Mens Healing Group Retreat - East MacDonnell Range Alice Springs October 2010

This tour will be led by the esteemed Aboriginal healer, Frank Ansell, and co-facilitated by Psychotherapist, Andrew Leitch. Both Frank and Andrew will instigate and be available for personal and group healings. The aim of the journey is to reconnect to the land and to ourselves. It is a six day tour, which includes four days out in the bush of the McDonnell Ranges.

This is a group for men only. At Spirit Adventure Tours, we feel that there is a great need for men to be able to explore themselves and to understand what their masculinity means to them, in a safe and supported environment. In today’s fast paced society there is little time for reflection and understanding of what it is we truly want and need from ourselves, and others.

The healing techniques used throughout the trip will help facilitate this process.

After spending a night in Alice Springs, we will drive east, around ninety kilometres, to Trefina Gorge in the McDonnell Ranges. On the way, we will stop at a few of the sacred sites, such as Emily’s Gap and Corroboree Rock. Here, we will allow ourselves to drop into the different space and time that exists in these magical places. During the four day camping adventure that follows, Frank will offer healings and facilitate a deeper feeling of connection to the land. Time will be taken to integrate the healings, and Andrew will help provide the framework to help facilitate a greater understanding of ourselves, and the land we are on. Upon completion of the trip each person will have a deeper connection to themselves and will have worked through some issues that may have been holding them back from becoming a fuller self.

An important aspect of this trip will be the work done around the campfire in the evenings. For thousands of years, men have sat around fires, dreaming and wondering. Fire is the alchemist’s tool of creation, and we will use fire to help find the creative and powerful energies that may currently lay dormant within. This work is designed especially for men to be able to reach inside and find parts of themselves that they may want to bring out, but are unsure of how to do this.

During the four days, a deep connection will be made amongst the members of the group and friendships may be formed that will last a lifetime.

Upon completion of our work in the Gorge we will transfer back to Alice and spend the night there.

Optional Extra

After our time in the McDonnell Ranges, there is an optional two day short trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata-tjuta (the Olgas). Each of these places holds its own special energy, and we will be able to spend a full day exploring the unique qualities of each. This part of the trip will be led by Andrew, and will focus on connection with these two power places and what they mean for each of us individually. These two breathtaking rock formations are literally at the centre of our continent and hold the heart and soul of our land. They are truly life changing in the energies that they hold.

We will drive from Alice Springs to Uluru on the afternoon of the… Arriving at Yalara, the accommodation at Uluru, in the early evening.

The next morning, we will witness the sunrise over Uluru. We will then spend the day exploring the different facets of Uluru. The morning will be devoted to understanding the way that the indigenous people understand this sacred place. We will hear the stories that exist in the Aboriginal culture from a member of the Anangu Tribe. The afternoon will be spent on a journey of self-exploration using the energies of the rock to delve deeply into our own lives. Day two will follow the same outline, but this time at Kata-tjuta.

The price for this part of the tour is dependent on numbers so please let us know if you are interested, when making a booking.

What is included:

• 2 nights accommodation in Alice Springs
• Airport transfers
• All meals including breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea dinner and water, once departed Alice Springs
• All guide and facilitation fees
• Hire of 4wd and swag

Not Included:

• Travel to and from Alice Springs

What to Bring:

• An open heart and mind!
• Warm clothes for evenings, as it gets quite cold
• Spring/Summer gear for days, as it will be warm
• Diary
• Light tarp for under swag
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellant