LIGHT and SHADOW - Movements of the MIND
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Self-exploration and self-development through Holotropic Breathwork®, meditation in the style of Zen & Circle Work
“Those who perceive their shadows and their light at the same time, see themselves from two sides, and in doing so, they come to the center.” C. G. JUNG
This weekend invites you to consciously step out of everyday life and enter a protected and safe space for centering, clarity, and inner reconnection. It offers the opportunity to pause, let go, and reconnect with your inner core – with your vitality, your essential nature, and that which sustains you at the deepest level.
The retreat provides a held and supportive framework for connecting with your inner strength, your longings, your themes, and your potential. In this intentional time-out, whatever calls for transformation, resolution, or integration can emerge – carried by presence, mindfulness, and an attitude of compassion.
THE EXPLORATORIUM
The Exploratorium (from Latin explorare – to explore, to investigate) is a consciously designed space for experience and development. It combines clear structure with openness and invites you to explore both inner and outer realms of experience – individually and within the shared field of the group.
This process leads to the lived and unlived impulses of one’s being, to light and shadow, to different aspects of the self, and to that original aliveness from which orientation, meaning, and inner movement arise: our essential core.
LIGHT AND SHADOW
The metaphor of light and shadow, originally developed by C.G. Jung, represents the conscious and unconscious dynamics of our psyche. The light encompasses the aspects of ourselves that we actively live and express through our behavior. The shadow contains those parts that - whether out of fear, self-protection, social conditioning, or earlier experiences - have been hidden, denied, or split off. Unlived and unexpressed shadow aspects tend to generate their own dynamics and develop a life of their own in the unconscious background. Because of this, they escape our conscious control and remain inaccessible to us, limiting our ability to live fully and authentically. When we suppress these aspects, we also lose access to the gold in the shadow – the unused potential and dormant resources that lie hidden within us.
MEDITATION AND HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK
The weekend unfolds in an atmosphere of focused yet relaxed stillness, supported by short meditation sessions in the style of Zen and by two long Holotropic Breathwork sessions. These profound practices bring you into contact with your innermost core and allow you to explore, feel, perceive, and transform yourself, moving through an expanded state of consciousness toward wholeness and organic balance. This is a safe, well-established, and deeply self-organizing process – a path of inner unfolding in which body, mind, and soul move toward deep integration. In this state of openness, a field of new possibilities and solutions can emerge.
WEEKEND STRUCTURE
Saturday:
- Introduction and attunement to Holotropic Breathwork and meditation to prepare the ground for the experience.
- Each participant will have the opportunity to engage in one deep Holotropic Breathwork session and to support another participant in their process.
- First Breathwork sessions: bodywork will be used if needed to facilitate the release of emotional and physical tensions.
- After the session, a mandala is created, and in the evening there is the option to share one’s experience during a “sharing” circle to support integration.
Sunday:
- Second Holotropic Breathwork session as on the previous day, followed by mandala creation, reflection, and a break.
- Circle work: this phase is dedicated to integration and reflection in a supportive group environment and provides space for working with light and shadow. This final phase helps to integrate the experiences into existing themes and daily life.
CIRCLE WORK
At the heart of this work with light and shadow lies the power of the circle. The circle is an ancient and archetypal symbol representing wholeness, unity, and the integration of all aspects of our being. By gathering in a circle, we activate a collective field that transcends the sum of its parts. This field creates an energetic container that holds and amplifies individual processes, enabling deeper insights, connections, and transformations.
The circle work uses an integrative approach drawing from various psychotherapeutic modalities. This allows for a nuanced and responsive engagement with each participant’s process and creates a space where emotional, cognitive, and somatic dimensions can be explored and integrated.
The presence of a small, intimate group of up to eight participants deepens the intensity of the experience. In this held and conscious space, individual processes are supported and healing dynamics can unfold naturally. The circle reminds us that no part of us is separate or excluded; instead, all experiences, emotions, and inner voices are invited to find their rightful place within the whole. This integrative approach fosters deep acceptance and empowers each person to connect with their authentic self, supported by the shared presence and wisdom of the group.
No prior experience with Holotropic Breathwork or meditation is required. The Exploratorium is offered in German and, if needed, also in English.
Facilitator
Assistance
N. N.
Cost of participation - Payment Conditions and Registration - Medical Form
COST OF PARTICIPATION
- Participation fee: 360 €
- Early bird rate for registration and payment until October 30, 2026: 320 €.
Participation should not fail for financial reasons, therefore in justified cases a reduction of the participation fee or partial payment is possible to a limited extent. The costs for accommodation and meals are excluded from this. Please feel free and contact me in time to find an amicable solution.
PAYMENT CONDITIONS AND REGISTRATION
Registration for the workshop is binding upon receipt of the registration confirmation. It obliges the participant to pay the deposit of €50 immediately (within 24 hours) after registration and the remaining amount of the participation fee by bank transfer at the latest one week before the start of the workshop – unless otherwise agreed in writing – or, in the case of short-term registration, before the start of the workshop. The early bird price is only valid if the full early bird price is paid by the specified early bird date at the latest
With the registration confirmation, the participant will receive further information about the event and what to bring. An invoice with the confirmation of participation will be issued at the end of the event.
To register, please click on the ‘BOOK A SPOT’ link above.
MEDICAL FORM
The approaches and methods used and combined in this event, such as intensive deep breathing (immersive breathing) / holotropic breathing, meditation and body work, can lead to altered and extraordinary states of consciousness and body and therefore require a stable mental and physical constitution and health, which is queried and confirmed by the participants in advance when registering by completing a medical questionnaire. Participants explicitly agree to confirm this to the best of their knowledge and not to withhold any information about their state of health.
Contraindications include, for example, pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, etc., recent surgical procedures and fractures, orthopaedic diseases such as osteoporosis, etc., eye diseases such as glaucoma, etc., neurological diseases such as epilepsy, etc., diagnosed psychiatric illnesses, asthma, and others. If you have any medical conditions or are unsure or have any questions, please contact me before signing up.
PRELIMINARY ONLINE MEETING
For participants who are attending an exploratorium for the first time, a mandatory preliminary meeting via Zoom is planned. This meeting serves to get to know each other, to discuss the medical form if necessary, and to clarify any open questions. After your registration, we will arrange an appointment together. The preliminary meeting is included in the participation fee.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation of participation in the workshop by the participant after registration obliges the participant to pay the participation fee - even in the event of unexpected illness. Up to 4 weeks (28 days) before the start of the workshop, the costs of the workshop will be refunded minus a processing fee of € 50. Thereafter only if a participant is replaced or if the full number of participants is reached by moving up from the waiting list etc. It is advisable to take out seminar insurance in order to be reimbursed in the event of cancellation due to illness. You can find an option for this here.
Time and Place
We will start on Friday, December 11, at 07:00 p.m. and close on Sunday, December 13, at 2:00 p.m.
Please note: Please plan your travel arrangements accordingly in time so we can start on time. Attendance obligates you to be present throughout (please no appointments during this time) and until the end of the workshop.
The Exploratory takes place in the practice at the Forum an der Blaulach in the French Quarter on the outskirts of Tübingen. Short walks into the nearby nature are possible from here. Catering facilities (cafés, restaurants, etc.) are within walking distance.
Accommodation and meals
Drinks (tea, water & coffee) and light snacks will be served after the breathing sessions. Participants are responsible for other meals and accommodation. A corresponding recommendation list for accommodation will be sent upon request. To a limited extent, a simple overnight stay is possible in the seminar room in the practice rooms on a mattress and with your own sleeping bag for 20 € per night / person. A small kitchenette and a bathroom with shower / toilets are available.
