Join us for a week-long retreat in the magical Rhodope (Родопа) Mountains of Bulgaria, where earth, water, fire, air, sun and moon meet in a landscape of deep beauty and stillness. Set beside the meandering waters of a mountain lake, we will spend a week immersed in nature, practice (sadhana), expression and connection – exploring the space between polarities: Sun and Moon, light and darkness, the conscious and the unseen.

The retreat is led by Antarshuddhi.

Sun & Moon – Exploring the Space Between

The year 2027 carries the vibration of 11/2 – a number traditionally associated with duality, relationship, intuition and the meeting of two complementary forces. It invites us to explore what happens between opposites: between Sun and Moon, light and darkness, the conscious and the subconscious, above and below.

Through mantra and yantra, we will explore the solar and lunar dimensions of our being: the Sun as light, clarity, vitality and conscious presence; the Moon as reflection, intuition, cycles and the subconscious.

Rather than seeing these as opposing forces, we will explore them as complementary aspects of one whole. The Sun speaks to clarity, vitality and conscious presence, while the Moon opens a doorway towards intuition, memory, feeling and the vast landscape of the subconscious. Together, they invite us to move beyond the habitual separation of inner and outer, active and receptive, known and unknown.

Mantra brings sound and vibration; yantra brings form and space. Together, they offer a way to experience these principles directly through body, breath, mind and awareness.

Our surroundings will become an extension of this practice. We will move between open sky and hidden depths, sunlight and shadow, mountain peaks and underground waters, the conscious and the subconscious – experiencing the meeting point between the visible and the unseen.

Yantra and Mantra: Expanding Consciousness

A yantra is a sacred geometric form, representing the manifested energy of a mantra. Together, they form a powerful sadhana, where the mantra embodies the essence, and the yantra serves as its physical vessel. Through drawing, painting, and chanting, we bridge the microcosm and macrocosm, aligning our inner world with the universal. Just as Gayatri embodies spiritual wisdom and illumination, the yantra and mantra guide us to expand consciousness, focus the mind, awaken creative power, and support our spiritual journey of transformation.

In the Homeland of Orpheus

The Rhodopes are renowned for their mineral springs, healing mountain air and long tradition of herbal medicine. They also lie at the heart of Bulgaria’s living memory of Orpheus, the great Thracian mystic, initiate, healer and priest. In Thracian tradition, Rhodope is connected with Orpheus as his mother, linking his spiritual lineage to the very mountains where we will gather.

The Orphic tradition holds a powerful teaching about the meeting of solar and chthonic forces – light and darkness, above and below, masculine and feminine, Sun and Moon. Orpheus’ descent into the underworld to seek Eurydice can be understood as a journey of the soul between worlds: from the visible to the invisible, into the depths and back towards the light. In the Thracian understanding, these are not opposing forces but complementary principles within one living whole – forces through which the soul transforms, evolves and comes into deeper awareness.

Here, in the homeland of Orpheus, we will explore these principles through direct experience – through mantra and yantra, through the body and the elements, and through the landscape itself. Above us will be the open sky and the Sun; beneath us, caves, underground rivers and the darkness of the earth. Between them, water flows – receptive, nourishing and connecting. The Rhodopes offer us a unique place to explore this threshold – the space between worlds, where Sun and Moon, above and below, inner and outer can meet.

The Retreat

Located on the opposite bank of the Vacha Dam, on a wooded hillside in the Rhodope Mountains, Forest Diva is built on the site of ancient Thracian remains and can be reached only by water. Surrounded by the meandering waters of the lake, rolling hills and open skies, this secluded retreat centre offers simple accommodation, nourishing organic vegetarian meals and a peaceful setting for our practice.

Here, we will settle into a natural rhythm of sadhana, communal living, reflection and restorative stillness. In the summer heat, there will be plenty of opportunities to cool down in the pool or the lake and experience the elements directly.

We will also explore the surrounding landscape by boat and on foot – taking a boat trip across Vacha Lake, following the eco-trails through the Rhodopes, and visiting the remarkable Devil’s Throat Cave, home to the highest underground waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula.

Who Is This Retreat For?

This retreat is designed for anyone seeking more than a weekend escape – for those who wish to realign themselves mid-year, reconnect with purpose, cultivate inner clarity, embrace creative expression, and mark a meaningful point of transition with awareness and intention.

The Retreat Includes

All sessions are fully guided, with space for both individual exploration and shared practice.

• Daily 90 minutes asana, pranayama and meditation class
• Daily yoga nidra sessions
• Karma yoga and periods of silence (mouna)
• Daily mantra chanting practice
• Exploring the principles of sacred geometry
• Drawing and painting Sun and Moon yantras
• Exploring the use of colour
• Evening sessions, including kirtan and havan (fire ceremony)
• A two-hour boat trip along the Vacha Lake
• A day trip to an eco-trail and the Devil‘s Throat Cave.

No previous experience or knowledge of drawing or painting is required – only an open heart and a willingness to explore.

Language: English

Please note: Due to the natural setting and access to Forest Diva, participants with mobility impairments or movement difficulties may encounter challenges and additional risks during their stay.

When:

Dates: 2–8 August 2027
Arrival transfer: 2 August, 1pm
Departure transfer: 8 August, 1 pm
Transfers: We offer group transfers between Sofia and Forest Diva at the following times:

2 August – Sofia → Forest Diva
Departure: 1.00 pm
Meeting point: St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
Travel time: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes
Transport: comfortable, air-conditioned van
Cost: €60–70 per person, depending on petrol prices

8 August – Forest Diva → Sofia
Departure: 1.00 pm
Destination: St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
Travel time: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes
Transport: comfortable, air-conditioned van
Cost: €60–70 per person, depending on petrol prices

Getting to the Meeting Point
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is easily accessible from Sofia Airport by metro. Take Metro Line M4 (yellow line) from Sofia Airport to Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“). The journey takes approximately 39 minutes, followed by a 9-minute walk to the cathedral. A single metro journey costs approximately € 0.80.

Please plan your arrival and departure times carefully to ensure full participation in the retreat programme. Transportation outside the scheduled group transfer times will not be available.

Cost of the Retreat:

• Early Bird Rate: until 30 March 2027
  Double room: € 1.180 per person
  Single room: € 1.280 per person
  
• Regular Rate: from 31 March 2027
  Double room: € 1.280 per person
  Single room: € 1.380 per person

Bathroom facilities are shared between two rooms.

The Retreat Fee Includes:

• 6 nights of accommodation in a simple single or double room
• 3 healthy, organic meals per day
• All tuition and guided classes
• 2-hour boat trip on Vacha Lake
• Local transportation to the eco-trail and Devil’s Throat Cave
• Entrance fee for Devil’s Throat Cave

Concession rates are available, and payment in instalments can also be arranged. If you would like to join us but need a different payment arrangement, please send us a message and we will find a way.

Booking:

A €150 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. The remaining balance is due by 2 July 2027.

After booking, you will receive all the practical information you need to prepare for the retreat, including the materials list and the recommendations and guidelines for staying at Forest Diva.

Places are limited to 12 participants, so we recommend booking early.

More about the Devil‘s Throat Cave here.

More about the healing properties of the air in Rhodope mountain here.