Author: Silvia Eriksson

The Human Experience

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

Our life can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be mediocre and unfulfilling. At times, we feel free and full of potential, but other times, we find ourselves lost, unsure of what we truly want. We often invest our energy and potential into activities that lack meaning and fall into habits designed primarily to create comfort and safety, which do not support our growth or expansion. We forget to explore the possibilities around us because we are focused on the small details of meaningless obsessions, often passed down from our parents or society. Our value systems are dictated by the media and the status quo, which don’t inspire us to discover our true callings.

Nevertheless, being human is an amazing experience, and it can be deeply fulfilling. We possess incredible qualities—intelligence, creativity, and the ability to transform this planet into a paradise, rather than contribute to its destruction.

Spiritual traditions and teachings have long aimed to help humanity realize and actualize more of its potential. Unfortunately, many of these teachings have been misunderstood or distorted to serve the interests of a few. The dogmas created reduce us to helpless sinners, without hope for salvation, demanding profound changes that seem unattainable for ordinary people.

Focusing on humanity’s shortcomings diminishes our love and appreciation for who we are and what we can become. It prevents us from venturing into the actualization of our potential by instilling a sense of being wrong or deficient.

The idea that we are limited and need to develop can, on one hand, encourage growth, but if viewed negatively, it can become crippling.

If we learn to tolerate the fact that we may not be living up to our full potential, without feeling bad about ourselves, it can actually stimulate our desire to grow. It’s simply how things are—we arrive in life like seeds with the possibility to grow and blossom. Once we understand this, curiosity and love can replace the sense of limitation and feeling lost, transforming it into a recognition of our immense potential, waiting to be actualized—the freedom to truly be ourselves.

The central idea of our approach is that humans have both a Real Self and an Ego, also referred to as Essence and Personality. The Ego and Personality are like an acquired software. This software runs automatically, without any conscious effort. While it helps us function in society, it often prevents our Essence—our True Self—from manifesting and evolving. Our true potential becomes forgotten.

Thus, we can see that we have two aspects: our True Self and our acquired personality or ego.

In our journey toward development and freedom, we start to realize how willful our false personality is. We gravitate towards what is familiar, and when an impulse arises, it seems natural to act upon it; we don’t know how to stop ourselves. We mistakenly believe that these tendencies are a part of who we truly are.

Our True Self, on the other hand, has often been neglected because it wasn’t fully received by our families or society when we were growing up. In fact, when we dared to express it, we were often ignored, rejected, or discouraged. Being real was met with difficulty and danger.

As a result, we become confused, criticizing our True Self—which may still be in an embryonic stage—and reinforcing the personality, which is fully formed and falsely believed to be our true identity. Because we don’t accept or nurture our True Self, it doesn’t have the opportunity to develop. The True Self evolves through engaging with life in a real, authentic way—by being who we are, with all our imperfections and insecurities; through experience, trial and error, participation, and by not hiding or judging it.

During the retreat, we will help you reconnect with your Essence so that it can support your growth and your life. We will also explore and work through the issues that are blocking it.

When we begin to support the journey of our True Self, we start to experience Essence. Essence is the felt manifestation of the qualities of our True Self. Once we realize that we come equipped with these inner allies, we no longer need to question how to live life—we simply know instinctively.

When faced with challenges, we feel equipped rather than deficient, ready to take on life and live fully.

Love,
Emilio

Emilio facilitates the Journey to Essence retreat series at Mandali. Each retreat focuses on a different ‘Latif’, a subtle energy center in the body, associated with specific qualities of being and deeper spiritual states. The next in the series is this December 7-12, 2024, The Black Latifa: Exploring Inner Peace and Personal Power.

Who Am I? : The Life-Changing experience of the Enlightenment Intensive

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

At Mandali, some retreats, like the Enlightenment Intensive led by Peter Harper and his team, need a bit more explanation to reveal their true potential. Though its promise of self-discovery may seem daunting, it’s an open and welcoming experience for anyone ready to dive deep. In this blog, we’ll share insights into why this retreat can profoundly transform those who attend.

When you join the Enlightenment Intensive, you’re not just signing up for a retreat—you’re embarking on a profound journey with like-minded souls seeking the deepest truth of their being. It’s an opportunity to step away from the noise of everyday life and connect with a deeper, more authentic version of yourself.

Imagine stepping onto the front car of a roller coaster: the anticipation builds, your heart races, and suddenly you’re on a thrilling ride into the unknown. This is the feeling from the moment you register. You receive a preparation guide that sets the stage, and as the start date approaches, the excitement grows. As you prepare for this unique experience, you may feel a mix of emotions—curiosity, excitement, and even a shiver of anxiety; that’s absolutely natural, you are stepping into the unknown! Beneath this variety of emotions, you may notice a quiet, persistent voice that seems to call you home, inviting you to explore the deeper truth of who you really are.

Arriving at Mandali, you feel the buzz of anticipation. Mirrors are covered, phones are stored away, and all distractions are left behind. You immediately sense this is a different kind of retreat—one that invites you to let go of old patterns and expectations. The focus shifts entirely inward as you prepare to explore the most profound question: “Who am I?”

The days are a blend of structured zen self-inquiry, shared moments in one-on-one Dyads, and practices that help you to embody your experience and encourage a sense of freedom and self-expression—whether through movement, breathwork, or silent contemplation. Delicious detox meals nourish you, while serene surroundings and silence support your unfolding.

You start to notice the small moments that bring joy—the laughter of a fellow participant, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the stillness that comes from a quiet mind. As the days pass, a subtle transformation begins. You feel lighter, more connected to yourself and those around you. The simple, yet profound question, “Who am I?” echoes deeply within, revealing layers of insight and clarity. By the end, you emerge with a newfound sense of self, peace, and belonging—a transformation that feels like coming home.

The final days are for rest and integration. Relax by the pool, connect with new friends, or simply reflect in the beauty of Mandali. This space allows your newfound clarity to settle, deepening your understanding of yourself.

Many participants find that the connections made here go beyond friendship; they become part of a community that supports and uplifts each other long after the retreat ends. They often describe the Enlightenment Intensive as a life-changing experience—an invaluable gift to yourself. Actually, you can read their sharing yourself below.

Are you ready to embark on this journey to discover the truth of who you really are? Feel the call, take a leap of faith, and just come… the door is open.

With love,

Peter Harper & Veronika Kremen

The Drunken Monk Conscious Living

Unique Elements of the Enlightenment Intensive at Mandali

  • Deep, Guided Self-Discovery: The retreat uses a unique “Dyad” technique, guided by experienced facilitators, that promotes deep self-inquiry and authentic connection. This safe, one-on-one practice unlocks personal insights and profound breakthroughs that are both meaningful and transformative.
  • Unplugged in a Breathtaking Location: Set on a hill overlooking Lake Orta in Italy, Mandali’s stunning environment helps you disconnect from distractions—no mirrors, phones, or external obligations—so you can focus entirely on your inner journey amidst serene natural beauty.
  • Holistic Activities for Mind, Body, and Soul: The experience goes beyond meditation, incorporating movement, dance, breathwork, and more to release mental conditioning and foster flow. Nourishing vegetarian meals, prepared with organic ingredients, complete this holistic approach.
  • Dedicated Integration: A space for integration at the end of the retreat helps you absorb and apply your newfound clarity, with additional post-retreat support to maintain your growth and insights.
  • Form a Community of Lifelong Connections: Beyond personal transformation, you’ll have an opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded individuals committed to deep spiritual growth, fostering friendships and connections that last long after the retreat.

Testimonials  

“There were so many, many moments of full presence throughout the retreat. Reconnecting, rediscovering the joy of life and sense of natural lightness.” — Miro

“Being in a group of like-minded people and experiencing deep love, safety, openness, and warmth gave me the opportunity to let go of pain, grief, anger, and sadness which was stored in the cells of my body. There has been a shift in my whole system. I am safe, light, love, freedom, power, and peaceful.” — Fiona

“It has been an incredible profound and surprising journey, full of self-discovery, deep deep learning about myself and others, recognising, realising and resonating from the essence within. A feeling of coming home and reconnecting within myself. And that while being surrounded and embedded by so much love, from the outside and inside and feeling truly held, guided and supported by a greater whole. Pure magic it has been and continues to be. I feel humble, so very very grateful to all life is and find myself filled up with life-energy, curiosity, wonder and deep inner confidence to continue on my path from here.” — Judith

“Through silence and contemplation I have become closer to myself and to acceptance of who I am. Peter and Vero’s guidance is committed, loving, down to earth and with a lot of laughs and pleasure. Really recommend!” — Margit

“It’s all about trusting in the process and a few days afterwards I feel light, alive and excited about my life.” — Mia

We look forward to hosting the next Enlightenment Intensive the 12-17 November 2024 at Mandali. For more information about Peter and the Drunken Monk, please go here.

The Magic of Silence

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

January is the silent month at Mandali. Everybody becomes silent, including the staff. So silent that you hear the wind, the birds, your breath. So silent that you feel yourself again, that you become aware of the very silent being that inhabits you. 

I love it, and most of my retreats are at least partially in silence. It’s a sacred time and a unique time. A time to come to rest and discover your underlying Self. That Self which in itself holds the qualities of love, peace, tranquility, vastness, eternity, the universe.

What is Silence for me?

Silence first came to me in a 10-day Vipassana Retreat with Jack Kornfield in the desert of Nevada, USA. On the first day I wanted to run; on the last day I didn’t want to talk anymore. This was the beginning of a long love affair with silence. 

The reason why I love silence so much is that I feel it allows me and the people that are with me to dive into a place beyond the mind, a place of pure being. And from there the heart opens up and more love starts to spread and flow.

Socializing often used to either bore or exhaust me. For me, a sane society would consist of 50% talking and 50% silence. A lot of people fear not feeling connected anymore to others in silence. But you are. The other senses start to open up and you may feel others much better. And especially the “heart sense” opens up much more and you start to feel that “one love” we all talk about.

“The only language able to express the whole truth is silence”. ~ Ramana Maharshi

Why are people hesitant about Silence/Silent Retreats?

Some people, who inquire about a silent retreat, are afraid of the silence.

And it’s understandable. Because maybe we hold memories of negativity connected to silence. As children we might have been told to sit still or to be quiet, more like a punishment.

And if you go into silence for a while, you don’t know what to expect. You go into the unknown. And we usually don’t like that. We like to know and be in control. When you let go of control and enter the door of silence, anything can come up. It can be repressed emotions, it can be a void, it can be boredom, it may be a confrontation with the so-called ‘monkey mind’, the chattering of the mind/thought process. But it may also be, that you come in contact with deep bliss, peace and stillness.

And there you are, just looking at it all.

What are the benefits of Silence/Silent Retreats?

“The diamond is hidden in the lotus flower”, as they say in the Tibetan Mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”. Based on this, a silent retreat offers the chance to lift the veil of the mind or Ego and discover the perfume of the Self, the essence of who we truly are. And when we come in touch with this, we get a sense of the love, truth, happiness, vastness, that gives us a taste of the true Self, that we are, behind all the personal layers.

In everyday life we often do everything we can to cover up that Self. We overwork, we keep ourselves overly busy, we spend too much time on social media, we consume chocolate, overeat, drink alcohol or use recreational drugs, just to not face that void behind it, which in fact just stands in front of the everlasting peace, love and universal vastness that we are.

With proper guidance, a silent retreat always contains the opportunity to discover who you truly are. And this is in fact what all spiritual practices aim for, what all religions point to; this signifies the end of the search.

