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Remembering Wholeness: A GBTQIA+ Wellness Retreat

With John Jacob Mubarak, River Michaels and Rocky Heron

April 21 - 28, 2024

Date and Time Details: April 21 - April 28, 2024

Location: 'The Jungle Gayborhood' San Salvador de Baru, Diamante Valley, Costa Rica

Address: San José Province, Tinamaste, Costa Rica

Contact: Team
hello@junglegayborhood.com

Accommodation: The retreat will be hosted at our own dedicated retreat space for the LGBTQ+ community, the Jungle Gayborhood in the Diamante Valley of Costa Rica. All accommodations are in comfortable bamboo jungle cabins. Pictures of the retreat center and cabins are shown when selecting your accommodation type. Private and shared options available. Additional nights can be added at checkout if you'd like to extend your stay at the property after the retreat.

Transport: A shuttle to and from SJO airport will be provided. The shuttle to the Jungle Gayborhood will leave promptly from San Jose International Airport (SJO) at 10:00AM local time on Sunday, April 21st, 2024. Please time your flight arrival accordingly. The return shuttle bus will leave the Jungle Gayborhood at 8:00AM local time the morning of Sunday, April 28th, 2024. If you are flying out that day please book your flight for departure no earlier than 4:00PM. For those who wish to make their own way to the Gayborhood, we can provide recommendations for taxi services.

Food: All meals are provided daily during your stay. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared fresh in house by our kitchen team.

Booking Process: Please submit your booking to secure your spot. We will follow up with a screening questionnaire to evaluate physical and emotional safety for the sacred plant experiences. And a consultation call with our facilitator is mandatory before your place has been confirmed. Please do not book non-refundable travel until after your application has been approved. If for any reason this retreat is not a good fit for you, a full refund will be issued.

Reduced Price / Scholarships: We intend to make this experience as accessible as possible for people so we have set aside some scholarships to reduce the price of the retreat. Some of these scholarships are specifically set aside to make the retreat more affordable for Costa Ricans (called Ticos). If you are unable to afford this price, please email us at scholarships@junglegayborhood.com and explain your situation and what price you are able to afford, and we will do our best to accommodate your situation. Please submit your request for a scholarship before March 1, 2023 to ensure it's consideration. If you are able to, please consider a contribution to the Scholarship fund during check out.

  • Shared 4 Bed Cabin – $2,700.00
  • Private King Cabin – $3,600.00
  • Shared Twin Cabin – $3,200.00
  • Private Deluxe Cabin – $3,700.00
  • Camping (Gear Provided) – $1,950.00

Embark on a Transformative Journey in the Diamante Valley!

Welcome to “Remembering Wholeness,” a unique 7-day retreat crafted for the queer community. Nestled in the majestic landscapes of Costa Rica’s Diamante Valley, this experience is designed to reconnect you with your intrinsic wholeness through a blend of sacred plant work, immersive encounters with nature, and holistic wellness practices.

This retreat is open to all GBTQIA+ men (cis and trans) of all ages, racial backgrounds, body shapes and sizes – and all levels of practice and experience with yoga, meditation, and sacred plant ceremonies.

The practices, experiences, and ceremonies will weave three key themes throughout the retreat:

  1. You are already whole (no need to seek validation or approval through love, success, money, or adventure)
  2. We are inextricably tied to nature and ultimately connected to all things
  3. We thrive in community

We will explore these themes, and will invite exploration of how these concepts ring true in our lives, and where these ideas are blocked. As a part of this exploration, we will explore our relationship with sex and sensuality, and how these manifest in healthy and unhealthy ways in our lives. (Please note: while touch, sensuality, and topics of sexuality will be discussed, sexual activity will not be permitted in order to create the safest container possible for deep work and exploration.)

Awaken to Your True Self:

Profound Sacred Plant Ceremonies

  • Delve deep into your inner world with two (optional) powerful sacred plant ceremonies guided by our guides JJ Mubarak & River Michaels.
  • Find release and allow for the discovery of profound personal insights and deep healing.
  • There is a lot more to share about the experience and impact of these ceremonies; please feel free to email us at hello@junglegayborhood.com with questions or for more information.

Trauma-Informed Integration

  • Our experienced facilitators, specializing in trauma-informed therapy and sacred plant ceremony integration, will provide a supportive and nurturing space for your journey.

