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“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the Universe, to match your nature with Nature.”

~ Joseph Campbell

silvaespiritus

:: if the question “is now a good time for a day

:: if the question “is now a good time for a day-trip for a Forest Bathing and Sauna mini-retreat?” the answer is an unequivocal YES. The next Community Forest Bathing and Community Sauna back-to-back sessions are Sunday, October 20 - tickets are $60 off the standard Private Session rates! Space is limited to just 8 people, so grab a friend or two and make your reservation ASAP! 🍁🍂🔥❤️
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#DayTrip #GetAway #AutumnColor #Fall #RoadTrip #ExploreMinnesota #ThisIsMyMN #DreamState #TrueNorth #ForestBathing #ShinrinYoku #Sauna #WoodFiredSauna

Since the moment Silvae Spiritus evolved from a bu

Since the moment Silvae Spiritus evolved from a business name into a physical place, many people have asked us how they can help or waxed poetic about yielding an axe for “an honest day’s work.” We often struggled to find ways to invite helpers to support our considerable daily efforts, as our understanding of what this place needs to thrive has been an ongoing learning evolution. Three years in, we are starting to recognize this land’s cycles, the effect of outlier events, what is needed to support this land’s health, and when.

We realized that we (Travis and Leigha and our more-than-human family members), this land we call Silvae Spiritus and the beings who call this place home, and our Silvae Spiritus guests would all benefit from intentional gathering for reciprocal tending. As we are held, so we hold. Thus, the Nourish series was born.

photo: Leigha Horton
Nourish event projects at Silvae Spiritus might include:
tree planting
clearing storm-felled trees and branches and processing them into firewood
going on “stick walks” to gather tinder and kindling for the upcoming winter of sauna fires
building benches to add mindful and bodyful places to rest and notice along the trails
removing diseased trees that are beyond tending, so that the neighboring trees maintain health
creating way-finding signage
prepping the earth for next season’s garden
building seasonal outdoor showers for retreat participants
building tall planters outside The Lounge for an accessible sensory garden
establishing trails
tending controlled burns
repairing what needs repair
native plant planting

If you have experience that applies to any of the upcoming projects, have tools to use while on-site, or simply have enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, we invite you to join us for the FREE event! (Registration required)

:: scene from a Community Forest Bathing session t

:: scene from a Community Forest Bathing session this past weekend: the autumn colors this year have been relatively subtle thus far - but slowing down helps their voices come through clearer.
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#Northwoods #ForestBathing #SlowTime #Noticing #TheGreatOutdoors #ThisIsMyMinnesota #ExploreMN #DreamState #TrueNorth

:: 🌲🌳Community Forest Bathing 💧🔥 + Com

:: 🌲🌳Community Forest Bathing
💧🔥 + Community Sauna
Sunday, September 29 @ 11:30 am - 3:30 pm

Forest Bathing is a slow-moving, deeply sensory, mindful and “bodyful” walk in nature that has shown to result in measurable physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Much like walking meditation or yoga, these activities can be practiced on one’s own, almost anywhere, and yet the benefits greatly increase with regular practice. And much like meditation or yoga, the experience can be significantly more immersive when facilitated by properly trained and certified guides.

Over the course of this two-hour Community Forest Bathing walk at Silvae Spiritus Northwoods Nature Retreat, you will be given a series of invitations—suggested ways to connect to the surrounding 30 acres of woods and meadows. The experience will be mostly silent, honors each participant’s personal space, and covers just about a mile and-a-half over generally flat surfaces. At the end of each invitation, the group will have an opportunity to share a few words of reflection, integrating the experience both internally and within community. The walk will be led by Leigha Horton and Travis Norman, Silvae Spiritus Nature & Forest Therapy guides who have been Certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs.

