Lover-Mother
Earth Retreat
Intimate Initiations into Erotic Ecology
Through elemental practices, ceremony, breathwork and BlissDance, this retreat invites a deeper relationship with the Great Mother rooted in embodiment, reverence, and reciprocity.
23 - 27 October 2026
BARRYDALE, SOUTH AFRICA
Invocation to the Living Earth
We come not only as children seeking comfort,
but as humans willing to enter conscious relationship.
To feel the Earth not beneath us,
nor beyond us,
but within and around us –
as the body that receives us,
challenges us,
feeds us,
and asks something in return.
May we learn again how to belong through reciprocity,
through attention,
through sensual presence,
through devotion.
Not escaping the world,
but penetrating it fully with our love.
Lover-Mother Earth holds an evocative tension...
dependence & reciprocity
reverence & intimacy
origin & eros
It suggests a maturation of relationship – not abandoning the mother archetype but deepening beyond child-consciousness into mature, conscious co-creation.
- Reciprocity rather than extraction – moving from only The Earth nourishes me to reciprocating with How do I nourish the Earth?
- Embodied spirituality – the sensuality of touch, soil, breath, gravity, decay, fertility, rhythm
- Erotic in the broad sense – not necessarily sexual, but alive, connective, desirous, relational
- Maturity of devotion – becoming accountable participants in creation rather than passive recipients or extractive bad actors
At the heart of the experience is an exploration of our relationship with the Great Mother
Earth as the great womb and tomb of all life. We will explore what it means to belong to the Earth not only spiritually or symbolically, but through direct embodied relationship, presence, and participation.
Erotic Ecology in Practice
Nature Connection → listening to Earth as an Erotic Intelligence rather than a backdrop
Sweat Lodge → returning to the womb of the Earth; the void, darkness, dissolution, humility, rebirth
Elemental Dances → becoming porous and present to the elements through the body rather than the mind, opening and expanding the senses, exploring intimate connections and relationships through presence and touch
Breathwork → opening the emotional and energetic terrain where reciprocity can actually be felt
The Territory of Eros & Earth
Together, we explore the animate world as alive, relational, and responsive, entering into a more intimate relationship with Earth as beloved. Through reverence, presence, and love in action, this retreat invites an embodied remembering that we are not on the Earth, but of the Earth.
Our Gathering Space
HoZho House (The Beauty Way) is a hidden gem in the colourful area of Barrydale affectionately known as 'Die Padkamp' (Road Camp), where the road workers who built the Tradouw Pass and R62 used to live.
HoZho House was their community gathering place for celebrating weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. Today it is the home of two well-known artist-shamans and so vibrates with both an historic and mystical frequency!
HoZho House has 2 spacious areas - one perfect for dancing, and one for intimate circles, as well as a long communal dining table for shared feasting.
How does it feel to enter into a mature, con-sensual, intimate relationship with an erotic, living, pulsating Earth?
How would it change the way we live our lives?
Booking Process
We’ve chosen a retreat structure that allows participants flexibility and choice around accommodation, while all facilitation, shared meals, and core retreat experiences are held collectively within the retreat contribution.
Your retreat contribution includes:
- All facilitation and guided practices
- Ceremonies and ritual spaces
- Breathwork, movement, and elemental practices
- Shared nourishing meals – lunch & dinner daily (not inc. breakfasts)
- Group integration spaces
You will need to arrange and book:
Your own accommodation will be booked separately and directly through one of our recommended nearby stays (see below)
Breakfast each day is for your own account and preparation. We will enjoy a brunch together on our last day.
Travel to Barrydale, South Africa
- Additional personal expenses
Book your place
Facilitation & Meals
One-Time Contribution:
- R8600 ZAR once-off
- €610 EUR once-off
- $710 USD once-off
- £530 GBP once-off
Flexible payment plans are available at checkout, including 2-month and 3-month options.
Please note: Currency selection is location-based and will be applied automatically through the registration system at check-out.
Plan Your Stay
Accommodation Options
We have curated a small selection of accommodation options at different price points. We encourage you to book your accommodation at HoZho House. Other suggestions are all located close to the retreat venue (within walking distance)
HoZho House Hideaway
- Room with double bed – ensuite bathroom – SHARING @ R2,400 (2 rooms)
- Room with double bed – ensuite bathroom – SINGLE @ R3,200 (2 rooms)
- Room with double bed – ensuite bathroom – SINGLE @ R2,600 (1 room)
- Single bed in garden studio cabin – outdoor rustic showers and shared ablutions inside the hall – SHARED @ R1,600 (2 cabins)
- Camping (BYO tent & Bedding) – outdoor rustic showers and shared ablutions inside the hall @ R600 (2 campsites, max 2 persons per site)
Kamala Karoo Sanctuary
Full use of kitchen, infrared sauna, saltwater swimming pool, labyrinth, library. All rooms en suite + private patio.
Main House:
→ Room with twin beds – ensuite bathroom – SHARING @ R4,800 (3 rooms)
→ Room with rooms queen bed – ensuite bathroom – SINGLE @ R8,000 (2 rooms)
Garden Suites:
Sharing a big patio, kitchenette to make coffee/tea
→ Room with twin beds – ensuite bathroom – SHARING @ R5,300 (2 rooms)
→ Room with twin beds – ensuite bathroom – SINGLE @ R8,800 (2 rooms)
Secluded Garden Cottage:
Completely separate, own patio, outside bath, kitchenette, air conditioner
→ SHARING @ R8000
→ SINGLE @ R14,000
⭐️ Book with Terry de Vries: WhatsApp
Visit kamalakaroo.com
Upstairs on Hellier
A spacious open-plan loft featuring a comfortable king size bed with high quality linens, a cosy sitting area, and a well-equipped kitchenette with fridge, kettle, microwave, and tea/coffee station.
SHARED or SINGLE @ R4,200
⭐️ Book via AirBnB
Barrydale Bliss
Entire home in Barrydale
A spacious and serene 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home nestled in the heart of Barrydale’s beautiful Klein Karoo. Designed for comfort, relaxation, and effortless indoor–outdoor living, this property is perfect for families, groups of friends, or anyone seeking calm surrounded by nature.
4-8 persons SHARING @ R18,598
⭐️ Book via AirBnB
Through Body, Ritual & Earth
An initiatory journey through solitude, silence, purification, embodiment, movement meditation, breath, elemental ritual, altered states and communal integration - grounded always in the wisdom of the body and the living presence of the land.
Faciliation Team
Kali Satyagraha
About Kali
Kali grew up feral in sub-tropical Kwa-Zulu Natal and spent her childhood weekends exploring the lush Kloof Gorge with its magnificent waterfalls, rock pools, vervet monkeys, leguaans, baboons, leopards and small buck. In many ways, it was an intense and idyllic time – Mother Nature imparting a passionate imprint into her cellular remembering – which has subsequently turned into a full-blown love affair with the wild. Kali counts the natural world as her greatest ally and resource, together with her Tantric lineage and BlissDance path.
“The whole of existence is making love to itself, just so that we can take the next breath,” is a core mantra of Kali’s, and her greatest delight and desire is to share these resources with others seeking relief from a consensual reality gone mad. She believes it really is possible to make love to every moment, with every cell in our being.
Rhianne van der Linde
About Rhianne
An avid alchemist and a dedicated dreamer with a depth of knowledge and experience of transforming the mundane into the magical, my personal explorations have led me into working with dreams, as a companion to those busy with their journey of dying, exploring the breath as a thread connecting us directly to source & processing and ritual with groups in wild nature.
My greatest delight is in supporting you to explore the breath as a thread connecting you directly to source, as a tool for embodiment and as a force for waking up!
In the conscious connected breathwork session we’ll experience on retreat, you’ll discover the power of the breath and how to work with it very simply – as a conscious tool for healing and growth, personal awakening and transformation in body, mind and spirit – enabling you to flow effortlessly and easily with all of life’s movements…
Breathing is something that we are doing constantly and (mostly) unconsciously. The breath is life – it is our very connection to life itself. Awareness, Relaxation, Breathing – when these three elements are blended harmoniously together, then we arrive at a proper rest into the ground of being – and from this place we can live in a state of perpetual trust. From this place, our awakened being can express its uniqueness…
Your beautiful breathing body is a gateway to the Bliss that is your Birthright. And the breath is the key!
Truth as emptiness and Truth as embodiment – as consciousness expressing in form, in beautiful breathing bodies of love – it is this language of the heart, this feminine language of embodiment & feeling that I’m most interested in learning and sharing together with you.
Lolla Odendaal
About Lolla
Lolla is a Wilderness Guide who is inspired by her witnessing the simplicity with which nature reveals our true selves. She started her journey as a Nature Conservationist, River Guide, and Mountain Guide, and has been steered on a path deeper into the mysteries of the inter-connectedness of our Human-Nature.
Lolla guides Wilderness Quests, leads sweat lodges and facilitates nature connection. Her exploration of natural landscapes and sacred places focuses on revealing their relevance to modern lives.
Rayven
About Rayven
Based currently in Auckland, New Zealand, Rayven has been on an ongoing exploration of self, sexuality and relationship since his quarter-life crisis, questioning and exploding the normative conditioned narratives of his upbringing.