 

Nourish Mind, Body, and Spirit:

Holistic Wellness Practices

  • Engage in daily Kundalini yoga, meditation, and movement sessions to align and energize your being.
  • Embrace organic, farm-to-table meals prepared by our private chef, tailored to nurture your body and soul.

Nature’s Healing Embrace

  • Experience the cleansing power of waterfall purification rituals and deepen your bond with the earth in our nature reciprocity ceremony.

 

Foster Community and Connection:

Building Bonds

  • Prepare for your journey with our pre-retreat Zoom meetups, setting intentions and fostering community bonds.
  • Continue your growth and integration post-retreat with supportive group calls, ensuring the insights and breakthroughs achieved are woven into your daily life.

 

Inclusive Sanctuary for All. “Remembering Wholeness” is a celebration of diversity, welcoming all GBTQIA+ men (cis and trans) from varied backgrounds. Here, every individual is encouraged to explore and express their authentic selves in a space of acceptance, understanding, and mutual respect.

All sacred plant ceremony experiences are optional. This retreat is open to all levels of practice and experience with sacred plants. For the health and safety of all participants, we will have each participant complete a health screening questionnaire and conduct a conversation with the facilitator before being accepted to the retreat.

 

Reconnect. Rediscover. Reclaim the life you were always meant to live.

Sign Up for Remembering Wholeness today!

 


To create a safe environment conducive to healing and community development, we will ask all participants to adhere to these agreements throughout the week. While we will explore topics of sexuality, we will ask participants to refrain from sex during the retreat. This helps to create a safe environment, and encourages deep connections without the motivation of sex, which past participants recognize as a very refreshing change for queer men.

✔ Included:
  • Accommodations
  • 3 meals / day
  • All workshops and practices
  • Group Shuttle Airport transfer to and from the Jungle Gayborhood (at specific dates/times)
✗ NOT included:
  • Flight
  • Any visas that may be required
All Prices are in USD$.
A 50% Deposit payment is required to book your space. The remaining 50% will be charged 30 days prior to the start of the course.
Please note: A 13% Tax will be added to all costs
Jungle Gayborhood Retreat Cancellation policy:
90+ days prior to the start date of the retreat: Full refund
89-30 days: 50% refund
29 days or less: No refunds
We know that life can be unpredictable, and sometimes plans need to change, but our cancellation and refund polices are absolute. We recommend trip insurance that includes coverage for cancellations made for any reason. We recommend insurance companies such as: Travel Guard, World Nomad or any other well-known travel insurance company.
SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS
Participants who would like to join the course but are facing financial challenges and difficulties can opt for one of a limited number of scholarship option.

They will be able to access the course at a greatly reduced price. Accommodation will be in a camping tent rather than a cabin.
In order to qualify for this, a participant needs to send us an email speaking of their motivation for joining the course as well as describing the nature of their difficult financial situation.

PRECIO TICO

For Costa Rican nationals we offer a 50% discount on listed prices. Please email hello@junglegayborhood.com for further information. A Costa Rican passport or identity card is required.

Doggo Notice: We have two very loving and friendly pups – Bodhi & Luna – who live here at the Gayborhood. Aside from the occasional barking spree at incoming cars, they are quiet, harmless, and very sweet. If you have any concerns about dogs being onsite, please reach out to discuss.

About the Facilitators

John Jacob Mubarak

John Jacob Mubarak is a passionate advocate for holistic healing and integrates the power of sacred plants, breathwork, psychology, philosophy, science and ancient wisdom teachings into his retreats to guide individuals towards profound personal and professional growth. With a background as an Agape Licensed Spiritual Therapist, Elemental Rhythm Breathwork Facilitator, and Teacher in Residence at […]

Learn more about John Jacob Mubarak

River Michaels

River has been a student of sacred plants since they were 19. Most recently they apprenticed San Pedro/Huachuma under Javier Reguiero, one of the few sacred plant teachers who was, (RIP), openly gay.  River has assisted and led more than 50 San Pedro/Huachuma ceremonies focused on returning to wholeness. River created the Awake Forward coaching […]

Learn more about River Michaels

Rocky Heron

Rocky Heron is an artistic wonder—a singer, songwriter, yoga instructor, and alignment coach with an ability to weave together community through devotion and skillful embodiment. Known for his open-minded approach to synthesizing ideas and communicating wisdom pertaining to human movement, anatomy, and subtle body physiology, Rocky’s teaching is informed by years of study in many […]

Learn more about Rocky Heron

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