Silence

If I fully immerse myself in her,
In Silence,
Really become her,
Then she easily leads me through the day,
Slightly floating above the ground,
Slightly shifted from consensus reality.
Then it all happens without effort,
Life just happens,
Without having to make many decisions,
IT decides for me.
Leading to countless miraculous coincidences.
It makes so much sense,
If I just give myself up
To life,
It knows what to do
With me.
And when I learn to read these coincidences,
I can surrender even more
And trust,
That life, existence already takes care of me.
It has proved it to me so many times.

Surrender,
Again and again.
This is the learning.

Why do we need Silence?

In the noisy active Western lifestyle we need times of silence to rest and reconnect with ourselves. Silent times are times to listen to our inner voice, the voice of intuition and wisdom. These are times where we create an inner space of presence and peace.

Without silent times we tend to identify too much with the Ego, the mind, the feelings, the body, the sorrows, the stories, the news, etc. The identification with the personal stuff creates suffering. As soon as we take some time off and become quiet – be it a 15-minutes meditation, sitting on a chair and watching the trees or going for a walk – we can sort things out and see more clearly again. 

This clear seeing comes from a certain distance that we take to the thoughts, feelings and body sensations. Through this distance, the observer’s view, we create a space of freedom, agility and possibility to act differently. Therefore we could say, silence adds to creating more peace, since you act more from a place of stillness, then from a driven place of Ego.

Moments of Silence: How can you integrate Silence in everyday life? 

  • Cut the carrots with full awareness! Bringing awareness to all the activities in everyday life. It was the message of the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who encouraged us to use all activities to transform them into a meditation by bringing total presence to them.
  • Look out of your window or sit on your balcony and look into nature, motionless. Best is first thing in the morning with a cup of tea. Let yourself be moved by the movements of the leaves and plants; let yourself be enchanted by the singing of the birds.
  • Meditate! Meditation is THE practice to get from the identified Ego to the disidentified Self, to see things from a different perspective, from the observer’s view. In meditation you go in, and that’s needed in order to see clearly. If you feel you have no time for meditation, just take 5 minutes, and sit still and observe what’s going on inside, it can be on a chair, on the floor, on your meditation cushion. If you have more time, I suggest 10 min., 15 min., 20 min., 30 min., 40 min. (40 min. is the classical Zen and Vipassana time frame). See which time-span corresponds to you and go with that!
  • Go outside for a walk, along a river, through fields, into the forest. Nature will help you to ventilate your head and find your center again.
  • Try out a Silent Day! I suggest a Silent Sunday. If you have a partner or live with other people, you may inform them that you won’t speak for that day. Maybe they will even join you. If you have children, that might be more difficult, but you could also try to let them know that Mama or Papa will be a bit more silent that day.

In our Outdoor Retreats we always keep the mornings silent until Brunch, also with children, and we are amazed how well the children cope with Silence. It’s often the adults that think it’s not possible for children, but it is, if you explain it to them in an appealing way (f.e. that animals and plants are also mostly silent, and you can see and hear more animals if you are silent) and you keep it loosely, so they can also ask something by whispering whenever they need to.

Why should you come to a Silent Retreat?

To be in silence in a group is a great gift. The group supports you. You are not alone. And you will see that others also go through the same things as you. It is a courageous thing. And you are all in it together.

The teacher has an important role in a silent retreat. He or she holds the quiet space of presence into which all participants can immerse themselves in. The teacher is guiding the whole group through the silent days and gives pointers to the underlying deeper sense of Self.

The nice thing about the silent retreats at Mandali is that they are not as strict as the 10-day Vipassana Retreats. They are more joyful, more diverse, without losing their depth. At Mandali they consist of meditation, movement meditation, Yoga, Qi Gong, Nature Walks, sometimes Dance, Q&A or Satsangs, where people can bring forth their questions that come up or talk about their struggles and get answers and help. All the practices aim to help the participants to make it easier to come from the mind to the heart and from the heart to the Self.

So really – a silent retreat at Mandali is a piece of cake!

Evelyne Vuilleumier comes from Switzerland and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Gestalt Therapist, Yoga Teacher and teaches a further education in Spiritual Psychotherapy. She published the book “Utterings of Truth” in 2020, from which the above poem is quoted. Evelyne will facilitate a Silent Retreat the 12 – 17 January 2025, focusing on Yoga, Meditation & Satsang as well as the Easter Silent Retreat in Mandali.

Wholeness in Healing – Meet the Teachers

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

What happens when two traditions merge into a one-of-a-kind retreat? At Mandali, we value diversity in lineages, teaching styles, and practices, so, when two of our beloved in-house teachers decided to bring their teachings together, it felt like a cosmic cocktail. This collaboration birthed the Wholeness in Healing retreat, blending QiGong, KumNye (Tibetan Yoga), and Breathwork. 

We sat with Mario and Gijs to get to know more about the core elements that make this retreat so unique and sought after.

What is the intention behind the ‘Wholeness in Healing’ retreat?

Mario: The intention of the retreat is to give people instruments to achieve a better quality of life, energy, and calmness of the heart.

Gijs: To bring about balance and harmony within our entire way of being; integrating all aspects and elements of life into a wholesome flow, and aligning ourselves with our deepest intentions and our natural state of being.

What’s special about the combination of Qigong, KumNye, Breathwork & Inquiry?

Mario: The combination of these techniques offers a complete understanding of the human dimension. Breathing works on the energetic field, inquiry enhances communication and self-expression, and Qigong focuses on the ‘three treasures’ of our human form: body awareness and energy expression.

Gijs: This combination of practices moves our energies on multiple levels, drawing out the core potentiality within the promise of our lives. It spirals our way up to embodying freedom.

What benefits can one expect to experience as part of these practices?

Mario: The benefits are numerous: unblocking energy that may be stuck in the physical body, improving communication skills to be more incisive, and increasing physical and energetic endurance.

Gijs: To find confidence in the full capacity of our authentic humanity.

