Advanced Space Holders Training
WALKING THE BEAUTY WAY
20th - 27th November, 2027
A seven-day immersion into ethical leadership, discernment and the sacred art of holding space.
For over 21 years, I have dedicated my life to the sacred practice of holding space, working across traditions and continents, guiding thousands, including thought leaders, entrepreneurs, couples in crisis, end-of-life patients, and seekers from all walks of life. Over the years, many have looked to myself and the Dharmakaya Team as a benchmark for space holding, integrity, and loving care, creating sacred pilgrimage spaces where individuals can safely journey into meeting themselves, their pain, their joy, and the exalted states of consciousness that arise when they surrender into a well-held container.
Holding Space is an art of great precision, requiring more than good intentions, it demands a depth of experience and a true understanding of the sacred. At this time, we are witnessing a surge in people stepping into the role of space holders, some with great dedication and humility, others without the depth of training, personal integration, or ethical grounding required to guide others safely. There is a growing concern around spaces that lack containment, discernment, and the knowledge of how to truly protect and hold energy. More and more, we hear stories of chaotic or unsafe ceremonial spaces, where those facilitating may not fully understand what they are working with. Space Holding is not just about facilitating—it is about responsibility. It is about being deeply attuned to the energetic, psychological, and spiritual states of those in your care.
Dates: 20th - 27th, November 2027
Location: Cadiz, Spain
Group Size: Intimate – max 25 participants
Retreat Fee: £2,295
Accommodation: Sliding scale options available (paid directly to the venue)
AT THE CORE OF THIS TRAINING IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HOLDING SPACE IS NOT ABOUT TAKING CREDIT, CLAIMING A TITLE, OR STEPPING INTO A POSITION OF POWER. IT IS ABOUT SERVICE. TRUE SPACE HOLDERS DO NOT PROJECT THEIR OWN NARRATIVES ONTO OTHERS, THEY ACT AS GUARDIANS OF THE SACRED, CREATING A SPACE WHERE TRANSFORMATION CAN UNFOLD THROUGH A TRUE CONNECTION TO THE CREATOR, IN DEVOTION TO THE GREAT MYSTERY, AND IN SERVICE TO HUMANITY.
As a grandmother, a practitioner of the Kalachakra, and a student and teacher of Ageless Wisdom and the Dharma for the last 30 years, I recognise my responsibility to pass on these teachings, not through one single lineage, but from an eclectic and embodied perspective. This training integrates the wisdom of many traditions into a concise, deeply experiential, and applied path. It moves beyond the foundational levels of shamanism, showing how different traditions intersect and work together, while also expanding your awareness on an etheric and subtle body level.
In this journey you will learn to feel, read, and navigate energy, discerning what is truly yours and what is entering your field. You will strengthen your Diamond Shield, cultivating the ability to clear fear, darkness, and energies that do not serve the light. Alongside this, you will explore shadow work, spiritual bypassing, and the distortions of ego that can arise in space holding. Teachings will guide you in creating and sustaining a Buddha Field, Yantra, or Sacred Space that is tangible and deeply felt, while drawing from high-level protection practices rooted in Vajrayana Buddhism and other traditions. Finally, you will be invited to deepen your Right (Pure) View, a key teaching from the highest tantric traditions of Buddhism, supporting you to live with integrity, compassion, and service.
Overview
Beyond Technique. Into Presence.
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Understanding power vs. service, setting boundaries, and holding clear, safe, and accountable spaces for transformation.
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Working with the Diamond Shield, entity clearing, Wetiko awareness, energetic hygiene to maintain a strong and authentic presence.
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Navigating spiritual bypassing, projections, and leadership distortions while cultivating humility, clarity, and right view.
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Understanding the relationship between spiritual awakening, plant medicines, trauma activation, and energy working space holding.
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Opening and closing Buddha Fields, Yantras, and Sacred Directions, working with altars, prayer, and invocation to create a powerful container.
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Learning to hold frequency through sacred sound, drums, rattles, chants, and prayer songs to guide healing and transformation.
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Supporting clients and participants before, during, and after experiences, ensuring they integrate with stability, clarity, and grounding.
