The Toad retreats in Mexico and Costa Rica have been postponed. May happen in late 2023. Sign ups to newsletter to stay informed.
We maybe doing 2 Facilitators Sharing retreats with Hari. Level One and Two. Level Two is available to people would have already done the Level One Training with Hari. Level One Training 5th-12th, Level Two Training 14-21st. Check info below from last years retreat. By application only so if your interested fill out the jot form applications for the different retreats and if you have any Questions email me at deanjefferys@gmail.com
The facilitators sharing retreat in 2018 with Hari was amazing. So much important information was shared. Due to the need to share skills for facilitators of the Bufo Alvarius/Toad/5 sacrament and increase safety for initiates, I felt again to call in one of the most experienced Mexican Bufo Alvarius Practitioners, Hari Har to design and run a retreat that would help people already on the serving path to increase their skills prior to the WBAC in July.
The retreat is in the rainforest one hour from Cancun. There are a number of fresh water cenotes on the property. It is situated in the Yucatan peninsular surrounded by rainforest and close to Mayan ruins. Interested people will need to apply as space is limited to 12 and fill out this application form and questionnaire https://form.jotform.co/90972648725874. People will need to fly to Cancun Airport which is a 2 hour flight from Mexico City. I will meet you at the airport or hostel in Cancun and drive you to the retreat one hour away. 3 healthy nurturing, vegetarian or vegan meals will be provided fresh each day, tailored to the activities.
Hari has been working with Bufo Alvarius for over 7 years in Mexico and also runs Sapohuasca retreats. She is often invited to run retreats and ceremonies around the world. Hari is one of the rare practitioners who goes into Toad space with you and works with energy in that dimension to assist you to move and clear blockages, stories and past karma.
This retreat is designed to give facilitators that have already been called to serve the medicine an opportunity to learn from a very experienced practitioner, Hari, and share info and experiences with other practitioners so that many aspects of preparation, ceremony, and integration can be incorporated into their practice. Many issues will be covered including ‘Best Practice’ principles with a focus on the initiates safety and assisting integrating the experience. This retreat will be run by the principles expressed in the ‘Best Practice’ and Integration-Guidelines documents written by the “Conclave” It is recommended to read this document which I have posted in the blog section. https://toadwhalesun.com/new-toad-best-practice-document/
This 7 days/7 nights retreat will include 2 or 3 or 4 Bufo Alvarius sessions which will include group sessions. Hari will guide the initiates in best practice techniques. Throughout the retreat initiates will learn tools of protection & ofrendas as well as learn about cacao, breath, rapéh, preparation, setting intention, working with sound, set and setting, working in transitional states, meditation, integration, kundalini yoga, grounding exercises, Trauma, contra indicated substances, dealing with an emergency, initiate and facilitator relationship, word circle and more.
Hari will have her assistant, Karla, with her, plus myself. There will also be ample opportunities for the other practitioners present to share their experiences and skills. We will be working hard and balancing that out with deep relaxing, grounding and integration techniques.
Cost is $2000 USD. Participation is by application, so if you are interested please fill out the application form on this link and I will inform you shortly afterwards if you are eligible and how to pay. https://form.jotform.co/90972648725874 If you have any questions about either retreats send me and email saying your interested in either of the retreats to deanjefferys@gmail.com As space is limited to 10 people, only those most suitable will be accepted. What is covered is return transport from Cancun Airport or hostel to retreat, all cost of food, accommodation and all medicines and activities while at the retreat, including a Temascal ceremony (sweat lodge) with resident host Oscar. An introductory Watsu, waterflow session in the cenote will also be offered. Costs have been kept down as low as possible while still being comfortable, well fed and looked after at the retreat and having 2 other experienced people coming and supporting Hari and the people attending. For more background info on this retreat see recent blog post https://toadwhalesun.com/sharing-retreat-more-info/
I know there are some people who have had this medicine who want to become evangelist, get some toad and blow out the world. There are also others who would like the power, glory and the money from serving. This coarse is unlikely for you. This is for someone who has been working extensively with Toad and other plant medicines themselves over a decent period of time, who is dedicated, has studied all they can, worked HARD with the sacrament, worked with a mentor, and has already been serving friends and family quite a bit.
If anyone is considering coming or applying to this gathering please know that there is an extensive application process including a detailed form and questionnaire, access by all the facilitators, references and online zoom interviews. So this is only for the serious applicant/server who is on the genuine path of service with this sacrament.
Also it’s important to know that by doing this coarse does not guarantee that you will then be ready to serve or be recommended as a Facilitator as I believe that would take a Peer review assessment process which is developing globally atm. There is also a lot more work and study outside of this week that is necessary, including trauma counselling, integration, fist aid, experiences with this and other sacraments, working with a mentor, etc. If you feel called to serve yet still feel quite unprepared, it maybe prudent to go to the Costa Rica retreat below first, where you will journey deep with the medicine with out there being a focus on serving. This retreat is likely to be an annual even.
7 days/7 nights retreat
If seriously interested fill out this application form and questionnaire https://form.jotform.co/90972648725874.
Limit 10 people
Cost is $2000 USD plus Paypal commission. Cost may change a little over coming days.
more info see https://toadwhalesun.com/bufo-alvarius-retreats/
I invite you to experience the magic of the Toad the Whales and the Sun in the pristine environment of the south coast of Costa Rica. I also thought it would be a good opportunity for people who already have experience with this medicine to experience this ceremony in a safe and supportive environment with plenty of time to relax and integrate these powerful experiences in a renewing and peaceful place with good healthy food and surrounded by nature. It will be Whale season when we arrive, and we plan to spend some time on and in the water with the Whales listening to their songs and playing with them. I have spent the last 13 years sailing and playing with the migrating Humpback Whales in Australia and look forward to sharing the bliss with others and inviting people into the heart of the Whales.
I have studied with world renown Animal communicators Anna Breytenbach and Michael Roads. I will take people through sensitising processes to open to communicating telepathically with nature. One afternoon we will participate in a ‘Council of all Beings’ ceremony were we spent time in nature then allow aspects of nature to talk through us. We will also use some of these communication skills when we are with the whales to deepen our connection with our majestic cousins from the ocean.
Included in this retreat will be two, one on one sessions and a group session. People can also experience one Healing Ceremony with ancestral rainforest medicine Yage. This ceremony will be conducted in a traditional manner, in a beautiful ceremonial lodge that is up on the hill behind the retreat centre. One day we will travel by boat to be with the Whales and to snorkel at the nearby Cano Island which is a world class dive site. We will enjoy guided informative ethnobotanical immersion walks, through an amazing 20-year old medicinal plant and Permaculture gardens. There are also walks along the beach with options to explore waterfalls, rivers, rainforests and kayaking. Grounding into our physical bodies is necessary and important for wellbeing, connectedness and the ability to integrate, carry and transmit wisdom and information .
Proposed program
Aug 1st Arrive in San Jose, taxi to Hostel, meet and mingle. Sleep.
Aug 2nd. Breakfast then 8am, leave on private bus to Serpe River 4.5 hrs. Change to speed boat for an exhilarating ride through the river and mangroves to the ocean and to Ocean Retreat centre 1.5 hrs. Arrive around 3pm. Welcoming, settle in to your rooms, beach, swim, and orientation, Sunset Sun Gazing on the beach, sharing circle. Intro to Kundalini yoga.
3rd Meet for sessions. Sunset Sun Gazing on the beach, sharing circle after dinner.
4th 3am Optional sunrise renewal ceremony. 8 am Boat trip to Cano Island, snorkeling and Whale watching. Return, swim, rest, walk, prepare for Yage ceremony. Yage ceremony through night.
5th Morning, relax, sleep, swim, walk. After lunch “Council of All Beings” gathering
6th sessions.
7th Group sessions, Walk swim relax integrate. Sunset Sun Gazing on the beach
8th Breath session, Walk swim relax integrate. Kundalini yoga class. Sunset Sun Gazing on the beach. Sharing circle
9th, 9 am Speed boat and private bus returns to San Jose. Arrive San Jose by 4pm. Or Fly from Drake bay.
Cost is $2200 USD. Participation is by application, so if you are interested please fill out the application form on this link and I will inform you if you are eligible and how to pay. https://form.jotform.co/90971809041863 If you have any questions about either retreats send me and email saying your interested in either of the retreats to deanjefferys@gmail.com As space is limited to 12, only those chosen to be most suitable will be accepted. What is covered is all cost of food, accommodation and all medicines, activities and outings while at the retreat.
What is not covered and is optional for participants in the Sunrise renewal ceremony, approx $50. The Taxi from San Jose airport to hostel, approx $20, accomodation in San Jose, approx $50 and transport to and from the retreat, in a van and boat, approx $150. Hostel, van and boat will be organised and booked and I will be traveling with you. There is also another transport option to fly in a small plane from San Jose to Drake Bay then get a 40 min taxi to retreat, approx $400 return.
Cost ATM is $2200 – $2500 depending on accommodation. USD plus Paypal commission. limit 12 people. 5% of profits from both retreats will go towards Toad conservation issues. Price may change.
Application form https://form.jotform.co/90971809041863
The 7-night stay at our retreat venue, in shared double and or triple accommodation occupancy. See the web site for the retreat venue.
To sign up, fill in the application form above. If you are successful you will receive two payment links.
One will be for the 7 nights lodging and meals: $1073.50 ($950 + 13% tourism tax $123.5)
The other for Retreat Tuition, ceremonies and associated costs mentioned above $1126.50
I have been working with this medicine extensively for 4 years both traveling to Mexico and studying with renown Mexican Practitioner HariHar and many other experienced practitioners. I have been working with the medicine with the Whales, the Waters and the Sun over these years and developed strict safety protocols for working in and around water. See the documentary movie trailer, testimonials and other info on this website. For those who don’t know, I am a documentary filmmaker and the administrator of the FB group, Toad and 5 Meo Forum and Support and have been working to develop safety protocols for serving this medicine and Toad conservation issues over the years. See the talk I gave at last years WBAC on the home page of this website and Testimonials on the Testimonials page. I would like to see a move away from the fly in fly out traveling “shaman” towards weekend workshops and week long retreats, so the initiate has plenty of time to prepare, experience and integrate the ceremony in a safe supporting environment with experienced facilitators and support crew.
If you have any questions email me at deanjefferys@gmail.com