After the walk, participants have 30 minutes to rest and change before the start of the Community wood-fired sauna + cold plunge session. During this session, participants will be guided through the thermic cycle of hot, cold, rest, rehydrate, repeat (always at your own pace). A great boost to body and mind heading into autumn! Space is limited, reservations required.
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#ForestBathing #Sauna #ColdPlunge #DayTrip #Getaway #FallColors #ThermicCycle #NatureConnection #EveryTrailConnects #Wellness #ExploreMN

:: the Autumnal Equinox guided us all into a groun

:: the Autumnal Equinox guided us all into a grounded and expansive balance during the course of Interbeing 08: Woodland Creatures Conference. 26 beautiful humans gathered to give, receive, and simply be in community with one another and with nature, and what a gift that was. Sauna and cold plunge and Wim Hof and coloring meditations and journaling and yoga and sound bathing and forest bathing and movement explorations and solfeggio sequences and community conversations and a collective ephemeral art piece that bloomed over the course of the weekend, we find ourselves in awe and filled with gratitude for the talent and heart and presence of everyone who chose to spend their weekend with us.
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#Interbeing #InterbeingRetreats #Northwoods #ThisIsMyMinnesota #ExploreMN #DreamState #NatureConnection #NatureRelation #EveryTrailConnects #WoodlandCreaturesConference

Vibes were THICK at the #forest #danceparty for th

Vibes were THICK at the #forest #danceparty for the #Interbeing 07 #camping #retreat !!! Sets from @dendrotic + @mikemoilanen + @leonjmusicofficial + @amg_dablackdude kept our energy as bright as the bonfire that blazed the whole night through and the stars that kept watch over our little piece of woodland paradise…..Hope you can join us for one of these in the future!

We are thrilled that @mikemoilanen has captured &

We are thrilled that @mikemoilanen has captured & shared this #djset set from Interbeing 07; recorded in the #forest, under the stars, with bonfire blazing nearly as bright as the energy of the amazing humans who had assembled! This is how we get down(regulated)! ……. I’m Mike’s words: “Reverberations from a couple weekends ago brought us this lovely recording. Take me back to the Woodland Stage @ Silvae Spiritus Northwoods Nature Retreat to the 2nd night of Interbeing 07. Just past the apple orchard and blackberry patches, continuing through meadows of tall grass whispering in the wind under the stars, one will find human creatures raving like hobbits in an open air dance lounge made of logs and sticks. Here, you are one with sound, nature and each other. Enjoy.” …. Find this mix on Mike’s SoundCloud page!

#HobbitRave #woodlandDJbooth #SecondBreakfastCrew

:: just TWO tickets remain for next weekend’s In

:: just TWO tickets remain for next weekend’s Interbeing 08: Woodland Creatures Conference - are they yours? Come and get ‘em! The sessions focus on wellness - from meditation and yoga to journaling and coloring, Wim Hof breath work and cold plunge with natural guided warm-up, sauna and sound bathing, forest bathing and the woodland dance party, all supported by nourishing meals and the magic of this land. This just may be the autumnal rest and reset your heart has been seeking.
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#Retreat #Camping #Wellness #ForestBathing #Sauna #SoundBath #Yoga #ColdPlunge #WimHof #Community #Connection #ExploreMN #DJ #DreamState #Getaway #TrueNorth #Northwoods #ThisIsMyMN #EveryTrailConnects #Spa

:: there are times when words are simply inadequat

:: there are times when words are simply inadequate for an experience - and while we continue to integrate the depth of wisdom, community, love, joy, talent, and connection Interbeing 07 unfurled, we’ll gather and share photos and videos that give just a taste of this More Beautiful World That Our Hearts Know is Possible. Until then, a thousand thanks to the 25 beautiful humans, four perfect quadrupeds, and the generous land of Silvae Spiritus who held this time and space and was met in deep reciprocity. ✨Magic.✨
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#Interbeing #InterbeingRetreats #Retreats #NatureRelation #Community #NatureConnection #Music

