Vessels of Wisdom

Name: Vessels of Wisdom
Start: 2025-12-29
End: 2026-01-02
Location: Tierramor

Up to 100 in group

December 29, 2025 - January 2, 2026

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Dr.

Nicolas

Shoshana

Dr. Swan Dao

Dr. Swan Dao is the founder of the Institute of Devotional Arts (https://devotionalarts.org), a pioneering organization that designs transformative learning experiences through the expressive arts. Swan studied and taught philosophy, theology, psychology, and theatre in Oxford, Melbourne, Paris, and Chicago, and earned a PhD from the University of Cambridge focused processes of self-transformation. Blending social science, embodiment, and the arts, his work revives the original spirit of psychotherapy: tending to the soul with depth, creativity, and care.

A certified coach and psychotherapist, educator, and experience designer, Swan has worked with Fortune 500 companies and major events across 20 countries. He collaborates with leading organizations in transpersonal psychology and with Europe’s foremost trauma transformation conference alongside Gabor Maté and Esther Perel. Swan currently resides at a Stockholm-based community for culture makers founded by the creators of the Inner Development Goals.

Nicolas Brañas Michaelsen

Nicolas is a facilitator, coach, and shamanic practitioner devoted to helping people come into right-relationship with themselves, others, and life. His work weaves modern developmental psychology with ancient ritual practice, inviting participants into a deeper coherence between soul and action. After two decades as an entrepreneur and impact investor, Nicolas turned toward the inner architecture of transformation. exploring how healing, initiation, and integration open the ground for authentic leadership and creative service. His approach is both embodied and systemic: working with the felt intelligence of the body, the emotional field of relationship, and the unseen forces that shape our choices and destinies. Drawing from depth psychology, parts work, and earth-based ritual, Nicolas creates spaces where individuals can safely unravel, reorient, and remember their deeper nature. His retreats and one-on-one sessions balance precision with presence, meeting each participant where they are, while holding a larger field of soul-level becoming.

Shoshana Nava

A woman of many multitudes, Shoshana is a mother, space holder, grief tender, and keeper of womb wisdom traditions. Her work is rooted in creating sacred spaces where people can reclaim and remember the wisdom that already lives within them. Shoshana spent many years studying with elders across Scotland, New Mexico, India, Oaxaca, and Guatemala, where she apprenticed in earth-based traditions, herbalism, folk magick, and dreamwork visioning; learning to commune with spirit and land, traversing the seen and unseen. Today, her work weaves across the language of the land, the body, and the unseen as a family systems constellation practitioner, equine death doula, and ancestral remembrance ritualist.

Details of this retreat

End and begin the year with a powerful personal reset.

Over these days together, you’ll be guided through gentle yet transformative practices that reconnect you with your inner wisdom. Expect moments of release and renewal, supported by expert guides and the healing power of community. This retreat is both restoration and orientation: recharging your energy and clarifying your next steps. It is a precious time to pause, to take stock, and realign your course – to see clearly where you are, what is asking to be released, and where life is calling you to go.

We open a space where insights are allowed to emerge, and realizations are felt deeply in the body. Drawing inspiration from life design principles, you’ll be invited not only to reflect but also to prototype new possibilities – testing fresh perspectives, sketching life paths, and aligning your inner compass with outer action.

We’ll move between playfulness and depth, solitude and connection, stillness and celebration. The retreat culminates in a collective celebration honoring the wisdom we carry within and welcoming the possibilities of what is to come.This is your invitation to let go of the old, open to the new, and step into the year with vision, vitality, and a renewed sense of belonging.

Recharge your energy and emotional vitality
Clarify your purpose and next steps for the year ahead
Release what no longer serves you and open to new possibilities
Deepen your sense of belonging through shared ritual and community
Celebrate life with depth, joy, and creativity

Schedule:
7–7.45 AM: Morning Practice
8:00–8:45 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM–11:45 AM: Morning Session
12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00–2:30 PM: Rest & Introspection
2:30–3:00 PM: Group Reflection
3.15–5:45 PM: Afternoon Session
6:00–7:00 PM: Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM: Personal Time
8:00–9:00 PM: Evening Activity or Free Time

Getting Here

Tierramor

Directions

We recommend flying into Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), if possible, as it's significantly closer to Nosara. If you are renting a car, then you would definitely rent a 4x4. The majority of roads are unpaved, dirt roads and require a specialised car.

Accommodation

Commuter

For those commuting to Tierramor for the experience. Does not include lodging or meals. (Meals can be added to your ticket purchase).

Dorm

Nestled into the mountainside and surrounded by edible landscapes, our shared casitas offer a cozy and grounded experience. Each space accommodates three people and is just a short walk from our communal gathering areas—the ocean-view bamboo maloca, kitchen, temple, lounge, and juice bar. Here, you wake to the sounds of the forest, share in simple rhythms, and enjoy access to sunrise over the mountains and sunset over the Pacific.

Bahareque

Built in the traditional earthen bahareque method, these casitas offer a unique and intimate stay nestled in a more private pocket of the land. With natural finishes and regenerative design, each space is suited for one or two people. Guests have access to their own shared eco-facilities, including hot showers and dry toilets, while remaining within a short walk of the central spaces. Perfect for those seeking both privacy and connection in a natural setting.

Standard

Tucked between regenerating hillsides, the standard casitas are designed for comfort and flexibility. Each space accommodates two people with either two single beds or one king bed, depending on your preference. Just steps away from shared spaces, the standard casitas are ideal for friends, couples, or solo travelers seeking a restful base immersed in nature.

Suite

Spacious and crafted from wood, our suites provide a more expansive and private stay while keeping you close to the land. Each suite features a king bed and a larger interior footprint compared to the standard casitas, making it ideal for individuals or couples looking for extra comfort. Still, the experience remains immersed in the mountainside gardens, and regenerative landscapes with quick access to shared bathrooms and community spaces.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Each retreat includes daily meal plan and all meals served are organic, vegetarian or vegan delights. We do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions.