Winter Reflection Day - Stillness, Ritual & Cuddles (Amsterdam)

Let's take a moment for ourselves. To connect with the stillness of the winter, the stillness within you. Just when the earth itself pauses to turn in a new direction, you can stand still, reflect on last year, on your life and focus on your direction for the times to come. We bring back light into our lives.

Winter solstice
At the end of the year, our ancestors were celebrating "Yule", the returning of the light and longer days of sun. The warm days of spring will soon return and the dormant earth will come back to life. They were setting their intentions for the coming season and honour the first little lights in the darkness.

What will we do?
We will create time and space to relax, to go into silence and in winter mode together. We will open our senses, listen to our inner selves, move our bodies and touch each other with care. We will meditate together, we will share our feelings, reflections and ideas and see will accept and appreciate what comes in life. We will also make a Yle ceremony with candles, a spiral wheel and a Yule altar.

For whom?
Everybody is welcome. This is a small scale mixed event. We are open towards all genders (including non-binary or transgender), body shapes, ages, skin colours, backgrounds and orientations. No need to have any experience with meditation, massage or cuddle workshops. The meeting will be spoken in both Dutch and English.

Facilitator
The meditations are guided by Tijs Breuer, who has been practicing mindfulness and different forms of meditations since he was 15 years old.

Time schedule
You can join for the whole day, or if you have less time, feel free to join us just for the morning or afternoon. You can arrive at 9:30 h for coffee / tea, or at 12:30 h for lunch.

9:30 h Arrival, tea / coffee and introduction

10:00 h Opening circle
We share our intentions for the day and we will take a moment to look back on this year. What were joyful moments and moments of grief? What have we achieved? What has been a challenge? What transformations are we in?

10:30 h Movement meditation
Sitting still is quite difficult for most people because we are used to being exposed to stimuli all day long, while your body needs exercise. Movement meditation ensures that you quickly find your peace and go back with your attention. We will make an inner journey to experience what is going on inside you.

11:30 h Yule ritual
We will build a spiral made with shiny objects, anything from nature and candles. When we enter the spiral, we will reflect on the shadow and light in your lives. Where and how would you wish to let the light come in again? When we leave the spiral, we will bring the light into our hearts and share this light with others.

12:30 h Lunch
A salad will be served. You are invited to bring food to share.

13:00 h Breathing meditation
Connecting to your breath can damp down stress and open a door to a more healthy and mindful lifestyle. One of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to simply focus your attention on your breath. You'll notice an immediate sense of relaxation that could help protect your health over time. There are many forms of breathing meditation where you consciously change the rhythm, speed or depth of your breath.

14:00 h Cuddle times
Cuddling is healthy, as hormones like oxytocin will lower your stress level and are good for your body and mind. By cuddling regularly you gain more confidence in yourself and in others. Let's get more familiar with different forms of touch,. We do that in a joyful setting structured to be a place for relaxation, nourishment, relaxation and exploration. A series of guided exercises will promote trust, communication and understanding.

15:00 h Tea

15:30 h Open space
We will celebrate our diversity by creating an open space, where you can be yourself in the moment. You can listen to your own needs and wishes. Every 20 minutes, you can choose if you are into a moment for yourself, a chat, a massage exchange or a ‘free-style’ cuddle. You have plenty of time to relax, share a back rub or other welcome touch, have a tea and a snack or just hang out. All touch will be platonic and based on mutual consent.

17:00 h Sharing and closing circle
We will share how we are feeling and what we would like to bring into the new year.

17:30 h End

Location
The event will take place in the Yurt in the garden of Mahara Holistic Lifestyle.
Mahara is an a heartfelt place within the city, a green oasis where people come together and truly meet, the perfect setting to relax, unwind, and connect with others on a deeper level.
De Clercqstraat 123HS
1053 AK Amsterdam
Tram 3 or 19 (tramstop De Clercqstraat).

Tickets
Regular ticket: €70. Discount price €50 (for students, refugees, young adults under 36 years and people with very low income. Only morning: €35. Only afternoon: €45. Buy your ticket on Hipsy or pay cash on the spot. https://hipsy.nl/event/86802-winter-reflection-day-stillness-ritual-cuddles-amsterdam

Sunday
Make this a complete weekend! On the day after, Sunday 29-12-2024, you can join the Inner Wisdom and Reflection Journey (with Magic Mushrooms), also in Amsterdam. Check out the details: https://hipsy.nl/event/84207-inner-wisdom-and-reflection-journey-with-magic-mushrooms
Questions? Call or text Tijs Breuer, cell phone: +31626174884