EARTH HEART

A Journey to the Heart of the Amazon

15 – 23 November 2025
Antonio’s Lodge, Uruburu river, Manaus, Brazil

****

For decades, the ‘wisdomkeepers’ and shamans of many indigenous tribes have been warning humanity: it is time to change our way of life and get more in touch with Mother Earth. She sighs and groans under our greed, consumerism and warfare. The coming years will be challenging: how do we deal with the crises and challenges ahead, on so many fronts? 
One of the solutions suggested by the wisdomkeepers is: connect with each other, do ceremonies, listen to the spirit, connect with the earth.

In November 2025 we organize a journey to the heart of the Amazon, to prepare for a ceremony for the earth on the day of the new moon on November 20th. Our journey will be more or less parallel to the Climate Conference, that is taking place between November 10 and 21 in Belém, Brazil, at the estuary of the Amazon river. On the new moon we want to invite as many groups as possible to organize ceremonies, all around the planet, at the same time, so we create a powerful field of alignment, co-creation and love for the earth. We will tune in to the soul, get in touch with our own joy and enthusiasm, and connect to the heart of the earth.

‘By travelling to sacred places, you awaken the power of the earth needed to lead the process of change and transformation. By aligning your consciousness with the earth at these power places, you use the alchemy needed to awaken these places.’

THE AMAZON

The Amazon Rainforest is full of power and beauty. It is a conscious living organism, full of animals, trees, plants and mystery. We will meet in Manaus, a city in the middle of the rainforest in Brazil. We will stay in the beautiful hostel Manaus in the center of town and go from there to Antonio’s Lodge, 80 kilometers down the Urubu river. This will be our venue for 4 nights, 5 days. There is also the possibility to sleep one night out in the jungle. After that, we will go back by boat to the Manaus hostel.

LOCATION: Gathering place at Manaus hostel, Rua Lauro Cavalcante, 231, Centro Manaus – AM, 69020-230, Brazil. Telephone: +55 (92) 3233-4545

THE JOURNEY

Nov 15. Arriving in the hostel in Manaus, group gathering at 6 pm, before dinner

Nov 16. Manaus, rivertrip

Nov 17. Transfer by car and boat from Manaus to Antonio’s Lodge

Nov 18. Lodge

Nov 19. Lodge

Nov 20. Lodge, Ceremony for the Earth

Nov 21. Lodge

Nov 22. Transfer back to Manaus
Nov 23. Final circle and closure after lunch

THE PROGRAM

We will use the principles of Open Space as a way of ceremony to delve into our inner world, explore who we are, discover what holds us back to be ‘the ones we are hoping for’, and make a leap forward: into the unknown and into ourselves. Open Space means we have no specific program, but together we will make the program on the spot, following the flow, our intuition and Spirit. We will have two sharing circles a day, some exercises and body work, and the whole journey will be a preparation for the Worldwide Ceremony for the Earth of November 20th. But in fact the whole journey will be a powerful ceremony on itself, a ceremony of personal change and collective transformation.
NB. The journey will have its challenges: Manaus is a big city of 2 million people, and the Amazon is full of unsuspected surprises. So be aware this might not be an easy trip in many ways.

OPEN SPACE
The Open Space principles are:
1. The people who are there, are the right people
2. Whatever happens, is the right thing to happen
3. When it begins, it begins
4. When it is over, it is over
5. Follow the Law of Two Feet
6. Trust the process and expect the unexpected

If you want to know more about our way of working, you can download our e-booklet LIGHTWORK here: https://connecting-the-dots.eu/boeken-2/

THE GUIDES

This week will be guided by Ton van der Kroon, Anne Wislez and Eran Markose. Ton and Anne have been doing ceremonies at power places all over the world for many years. From North Korea to Rwanda, from the Himalayas to the Azores and from the Sinai to Scotland. They wrote several books about it. Eran joined their team last year. He is a great storyteller and healer. He left the Israeli army and became a warrior of the heart instead. He gives traumahealing to Israeli soldiers, and works with mixed Israeli/Palestinian groups.

THE COSTS
€ 1450, including accommodations in 2/4/6 people dormitories in the hostel in Manaus and in 2/3 persons cabins in Antonio’s lodge, including all meals, transfers, excursions, the night in the jungle and guides. Excl. the flight to Manaus and your additional stays.

THE LIST

Long-sleeved T-shirt or sweater, light trousers, T-shirts, shorts, walking boots or trainers, raincoat, swim suit, had/cap, sun block, mosquito repellent, pocket knife, flashlight, sleeping bag or blanket for when camping in the jungle, a refillable water bottle (filtered water is supplied at the lodge), binocular if you have one. Music instrument and journal.

THE REGISTRATION

1. Please send an email to anne.wislez@telenet.be explaining your motivation to join.
2. Pay the basic costs of € 750 through the account below to reserve your place. Your registration will only be confirmed once the payment is received.
3. Bank account: TREE OF LIFE, IBAN: NL90 INGB 0008216143, BICcode: INGBNL2A
4. Mention ‘Earth Heart’.
5. In case of cancellation there will be a fee to be paid of € 250.

THE AGREEMENTS
 (Please read this carefully before signing in)
1. All participants are present from beginning till end. You can only participate for the whole event. The retreat starts with dinner and the opening ceremony on the first night, and ends on the last morning with a closing ceremony, before lunch.
2. You are fully responsible for your own experience or any events, illness or accidents that may take place. We trust that everyone present is in good physical and mental health. Of course we will do anything possible to make your stay as safe and comfortable as possible, but we can’t take any liability for your safety, nor for your emotional, physical or financial well being.
 If you need anything to insure your health (medication, supplements, anti-allergics…), please bring them yourselves. If any doubt about your ability to cope with this journey, please contact us. If you have a psychiatric background, this trip is not recommended.
3. Make sure you have a valid passport and a fully covered travel- and medical insurance.

4. Please respect the local customs, rules, dresscode and formalities. We are guests in another country, another culture and maybe for some of us another religion.

5. Note that the main language spoken on the retreat will be English.

6. We will be using Open Space, a way to give space to that what wants to reveal itself and to connect to that what resonates inside of you. Open Space gives the possibility to expect the unexpected, to be inspired by the moment, to listen to divine will and to act from the heart. It is a sometimes discomforting method, but one that can reveal magic beyond our imagination.
7. The main intention of our work is personal healing and growth. So the fuller you personally engage in the process, the more it might bring to you. We encourage your preparation and devotion to this work by tuning in the months and weeks before the journey, by asking a few questions to yourself: what is my intention? What do I want to achieve? What is my pitfall or my shadow? How can I prepare myself?
 This is not a therapeutic session though. Take full responsibility for your own growth and wellbeing, take your leadership.
8. Due to the context and content of this week, personal healing, no children – nor animals – are allowed.

9. No drugs of any sort are permitted, and during the retreat we will not take alcohol, and try to limit coffee and meat.

10. We don’t advocate conspiracy theories nor do we fight anyone. In our work we focus on the heart and on the unity of mankind as a responsible species.

* * *

A GATHERING OF MIDWIVES, CHANGE AGENTS AND LIGHTWORKERS
“There is a dynasty of lightworkers, a lineage of people who are taking care of the evolution of the world. They are the world teachers, the shamans, the bringers of hope, peace and change. You are part of them. The more love and compassion you bring into this time of change, the easier heaven can be born in the world.
Maybe this time of transformation doesn’t feel comfortable to you, but it is just like a birth: the contractions of a woman herald the coming of a child. It is a process of letting go of old patterns, of opening up to the new, enjoying life and following your soul’s purpose.
We honor your work and perseverance. We want to tell you: you are blessed. You are doing great work. Don’t hesitate, don’t deny yourself. Don’t punish yourself. Trust in your heart’s feelings and live to the max. Trust your gut feelings. Blessings.”
(channeling by Ton van der Kroon)