The Heart of Winter: Grandfather Plant Sacrament Weekend Retreat
An exploration into Shamanic Plant Wisdom
January 29th - February 1st, 2026
Golden Light Waters Retreat Center
Brevard, North Carolina (outside of Asheville)
The heart of winter is about embracing the yin energy of rest and turning inward. And it’s a beautiful time to align with the heart of grandfather which is an introspective medicine that can assist in shedding light on what’s coming to the surface during this period of slowing down.
This weekend is all about accessing our rawness and connecting back to our primal roots, a return to inner harmony. Profound remembering can come from being attuned to the elements. This work is inspired by our combined study over the past decade with teachers and plant allies throughout Peru.
The first day will be arrival and opening the sacred container. Day two will focus on preparation and detoxification of the vessel through which the medicine will work through. Day three will be an all-day grandfather medicine ceremony. The fourth and final day will be integration.
Our intention is for this to be a weekend that offers space to slow down, reflect and listen. To feel re-inspired by the beauty of life, and to awaken our spirits into living its most full and authentic expression. When the mind is overactive, we often overlook guidance and insight coming through. Convening with nature, disconnecting from electronics, eating a whole-food diet, gathering in like-minded community, and moving stagnant energy all assist in creating an environment that is conducive for the mind to collect and settle to open up the pathway to receive teachings from the natural world and our own inner wisdom. Through opening, we open the heart to feel and lead from love.
Weekend Flow
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Day 1: Arrival
4:00 pm: Arrival to center
Dinner and Opening Ceremony
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Day 2: The Vessel
Kambo
Lunch
Free time
Sauna + Optional Bodywork by appointment
Plant Baths
Dinner
Meditation, Intention Setting and Sound Journey
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Day 3: Grandfather
Grandfather Medicine Ceremony
Flow of the Ceremony: We will start by gathering in a circle to open the space, set intentions, bless and convene the medicine. Afterwards, weather dependent, we will head into the Pisgah National Forest to spend some time hiking in nature. Afterwards, we’ll gather at the fire to share prayers, reflections, songs and close the ceremony space.
Throughout the day there will be a balance between silence/solitude and activities: activation exercises, Earth offerings, sharing songs. All will be intuitively guided by the flow and energy of the group as well as the four altars:
Earth - Love
Water - Clarity
Air - Unity
Fire - Gratitude
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Day 4: Integration
Morning Yoga
Brunch
Integration Circle with Kirtan and Cacao
Closing Ceremony
(Optional Bodywork by appointment will also be available this day)
Ceremony Exchange.
$1,500.00
All ceremonies, meals and accommodation included. Travel to and from the retreat center is separate.
Limited to eight participants.
Save your Space.
To Register:
Step 1: Fill out the application below
Step 2: When received, we will reach out to set up a connection call
Step 3: You will receive a connection email with preparation, payment and location details
Step 4: Send $500 deposit or Pay in Full
Flexible payment plans are available.
If you’re interested in attending, but funds are an issue right now, please reach out to see what we can work out.
The Retreat Center.
The ceremony will be held at The Golden Light Waters Retreat Center. Nestled in the serene mountains of Brevard, North Carolina, the Golden Light Waters Retreat Center offers a sacred space for restoration, rejuvenation, and rebirth.
Meet your Facilitators.
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Katie Rinaldi
Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, Soul Doula, Kambo Practitioner, Medicine Guide and Ceremonialist
Forever a student of Life, Katie walks her path with curiosity, ease, and grace. Her deeper purpose emerged not through seeking but through surrender—when she opened her heart to receive the natural unfolding of her dharma. She serves as a bridge between weaving the ancient with the modern to empower others to lead more authentic and intentional lives.
In 2015, after experiencing the grind of corporate America in NYC, she was left feeling burned out, unfulfilled and disconnected. Determined to regain her sovereignty holistically, she immersed herself in many different cultures and ways of living. She became fascinated with studying and integrating many practices and techniques from a variety of traditions, including Shamanic and Indigenous practices as well as Yoga. She brings over 4 years of experience as a facilitator guiding plant and animal medicine ceremonies.
She is deeply devoted to Washuma, one of her greatest teachers and allies on this Earth. Katie is honored to be of service through providing the space and medicine for others to open to their full potential.
She is committed to sharing this work with integrity and dedicated to preservation of the indigenous roots from which she learned.
In deep love and gratitude…
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Dani Reardon
Sound practitioner, Yoga teacher, and Ceremony Facilitator
Dani loves holding space, and creating meaningful engaging experiences for people to unfold and learn more about themselves in. What she loves even more is getting to connect with so many amazing people as she gets to do what she loves.
Dani has been studying these modalities for about 7 years, and frequently travels to Peru and Arizona to work with her teachers, the medicines, and people she gets to lead on retreats.
Dani is also part of an organization called the Huachuma Foundation, dedicated to educating, preserving, and cultivating the Huachuma cactus. They have an annual retreat to the Sacred Valley and Huachuma sanctuary, a Plant More Worry Less Podcast, Huachuma Foundation swag, and a growing community of supportive cactus family to share this vision and special ceremony moments with.
But above all else, you can view Dani as a sister, a friend.
