Lighting the Shadow

LIGHTING THE SHADOW, A MEN’S RITE OF PASSAGE AND SELF-INQUIRY AT THE ROCK.

We will go on an experiential journey together in a beautiful, yet rugged natural landscape. Professionally facilitated in a remote

and private wilderness property, the location is around a 2-hour drive from the Gold Coast or 90 minutes inland from Brisbane.

We will experience a variety of workshops, involving ‘breath-work’, cold exposure, and other modalities. Our self-enquiry is set around a theme of ‘The Ego’ or the ‘Shadow Self’.

The Importance of Self-enquiry at Lighting the Shadow

You may have heard quotes relating to, “Know thyself”.

Here are a few of them:

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” – Aristotle

“Knowing others is intelligence, knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu

“Do thine own work, and know thyself” – Plato

Our crew’s combined experience of many years of doing our own ‘inner work’ tells us that if we do not examine the feelings and reasons behind our own behaviours and experiences of life, we will forever be condemned to a life of either numbness or uncontrolled over-reactivity to normal situations and emotions. Or both!

Our crew are not gurus. We are normal men, who have all experienced our own challenges and have benefited from experiences like this event.

Our mission is to share what has worked for us because we know just how beneficial such exploration and support can be. We have felt all manner of human experiences. Numbness, being out of control, confusion, depression, anxiety and all things in between. We still do experience such challenges at times, but knowledge of ourselves and a great support network helps us to find our way out quicker. We want to offer that to you.

We offer this experience and mentorship outside amongst nature, to help to shine a gentle light onto your blind spots, with a group of supportive men.

What’s the benefit of seeing ‘blind spots?’

Only when you can see your own blind spots can you have sovereignty over them?

Awareness of such can lead to greater mastery of your life and therefore a greater connection to yourself and to your family.

It is our experience that knowledge of the self and then integration, and acceptance of the troubled parts of us, enables the ability to serve oneself fully, as well as to serve others fully.

What exactly is ‘The Ego’ at Lighting the Shadow

The ‘Ego’ is an intelligent design that is put in place psychologically when we are young children. It is designed to take protect us from painful emotions, which the immature self is not able to fully feel. The 6-year-old ‘boy self’ may prefer to judge another person as wrong rather than feel shame for example. This is called ‘projection’.
In ‘ego work’, or ‘shadow work’ it is the job of the mature adult to recognise their own ‘ego patterns’ of behaviour, and then come to accept that part of themselves. Often these behaviours are unseen by the self since the ‘ego’ can be very cunning and deceptive.

From awareness and acceptance, presence and responsiveness are possible instead of projection onto others and reactiveness.

The concept is that these shadows will almost always be there, in some form or other. They just get smaller, less hidden and less destructive.

What’s the point?

Once seen, the ego cannot be unseen! A less reactive and more responsive, graceful and purposeful life is the likely result of such self-inquiry.

Your own awareness and acceptance of your shadow can lead to transformation and growth. Almost every superhero has a dark and a light side. It is often the case that from their darkness, came their light, or their superpower.

We will encourage you to discover those superpowers within you…. But you need to see your own ‘blind spots’ first. From the darkness, there can only be light. We invite you to join us at ‘Shadow Light’.

‘Lighting The Shadow’ Men’s Wilderness Event at a Glance:

• Facilitated workshops by an experienced team
• Facilitated workshops by an experienced team
• Self-enquiry, breath work, cold exposure and other work-shops themed around ‘The Ego’ or ‘The Shadow Self’
• All-inclusive residential retreat
• Spend time in nature in a group setting

Included at Lighting the Shadow:

• All workshops
• Day 1 lunch – Arrival is at 11:00 am
• Day 1 dinner
• Day 2 breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Day 3 breakfast – Checkout is 4 pm
• Accommodation in a bunkhouse – dormitory style
• 4×4 pick up at the meeting point outside The Hollow Log Country Retreat, 878 Mount Byron Road, Mount Byron, QLD 4312
• Zoom session with the other attendees and some of our team 1 week before the retreat.
• Zoom group reunion 1 week after the event
• In-person reunion meet-up 2-3 weeks after the event, held in Northern NSW
• Invitation to join our ‘ongoing support community

Highly experienced facilitation and logistics team including John Callanan and Ranald Allen (Elders), John Imbrogno (Lead Facilitator), Dan Henson (Lead Facilitator), Matt Scott (logistics)

Great food with James Baird and Jon Coleman on the hobs

You will be fully supported by love and experienced men. This will be a deep dive and not for the faint-hearted.

Not included at Lighting the Shadow:

• Transfers to and from the meeting point at The Hollow Log Country Retreat – 878 Mount Byron Road, Mount Byron, QLD 4312 • Transfers to and from the meeting point at The Hollow Log Country Retreat – 878 Mount Byron Road, Mount Byron, QLD 4312

Who should come to Lighting the Shadow

• Your main goal is to gain insights and ‘self-awareness’ during workshops.
• You have a reasonable level of fitness so can walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath
• Not suitable for those with serious health conditions who require proximity to medical care as we will be in a wilderness environment at least 1 hour from emergency care.
• You identify as a man and you are comfortable sleeping on beds in a large dormitory-style tent facility with other men.
• You are age 25 or older
• This retreat has limited spaces for 14 participants.

If you have an existing men’s group it can be arranged as a private event for your group provided you have 10 or more attendees.

If you cannot afford this event please email us at the contact page.

These events are not about making a profit for us. We are more interested in helping people. So please reach out. We are able to provide a number of ‘assisted places’ for each of our events.

“To confront a man with his own shadow is to show him his own light.”

PM me or call me on 0406 780081 if you cannot afford it but feel a strong calling to go.
 
Go to www.breathehealthretreats.com to book or learn more
 
The video was taken at a similar event that I ran a few years ago – also at The Rock.