Program Schedule
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Day 1 – Saturday 20th November
ARRIVAL & OPENING
Arrival, lunch and room check in
Welcome meeting with the Suryalila team
Opening discourse on Dharmakaya and The Beauty Way
Foundations of impeccable space holding
Intentions, boundaries and ethics
Questions and shared reflections
Evening meal and rest
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Day 2 – Sunday 21st November
VOICE, MANTRA, CACAO
Morning mantra practice
Voice activation and empowerment
Learning forest medicine songs with drums and rattles
Cacao and Santa Maria ceremony
Team working in small groups with guests
Evening meal and rest
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Day 3 – Monday 22nd November
ALTAR WORK AND SACRED CEREMONY
Morning mantra and discourse
Creating your own altar
Working with feathers and sacred tools
Demonstrations of healing practice with feathers, chakapa & etheric healing
Sacred Ceremony
Applying practices
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Day 4 – Tuesday 23rd November
INTEGRATION & SHADOW
Morning mantra practice
In-depth integration session
Understanding the shadow
Trauma awareness grounded facilitation
Avoiding the Messiah complex
Spiritual bypassing and non duality
Group Q & A Session
Evening meal and early rest
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Day 5 – Wednesday 24th November
DESPACHO WITH DAVINA MCKAIL
All day despacho ceremony
Teaching on the lineage and principles of despacho practice
Demonstration of altar creation
Group practice in creating personal and collective despachos
Prayer, intention setting and sacred offering ceremony
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Day 6 – Thursday 25th November
SACRED CEREMONY AND EARTH PRAYER
Earth offering, silence and journaling
Sound journey & breathwork
Alignment and group healing practice
Light body activation & tribal dance
Praying with sacred tobacco in the North American tradition
Teaching of water blessings, anointing and prayer
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Day 7 – Friday 26th November
INTEGRATION & CLOSING
Morning mantra practice
Integration exercises
Sharing visions and insights
Questions and answers
Overall retreat integration
Closing evening meal
“The level of care, wisdom, and attention to every detail was unlike anything I've experienced before. This wasn't simply a training, it was a profound journey into integrity, discernment, and the true responsibility of holding space for others.”
True space holders are guardians, not gatekeepers. They serve not from ego, but from humility. In this training you will be guided to explore the balance of power and service within the healing space, learning to recognise the subtle lines between leading and serving. You will also work with the shadow aspects of leadership—ego, projections, and transference—while cultivating the spiritual discernment needed to know when and how to guide someone safely.
Alongside this, we will look deeply at the responsibility of working with people in altered states, where clarity and humility are essential. Integrity, respect, and accountability form the foundation of this work, ensuring that those who hold space can do so with steadiness and transparency. These teachings are for all practitioners, therapists, and facilitators engaged in transformation and healing. Whether you are a psychotherapist, acupuncturist, doctor, doula, end-of-life carer, nurse, or leader in another field of service, this training will strengthen your discernment, deepen your integrity, and expand your ability to hold space with true clarity.
The Ethics of Space Holding & Spiritual Discernment
You will also be guided through a wide range of core teachings and practices that bring together both ancient and contemporary streams of wisdom. You will learn to work with medicine songs and voice activations, feathers for healing, and etheric, energetic, pranic, and radiatory modalities that open pathways for transformation. Alongside this, we will explore clearing and protection practices such as Palo Santo, Chacapa, and Agua Florida, while also understanding the nature of Wetiko and learning how to clear dark energies without fear.
Be introduced to the art of working with sacred altars and the opening and closing of directions, while studying the ethics of working with master plants, Kundalini awakening, and spiritual discernment. Teachings will include the exploration of shadow, spiritual bypassing, non-duality, and right action, alongside Dharmakaya Vajrayana protection practices. You will deepen your ability to hold space with the “hollow bone” approach, and be guided in the sacred prayer traditions of North America using tobacco. Together, these practices create a rich field of learning designed to strengthen your ability to hold space with clarity, integrity, and embodied wisdom.
What You
Will Learn and Apply
In recent years, we have seen an explosion of interest in plant medicine, sacred ceremonies, and alternative healing spaces. While this is a beautiful evolution, it also brings challenges. Many step into the role of a space holder prematurely—without the depth of training, personal integration, or ethical grounding required to truly guide others safely. With the increasing popularity of people becoming facilitators, there is an urgent need for space holders who embody pristine integrity and understand what is needed to hold a safe, clear space. This is essential for anyone supporting others in altered states—people who have been opened up are deeply impressionable, and as a space holder, you must uphold impeccable reverence and an unwavering ethical foundation.
What To Expect
It is an opportunity to refine your ability to:
Discern when and how to hold space responsibly
Navigate the shadow aspects of healing work
Understand the ethics of power and spiritual leadership
Approach space holding with humility, prayer, and presence
This is not a training for those looking to claim a title, position, or take credit for the work. It is a path for those devoted to walking this work with integrity—who understand that holding space is an act of service, not an identity to wear.
Energy Work & Attunements – Learn Etheric Healing Attunements and how to work with feathers, instruments, and voice activation to channel energy effectively in space-holding.
Highlights
Deep Ceremonial Immersions – Experience powerful Cacao, Blue Lotus & Santa Maria White Tantra Healing, along with others, each offering profound opportunities for healing, self-discovery, and integration.
Creating a Despacho Ceremony with Davina McKail – Join n a sacred Quechua tradition of despacho-making, an offering of gratitude and energetic alignment, guided by the wisdom of Davina McKail.
Integration & Embodiment Practices – Beyond theory, this training is deeply experiential, offering real-time feedback, Q&A sessions, and collective practice to refine your skills.
Personal Reflection & Community Connection – Time for self-inquiry, sharing circles, and collective support, creating a nourishing space for integration, authentic connection, and deepening into the work.
Tribal Dance & Sound Journey – Experience the power of movement and sound as medicine, connecting to ancient rhythm, to feel, release, and express its deep innate wisdom.
How To Apply
RETREAT DETAILS
📅 Dates: 20th - 27th Nov, 2027📍 Location: Cadiz, Spain
💰 Cost: £2295
Accommodation: Additional, booked and paid directly to the venue. Sliding scale options available.
