deep restoration, meaningful connection and lasting transformation.
What to Expect
-
Our two main ceremonies call upon the healing frequencies of sacred song passed down through our facilitators’ lineages and devoted personal relationships with plant and Spirit teachers.
Ceremonies invite participants to step into the ancient practice of earth-based ritual to enter meditative spaces, awaken personal insight, healing and devotion.
-
Authentic Movement is a contemplative, body-centered practice that invites us to quiet the thinking mind and listen deeply to the innate wisdom of the body. With eyes gently closed and supported by the compassionate presence of a trained witness, participants follow spontaneous movements that arise naturally from within, often uncovering insights, emotions and creativity that lie beneath everyday awareness.
Rooted in psychology, mindfulness and dance/movement therapy, the practice offers a powerful pathway toward greater self-awareness, authentic embodiment and healing.
-
Our ceremonies create space for both collective and individual energy work — calling upon the natural healing frequencies of plant and Spirit teachers.
-
Our facilitators each bring years of experience working as licensed therapists, intuitive coaches, oracle card readers, etc. Each participant will have the opportunity to connect with them for 1:1 support and guidance before, during and after the retreat.
-
From morning yoga offerings to our primary Authentic Movement workshop, participants will be invited to awaken the connection between their bodies, minds, hearts and souls through guided movement practice.
-
Meals and snacks provided during the duration of the retreat allow participants to disconnect from the hassle of meal preparation, while enjoying deeply nourishing, natural meals.
-
Perhaps the greatest medicine of our time together is simply coming together as as community to share and reflect to one another through our fellowship, sharing circles, recreation, etc.
Meet our Facilitators
clark Nesselrodt & David Person
Ceremony Facilitators & Intuitive GuidesClark and David are partners, fathers and former executives who turned from corporate life toward callings to share their gifts of healing. Working with modalities including energy healing, oracle card reading, ceremonial space holding and intuitive guidance, Clark and David have received blessings to carry healing lineage songs of the Peruvian Amazon, while channeling a large repertoire of original medicine music received through their devotion to spirit guides and plant teachers. They are founders of The Living Center, a non-profit healing collective committed to stewarding sacred song, supporting healing communities and sharing creative wisdom. (Instagram: @livingcenterfoundation)
Authentic Movement Facilitator & Licensed TherapistJeannine Salemi
Jeannine Salemi is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) and Certified Graduate-Level Movement Analyst (GL-CMA). She has studied Authentic Movement since 2000 and completed Advanced Facilitator Training with pioneering teacher Zoe Avstreih, with whom she continues to study. Jeannine brings a holistic, trauma-informed approach integrating movement, mindfulness and therapeutic practice. At the retreat, she will guide Authentic Movement, a contemplative practice of spontaneous movement and compassionate witnessing that helps quiet the thinking mind, awaken the wisdom of the body and deepen self-awareness and authentic embodiment.
Yoga & Meditation Guide / Retreat Host & OrganizerKacper Skowron
Kacper is a yogi, father, husband, traveler, and filmmaker with over twenty years of experience practicing yoga and meditation. He is a certified yoga instructor (WYF, RYT) and a Kriyaban with the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), with a deep appreciation and understanding of many yogic traditions and practices.
He has spent months traveling solo throughout India, visiting sacred sites and remote Himalayan caves, attending workshops, and learning from renowned Babas and Swamis.
Throughout his years of study and teaching, Kacper has found that integrating the four classical paths of yoga—Raja Yoga (the path of meditation), Karma Yoga (the path of selfless service), Jnana Yoga (the path of wisdom), and Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion)—offers the most balanced and transformative approach to personal growth and spiritual development.
In addition, Kacper incorporates pranayama (breathwork), somatic release, and mindfulness practices into his teachings, providing students with practical tools to cultivate balance, inner peace, and lasting bliss.
Our facilitators weave a rich tapestry of experiences including years of devoted spiritual study, work with indigenous lineages, ceremonial space holding, invocation of sacred energies, dance/movement therapy and somatic practices, intuitive coaching and more.
Hear from Those We’ve Served
Over the last three years, we have been supporting people in reconnecting to the sacred in their lives. We invite you to listen to two of their stories.
Sample Retreat Schedule
Thursday. August 27
Arrival & Check-in
Group welcome dinner
Opening circle and intention setting
Evening fellowship
Friday. August 28
Morning movement
Opening ceremony including land offerings, guided meditation, sacred song and group/individual energy work
1:1 facilitator sessions
Evening Tobacco ceremony
Evening fellowship
Meals and snack throughout the day
Saturday. August 29
Authentic Movement workshop
Afternoon sacred song ceremony
Closing fire ceremony
Evening fellowship
Meals and snack throughout the day
Sunday. August 30
Breakfast
Check-out and departure
Our Venue in Escondido
Our program will be held at a peaceful 4.5-acre sanctuary nestled among the mountains of Escondido, California. The property boasts panoramic mountain views, botanical gardens, a heated pool and spa, expansive indoor and outdoor gathering spaces and direct access to the 3,200-acre Daley Ranch Nature Preserve. Located approximately 2 hours from LAX and just 40 minutes from San Diego International Airport.
Retreat Fee & Lodging
Your retreat fee covers:
All retreat activities
Three personal sessions with one of our facilitators
Pre-retreat prep call
1:1 session during the retreat
Post-retreat integration call
Communal sleeping in your meditation space (private sleeping options available for an additional fee)
Meals and snacks
Sliding Scale Retreat Fee: $875 - $1,250
Accommodation Options
Private suites, double occupancy rooms and bunkbeds are available for an additional fee. Participants are also invited to nest in their communal meditation spaces for no extra charge. Details on options and costs will be provided to those who express interest in attending.
Scholarships
A core function of The Living Center Foundation is to make the work of healing, reconnection and remembrance available to all. If you feel called to participate in this retreat, yet finances present a limitation for you, please let us know. Scholarships may be available through our foundation.
Apply to Attend
If you have worked with one of our facilitators before, simply reach out to them directly to express your interest in attending.
If you are new to working with us, please take a few moments to introduce yourself to us using the form below.
Someone will be in touch with you soon!
The Living Center is a non-profit healing collective committed to stewarding sacred song, supporting healing communities and sharing creative wisdom.