Kat, a previous retreat participant, shares her experience:

“The KumNye meditation practice that Gijs taught has enabled me to achieve a state of blissful meditative clarity much faster and easier than I’ve ever been able to in 17 years of meditating. Since then, I apply KumNye in my daily life, and it’s led me to a more vital, embodied, and grateful daily existence.

“In one of the breathwork sessions, after a profound KumNye session, I experienced myself as pure energy and light. The result was blissful joy, clarity, and more confidence in my intuition. It unlocked a feeling of lightness throughout the rest of the retreat, and it’s something I can now tap into even in my own self-guided meditations.”

I attribute this depth of meditation to the highly curated variety of techniques that Mario and Gijs interweave throughout the retreat. They constantly ‘read the room’ and build off of each other’s sessions to create a holistic practice that left me floating at the end of every day.

Because of this retreat’s focus on movement and body in everything we did for five consecutive days, I significantly improved my ability to reach a meditative state of clarity and peace through various types of movements. This has vastly broadened my toolbox for finding the right method at the right moment in my day-to-day life.

I often refer to this retreat as a major turning point in my burnout. It’s the only event I can point to and clearly see a big difference before I started it versus after, in terms of my energy, optimism, and mood.”

What makes YOU feel vibrantly alive?

Mario: The connection with myself and my expression, supporting people in their personal development, and seeing them happy and alive.

Gijs: Sharing the light of love in our lives, spending time in nature, and enjoying musical creations with dear muses.

Join Gijs & Mario for their next Wholeness in Healing: Bringing Balance into Being this October 20-25, 2024 at Mandali.

Posted in Blog, Mind, SoulTagged breathwork, kumnye, meditation, qigong

Higher Frequencies

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

Dr. David Hawkins created the consciousness scale, a framework for understanding human emotions and behaviour based on their energy levels and frequency. Each level on the scale represents a different state of consciousness, accompanied by various emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. The scale ranges from 0 to 1000, with 0 being the lowest level of consciousness and 1000 the highest. The levels are grouped into three main categories: lower, middle, and higher consciousness.

At lower consciousness levels (below 200), people tend to experience negative emotions such as fear,
anger, and shame. They may also exhibit behaviours that are harmful to themselves and others, such as
violence or addiction. At the middle consciousness levels (200-500), people experience more positive
emotions like love, joy, and peace. They are more likely to engage in behaviours that benefit themselves
and others, such as kind acts or creativity. At the highest consciousness levels (above 500), people
experience states of enlightenment, transcendence, and unity. They have access to profound insights and spiritual experiences that go beyond the limitations of the ego and the material world.

While Hawkins’ scale is, in my view, entirely accurate and makes a valuable connection between emotions and frequencies, there is a meaningful invitation, just as with any list that indicates a hierarchy. And that is from which perspective within us we view this and apply this valuable knowledge.

From the mind’s perspective, we look at this scale and frame it within a dimension of time and space where our personality makes a journey from lower to higher, transcending the lower frequencies to reach the higher dimensions. It is the never-ending effort of the seeker within the mind striving for a better version of themselves and the world. But what the mind cannot do, and perhaps does not want to, is that the dual and polarized nature of the mind in its striving for higher and better rejects everything that is lower and worse.

And it is precisely in this rejection that lies the crux of why things are still not truly better and higher, in
humans individually but also in humanity as a collective. The rejection of, judgment over, and surpassing of, in this case, the lower frequencies and emotions on Hawkins’ scale, is exactly the mechanism that causes them to gather more tension, become larger, and dive deeper into the shadow. It is precisely the rejection that causes the negative charge and effects of these frequencies, not the intrinsic properties of, for example, shame or guilt. We do not suffer from these frequencies but from our resistance to them, our judgment over them, and our futile effort to transcend them.

The other perspective available to us is to bring the conflict created by the mind’s polarized nature to the compassionate heart. Because the heart operates in unity and is capable of experiencing and embracing all facets of life with equanimity, the necessity to transcend or banish something from life falls away. The recognition here is that all frequencies and emotions on Hawkins’ scale are made of the same source energy. It simply indicates the diversity of life, the infinite bandwidth of experiences that occur between the lowest and highest frequencies, from the heaviest, darkest emotions to the most ecstatic and positive. Those who live from this place realize that there is nothing to transcend or conquer.

The only truly meaningful thing we have to do is to experience, embrace, and integrate the entire spectrum of what it means to be human. Not just the highest frequencies on Hawkins’ scale but also the very lowest and everything in between. This will truly enrich us as humans and make us more divine than any idea the mind has about what it means to be an enlightened human being. The key lies in the inclusion of everything life allows us to experience as humans, not in the banishment of that which we cannot or do not want to see as divine but truly is…

Learn more about Juno: www.junoburger.com

Interview: From Lucid Dreaming to Lucid Living ~ with Andrew Holecek

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

Andrew Holecek is a former dental surgeon, concert pianist, competitive freestyle skier, and now author and teacher. He has practiced Beethoven’s sonatas in his lucid dreams, rehearsed lectures, incubated dreams to receive ideas for books, healed himself in dreams, had hyper-lucid dreams more real than waking reality, received precognitive dreams that accurately foretold physical events (and probably prevented serious untoward experiences), received scores of teachings, and purified countless bad habits. Get to know more about these fascinating practices, as we sit down with Andrew to unveil the world of lucid dreaming and why it matters. 

What are the nocturnal meditations, and why should one bother with them?

There are five of these practices. Liminal dreaming, Lucid dreaming, Dream yoga, Sleep yoga (also called luminosity yoga), and Bardo Yoga.

Liminal means threshold and liminality refers to the pre and post-sleep and dream state. So, it’s basically what you experience, the minute your head hits the pillow, before you drop off. And so it’s working with this plasma dimension of mind when you’re not quite here, you’re not quite there, you’re not solid. One of the really cool things about liminality is working with liminal principles, because if you become comfortable hanging out in this groundless state, it helps you understand liminal experiences, liminal places and also liminal beings like LGBTQ+ people, those are liminal beings. Artists are liminal beings, and eccentric spiritual teachers are liminal beings. 

Now, the two main practices are Lucid dreaming and Dream Yoga. So liminality works as what’s called lucid sleep onset practice. It’s a practice on its own, but liminal dreaming greases the skids for lucid dreaming. That’s this marvellous space where you’re dreaming, something clues you into the fact that you’re dreaming, and you attain full consciousness that you’re in the dream state. You’re still dreaming, but you’re aware that you’re dreaming. 

There is so, so much to say about Lucid dreaming, it’s fundamentally for purposes of self-fulfillment. You can also use it for psychological development, there’s a vast, incredible array of things you can do. But to put it in contradistinction to Dream Yoga, which is the next practice; dream yoga is more spiritual than psychological. It’s more about self-transcendence than self-fulfillment. 

The fourth practice, Lucid Sleep (dream yoga) is more graduate school level. So this is, believe it or not, where you can attain full awareness, and consciousness in the deep dreamless state. It’s been in the wisdom traditions for thousands of years. From this state, you can bring the extraordinary insights from that experience into your waking state.

The last practice is Bardo yoga. This is where you use the nocturnal mind, the dimensions of darkness, to help you prepare for the end of life. In the Tibetan tradition, this is the ultimate practice, where you use sleeping and dreaming as a way to prepare for death. There’s a very deep, intimate connection between sleeping, dreaming and dying. 

What brought you to this world of nocturnal meditation? 

What triggered it for me was a massive experience I had, 40+ years ago, where I entered this altered state of consciousness for about two weeks. This changed my life completely. 

I had just finished graduate school and took a year off to figure out what am I going to do with my life. And so I had this amazing experience where, for two weeks, all my dreams were virtually lucid. What was interesting was that my daytime experience became more dreamlike. As my days became less real, my dreams became more real. I got to the point where I could hardly tell the difference between being awake and asleep. At first, I thought, maybe this is what enlightenment means. But then I wondered, maybe this is what insanity means, right? Because I couldn’t tell what was real. That’s what triggered things for me to explore lucid dreaming more officially.

How does someone know they are lucid dreaming?

So when you lie down at night, you’re going to sleep. You’re mostly thinking, thinking, thinking, you know, reflecting on the day. But you may notice if you pay attention to your mind, and this is what liminal dreaming does, that at a certain point, the thinking starts to change to imaging. You’re seeing imagery, there are more pictures involved. And so scientists call this a thought-image amalgamation phase. You’re starting to go offline from the waking state and transition into the dream state. You go from thoughts to thoughts & images, then an image inflates into a very short, lucid dream. So, you can have a short lucid dream that lasts 5-10 seconds, usually too short to do something with but that’s still a fully legitimate lucid dream, where you realise, oh my gosh, I am dreaming. They range from really short, micro lucid dreamlets, all the way to hyper lucid dreams. These are lucid dreams that can last 45 minutes or even longer, that seem more real than the waking state. Now, these are unbelievable, these will change your life because they’re so deep, they’re so profound. You wake up from just one hyper-lucid dream, it is like a near-death experience. It’s so vibrant, it’s so powerful. You can’t have these lucid dreams and not be aware of them.

What I work with, is trying to cultivate this so it doesn’t happen just spontaneously. You can cultivate it as a practice, you can become proficient at it. 

What’s so amazing about lucid dreaming?

You can engage in all these amazing, amazing activities, you can really have fun. You can fulfill all your wildest fantasies, which is great, but that’s not real transformation. That’s just entertainment. So the higher levels of lucid dreaming, and then Dream Yoga in particular, are basically when you start to work with your mind in a really powerful way. 

Think about it, what is a dream made of? Your dream is made of your mind. So when you’re working with your dreams, you’re working with your mind. And so this is where the great transformation takes place. 

Scientists have shown that the brain can’t tell the difference between something that’s dreamt, visualised, or directly experienced. This is where the game changer is. By changing your mind, through neuroplasticity, you’re changing your brain. 

According to Buddhist tradition, the practices that you do in the dream state are 7-9 times more effective and transformative than what you’re doing in the waking state. Ultimately, it’s a way to supercharge your psychological and spiritual development. 

How can nocturnal meditation benefit us in daily life?

It helps us understand the nature of the mind. It helps us see that the world is not as solid as we think, it’s not as heavy. In reality, this changes everything. You have more flexibility, more enjoyment, more levity, and you’re literally more enlightened. Things aren’t so cumbersome, and super serious anymore. Your relationship to your mind, and your world changes dramatically. 

This is why I like the contributions from Dream Yoga. With this deeper end, you start to explore the nature of things. What is the nature of suffering? Why do I suffer? Well, take a good look. One of the reasons you suffer is because you mistake things to be so real. When you realize yes, it’s still there, appearance is still there. But appearance is not in harmony with reality. This is the very definition of a non-lucid dream. Appearance is not in harmony with reality. You think you’re awake when you’re dreaming, but you’re just dreaming. You just don’t know that you’re dreaming. When you attain lucidity, when appearance is in harmony with reality, that’s lucidity. And so then what we do with Lucid dreaming and Dream Yoga is you take those insights and then you extrapolate them back to the waking state. And you realise, well let me ask the same questions. Am I awake right now? Is this world really what I think it appears to be? 

Lucidity is also a code word for awareness, to bring awareness to the waking state. Ultimately, lucid dreaming leads to lucid living.

If you bring in Bardo yoga, lucid dreaming also pings forward and leads to lucid or conscious dying. And so this is where we are really talking about profundity because not only can the state help you with your life, it can help you prepare for the end of your life, therefore, lucid dreaming is uniquely situated to lead to lucid living, and this leads to lucid or conscious dying. There are so many benefits here. That’s why I get so jazzed about teaching!

Andrew will be sharing his passion for the nocturnal meditations 4-10 October, 2024 at Mandali. Learn more about the Lucid Dreaming retreat here.

The Essence of Womanhood

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

What does it mean to be a woman? It’s a seemingly simple question, yet in our fast-paced modern world, the true depth and significance of womanhood may have been lost.

I firmly believe that each of us is here on Earth with a unique purpose, a vital piece in the tapestry of collective consciousness. Our human experience is a gift, and embracing our full potential as individuals is one of the most profound achievements we can strive for.

Central to this journey of self-discovery is grasping the intricacies of life, reconnecting with our true selves, and embracing all facets of our existence—the cycles, the emotions, the challenges. As women, our human experience is embodied in the female form, a vessel through which we navigate the complexities of life. Mastering this vessel, with all its complexities, is key to unleashing our fullest potential.

Women are inherently extraordinary. There is a uniqueness to us that is unparalleled. We possess the remarkable ability to nurture life, to guide souls into this world. This potential manifests in various ways—through childbirth, child-rearing, or even in nurturing communities and projects that shape human existence. It’s crucial to recognize that even women who can’t, don’t want, or have lost children play a vital role in the fabric of humanity.

Throughout a woman’s life, she undergoes transformative experiences exclusive to her femininity: menstruation, childbirth, menopause. How we perceive these milestones, how we are influenced by societal expectations and personal beliefs, profoundly impacts our journey—mentally, spiritually, and physically. Ancient cultures understood the significance of these transitions. They celebrated
them, imparted wisdom through rituals, and supported women as they navigated these life-altering passages in harmony with Mother Earth.

In modern societies, it seems we have drifted from these sacred teachings. Many women today suppress their innate power, disengage from their natural rhythms, or neglect the profound significance of their biological transitions.

What if empowering women transcends mere equality in society? What if it means recognizing and honoring the intrinsic worth of each woman, aligning our lives with our natural rhythms, soul’s missions, celebrating our unique strengths, and understanding our pivotal roles in society? Thankfully, ancient tribes have safeguarded profound wisdom and customs that delve into the essence and energetics of womanhood. Yet, merely replicating these rituals and traditions may not suffice. We are not identical to our ancestors; we have evolved, inhabit distinct eras, and possess diverse lineages. Nonetheless, while
honoring the ancient traditions, we can allow them to spark inspiration within us, reintegrate them into our contemporary lifestyles, and guide us towards achieving balance in our feminine existence.

Questions for self-contemplation:

  • What values define me as a woman?
  • How do I perceive my menstrual cycle or menopause?
  • Which life transition, past or forthcoming, requires my attention?
  • In what aspects of my life do I neglect to nurture my feminine essence—physically, mentally, spiritually?


Join us for a transformative journey into the core of womanhood with Haydi Moustafa at the Feminine Wisdom Retreat from July 19-24, 2024, at Mandali. This retreat is tailored for women in every stage of life, offering a space to delve deep into the essence of womanhood. Discover more about the retreat here.

Posted in Body, SoulTagged emotions, mindfulness, pregnancy, womanhood

True Devotion Is to Seek Our Real Nature

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

‘Among things conducive to liberation, devotion (Bhakti) holds the supreme place. The seeking after one’s real nature is designated as devotion.’ – Vivekachudamani, verse 31

Conventionally, devotion is considered to be to God, who seems to be at an infinite distance from oneself. The author of the Vivekachudamani, Adi Shankara, suggests that of all the pathways that lead to liberation, devotion is the supreme practice. However, he qualifies that statement by saying that true devotion is seeking one’s real nature through the practice of self-enquiry.

In other words, these two paths – one that appeals to the mind and the other to the heart – which are traditionally considered to be different and almost opposite are, in fact, the same. Balyani expressed this truth when he said, ‘Whosoever knows their self, knows their Lord’. 

Atma vichara, usually translated as ‘self-enquiry’, might be better translated as ‘self-abidance’. It is simply resting in and as being. So in what sense is this investigation into, and resting in, our true nature synonymous with the highest form of devotion to God? The name ‘I’ or ‘I am’ is the key. 

‘I’ or ‘I am’ refers to that aspect of ourself that cannot be removed from us; to our essential, irreducible being before it is qualified by the content of experience. When human beings are divested of the temporary qualities they acquire from the content of experience, they shine as they essentially are – utterly intimate, but at the same time ever-present, unlimited, unqualified, immutable. God’s infinite being. As such, a human being is God’s infinite being clothed in human experience. 

What Shankara refers to as ‘devotion’ or ‘seeking one’s real nature’ is this discrimination between what we essentially are – that to which we refer when we say ‘I’ or ‘I am’ – and all the qualities of experience that are temporarily added to us. ‘I am’ is, as such, the portal that leads from the content of experience to our essential being – God’s being. Therefore, ‘I am’ is the divine name. It is the ultimate prayer, the highest mantra, the essence of meditation. All that is necessary is to say the divine name ‘I am’ once and allow oneself to be drawn into its referent. Thus, true devotion to God is the returning to our naked being. 

If the words ‘I am’ refer to our essential being, then the ego or separate self arises when our being is qualified or conditioned by experience, in which case the ‘I am’ becomes ‘I am this, or that’. Therefore, when we turn away from the content of experience, we surrender the separate self, which can only stand by identifying itself with that content.

As our being loses its limited qualities and stands revealed as infinite being, there is the felt recognition that our being is not only the essence of ourself but the being from which everyone and everything derives its apparently independent existence. Having initially turned away from the content of experience, we now turn back towards it and see everyone and everything as an appearance or manifestation of the same being that we are. In relation to people and animals, this recognition of our shared being is known as love; and in relation to objects and nature, it is known as beauty.

Here, the conflict between our inner and outer experience ceases. Whether our eyes are closed in meditation or prayer or we’re engaged in activities and relationships in the world, we see and feel our being – God’s being – everywhere and in everything. 

