Women’s breathwork & blue lotus Retreat

Dear One,

You are invited to a profound and expansive weekend with Breathwork and Blue Lotus. We'll be gathering on Saturday May 25th for a three day deep dive healing retreat - bringing together the potent forces of breathwork, energy medicine, a sacred Blue Lotus ceremony, prayer, movement, cold plunges (optional!), sauna, hot tub soaks and a fire circle. The intention of this gathering is to create a space of deep presence to allow for each woman’s rebirth and resurrection of their highest potential. In the ceremonies we will connect with your higher self and the divine, and deepen our connection to Mother Earth and community. Together we breathe, and together we heal.

Location: Diamond Rose Sanctuary, Branford CT. Travel by train via Metro North to New Haven or by car to Branford. Uber from the New Haven train station to the retreat center in Branford, CT.

In Person Dates: Arrival Saturday May 25th at 1pm, closing integration circle on Monday May 27th at noon.

Exchange: The retreat cost for the three day retreat is $1111, which includes all meals. A sliding scale is available for those who need it.

We'll arrive at 1pm on Saturday. After settling in and setting intentions, we begin with breathwork. Then a cold plunge for the brave of heart, followed by a sauna.

In the afternoon we'll hold a container for deep process, witnessing and sharing together, followed by movement and a prayer to the land. Once the sun sets, we’ll have a hot tub soak and a fire to release anything we are ready to surrender back to the universe. Saturday evening we'll sit with Blue Lotus. Sunday we will have a chance to do Kundalini yoga, outdoor movement and dance, and a second breathwork session. We'll close our time together Monday morning with integration and sharing circle.

Sleeping Arrangements: Option to choose between the communal ceremony space with foam mattresses or you can pay extra to reserve a private bedroom. You can also stay in New Haven at one of the local recommended hotels and go there and back via Uber. If staying onsite, please bring an eye mask and earplugs and your favorite pillow. We’ll supply blankets. We recommend staying on site unless you really struggle with sleep.

Meals: An organic healthy lunch, dinner and breakfast included, all cooked from scratch. Dietary options of vegetarian & gluten free upon request.

Diamond Rose Sanctuary: optional cold plundge and sauna

The Diamond Rose Sanctuary is a 100 year old house and garden situated on the Connecticut coastline in a nature preserve, surrounded by untouched wetlands. It is here that the ancient rocks meet the ocean, and time begins to slow down and soften and the veil between worlds is lifted. There will be an optional ocean cold plunge with a sauna after for those who feel called to participate. If you’d like to participate in the cold plunge, it is recommended you take cold showers in the weeks leading up to the retreat.

BLUE LOTUS

Blue Lotus has been worshiped around the world for thousands of years, within the ancient Mayan and Kemetic systems; the Hindu tradition in India; Buddhist lineages throughout Tibet, China, and Japan; and was recently adopted into the pantheon of Shipibo master plant teachers. The general spiritual meaning of the lotus is rebirth and resurrection, purity, sacred paradox, and the autopoetic nature of the universe. Blue Lotus in Buddhism is the symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, of intelligence and wisdom, of true knowledge. In the imagination of Ancient Egypt, the lotus symbolized the portal which birthed Ra, who birthed all other gods and goddesses. It symbolizes the realization of inner potential, of the gods and goddesses within. In Tantric and Yogic traditions, it symbolizes the potential of an individual to harness the flow of energy moving through the chakras (often depicted as wheel-like lotuses) flowering as the thousand-petaled lotus of enlightenment at the top of the skull. Lotus flowers also have profound connections to Christ consciousness. The lotus is rooted deep in the mud, its stem rises through the water, and blooms unblemished above the water – an obvious symbol of the demand to accept the “shadow” or difficulties of life and transform that energy into the manifestation of one’s highest potential. On the physical level, as medicine, the bioactive compounds in Blue Lotus work to balance and regulate the nervous system and the endocrine system, facilitating our natural capacity to witness the truth hiding in plain sight. This is the mystical meaning of the Buddhist prayer of compassion, Om Mani Padme Hum, “The jewel is in the Lotus.”

Vivian Rosenthal: Breathwork & energy guide

Over the last decade, Vivian’s dedication to alleviating mental health has led to her guiding over 10,000 people through therapeutic breathwork sessions. She is committed to helping each person gain sovereignty over their own bodies and health through the breath, and by doing so, becoming their own healer. She is an architect of sacred spaces, and weaves together the visual arts with the healing arts to create collective spaces for awakening and transformation. She is the creator of the immersive Frequency Breath Studio and Diamond Rose Sanctuary. Based on the Latin inspirare (“to breathe or blow into”), which itself is from the word spirare, meaning “to breathe," Vivian is an inspiratrix, one who awakens the breath of life in others. Her light filled breathwork journeys are cosmic energy activations, allowing people to access higher heart consciousness and self-love by unlocking DMT endogenously. The breathwork activations open up expanded states of consciousness and help connect people with their intuition (their higher selves) and their creativity (their divine purpose) and break free of old patterns, habits and stories.

Vivian is working alongside a group of scientists and researchers on a pilot study to show the efficacy of breathwork to treat PTSD, depression and anxiety in Veterans. Vivian is also working closely with the Biofield Research Group to help bring more awareness to the therapeutic benefits of breathwork as a healing energy modality that positively impacts the biofield. Vivian received her BA from Brown University and her Masters in Architecture from Columbia University. Her graduate thesis focused on how immersive spaces shape and affect our psychology, which later informed the creation of the Frequency Dome, an immersive set and setting which used animated sacred geometry inside of a womb-like space to create a safe and sacred container for collective healing.

She has taught at Menla, Omega, Kripalu and Blue Spirit and has been featured on the Today Show with Hoda, addressing how breathwork can be used to reduce anxiety and stress. Vivian completed the MDMA Therapy Training Program run by MAPS, which is a “clinical training program that facilitates learning in the theory, skills, and practice of MDMA-assisted therapy. The theoretical approach is based on a philosophy that every person has within them an intrinsic wisdom and ability to heal.”

What to bring:

• Warm & comfortable clothing for the two days, and toiletries.

• If you’re sleeping in the communal sanctuary room, bring ear plugs and a pillow, we’ll provide the foam mattress and a blanket.

• Comfortable footwear to explore the walking trails & wetlands of the property.

• Warm coat, hat, scarf & gloves for the fire pit on Saturday night.

• Swim suit if you want to do a cold plunge! Bring a towel for the shower.

• Any additional snacks of your choice: Fruit, nuts, bars, crackers.

• Eye mask, water bottle, yoga mat & journal/pen.

• You are welcome to bring any crystals or photos with you to place in the space during the breathwork.

Any questions? Please contact us by emailing Vivian