Join The Course & Retreat

Yes. We work with psilocybin-containing truffles (sclerotia), which are legal to buy, possess, and consume in the Netherlands. Psilocybin mushrooms were banned in 2008; truffles were not included in that ban and are regulated as a food product. Guided retreats using them operate lawfully.

No, this retreat is intentionally embedded in a group course to support cohesion, safety, and to provide you with a friendly and familiar social container for doing your own deep work. Our world prioritises individiual growth, and we can counter that by purposefully connecting with the other: the power of witnessing, and being witnessed by, fellow journeyers. There are many retreats out there that have minimal preparation/integration, and our robust, integrated mindfulness preparation and integration course set us apart. 

We ask you to commit to the eight weekly preparation and integration sessions in April, May, and June, and monthly sessions into October because they are what makes the retreat work and because the group is building trust and doing important work together. Life happens, and we would rather you tell us than disappear — but this is a program rather than a series of drop-in classes.

No. Some people will arrive with years of practice and some with none. The four weeks before the retreat are designed to build what you need from wherever you are starting. What matters most is willingness to practice between sessions. You can expect 30-45 minutes of daily home practice.

The mindfulness and heart-based meditation practices we will share are Buddhist in origin, and nature connectedness has deep roots in our collective human cosmology. Psychedelics have been important to human cultures for millennia, from the ancient Mediterranean to living Indigenous wisdom traditions rooted in animism and interconnectedness. Psilocybin has a rich history, and an ongoing present-day use as a sacrament in some Indigenous societies of the Americas, and we approach the dosing day with reverence and deep gratitude — for the medicine, and for the Indigenous wisdom holders who guide global understanding around psychedelic states.

During the Course & Retreat, we will share readings and poems from a variety of contemplative traditions. As we move collectively into closer communion with ourselves, each other, and the natural world, we will support each participant's personal journey, and their own unique deepening of meaning and purpose. We will hold the space with reverence for the sacredness of love, connection, nature, and the mystery of it all.

Women of any spiritual or religious background — or none — are most welcome. 

Because safety is what makes depth possible, and a circle of women promotes a sense of safety that can be harder to find in other groups. The freedom to think less about how you are being perceived is worth a great deal on a retreat like this.

Difficult parts of journeys are common and are not a sign that something has gone wrong. Much of the preparation is about how to meet them — staying with a hard feeling, asking for help, remembering that it will pass. On the journey day, there is a facilitator for every two participants, and you will never be left alone. The following day is protected, with plenty of time for rest, sharing, and the supportive presence of others and nature.

The mental and physical health suitability review covers personal and family psychiatric history, current medications, and relevant physical health. It happens as part of your conversation with us, before a place is confirmed. We are not clinicians, and this is not a medical assessment — where something needs a doctor's or therapist's judgment, we will ask you to speak with yours.

No, Vibrant Depths is designed to promote flourishing, and is not intended for people experiencing intense mental health distress. We encourage participants to continue or begin personal therapy during the course and retreat period, as ongoing therapeutic support can help deepen the learnring from psychedelic expereinces. 

We will gather together in a converted barn in North Holland. Every bedroom has its own bathroom with a rain shower. There are single, twin, and three-bed rooms, and you choose when you book. The meals are chef-prepared and vegan.

Yes. A deposit secures your place, and the balance is spread over monthly payments to March 2027. 

Our cancellation terms are set out on the Course + Retreat page. In short, the earlier you tell us, the more we can refund. This is why travel insurance is required — it covers the circumstances we cannot.

Yes, and we encourage it. When you let us know you are applying together, and you and your friend each receive €300 off. This retreat can be a beautiful experience to share with a loved one.