December 18-20, 2026 · Vlierhof, Kleve-Keeken, Germany · just across the Dutch border
* * *
From pain to life energy
During this winter retreat, we transform our pain into life energy — through family constellations, transformation through dance and active Osho meditations — and discover our true essence.
What if we don't have to move away from our pain?
We often want to move away from our pain, and as a result it continues to manifest itself in all kinds of ways. For example, through physical symptoms, depression, restlessness, loneliness, indecisiveness, feeling frozen or stuck, a sense of meaninglessness, anger or loss of energy.
I have discovered that the way through is actually to move towards the pain. To experience our pain as a gift — as something that wants to show us something, something that wants to be seen and unpacked.
Turning inward with curiosity
We do this by dancing our pain, feeling it, embracing it with the energy of the heart and approaching it with curiosity: Who are you? What do you have to tell me?
And then we may discover that hidden within our pain is our life force — our creativity, a source of life energy that we were born with.
Family Constellation room in Eindhoven
In this retreat, we work with:
- Family Constellations
- Transformation through Dance
- Meditation
And above all: meeting yourself with an attitude of acceptance, where nothing needs to be fixed, changed or achieved.
What you may experience
During these days, you may experience that others carry the same feelings, longings, needs and sometimes the same sense of shame.
You may experience the joy of being together with fellow travellers who have also come to (re)discover themselves, to look their pain in the eye and to embrace all the feelings that are part of life.
Space may open up for your pain to transform into something new — something your mind could perhaps never have imagined.
You may even experience something like a second birth: a birth into your essential being.
This retreat is for you if you:
- want to use awareness, the intensity of dance and family constellations, and the accepting energy of your heart to support your own healing
- don't want to fix or improve yourself, but are curious about yourself, your essence and your true nature
- have the willingness and desire to turn inward
- want to take responsibility for transforming your own life
About the facilitator
From 1988 to 2012, I worked as a medical doctor, including in youth health care, as an occupational physician for primary school teachers, and as a doctor caring for people with dementia.
In this retreat, I bring together my experience with family constellations, Somatic Experiencing®, Transformation through Dance and active Osho meditations. My intention is to create a space in which pain can be felt and met, and can transform into life energy.
I work from a place of acceptance, the energy of the heart, expression and awareness.
If there are English-speaking participants, the entire retreat will be facilitated in both English and Dutch.
Vlierhof – a place where you can truly be yourself for an entire weekend
The location is beautiful. The atmospheric group room has a wooden floor, clay walls, intricate wood carvings and lovely natural light. The bedrooms are cosy and warmly furnished, and you can choose between a single or a twin room.
The dining room has a comfortable seating area where you can relax in between sessions. And just outside the group room, you are surrounded by nature — a lovely place to step outside, go for a walk, or simply be.
In the YouTube video below and in episode 223 of my podcast From Pain to Being, I talk about the retreat taking place from 18–20 December 2026 at the beautiful Vlierhof in Kleve-Keeken, close to the Dutch border..
You are very welcome!
Conversation before the retreat
Before you join the retreat, I would like to meet you personally for a conversation of about half an hour to an hour. We can talk by phone, via Zoom, or meet in person.
This conversation is an opportunity for us to get to know each other, to make space for your questions, and to explore together whether this retreat feels right for you at this time. It is equally important for me to get a sense of whether I can offer you the guidance and support you need within the setting of this retreat.