Experience progressively loses its ability to veil our shared reality. What once appeared to us as a multiplicity and diversity of people, animals and things is now felt to shine in and as the same being. We feel and see God’s presence everywhere or, as the Sufis say, ‘Wherever we look, whatever we experience, that is the face of God’.

We are delighted to welcome Rupert back to Mandali for his 7-Day Meditation Retreat from April 20 to 27. This event will also be live-streamed for you to enjoy from the comfort of your home. To secure tickets for the live-stream, please visit this link.

Posted in BlogTagged philosophy, self-enquiry

Interview: The Power of Will ~ with Emilio Mercuriali

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

Emilio, what is it about the work you teach that inspires you in your day-to-day?

What truly inspires me daily about the work I teach is its transformative power in continuously revealing and challenging my own patterns and behaviours. This process brings into sharp focus the contrast between these habitual patterns and the deeper, more authentic aspects of my being. It’s this exploration of the self that uncovers the immense potential within me. Each day, as I engage with these teachings, I am reminded of the journey towards a more genuine and spiritually aligned existence, not just for myself but also for those I guide. This alignment with a truer, more profound sense of self is what energises and motivates me in both my personal and professional life.

How do you define self-confidence and will?

How do you define self-confidence and will? Self-confidence, in my perspective, is the understanding and acceptance of our intrinsic abilities and limitations. It’s the foundation that allows our will – our innate drive and determination – to manifest and transform into action. With self-confidence, we recognise our potential in alignment with our true nature and are realistic about our boundaries, while remaining open and willing to challenge and extend these limits. This balanced approach ensures we are committed to our goals, in harmony with our deepest nature, but not overly attached to the outcomes.

Furthermore, this journey of self-confidence and will is deeply intertwined with the process of self-actualisation and expression in life. As we develop self-confidence and harness our will, we embark on a continuous process of actualisation. This process is not just about enhancing our skills or knowledge; it’s about evolving in a way that our true selves are more authentically expressed in every facet of our lives. As we actualise, our actions, decisions, and interactions become more aligned with our core values and beliefs, leading to a more genuine and fulfilling existence. In essence, the cultivation of self-confidence and will is a pivotal step towards living a life that is not only purposeful but also deeply expressive of our true nature.

Why are the themes of ‘Self-confidence’ and ‘Will’ the main focus of your upcoming April retreat? What role do they play in our lives? 

The exploration of these themes is crucial due to the significant roles they play in our lives. Self-confidence enables us to believe in our abilities and make choices that resonate with our authentic selves. Will, meanwhile, drives us to confront obstacles and pursue our aspirations with steadfast intention. Together, these elements are essential not only in recognizing our potential but also in actualising it. Our retreat is designed to equip participants with the tools and insights needed to access these inner resources, fostering a transformative journey of self-discovery and personal evolution.

What do you think most gets in the way of our self-confidence as human beings in the modern world?

One of the primary obstacles to self-confidence in the modern world is our disconnection from the source of our will. This vital inner resource is often overshadowed by the noise and distractions of daily life, leading to a detachment from our true desires and capabilities. Additionally, our self-confidence is frequently undermined by our own limiting beliefs and self-judgments. These negative perceptions about ourselves are often rooted in societal pressures, unrealistic standards, and the pervasive influence of social media, which constantly bombards us with images of ‘ideal’ lives and successes.

This combination of detachment from our inner will and the internalisation of limiting beliefs creates a significant barrier to self-confidence. We start to doubt our abilities and lose sight of our own strengths and potential. Overcoming these challenges requires a conscious effort to reconnect with our inner will and to challenge and transform these self-imposed limitations. By doing so, we can begin to cultivate a more authentic and robust sense of self-confidence, grounded in our true selves rather than external expectations.

How is ‘Will’ connected to doing ‘difficult’ things or pursuing challenging goals?

This is indeed a complex question. The perceived difficulty of a task or goal can vary significantly from person to person, and this often depends on the capacities and skills we have developed over time. However, encountering difficulty doesn’t necessarily imply an absence of will; it may simply indicate a need to learn or acquire new skills.

Often, our lack of specific capabilities can be misconstrued as a lack of will. This is where it becomes essential to distinguish between acquired skills and true will. True will is our innate drive and determination to pursue goals, regardless of our current skill level. On the other hand, acquired skills are the specific abilities and competencies we develop through experience and learning.

In facing challenging tasks or goals, our relationship with these difficulties is not just about confronting them with sheer willpower. It’s also about recognising where we might need to develop or enhance our skills to effectively tackle these challenges. By understanding this distinction, we can approach difficult tasks with a more balanced perspective, acknowledging both our innate will and the practical skills we need to cultivate to succeed.

What do you hope retreat participants will take away after exploring ‘will, self-confidence and manifestation’ with you in the April retreat?

My intention for the April retreat is to provide participants with a transformative experience that enables them to recognise and perceive their innate will more clearly. I aim to guide them through understanding the history and life experiences that have shaped their will and self-confidence as they are today. This exploration is not just about awareness but also about equipping them with practical tools and strategies to embark on a journey of transformation.

We will delve into how our past influences our present will and confidence levels, and how we can manifest our desires and goals more effectively. The retreat is designed to be a starting point for this journey, offering insights and techniques that participants can continue to apply in their daily lives. Ultimately, I hope they leave with a renewed sense of self-awareness, empowered to harness their will, bolster their self-confidence, and actively manifest their aspirations more intentionally and effectively.

Emilio Mercuriali is a visionary leader in the field of self-discovery and personal growth. Specializing in the Essence work and the Enneagram, Emilio’s retreats offer a unique blend of ancient spiritual wisdom and modern psychology. He will be leading the Summoning Self Confidence in Mandali this coming April.

. The next Journey to Essence retreat is on the 14-19 April 2024 at Mandali.

The Felt Sense of Generosity

Posted on by Silvia Eriksson

What does generosity feel like?

