Divine Creativity - 9-day Training Retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Join us for a unique journey at the meeting place of creativity and spirituality, situated in the beautiful and magical lands of Northern Thailand. We welcome creators, creatives, well-being practitioners, community leaders and artists from all walks of life. Discover your unique spark; find space for your voice and ignite your creative flow. We tailor this cross-cultural journey as a meaningful expression in service to your divine being, the communities you touch and to direct your arrow of impact in areas of societal, ethical and existential need.

This inclusive gathering is both a pilgrimage and a training — a weaving of cultures, practices, and wisdom traditions to inspire greater vision, authentic voice, and purposeful impact.

Together, we journey into a deeper understanding of Self, Spirit, and the Source of creativity and inner joy. We explore how to harmonise our divine expression, awaken our unique voices, and embody authentic creative flow. Through cross-disciplinary models and practices; including Psychosynthesis, DANCEmandala somatic movement, immersive theatre, play, and the wisdom of the Jester, we open pathways for expression, connection, and joyful transformation.

What’s Included

• Full board accommodation with options for shared twin room or a private house. Our retreat venue, **Mala Dhara Eco Retreat and Organic Farm**, is a special place surrounded by rice fields and vast views of the mountains. Mala Dhara offers a comfortable stay in unique earthen homes, salt water pool, as well as spaces of divine beauty, serenity and high frequency.
• Three nutritious meals/day. From breakfast to dinner, meals are freshly and professionally cooked with local produces. There are options for vegetarian and vegan.
• Daily workshops and co-learning activities based on; psychosynthesis, psychological models of self and purpose, psychosomatic motivation for creativity, blocks to our creative expression, spirit and creativity, movement meditation, DANCEMandala, clowning, interculturality in working with communities, art and activism, performance, working with the audience, spiritual guides for our divine creativity, and other mythosomatic practices.
• Four sacred ceremonies. These include the Benevolent Plant Teacher Ceremony: Sassafras; a powerful Cleansing Ceremony; Sacred Fire Ceremony; and Authentic Heart Cacao Ceremony and Dance.
• Cultural and Temple visits, including a silent reflective pilgrimage to a temple in the sacred mountains. These are mini pilgrimages into the source flow of creativity, local culture and lands, and deep rejuvenation.
• Personalised support and coaching sessions with three multi-professionals with decades of transformation experiences across different sectors and fields.
• A Full Moon Lantern Festival (Loy Krathon) experience. We will join the Thai locals in celebrating the Lantern Festival to honour the water and the seasonal of Renewal and Gratitude.
• Opportunities to collaborate with local artists and teachers in music, dance, martial arts, crafts, storytelling and painting.
• An opportunity to share your work or creative expression at Soulmala Festival; a cross-cultural bridge between countries and hearts.

Cost for Training & Retreat:

Regular Cost : £2870 per person

Early bird Offer: £2570

Receive £300 discount if booked by 30th of August 2026.

Deposit

Booking deposit is £350 to secure your space, including confirming the early bird rate. This is non-refundable. It can be transferred to another participant for this retreat only.

Payment Plan

Five months or Five instalments payment plan is available. Please contact us to arrange this. There is no fee for the plan.

Enquiries and Booking email: **hiraethfestival@gmail.com**

The Team

Joel Bennett - Trauma Psychologist, Craniosacral Therapist and Shamanic Practitioner

Joel is an extensively experienced trauma specialist, psychotherapist, biodynamic cranio-sacral bodyworker, psychosynthesis psychospiritual guide and shamanic practitioner. He has over 22 years’ experience of supporting individuals, families and communities across the world. His focus is to re-empower, re-invigorate and enliven people to find a sense of meaning and direction in these times of human crisis. To alchemise suffering into soul-craft and a passion to make a difference in the world.

Joel works alongside leading experts in the fields of health; while working with sacred leaders, indigenous peoples and wisdom keepers from different shamanic traditions and cultures. Joel has led large gatherings across the world; focused on supporting communities to feel empowered to make changes on political, educational and community levels and to support systematic changes in developing compassionate roots to purposeful and harmonious living. Joel weaves his Celtic and ancestral traditions, alongside allyship with Lakota people on the 'Red Path', in addition to many other shamanic initiations of endurance, death and rebirth as a means of understanding human suffering on a physical and spiritual level. He sees true shamanic work as an act of social revolution and healing to both peoples, communities and lands.

Areeradh K Tri-siddha - Somatic Movement and Yoga Teacher (Nervous System/Trauma Informed) Shamanic Practitioner

Aree moves between Thailand and England, carrying a path shaped by spirit, heart, and devotion. Her yoga journey began in 2007 and has since unfolded into a life of teaching, practice, and community building. Certified by the British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance as an experienced teacher and Continuing Professional Development provider, she bridges traditional wisdom with contemporary practice through clarity and care. From 2011 to 2022, Aree ran a yoga and well-being centre in Thailand, creating a sanctuary where people gathered to learn, heal, restore, and grow.

Her work extends beyond yoga into the spirit-led modalities she has developed and nurtured: DANCEmandala and The Yoga of Rest. These practices support participants in reconnecting with their true essence, awakening creativity, and returning to stillness for deep renewal. Aree was also co-founder of Awaken the Creative CIC, a platform for expression, vision, and meaningful connection. For her, these practices are not simply disciplines but ways of living. They are open invitations to wholeness, the honouring of ancient wisdom, and the embodiment of balance and joy. Rooted in her Thai heritage and shaped by life in both Thailand and the UK, Aree shares from the rich meeting place of East and West.

Dr Dane Lukić - Learning Researcher, Immersive Theatre Creator and Esoteric Jester

Dane (King of More) is an immersive theatre creator, performer, dancer, organisational learning researcher and esoteric queer jester originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Straddling academic, creative and spiritual practice, his work explores growth, love, connection, humour, energy and transformation through immersive performance, movement, ritual and workshops that invite people to live at least 5% more fully. With more than 20 years of experience designing and facilitating international learning programmes, Dane holds a PhD in organisational learning and was previously Reader and Head of Research and Innovation at Glasgow Caledonian University London.

As his performer alter-ego King of More, he creates immersive theatre shows, movement art, cabaret, festivals and participatory experiences that blend humour, music, spirituality and interactive storytelling to create developmental and thought-provoking encounters beyond conventional theatre, with work presented internationally including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival (where he received the Weekly Best Show Award 2025), Brighton Fringe Festival and the Rio Olympic Games.