The Art of Re:Connective Loving
Part I
Embodying Love
Explorations into Love, Authenticity & Re:Connection
An intensive 7 day seminar and experiential space
Re:Connective Spaces and Circles – Dialogue and Presentations – Self- and Collective Relational Explorations – Reflection and Awareness Practices – Shadow and Inner Parts Work – Conscious and Authentic Relating – Embodiment, Somatics and Bodywork – Movement, Dance and Contact Improvisation – Conscious Touch – Meditation – Yoga – Breathwork – Compassionate and Non-Violent Communication – Ritual – (Primal) Play and Performance – Co-Creation
Upcoming Seminars
15.-21.03.2025 – Monte Mariposa, Tavira, Portugal – English
25.-31.05.2025 – Stillerhof, Wessobrunn, Germany – German
Further details below.
The Invitation
- Do you want to grow, heal or learn about different ideas, practices, experiences and shapes of love and loving?
- Do you want to deepen the connection to yourself, authentically and transparently connect with other beings, and co-create a community of trust and care?
- Do you want to explore different ways and possibilities of connection to yourself and others?
- Do you want to learn about the shadow side of (disconnective) “love” – within society and within yourself – and meet and address your own shadows, pain, fears and insecurities?
- Do you want to face your own ego and (wounded) inner child and trace where your own capacity to love may be blocked?
- Do you want to develop your awareness, empathy, sensibility, as well as communication, boundary awareness, social and intimate skills?
- Do you want to play, enjoy and celebrate the gifts of life and love?
- Do you want co-create a more loving, connected, communitarian, peaceful and regenerative world and practice how to love and be loved in daily life in the transition to a new culture of love?
The Seminar
In this experiential seminar we will explore “love” in its myriad conceptions, shapes, experiences and practices, integrating mind, body, heart, soul and spirit. We will co-create a nurturing, safe and trauma sensitive space of reconnection and loving kindness where we dive deep into exploring The Art of Re:Connective Loving. Together we will look at what love means in different philosophical and spiritual traditions, at different times and cultures as well as for each one of us individually. We will trace where our own love may be blocked, how we can cultivate our love for others and ourselves, and what it takes to be in loving connection with others and love and life itself. We will also engage with the shadow side of (disconnective) “love” – in society and within ourselves – and immerse ourselves into experiential spaces of reconnection, awareness, embodiment, expression, exploration and experiment – centred around questions and topics of love and loving.
The Embodying Love seminar is designed to engage your body, mind, heart and soul, to supporting you in reconnecting with yourself, to enable growth, healing, shifts, transitions and transformation, to move and touch you, to challenge you and to invite you to move beyond your fears, shadows, traumas, limiting beliefs and insecurities towards deeply reconnected, meaningful, healthy, authentic and empowered loving in service of a new regenerative and reconnective culture beyond exploitation, domination, scarcity and disconnection.
It’s important that you come with an open mind and a readiness to challenge yourself – within a space that is created to carry and nurture you throughout this process. A challenge holds great potential for growth, expansion, understanding, awakening, realization – particularly if consciously experienced and integrated and held in a caring and compassionate space.
Topics
- What is Love? – Meanings and Practices of Love and Loving (throughout different times, religions and belief systems and cultures)
- The Art of Loving – How do we (not) Love (e.g. love in practice, philosophy and spirituality, the role of ego and projection)
- What’s so Strange about Love? – Love and its Shadow in (Toxic) Culture (e.g. the relationship of “love” to patriarchy, romanticism, capitalism, consumerism, religion, gender/sex)
- Touching Love – Qualities, Conditions and Experiences of Love (e.g. trust, compassion and vulnerability)
- Who am I in Love? – Authenticity, Integrity and Ethics in Love
- How do I (want to) Love? – Love: Past, Present and Future
- The Healing of Love – Trauma, Fear and Disconnection
- Embodying Love – Love, the Body, Sensuality and Sexuality
- Forming Love – Ways and Shapes of Conscious and Authentic Relating
- Loving Consciously – Exploring and Communicating Boundaries and Consent
- Living Love – Loving in Daily Life
- Toward a New Culture of Love – The Art of Re:Connective Loving
- And more…
Approaches, Practices, Methods & Techniques
Approaches, Practices, Methods & Techniques that give shape to the Embodying Love seminar include:
- Presencing
- Compassionate Inquiry
- Somatics and Nervous System Regulation
- Embodiment
- Bodywork
- Circles and Circling
- Shadow & Inner Parts Work
- Conscious and Authentic Relating
- Exploration and Experiment
- Reflective, Relational and Awareness Practices
- Improvisation (Contact Dance and Performance)
- Process Work
- Conscious Touch
- Free Dance and Movement
- Non-Violent Communication
- The Work
- The Work that Reconnects
- Co-Creation
- Ritual
- Yoga
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Samu
- Play
- Sweat Lodge (in Monte Mariposa, Portugal only)
Sample Schedule
depending on flow, intuition and collective needs
| Time | Seminar Event |
|---|---|
|
8-9 |
Morning Presencing (e.g. Meditation, Yoga, Breathwork, Autogenic Training, Embodiment, Somatic & Movement Practices, Nervous System Regulation, Dance…) |
|
9-9.30 |
Break |
|
9.30-10 |
Clan Sharing Circles |
|
10-11.30 |
1st Re:Connective Space (e.g. Circles, Presentations, Dialogue, Reflection, Somatics, Embodiment, Relational and Awareness Practices, Shadow and Inner Parts Work, Process Work, Conscious Touch and Relating – all centered around specific questions and topics related to love) |
|
11.30-12.30 |
Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch/Munch |
|
12.30-13.15 |
Break |
|
13.15-13.30 |
(Free) Dance, Movement and Improvisation Space |
|
13.30-15.30 |
2nd Re:Connective Space |
|
15.30-16 |
Break |
|
16-17.30 |
3rd Re:Connective Space |
|
17.30-18.30 |
Break |
|
18.30-20 |
Dinner / Break |
|
20-22ish |
Evening Re:Connective Space (e.g. Sweat Lodge, Bodywork, Massage, (Free/Ecstatic) Dance, Open Spaces, Conscious Touch, Co-Creations, Play, Performance, Contact Improvisation…) |
Literature and Link List
Here are some suggested readings and links which you may want to look at before the seminar.
Links
• Gabor Maté presentation on The Power of Connection and the Myth of Normal
• Jiddu Krishnamurti; On Love
• Summary of Erich Fromm’s book The Art of Loving
• Joana Macy’s The Work that Reconnects
Books
• Gabor Maté, Daniel Maté: The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture. Vermilion. 2022.
• Erich Fromm: The Art of Loving. Thorsons. 1995.
• Joanna Macy, Molly Young Brown: Coming Back to Life: The Updated Guide to the Work That Reconnects. New Society Publishers. 2014.
Facilitators
The seminar will be facilitated by Dr. Lars Weckbecker, founder of Ayama, and Yvonne Iwa Naumann. Both are extremely passionate about their work and will guide you through the seminar and your processes with loving presence and kindness, competence, compassion and non-judgement.
To learn more about their work, click on their names or images.
Accommodation & Facilities
Monte Mariposa, Portugal:
Monte Mariposa is a charming retreat centre settled in nature, free from the impact of mass tourism. It’s quietness, relaxed atmosphere and rustic simplicity provides a safe and comforting space for the practice of The Art of Re:Connective Loving.
Accommodation is in simple, but comfortable rooms or wooden bungalows which sleep two people each. In addition, we will also offer a communal sleeping space.
For further details about the seminar venue, click here.
Stillerhof, Germany:
Stillerhof is a large seminar venue/youth centre and the perfect playground for our explorations in a private setting with surrounding nature. It is rustic and simple and has a beautiful wooden seminar space.
Accommodation is in simple single or double rooms or in dormitories. In addition, we will also offer a communal sleeping space. The venue sleeps 44 people and we will only be up to 24, so there is plenty of space.
Food
The food is co-created, wholesome and vegan (with vegetarian options) and is prepared collectively by cooking groups who design their own menu. Details to follow.
Samu
For about 30 minutes every day we will practice Samu together, which in Zen Buddhism refers to (physical) work done as a meditative practice that serves to anchor spiritual experience within daily life.
Seminar Contribution
Includes seminar fee, all activities and lodging.
In addition to the seminar contribution, please plan to spend about 50-60 Euro for food.
Money is not our primary motivation and we try to keep our seminars accessible to those with less money. We don’t like “exclusive” and acknowledge that we live in a world where material wealth is extremely unfairly distributed. If the price prevents you from participation, please let us know and we will try to find a solution. For seminars held in Portugal, Portuguese nationals receive 15% discount.
We offer a sliding scale of possible contributions. Please consider the average of each price range as our normal price. A lower price is for people with low income or limited economic means. A higher price is for people with higher than average wealth and those who wish to support our work and making the seminars accessible to those wit less money.
Payment
Once we have confirmed you participation, please pay a deposit of 200 Euro within 7 days to confirm your reservation. The outstanding balance is due upon arrival.
Cancellation and Refund
In case you have to cancel your participation, we will keep the deposit to cover the costs we have for the seminar venue, admin, etc. In case you are able to provide a new suitable person that can take your place, we are happy to transfer 80% of the value of your deposit to the new person. Admission is at our discretion. In case the seminar is fully booked and attended (22 participants), we will refund you 80% of your deposit after the end of the seminar. In either case we will keep 20% of your deposit as admin fees. If you have an emergency or illness, please contact us, we will find a fair solution.
In case we have to cancel the seminar for any reason, we will return the deposit in full to you.
Upcoming Embodying Love Seminars
Location: Monte Mariposa, Tavira, Algarve, Portugal (View on Map)
Start: Saturday 15.03.2025 at 16h, arrival from 14h
End: Friday 21.03.2025 at 16h
Language: English
Contribution: Very Early Bird – 530 – 580 Euro (until 01.01.) / Early Bird – 580 – 630 Euro (until 01.02.) / Regular – 630 – 680 Euro (Application Deadline 01.03.)
Location: Stillerhof, Wessobrunn, Bavaria, Germany (View on Map)
Start: Sunday 25.05.2025 at 18h, arrival from 17h
End: Saturday 31.05.2025 at 11h
Language: German
Contribution: Very Early Bird – 440 – 490 Euro (until 10.03.) / Early Bird – 490 – 540 Euro (until 10.04.) / Regular – 540 – 590 Euro (Application Deadline 10.05.)
To view all upcoming Ayama events, view our event calendar.
Application
Please first read our Ethical Guidelines for Seminars. Then hit the “Apply” button below and fill in and send the form provided. We will get back to you within a few days to confirm your participation.