ECOSYSTEM – A METAPHOR OF LIFE

Creating an ecosystem is one way to understand the complex relationships that sustain life on earth. Through mindfulness, you will understand how an ecosystem can life & thrive or crash & “die”; a focused mind will help you to transform actions into a meditative state of mind. Once you realize that all levels are not only connected but interdependent, you can become aware of your real impact on the rest of the world, you will be able to choose what kind of imprint you want to leave…

OPTION 1 – SUSTAINABLE EXOSPHERE & ECOSYSTEM WORKSHOPS

Creating your own mini garden is not only enjoyable, but also quite therapeutic, helping you to reconnect with nature & yourself, learning how to slow down your pace and enjoy the beauty of what nature gifts us every day.

The workshops are designed to give you the basic principles to make a sustainable ecosystem inside a jar or a small container, from terrestrial dry mini landscape to a fully planted water-garden, including the bio-active environment – the cleaning crew – that keeps maintenance to a minimum.

Each workshop is designed to mimic a specific type of environment (desert-like dry land, humid forest, swamp, aquatic garden, etc), and will give you the necessary knowledge to create and sustain your master piece.

The workshops last 2 to 3 hours, and include a basic container (type mason jar), some basic material in addition to the bio active support. However, if you have a favorite container, or even some landscaping material (driftwood or rocks) that you wish to work with, please, come with your treasures.

OPTION 2 – SUSTAINABLE EXOSPHERE & ECOSYSTEM GETAWAY

Over the course of a couple of days, we will reconnect with Nature in a different way.

In order to create your master piece, we will go for a walk in the surrounding areas, and observe how Nature creates these incredible pockets of different micro-climates that help maintaining diversity.

We can work from 2 perspectives:

• you already have an idea or the theme you want to create, and we will collect according to it;
• you have no idea and we will let Nature inspires you, by collecting what speaks to you, and see how to combine everything in the final piece.

During our walkabout, we will collect sustainably some material to create one specific type of ecosystem by understanding how it works (and fails) and mimicking its natural habitat.

By doing your own ecosystem, you will have the opportunity to put into context what we’ve learned from observation, and all the basics I gave you during the design process, to create a balanced ecosystem.

By collecting directly in nature, we bring back all the micro-life* that lives within, which you will see emerge as time goes by.

*The micro-life, also called clean-up crew, is the essential foundation of all ecosystems. It’s made of bacteria, microbes, fungi, micro-organisms and smalls critters in charge of recycling all organic matter back into its essence. In a well balanced ecosystem, “bad” bacteria and microbes will be kept on a low level by the “good” ones, and life will thrive and evolve. Just like our beautiful planet Earth.

As we walk around the area, you will also realize how diverse, resilient and rich nature is, even in period of severe drought. On a more “spiritual” level, you will experience what sustainability really is (and maybe incorporate it more easily in your lifestyle).

IKEBANA – A METAPHOR OF IMPERMANENCE

The beauty & harmony feeling of Ikebana stands as much in the result as in its realization. You will focus on simplicity for elegance, purity for structure, expansion for harmony, and perspective for balance. As an offering, remember that Ikebana is seen from both perspectives, from the giver and the receiver, a symbol of inclusiveness.

The events are available all year round, as long as it doesn’t coincide with an on-going retreat.

Location: Casa Pantha, Velez-Malaga – Spain

Contact: yogifolies@gmail.com or message me on whatsapp (+34) 629 819 633 – David

Workshops: 65 euros (container, plants, and other material for the landscape included)

Gate-away retreat: 150 euros/person or 225 euros/couple*. (room, breakfast, containers, some plants and other material for the landscape included) *I mean by couple simply 2 people coming together.