Because of the depth of this training, we ask that all those interested apply by completing a short questionnaire. This helps us understand where you are in your journey and ensures that this experience is the right fit for you. Once your application is received, we will arrange a call to discuss the retreat and answer any questions you may have.
2 x PRE-RETREAT ONLINE WORKSHOPS
To support you in getting the most out of this journey, all accepted participants are required to attend 2 pre-retreat online workshop’s held one month before the retreat. If you are unable to join live, we ask that you watch the recording in advance. This session is an essential part of the training, designed to lay the groundwork for the retreat and complement your learning, ensuring we can dedicate more time to embodied practice once we are together in person.
Choosing a training of this depth is an important decision. Below are some of the questions we are most often asked. If your question isn't answered here, reach out and we will be happy to assist you.
Questions You
May Be Asking
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Yes. This training welcomes both experienced practitioners and those who are beginning to explore this path. No previous facilitation or ceremonial experience is required. What matters most is a sincere willingness to learn, emotional maturity, humility, and a genuine commitment to serving others with integrity.
Space holding is not limited to ceremonies or retreats. It is an essential skill for anyone whose life involves supporting others through challenge, transition, or transformation. Over the years, we have welcomed therapists, doctors, nurses, teachers, end-of-life carers, coaches, bodyworkers, parents, and many others who simply wished to deepen the way they relate to the people in their care.
Whether you are holding space for a client, a patient, a classroom, a loved one, or your own family, the principles remain the same: presence, discernment, ethics, compassion, and responsibility.
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Therapists
Coaches
End-of-life practitioners
Breathwork facilitators
Yoga teachers
Ceremony facilitators
Healers
Healthcare professionals
Anyone devoted to serving others
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This is a deeply experiential training. While there are rich teachings and in-depth discourses throughout the week, the emphasis is not on collecting information but on embodying wisdom through direct experience.
Rita teaches through transmission as much as words, inviting participants to move beyond simply understanding with the analytical mind and instead receive, feel, and integrate the teachings on a deeper level. The intention is not just to learn about holding space, but to become someone who naturally embodies its qualities.
Each day includes practical exercises, partner and group practice, live demonstrations, ceremony, reflective inquiry, and dedicated integration sessions, allowing you to immediately apply what you are learning in a supportive environment.
To support your continued journey after the retreat, every teaching session is professionally audio recorded and shared with participants, enabling you to revisit the teachings, deepen your understanding, and continue integrating the work long after you return home.
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Our training takes place at the award-winning Suryalila Retreat Centre in southern Spain, internationally celebrated for its beautiful architecture, peaceful surroundings, and exceptional facilities.
Accommodation is booked and paid directly to the venue, allowing you to choose the option that best suits your preferences and budget. A range of sliding scale accommodation is available, including private en-suite rooms, twin shared rooms, luxury glamping pods, and dormitory-style spaces.
Prices currently start from approximately €665, and include your accommodation, daily housekeeping, three nourishing meals each day, along with refreshments throughout the retreat.
Full accommodation details and booking information will be shared with all accepted participants once your place on the training has been confirmed.
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Once we receive your application, we will carefully review it before arranging a personal conversation with our team. This is an opportunity for us to get to know one another, answer any questions you may have, and ensure the training is the right fit for you.
If you decide to join us, your place will be secured with a £500 deposit, with the remaining retreat balance due on or before 1st October 2027.
Following confirmation of your place, you'll receive the full accommodation guide for Suryalila Retreat Centre, allowing you to choose the room option that best suits your preferences and budget. Accommodation is booked directly with the venue, with payment due by 1st June 2027.
Once everything is confirmed, we'll send you all the information you'll need to prepare for the journey ahead, including travel guidance, pre-retreat information, and details of the live preparation sessions that will take place before we gather in Spain.
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Your journey begins long before we gather in Spain and continues well beyond the retreat itself. Our intention is not simply to provide a transformational week together, but to support the ongoing integration and embodiment of the teachings.
Before the retreat, all participants are invited to attend two live online preparation sessions (approximately six hours in total). These calls are an essential part of the training, helping everyone arrive with a shared foundation and are therefore a compulsory part of the programme.
Following the retreat, we come together once again for a live online integration session, providing space to reflect on your experiences, deepen your understanding, and support the continued embodiment of the teachings as you begin integrating them into everyday life.
Every participant also receives a beautifully designed Training Handbook, created as a lifelong companion to the retreat. Rather than being a simple course manual, it is an extensive reference containing teachings and practices that you can continue returning to for years to come.
The handbook includes:
Ageless Wisdom teachings and initiations
Mantras, their meanings and practices
Sacred medicine music and song lyrics
The Gene Keys
Understanding the Initations of Ageless Wisdom
The various planes of consciousness
Integration practices and reflective exercises
Additional resources to support your ongoing journey
Combined with the audio recordings of every teaching session, the handbook becomes a lasting resource, allowing you to revisit, deepen, and continue embodying the wisdom long after the retreat has come to an end.
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin
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