Take a brief tour of the brand new#AirBnB #tinyho

:: INTRODUCING… 🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌳🌲🌳

:: INTRODUCING…
🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌲🌲🌲🌳🌳
🏡The Tiny House at Silvae Spiritus! ❤️
🌲🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌲🌲🌲🌳🌳🌳🌲🌳
Tucked in the trees and featuring giant windows and immersive views of the forest and sky, the private, spacious Tiny House, near the Silvae Spiritus founders’ home and Guest House, provides a cozy getaway for just a single night or as long as a week. Special features include full kitchen fit for a several-day stay, 3/4 bathroom with shower and standard flush toilet, two queen beds in separate sleeping lofts accessible by stairs, a TV nook equipped with streaming services, a relaxing living room with a Bose Sound System with bluetooth capability and a CD player, a faux-fireplace for added ambiance and warmth, reading materials, and a washer/dryer combo for guest use.
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Tiny House guests have full access to the Silvae Spiritus land and trails, and are encouraged to seek out star gazing and Northern Lights viewing from the comfort of the hammocks in the Picnic Garden, or out at Cricket Circle in the Near Meadow.
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Whether for deep relaxation and rejuvenation, a romantic getaway, or simply connecting with nature, these 30 acres feature woods, ephemeral ponds, meadows, and winding trails throughout – the ideal setting for magic to reveal itself around you and wonder and awe to unfurl within you.
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Just 90 minutes north of Minneapolis / St. Paul, and just 60 minutes south of Duluth, Silvae Spiritus is the perfect easy escape from the everyday grind.
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#TinyHouse #AirBnB #Northwoods #NatureRetreat #ExploreMN #DreamState #ThisIsMyMN #Retreat #EscapeTinyHomes #Escape #EveryTrailConnects #TrueNorth

:: a moment of empathy with a teensy toad in a ver

:: a moment of empathy with a teensy toad in a very big world.
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#EveryTrailConnects #NorthwoodsNatureRetreat #ThisIsMyMinnesota #OptOutside #NatureRelation #Toad #Amphibian

:: the Perseids may be doing their thing tonight,

:: the Perseids may be doing their thing tonight, but we’re here for the Aurora Borealis. 💚💜💙
One of a zillion reasons to look up when you’re in the Minnesota Northwoods at night - quiet magic awaits, serenaded by crickets and frogs.
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#Northwoods #Nature #Retreat #EveryTrailConnects #StarGazing #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #SkyWatch #NightSky

🌳🌲✨🌱🍃🌿✨🌳🌲

:: this sweet little friend joined us up at the th

:: this sweet little friend joined us up at the thermic oasis on Friday night: a green tree frog hanging out on the @hello_goodland wood-fired hot tub stovepipe. Post-photo, they were gently relocated to the nearest tree. 💚
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#GreenTreeFrog #Minnesota #Northwoods #Fauna #NatureRelations #Sauna

:: the Interbeing 07: a R.E.V.O.LU=TION in sound!

:: the Interbeing 07: a R.E.V.O.LU=TION in sound! camping weekend session facilitator lineup is 🔥🔥🔥 The EARLYBIRD code for $70(!) off expires after Friday, so now’s the time to jump on tickets! Lynx in bio!
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#InterbeingRetreat #Interbeing #Northwoods #Camp #Retreat #SoundHealing #MusicArts #Community #OptOutside #EveryTrailConnects #TrueNorth #ForestBathing #SoundBath #WoodFiredSauna

ABOUT #INTERBEING EVENTS AT SILVAE SPIRITUS

🌲🌳✨⭕️✨🌳🌲We focus on the wisdom at the center of the circle:

At Silvae Spiritus, we embrace a philosophy of personal awakening and development within a context of “progress, not perfection” – an attempt to meet people wherever they are on their journey, and an acknowledgement that each step along that path is necessary and can be offered spaciousness.

Our events and retreats give participants an opportunity to slow down, shift from your everyday routine, and re-focus your attention toward yourself in relation to community. In contrast to the vast majority of wellness events, ours are a more interactive experience: rather than solely absorbing what we and our guest facilitators offer, participants are invited to contribute their own insights and unique gifts, thereby co-creating a more richly nuanced and memorable experience for everyone.