Generosity is the quality of being kind and sharing that kindness freely with others without expecting something in return. It’s the natural way our heart interacts in the world when it feels safe, secure, and bountiful. Generosity goes beyond material possessions and can include giving time, attention, compassion, skills, or support. It reflects a spirit of abundance and can be felt in our tissues.

Let’s start with the spirit of abundance. With the generosity of life itself.

What has life given you? 

Your body and its dazzling complex interconnected systems that keep you alive: circulatory, respiratory, nervous, muscular system, digestive system, and immune system, just to name a few. 

Life gives us air to breath, the earth to walk on, and water to drink.  We are given beauty in abundance: sunsets, bird song, waterfalls, the scent of morning coffee….

Pause and reflect: What else has life given you? And how does it feel in your body to be the recipient of this generosity?

What have others given you?

In our world of interdependence, so much of what use each day has been created or produced by someone else’s effort.  Even if they have received compensation for their work, their work is of enormous benefit to us. There is generosity in it. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the streets we walk on, … on and on I can go. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half the world.”

There is so much generosity and abundance all around us. Taking time to reflect on this softens our heart. It relaxes us and open us up. Our felt sense of separateness begins to dissolve. 

Now I invite you to contemplate: What is easy for you to give?

What do you have plenty of? Is it money, time, smiles, hugs, expertise, kind words, encouragement, compassion, joy, courage, attention, …

How does it feel to recognise your plenitude and ability to share it?

Like with realizing the generosity around us, there is benefit in recognising our own generosity. To feel how easy and good it is to share when there is plenty to share.  To have a felt sense of that surplus, that more than enough-ness. It feels good.  More than that.  Engaging in acts of generosity has been scientifically linked to increased happiness, reduced stress, improved mental and physical health, and enhanced social connections. 

I ask what is easy for you to give because I want you to feel into the relaxation in the body when there is a sense of abundance. 

Now I invite you to contemplate how far out you feel you can share this excess, this abundance without tightening?

Who is in your circle of inclusion? Just you? A child or parent? A partner or friend? A stranger? An enemy? I invite you to honestly feel where the line is between freely giving, without any effort or contraction, and where a grasping sets in. 

I think it is important to notice the ease and lightness of natural generosity, a sense that you’re not even giving it, it is just flowing.  Like the love I have for my kids isn’t “my love” to give to them. It is just love flowing. It isn’t mine. It isn’t finite. It doesn’t have to be mined.  It is simply there. It is in the air we breathe. 

And this love how far out can I let it freely flow from me. To my kids, yes.  But I can extend it out even further? How far? My friends? My neighbours? The homeless person on the corner? Someone who has harmed me? 

What we give and to whom we give it to changes how it feels to give.  I encourage you to feel into when generosity flows freely. To have a visceral knowing of that big-heartedness.  To let it inspire you and others.  And also to feel into when the act of giving feels constricted. Not abandoning yourself in acts of giving but instead including all parts of you and all the ways they are feeling about the giving. To hold the contraction generously from your authentic nature.  To slowly build your capacity to offer more freely to more people, thereby strengthening your character of generosity. 

What about when there isn’t enough? How does this feel?

What do we do when abundance isn’t there? When we feel needy or lacking? 

Our hearts and bodies contract.  

Of course they do. 

Contraction is the natural way of a body and heart under duress. Our survival instincts run deep. We want to survive. We want more than that; we want to thrive.  We want to be happy and feel free. Generosity is one of many gateways into that happiness, that freeness.  It is possible to cultivate and relax more and more into our generous nature. But first we need to recognise where there is lack in our life.  Without any judgement, rather with clear seeing. It is important to recognise where you feel insecure, unable to give, to share. 

Take a moment and contemplate: What don’t you have enough of? 

Is it money, time, friends, joy, courage, presence, …  Where do you notice deficiency in your life? How does that feel? Do you sense a contraction, a tightening, fear and/or resistance? Do you feel a closing off or grasping for more?  This is uncomfortable and yet totally normal. I encourage you to stay with this inquiry. Get to know how it is in your body and heart when you feel limited.  All of us feel this way. We may not all be lacking the same things or qualities but each and everyone of us knows the tension of not having enough. 

I invite you to be kind towards that contraction, towards all that has come up. We can learn to be generous towards ourselves and our feeling of not enough-ness. Hold the tension kindly from your inner spaciousness. This isn’t about solving the problem of what is lacking but rather a willingness to be with this discomfort of scarcity.

Not having enough or feeling like you don’t have enough can be scary. It is related to, or literally, a question of being able to exist, to survive. So go slowly, move gently. Hold what you can hold. Feel what you can feel. Little by little. Breath by breath, we can learn to connect to ourselves no matter how cut off and tight we may feel. And when it is too much, get support.  Support is out there for all of us, for some it easier to find than for others. But support is there, seek it out. 

Who inspires you with their generosity?

The last point I want to explore is the value of being inspired by acts of generosity from others. Just like we can be inspired by a great athlete, musician, or artist. Not comparing yourself to them, thinking “I should be as good as them.” Instead recognising you were born the way you are with the conditioning and circumstances around you.  Not all of us were born with the bone structure to become an olympic swimmer, or the means to make that happen.  But to see the effort that that person put into to excelling at what they do is inspiring. A call for us to excel with what we are given. 

So who inspires you with their generosity? 

Who reminds you of your abundance and ability to share that which you have plenty of?  Think of them often. Let their acts of kindness and giving remind you of what you have to offer freely.

So feel into generosity. Get to know it in your bones. 

Feel when your heart is open and giving freely. Let it inspire a wider circle of sharing. Also feel when the heart is closed, unable to give freely. Embrace the feeling of lack with compassion instead of shaming it; cultivate self-compassion. And continually let yourself be inspired by the generosity of life itself, by others and their acts of benevolence. Let them, let life, remind you of your inherent abundance and your capacity to share it with the world.

Posted in BlogTagged dharma, generosity, mindfulness