With a focus on collectively beneficial and authentic paths towards empowered self-expression and intimate connection with others, Rayven invites a dance between deep stillness and embodied expression. As a facilitator he draws on storytelling, counselling and somatic experience and is presently studying for a degree in Psychology and Communication.
Testimonials
F.A.Q
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is designed as a solo experience alongside and together with others. You will have the opportunity to deepen in intimacy with yourself and with others.
Open to both male and female bodied beings. Single or partnered. Whatever your relationship status, and however your sexuality expresses, you’re welcome just as you are.
What’s included in my retreat fees?
- All facilitation and guided practices
- Ceremonies and ritual spaces
- Breathwork, movement, and elemental practices
- Shared nourishing meals (Dinner on day of arrival, lunch & dinner each day, brunch on day of departure)
- Group integration spaces
What is NOT included in my retreat fees?
Accommodation – this will need to be booked by you separately either with us at HoZho House or directly through one of our recommended nearby stays (see above)
Breakfast – you will take care of your own breakfast requirements in the shared kitchen facility at HozHo House or at the accommodation of your choice
Travel to Barrydale, South Africa
- Additional personal expenses
What is your cancellation policy?
A non-refundable deposit of £150 / €175 / $200 / ZAR2500 is required to reserve your place.
Whether you choose to register with a onetime payment, 2 monthly payments or 3 monthly payment plan, £150 / €175 / $200 / ZAR2500 will be treated as a non-refundable deposit.
- Cancellation up to and inc. 31 August 2026: All payments (less your non-refundable deposit) will be refunded to you
- Cancellation up to and inc. 30 September 2026: 50% of your payments will be refunded to you
- Should you cancel after 30 September 2026: no refund will be due to you and you will forfeit any and all payments made
step 1
Facilitation & Meals
Please note: Currency selection is location-based and will be applied automatically through the registration system at check-out.
R2,999
step 2
Accommodation Options
We have curated a small selection of accommodation options at different price points, all located close to the retreat venue. Once you have registered for the retreat, you will receive the accommodation guide and booking details to arrange your stay directly.
This allows participants to choose the space, comfort level, and budget that best supports their retreat experience.
If you need any assistance or further suggestions, please email info@shaktishiva.academy
Kamala Karoo
5 Rooms in main house:
Lakshmi, Parvati & Ganesha
3 sharing rooms (twin beds) R2400 per room per night (R1200 per person per night)
Durga & Aditi
2 single rooms (queen beds) R2000 per room per night
2 Garden Suites:
Saraswati & Kuan Yin (sharing a big patio, kitchenette to make coffee/tea
both have twin beds)
- Sharing R2600 per room per night (R1300 per person per night)
- Single R2200 per room per night
Aphrodite Secluded Garden Cottage
Completely separate, own patio, outside bath, kitchenette, air conditioner
- Sharing R4000 per night (R2000 per person per night)
- Single R3500 per night
Bookings with Terry de Vries via Whatsapp: 0824425623
Visit kamalakaroo.com
Kamala Karoo
5 Rooms in main house:
Lakshmi, Parvati & Ganesha
3 sharing rooms (twin beds) R2400 per room per night (R1200 per person per night)
Durga & Aditi
2 single rooms (queen beds) R2000 per room per night
2 Garden Suites:
Saraswati & Kuan Yin (sharing a big patio, kitchenette to make coffee/tea
both have twin beds)
- Sharing R2600 per room per night (R1300 per person per night)
- Single R2200 per room per night
Aphrodite Secluded Garden Cottage
Completely separate, own patio, outside bath, kitchenette, air conditioner
- Sharing R4000 per night (R2000 per person per night)
- Single R3500 per night
Bookings with Terry de Vries via Whatsapp: 0824425623
Visit kamalakaroo.com
Kamala Karoo
5 Rooms in main house:
Lakshmi, Parvati & Ganesha
3 sharing rooms (twin beds) R2400 per room per night (R1200 per person per night)
Durga & Aditi
2 single rooms (queen beds) R2000 per room per night
2 Garden Suites:
Saraswati & Kuan Yin (sharing a big patio, kitchenette to make coffee/tea
both have twin beds)
- Sharing R2600 per room per night (R1300 per person per night)
- Single R2200 per room per night
Aphrodite Secluded Garden Cottage
Completely separate, own patio, outside bath, kitchenette, air conditioner
- Sharing R4000 per night (R2000 per person per night)
- Single R3500 per night
Bookings with Terry de Vries via Whatsapp: 0824425623
Visit kamalakaroo.com