Journey of Origins

[Postponed Until Spring 2025]

"It’s hard to think of any part of the journey that did not work well for me. The preparation calls, creating my intention, the setting, the incredible supportive group, the schedule, the support from the team, how you made each phase work to support the journey, the care you all demonstrated during the experience to make it feel safe, the group sharing and the followup calls. I have been part of countless business retreats over the years and never experienced the care and professionalism that was part of this Journey experience.”

What is our true essential nature?

Who is it that rests at the core of our being? Beneath the stories we weave and the dramas we pursue, beyond our carefully composed egoic personality, there is an authentic self that resides at the very foundation of our nature. In this Journey of Origins experience, we are welcoming that deepest part of your soul to emerge.. To ignite that SpArc to emanate in wholeness once again. Beyond the mind, beyond the conditioning we’ve been taught from society and culture, beyond the roles we have learned to play.. There is something unique and profoundly sacred waiting to be expressed and realized within each and every one of us. This is our origin story.. This is your invitation back to your essential self.

Sacred medicine used intentionally with ethics, safety and compassionate care can be a powerful catalyst for lasting healing, growth and transformation.  Whether reconciling old traumas, integrating parts and healing wounds, or exploring the possibility of a frontier free of limitations that no longer genuinely serve; through the power of discernment and choice – fungi medicine can support a reorientation of perspective that can radically propel your path forward. The Journey of Origins will be supported by a highly thoughtful preparation, navigation, and integration program.. alongside a myriad of holistic health practices, workshops and excursions to deepen your connection to your innermost Truth.  Prepare for a transformational experience that will last a life time.

The Retreat Features:

  • Full Medical, Mental Health & Trauma Informed Assessment Screening to ensure Readiness
  • (4) Days Boutique Private Lodging at the Communitas Sanctuary
  • Gourmet Catered Meals By the Legendary Chef Steph
  • (1) 90 Minute Group Preparation Call & Orientation
  • (1) 30 Minute Individual Preparation & Intention Setting Call
  • A Hero’s Journey: Create Your Own Mythos Workshop
  • Onsite Preparation Exploration to ensure Mindset Attunement & Safety Awareness
  • Morning Guided Meditations
  • (2) Kundalini Yoga Sessions by Chef Steph
  • Ecstatic Dance Ceremony by DJ Spirit Animal
  • A Hike to experience 360 Mountain Top Views at Chimney Rock by Atreyu
  • A Sacred Fire & Tea Ceremony
  • A Full Day Immersive Mycelium Medicine Journey Experience
  • (1) 120 Minute onsite Group Integration
  • 15 Min Speed 1 on 1 Integration Coaching
  • (1) 75 Min Post Weekend Group Integration Call
  • Note: Additional 1 on 1 Preparation, Integration & Group integration are available per Request.

Am I Ready?

How do you know if you are ready for a transformative journey?

You might ask yourself the following questions:

Would having a fresh perspective serve me in creating the life I want?

Am I seeking deeper truths and greater alignment with my authentic path & purpose?

Would it serve me to reassess my inner compass to align with a desired future?

Do I feel called to seek new avenues of healing, insight, inspiration, and connection?

Am I curious about consciousness and ways to perceive my place in the world?

If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, this retreat is for YOU.

"Overall the experience was superbly executed. The lead team ran the event seamlessly and created a wonderful nurturing environment. Personally, I had a beautiful experience. I left the journey feeling excited about the future. I felt very centered and energized as I re-entered my day to day life the following week.I would highly recommend this experience for anyone who is looking to discover more balance and peace in their lives.”

Will I be Safe?

Your safety is our highest priority. Before engaging in this program every participant will be screened for physical & mental health conditions to ensure readiness for the experience. Our team of highly skilled facilitators will help you prepare for, navigate, and properly integrate your journey in order to ensure the most beneficial and harmonious experience possible. The facilitation team will include at least (1) mental health professional, (1) trauma informed specialist & (1) CPR Member of the team on site at all times.

Regenerate in the Beautiful Communitas Sanctuary in the Majestic Blue Ridge Mountains

The Journey of Origins is a (4) day & (3) Night experience taking place at the Communitas Sanctuary. Located on 11 pristine acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the peak Autumn leaf season, this temple space is curated and uniquely designed to awaken the heart and enliven the soul.  The Sanctuary Features:  

  • 10 uniquely curated and thematic-designed guest rooms
  • A Sky lounge observatory providing a 180 panoramic view at 3000 ft. of Mountain Majesty with (2) Cantilever Decks
  • A Ceremonial Temple with Sonos sound system, LED DNA helix technology, and Sacred altars
  • A sculpture garden with giant mushrooms, dragons, thrones, and buddhas to explore & meditate in
  • (5) Different outdoor lounge areas including firepits, chimineas, fire tables and more
  • (1) Mile of Hiking Trails on property
  • A Beautiful outdoor Koi Pond and Waterfall resting Area

Price for Program $2250

(See Details & Options under the Investment Tab Below)

“My personal journey has always been one of becoming a better human. I am successful and fulfilled professional, with a thoughtful and extensive spiritual practice… that was lying dormant in my past and was almost forgotten. I longed to remember and reconnect with my deepest, strongest, most generative self: My trust in this group of facilitators opened an avenue for doing so in a way that is fast, deep and viscerally imprinting that is unforgettable. Thanks to their extraordinary care in preparation, environment, atmosphere, ceremonial wisdom and music (truly “of the spheres”). Some undeniable and clear certitudes came to me in response to my inner questions and unsettled wonderings. I never felt unsafe for a minute. Neither could i ever misunderstand this Journey as a recreational event devoid of purpose. The SpArc facilitates us receiving the healing, wise power of the medicines that allow us to realize, gratefully and reverently, how connected we are to everything and everyone.”

Journey of Discovery Retreat - Medicine journey - Medicine Retreat - Psychedelicre treat- The SpArc
Journey of Discovery Retreat - Medicine journey - Medicine Retreat - The SpArc
Journey of Discovery Retreat - Medicine journey - Medicine Retreat - The SpArc

Ehren Cruz, PCC

(Founder & Lead Facilitator)

Since experiencing a life-redefining psychedelic rebirth in 2008, Ehren has pursued the mindful study & use of sacramental entheogenic compounds as a cornerstone of self-actualization, spiritual growth, peak performance & servant leadership. Over the past 15 years, this path of inner discovery has evolved through a life devoted to ceremonial practice, high performance training, transformational event curation, and psychedelic facilitation. To date, Ehren has facilitated over 200 high dose 1 on 1 ceremonial journeys and served as lead facilitator in dozens of psychedelic retreats throughout the world. He specializes in curating experiences that honor a deep sense of psychological safety, personal empowerment, shadow navigation, and an initiation into awakening our true human potential. 

Ehren Cruz is an Anthropologist, CTA & ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a Third Wave Psychedelic Coaching Institute Certified Coach (CCP1), Master Ceremonialist, certified Harm Reductionist, Loving Husband & Proud Father of 3 Little Ladies. 
 

Renee Cruz, MPH
( Co-Facilitator & Ecstatic Dance DJ Spirit Animal)

For 15 years, Renee has served at the confluence of Western Medicine Executive Leadership and Spiritual & Ceremonial psychedelic culture. By vocation, she has served in the implementation of health tech systems, national programs and innovative projects spanning the globe delivering solutions for client care at Mission Hospital, the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and Well-Star Health Systems. Her spiritual work has involved a deep devotion to the ethical and intentional use, facilitation and support of psychedelic medicine experiences in both ecstatic culture and in ritual guidance. Renee specializes in compassionate space holding for those moving through powerful emotional & spiritual emergence, often using sound healing tools and int

 

Aaron Snooks
( Assistant Facilitator )

Aaron Snook is in transition, bridging his artistic life into the psychedelic space. After 14 years in Chicago as a theatre artist, he moved to Asheville 8 years ago and Co-founded the American Myth Center, a non-profit performing arts organization now focusing on activist puppetry. Coming out of the pandemic, he Co-founded A Different Myth, a non-profit play development program for Emerging Black Playwrights now in its second cohort. During this time, he also taught acting, directing, and playscript analysis in the Drama Department at UNC-Asheville. Having spent his last chapters as a theatre artist, teaching artist, and activist artist, he is bringing his knowledge of deep listening, creative imagination, and intimate empathy into the psychedelic space. With almost three decades of personal experience using plant medicine, Aaron recently experienced a spiritual rebirth through ceremonial practice and is heeding a call towards creative, curative facilitation and the education of intentional practice. Starting in 2025, Aaron is opening Creative Curation LLC, his own authentic offering for this ever growing ecosystem. He is currently in his final phase of the Third Wave Psychedelic Coach Certification, has a BA in English & Drama from Duke University, and an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University.

 

Chef Steph

( Gourmet Catering Chef & Yoga Instructor )

Chef Steph is a true seeker and has been a practitioner of Kundalini Yoga for the past 28 years. She started teaching yoga 11 years ago after completing yoga teacher training at Moksha in British Columbia. After 28 years as a private chef and yoga instructor on yachts, she has landed in Asheville. She believes food is medicine, offers health coaching, acts as a consultant designing therapeutic nutrition programs for wholistic recovery centers and is Chef at Sohum Mountain Healing Resort. She loves being of service and volunteers, teaching yoga to the incarcerated and in rehabs. Stephanie brings ceremony and sacred space to cooking, serving, and all forms of nourishment.

“To feed someone is to invite them into your life”

 

 

OTHERS TBD

Personal

• Insight into core beliefs and sense of identity
• Breaking out of negative patterns and habits
• Deep healing through emotional release
• Increased self compassion
• Increased compassion for others, leading to better relationships

Spiritual

• Feeling of deep connection with all that exists
• New appreciation for everyday life
• Loss of fear and self-concern associated with ego boundaries
• Experience of direct encounter with the divine
• Inner sense of renewal and revitalization

Creative

• Enhanced problem-solving ability
• New perspectives on existing projects and ideas
• Think outside the normal framework of space, time and language
• Increased artistic and aesthetic sensibility
• Faster and easier to generate new ideas

Tuition for the retreat is $2250, which includes the $1000 application deposit.

A deposit of $1000 is due upon application completion & medical screening clearance.

All tuition is due by October 10th, 2024.

All payments will be made to Ehren Cruz using Zelle at [email protected] or Venmo @Ehren-Cruz (Last 4 digits = 5357)

Please include a note that the deposit/payment is for the Journey of Discovery Retreat.

Note: There are no refunds past the due date of Oct. 10, 2024.  Situations of extreme extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case by case to determine the feasibility of reimbursement. 

Tuition includes lodging for (3) nights and delicious organic meals for the duration of the stay.  All dietary specifications and rooming requests will be considered in advance. 

Please note that tuition does not include any travel expenditures to make it to or from the retreat. 

 

Interested applicants should email Ehren Cruz at [email protected] with “Journey of Discovery Interest” in the subject.  We will then respond with the link to the full application, screening info, and details on the intake & prep schedule.

Tuition for the retreat is $2250, which includes a deposit of $1000 due upon completion of application.

All Tuition is due by  Oct 10, 2024.

Payment instructions will be provided via direct correspondence after inquiry and completion of forms.


Note: There are no refunds past the due date of Oct. 10, 2024.

Space is Extremely Limited Registration Closes Oct 10, 2024

DETAILS

FACILITATORS:
Ehren Cruz
Renee Cruz
Dr. Nick Atlas

DATES:
June 2022

EVENT CATEGORY:
Retreats

VENUE

Outside of Asheville, North Carolina
(Exact location provided upon acceptance into the retreat)

CONTACT:

Evolutionary Education®

EMAIL:
[email protected]

WEBSITE:
https://evolutionaryeducation.org

APPLY

Investment: $1250

Payment Plan:

$400 mo on 4/01, 5/01, 6/01

To apply for the course, please submit an online application and $100 deposit.

You may pay your deposit via the link below or use one of our preferred methods (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or PayPal).

APPLICATION

PAY DEPOSIT

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