calling the muses
A five Night gathering honoring the creative mystery. December 3-7 2025
Gather . Inspire . Create
Welcome friends,
Thank you for landing here. Calling the Muses is the result of a dream to create a space where we can commune in celebration of the dark passages we have passed through and awaken resting creative impulse. The ones extinguished by circumstance or confused minds. The ones we know are within us, waiting for the right environment to express and the ones we never knew were in there in the first place.
This is the place to conceive and grow .
We are meeting for 5 nights from December 3-7 2025 at the Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary in Mindo, Ecuador. Deep in the terrain of the Cloud Forest, surrounded by vibrant, wild- life.
If you are ready to create art from the depths of your story. To share in celebration with community. T0 move, sopeak, dance and create in new ways.
This is for you.
Learn more about the process, how to join and what to expect below.
With love,
C
A glance at our schedule
Opening and Closing Ritual
Intuitive Movement
Tratika Meditation
Guided Night Walk
Medicine Ceremony
Psycho-Drama Practice
Ceramics Workshop
Cacao Journey
Shame-Story Release Ritual
Traditional Andean Cleansing
Instrument Making
Ritual Celebration
All of this is woven into a comprehensive program designed to help you develop your relationship with the the Muses, the spirits of creative instinct and your innate capacity as creator.
our central exploration
Many of us have sat in the trenches of our healing work, talking, restoring and building our way back into the land of the living. This retreat is your next step. This is embodied liberation back to your creative essence.
A vital part of this is deep understanding and recognition of the healing power of the night, the darkness, the fertile psychic space from which all life comes.
In the darkness seeds of creation are planted. A matrix of potential and nourishment, the night is a fertile place we go to dream. To conjure new realities. To gestate the desires of our heart and birth them into the light of the day. Through proper relationship with the darkness we can come to understand our selfs and the world in a more beautiful way.
It is in the cool, all encompassing privacy of the darkness that we can process and tend to aspects of ourselves needing repair.
By familiarizing ourselves with the midnight of the psyche new parts of ourself may be reveled to the light
The Fruitful Darkness
Come join us
early bird pricing
$888
December 3 - 7 in Mindo, Ecuador
Available until August 5th or until we reach early bird capacity when prices will rise to $1200. Ask about camping and private room options
Inclusions
5 Nights of Magic at Hayulima
All Ceremonies and Workshops
All Workshop Supplies
Comfortable Shared Accommodation
One-on-One Energetic Cleansing
All meals
Pre and Post retreat integration program
+Extra nights available before or after +$75
+Optional Ayahuasca Ceremony on the 8th +$120
+Bodywork, Kambo and psilocybin therapy available before and/or after
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Seeking to awaken new levels of creativity
Desiring connection to the Animate World
Interested in investing in magic and celebration
Tending to and resolving fear
Interested in exploring dreams for a more beautiful world
Desiring community and connection
Who love adventure
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Make sure you can comply with our preperation suggestions. Please reach out to us with questions.
Are able to traverse uneven ground and are comfortable walking around a property with hills.
Make sure you have a few days after the retreat to integrate the experience
Are open to expanding your comfort zone and exploring new ways of being and relating
The application process takes anywhere between 5-15 mins depending how much you choose to share with us. You will be asked to place a full deposit to secure early bird pricing. If for any reason you are in need of a payment plan please email christiana@animatehealing.com. After securing your spot you will receive all additional information via email within a few days.
Welcome to the cloud forest
Hayulima is located 30 mins outside Mindo, a village in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador. It's a safe haven known for its many bird species, butterflies and orchids. Located in the heart of the cloud forest, Hayulima’s Spiritual Sanctuary spans over 112 hectares of protected and pristine jungle, rivers, lakes, and lush mountains. It is a true spiritual sanctuary hosting yearly vision quests, monthly ceremonial retreats and more. It is a gathering place of an international and local community who share a love of nature, prayer and the healing power of community.
All accommodations will be in one of the cozy guest room. We have single, double and triple occupancy available. Please enquire when booking if you have a specific request or would like to room with a friend/partner. All food will be lovingly prepared by our local team and most dietary needs can be accomodated.
You can learn more about the Sanctuary Here.
Healing forces take on many forms.
Sometimes, they arrive serious and austere—
Office-bound expressions, certified and diplomatic.
Sometimes, they are sterile and extractive—
Surgical, clinical, driven by the intellectual mind.
And sometimes… they are magical.
They re-entangle us with mystery.
They alchemize our pain into potions of power,
Helping us build dream homes on the solid foundation of rock bottom.
They stir us—
Like a cauldron of centuries-old broth, simmering to heal ancestral maladies.
They court us—
Teasing and coaxing until we are ripe for creation.
They devour us—
Digesting what was, what has been, what might have been, and what never was.
And then,
They birth us—
Into something wiser, more beautiful, and ready to play.
Animate HEALING RETREAT testamonials
I had such a rewarding, powerful, insightful and very positive time... I didn't go with specific trauma that needed to be resolved or any specific goals to achieve. I wanted to arrive and stay open to the experience, to feel that I was in a safe space and was well looked after, so that I could fully experience however the journey unfolded.- Andrew W
After being on an inner quest to heal over the past few years, I really wanted to delve deeper into really creating a cellular change in who I was because I knew there was a deeper level of peace that I was destined to feel…My intention was to deepen my self love and self acceptance, to make peace with my body and to find a new way of existing with ease in my life time. The gifts not only from the medicine but from the facilitators has been life changing. - Tori G.
My intention with the retreat was to connect with myself, nature and other people. To take some days to just reconnect, put my phone and job aside and be present in the moment. I feel really blessed and grateful for coming to this retreat. It gave me so much clarity and comfort to my journey in life, and I would love to come again sometime! - Hilda
Who is this for?
If you’ve visited rock bottom and know how to shine down your light,
If you long to plant seeds in the fertile soil of your psyche,
If you are ready to make art from difficult memories,
If you desire to express beauty from forgotten parts of yourself...
You are ready.
To awaken the muses.
To polish the channels of inspiration.
You are ready to grow.
Come.
Immerse yourself in the mysterious forces animating our lives, inspiring creativity, and birthing brilliance.
I am calling the muses.
Please join me.
F A Q
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We can accomodate most needs. Please make us aware of any requirements or allergies in the application.
We will be serving a blend of local veggies, frutis, grains and meats. Including locally made sourdough breads, ferments and cheeses.
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Not at all. All are welcome to come and explore their innate artistry.
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We will be helping arrange transportation and will provide more details upon signup.
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Yes. Mindo, Ecuador is a safe and quiet town only two hrs away from Quito. The recent unrest took place Guayaquil, a city located on the other side of the country. Ecuador is a country filled with friendly, helpful people and is easy to travel in.
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We will be discussing the details regarding the medicine ceremony during your intake. We will be working with local plant medicines served by deeply experienced and initiated facilitators.
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Thai Massage
Abdominal Therapy
Additional Energetic Cleansings
One-on-one Psilocybin Therapy
Ayahuasca Ceremonies
Kambo
Some sessions will be available during the retreat. Such as body work, extra cleansings and one kambo session. Additional services may only be available before or after.
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Yes! Please let us know upon signing up. We charge $75 per night per person. Breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner will be self serve.
If you plan on attending the extra Ayahuasca ceremony please include and extra night in your stay so you have somewhere to rest after ceremony.
Choosing to stay before or after also gives you the option to sign up for psilocybin therapy, body work, kambo and more. It also allows for ample integration and rest, something we highly suggest.