One of our foundational beliefs is that when we come together to immerse ourselves in shared authenticity, a deep wisdom may be accessed; one which emanates not from any particular individual, but arises from the center of the circle: the point of intersection which joins each perspective and coalesces into something greater than, and more true than, any individual would be capable of on our own. We don’t come with any answers or prescriptions for how to best navigate these complicated times, but we are honored to hold space for the conversation to unfold.

:: 🔊 to hear the forest sounds accompanied by a

:: 🔊 to hear the forest sounds accompanied by an exit from the cold plunge followed by a splash from the bucket shower🔊

The day was nearly 90°F and the dense humidity made the air thick - we were overheated, each had headaches, and were grouchy 😤🤬. The perfect remedy? Sauna + cold plunge. Yes, really! 🤯

*🔥 the hot room temp is 100° hotter than the outside air, which means stepping out of the hot room feels incredible ☺️;
* ❤️ sauna heat makes capillaries expand, increasing the efficiency of blood flow - instant headache remedy (works on migraines, too!)😇;
* 💧the cold plunges have fresh water right out of the ground - about 46° in summer - and resting in them for longer periods of time to cool our bodies down made the time in the sauna feel more effervescent✨.

When we were done, we felt happy, calm, relaxed, had no headaches, and the evening air felt perfectly balmy (even though it was still supposedly hot and sticky outside)! 🥰☺️

Sauna in the summer is healing. Sauna in the summer with 360° views of the woods is magic. 🧚
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#SummerOfSauna #Sauna #Summertime #HeadacheRelief #HeatRelief #ColdPlunge #ThermicCycle #AncientWisdom #Therapeutic #Forest #Northwoods #Retreat #DayTrip #Minnesota #ExploreMN #ThisIsMyMN #DreamState #OptOutside #TheGreatOutdoors #TrueNorth

:: peak Minnesota Summer vibes with the perfect No

:: peak Minnesota Summer vibes with the perfect Nordic-inspired day-trip getaway. July 21: community forest bathing + sauna and cold-plunge. 🌲🌳💧🔥 (did you know sauna is *amazing* in the hot summer, too?! 🤯)
Space is limited - grab your bestie and register ASAP!
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#DayTrip #Minneapolis #SaintPaul #MSP #Getaway #ExploreMN #Wellness #Retreat #Northwoods #Escape #DreamState

July 21st ~ Community #ForestBathing & Community #

July 21st ~ Community #ForestBathing & Community #Sauna sessions ~ we hope you can join us to refresh, replenish, and reconnect! Forest Bathing is a slow-moving, deeply sensory, mindful and “bodyful” walk in nature that has shown to result in measurable physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Much like walking meditation or yoga, these activities can be practiced on one’s own, almost anywhere, and yet the benefits greatly increase with regular practice. And much like meditation or yoga, the experience can be significantly more immersive when facilitated by properly trained and certified guides.

Over the course of this two-hour Community Forest Bathing walk at Silvae Spiritus Northwoods Nature Retreat, you will be given a series of invitations—suggested ways to connect to the surrounding 30 acres of woods and meadows. The experience will be mostly silent, honors each participant’s personal space, and covers just about a mile and-a-half over generally flat surfaces. At the end of each invitation, the group will have an opportunity to share a few words of reflection, integrating the experience both internally and within community. The walk will be led by Leigha Horton or Travis Norman, Silvae Spiritus Nature & Forest Therapy guides who have been Certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs.

The walk concludes with tea and light snacks, and allows for a 30 minute break before the start of the 2 pm Community Sauna session.

Community Sauna sessions at Silvae Spiritus are appropriate for all experience levels, and an opportunity to deepen your nature immersion, and your sense of deep relaxation and vitality, while enjoying the company of others. The 90-minute sessions are guided (information, science, and light coaching available) and the fire(s) fully tended, so that guests can fully luxuriate in the experience. The wood-fired hot tub will made be available to all guests at no additional charge if the Community Sauna Session reaches full capacity (8 guests), so bring your friends! Relax, connect, rejuvenate — together. Visit the Calendar page on our website for more info…

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323.929.7971

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