Hi Tanamesers,

In this edition, I decided to do the “What About Me” session before diving into my recommendations.

You already know I traveled to Montenegro for my birthday, but originally, I wanted to attend a spiritual retreat. Turning a quarter-century was a significant milestone for me, and I needed a moment to reflect on my life so far, the Micael I am shaping every day, and to deepen my spiritual connection with the universe. Seeking a place immersed in nature where I could take this time for myself, I discovered Shambala Gatherings.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), Shambala wasn’t hosting any retreats during my actual birthday, but there was one called "Walking Each Other Home" led by Luke Bache in the beginning of May. Although it was beyond my budget, I noticed they offered scholarships for those facing financial difficulties. I wrote an email sharing my story and explaining why this retreat was important to me, and to my amazement, a few days later, I received the incredible news that I had been selected.

• In general, we practiced a lot of yoga, engaged in breathing techniques for stress management, participated in gratitude and grief rituals, explored nervous system resourcing, and enjoyed the most amazing vegan food you will ever taste.

It took me a while to write about this experience because, to be completely honest, I am still processing much of it. I’ve decided to not delve into the specifics of what we did during the four days there, since I hope some of you will take this as a sign to undergo something on this sort - and detailed spoilers might diminish your experience.

You know I use this space in the newsletter to talk about myself, but in real life, I can be quite reserved when it comes to sharing my feelings and anxieties. However, everything felt so natural there. Connection —with my newfound friends and with nature — was truly effortless. I remember my days at Shambala as a beautiful moment in time, where between lessons and sauna sessions, I fell in love with every person at the retreat and their stories, while also learning to freely accept and cherish my own. I cannot wait to come back.

If you want to know more about my experience or simply chat about the topic, feel free to reply to this email or text me on my socials. I know Luke is hosting a new retreat in August, and I couldn't recommend it more.

P.S: I did get lost in the Swedish forest for a couple of hours while I was there, which was terribly amusing, but that's a story for another edition.

With love,

Micael.