Shamans & Siddhas: Meeting at the Crossroads of Shamanism & Tantra

This retreat focuses on the traditions of the “psychonauts,” explorers of the subtle realms of dream, death, and all “between” states. Such people are known as “shamans” in indigenous traditions and as “siddhas” or “adepts” in Buddhist and Hindu Tantric traditions.

Isa Gucciardi joins Robert Thurman in exploring the deep and vast dimensions of these traditions, focusing on our planetary welcoming of various forms that consciousness takes in this time of global crisis, as she has done from time immemorial. Shamans and siddha adepts provide us with resources from long-developed, time-tested positive sciences and arts that help us celebrate the blessings of reality and live meaningfully in the midst of the ups and downs of our daily lives ever more realistically and happily.

In this retreat, we will review the historic encounters between these two spiritual traditions from world indigenous and Indic regions and learn how they have informed one another from time immemorial. While steeped in philosophy and psychology, this retreat is also highly experiential in nature. We will explore methods of going inward drawn from both traditions including the Shamanic Journey and Indo-Tibetan Deity Meditation. The Shamanic Journey is an ancient and time-tested method that shamans around the world have used to develop a deep relationship with the powers of the Earth and Cosmos. Deity Meditation is a form of meditation that brings the meditator into an intimate understanding of the fields of wisdom, sensitivity, and power held by the deities of the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. We will explore the role of ritual and ceremony in both contexts and learn what role ritual and ceremony provide in bringing forward the realizations, sensitivities, and powers that are the fruits of these deep forms of inner exploration.

We will not only learn the basics of the shaman’s journey but also meditate, dialogue together, and create and perform ceremonies in order to align ourselves with the power that these two traditions have provided humanity for millennia. Daily yoga will also be offered.

“This class brings together two powerhouse human beings of the most compassionate persuasion. It is a pleasure to hear these two esteemed doctors compare and contrast different points of view, all the while making clear the most powerful healing elements in any tradition combine wisdom and compassion.” –  J. Hengst

Select readings from Shamanic and Buddhist wisdom literatures are available by request, to prepare for the experience. Readings will be on hand at Menla for those of you who do not request them ahead of time.

From Shamanic side:
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
Hero of a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
The Shaman’s Way by Michael Harner
Soul Retrieval by Sandra Ingerman
Return to the Great Mother by Isa Gucciardi

From Buddhist side:
Transcendent Wisdom Sutra
Flower Ornament Sutra
Vimalakirti Sutra
White Tara Healing Meditations

To learn more about related topics via Distance Learning please click here

Retreat Schedule

Thursday October 5th

3 – 8pm Check-in

6 – 7 pm Dinner

7:30pm Welcoming Program

Friday October 6th

7 – 8am Nejang Tibetan Longevity Yoga

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:15am Morning Program

12 – 1pm Lunch

1 – 4pm Free time for Spa, Sauna & Steam

4 – 6pm Afternoon Program

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:30pm Evening Program

Saturday October 7th

7 – 8am Nejang Tibetan Longevity Yoga

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:15am – 12pm Morning Program

12 – 1pm Lunch

1 – 4pm Free time for Spa, Sauna & Steam

4 – 6pm Afternoon Program

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:30pm Evening Program

Sunday October 8th

7 – 8 am Nejang Tibetan Longevity Yoga

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:15am – 12pm Morning Program

12 – 1pm Checkout & Lunch

Note: Schedule is subject to change at anytime

“It is neither cliche nor hyperbole to say that the pairing of these teachers, Isa Gucciardi and Robert Thurman,  is a tour de force of the twin jewels of wisdom and compassion. The experience of this workshop was a great homecoming for me–through its combination of profound esoteric practices and wisdom teachings, I felt I was finally empowered to begin to reclaim my relationship with the world.”

– Ingrid Miller