Newsletter Níjar, June edition 2025
Dear Friends,
The month May started well with a completely booked QiGong Retreat organised by Wabke Bouman. It was really nice to see all these familiar faces again and to meet some new. It has become a tradition to offer QiFriends the Garden of Nâm as accommodation. We sometimes do not realise how much can change in a year but in the responses from returning guests we see the miraculous developments of the Garden and its facilities mirrored. In an elegant flow the QiGong sessions merged with the rhythm of the Garden. In the early mornings and late afternoons one could witness a group of beautiful human beings harmonise and interact with nature, adding a wonderful moving spectacle to its flora and fauna.
As an intermezzo a small group joined for a private retreat. Combining a stay with a few days of complete silence is a welcome tendency that we see happening more often. For some, who have participated in a Nâm Silence Retreat before, this way of attuning has become part of their regular maintenance. For others it is a new field they are longing to explore and now are able to do so, since they have temporarily unplugged themselves from the hectic demands of daily life.
The percentage of Italian speaking guests was unusually hight during the second part of the month. This was partly due to the Shamanic Retreats by Anna Montis who herself originates in Sardinia. For the first time we combined a basic with an advanced retreat and offered the option to join both in one go. It was a truly magical 10 days of exploring the non-rational and visionary dimensions of Human experience and of discovering ways to not only to receive inspiration and healing for oneself but also to facilitate it for others; people who have lost parts of themselves and therefore suffer from dis-ease. This time we had a physician and a psychiatrist participating who could relate very well to the complementing shamanic approach.
Although shamanism as such does not exist, there is no current or school or group of people who can be generalised by this label, each and every shaman operates in and from a cultural background, was brought forth by specific ancestors and was called and formed within the context of experiences. The retreats can be characterised as a period of well guided learning by doing. In between, Anna is a true storyteller. Her stories are valuable teachings in which she shares Shamanic elements of Sardinian culture, emphasises the wonder in daily reality, introduces practical wisdom and ignites healing.
Here are some experiences to enjoy:
The first one was written by Tatyana who came here for the first time to participate in the basic shamanic retreat:
“A winding drive through urban Spanish landscapes that quickly transitioned to lush desert fields (the area had just received heavy rains the week before to farmers’ delight) and charred mountains brought me to my destination. The driver, who helps run The Garden of Nâm with his family and who guided our meditations, exuded the world we would be gently immersed in, one of warm depth and a kind of forward moving mystical perception of life.
Once we entered the iron gate of The Garden of Nâm, I was struck by the simplicity of white stone buildings against grandiose mountains and forever blue skies. The Garden of Nâm is aptly named with its varied species of cacti and plants trailing through the property, and which vegetables were often used in the cooking. After a delicious and wholesome meal, we settled in for our first taste of Shamanic drums and met our teacher Anna.
Cloaked in soft white cottons, shoulder length salt and pepper hair and a curious wooden necklace with four points and a hole in the center, Anna felt like a long lost relative guiding you back home. It wasn’t so much what she said, but the almost elusive wisdom behind her eyes and grounded yet fragile power of her petite frame that mirrored to me my own untapped inner strength.
I had come to the retreat from America, guided by a vision board and a yearning to access deeper layers of my intuition and healing capacity, away from the distractions and routine of daily life.
I had implicitly expected some kind of surreal magic to take place in this small inner coastal village, but what I actually learned were ancient and practical tools laced with the ethereal and transcendent sprit of the Divine. Tools to commune with our soul, subconscious and the natural elements of life. Tools to channel our personal spirit guides and access deep healing by circumventing the rational Western mind and welcoming a more holistic and soul-based way of being.
Ultimately, this retreat and the vortex it created in my consciousness answered some major existential questions while spawning new ones. And that is the basis of a fruitful awakening.”
The second story that we would like to share is written by Tyrone. Tyrone had done the basic retreat 2 years before which for him became a life changing event. This time he wanted to stay in the garden somewhat longer, before diving deeper in the shamanic way of exploring the causal field of feeling. What follows is kind of recommendation:
“The Causal shamanic investigation by Anna brings an opening to an internal consciousness, which is an essential part of being here on earth.
It is a clarification of the inner world that we all possess as human beings. Due to life and the external situations in which someone finds themselves, we are less open or we do not listen to this side of experience.
Certain tensions and traumas play a role in this and that hold us back. This workshop offers tools to lighten the baggage for your further journey in existence.
Anna effortlessly and comfortably brings you back into connection with a part of dreams; she is, as it were, a bridge to restore the connection with this part of your subconscious for yourself.
Following this workshop has given me a lot of pleasure, it makes me reflect more on what is necessary and has given me insights into how I want to stand in life.
The workshop offers many tools to provide healing for yourself but also for others, Anna is a wonderful woman who can bring about a lot in your soul and the way you look at the world, since meeting her my view on all this has become a lot more magical.”
What added also to the magical atmosphere of the Garden this month was the presence of special handcrafted lamps in the making. Brigitta stayed with us, who performs natural art as Aarti (Light Ritual). All around sculptural branches were to be found, being prepared as armatures waiting to be covered by a transparent skin. Beautiful artistic lamps now decorate the new guest rooms. The colours, shapes and the play of light & shadow resonated well with the dream journeys that were made on a daily basis.
Next we share the story of Alessandra who joined both the shamanic retreats in one go. Alessandra experienced a wonder and tasted the healing potential of causal investigation in a remarkable way. On the concluding evening of the basis retreat she got news from her parents asking her to come home as soon as possible. Her beloved dog wasn’t eating and drinking already for a long time and became very weak. Het parents were worried that she would die if Alessandra would stay away for even a little bit longer. It was very difficult for Alessandra because she didn’t want to leave before the end but at the same time she was very worried about the survival of her dog. We informed Anna just before the start of the evening ritual and a healing intent was made. Alessandra opened to let the ritual do its work. Later in the evening and after a deep and transcending ritual we received word that suddenly the dog had started walking, drinking and eating again. The need to return home was dissolved and Alessandra was ready for the next level of her shamanic journey.
About her stay in the Garden she writes:
“I arrived in Níjar at the Garden of Nâm, drawn by the basic shamanism course with shaman Anna Montis. Upon arrival, I immediately felt I was in a special, peaceful place where I could be fully myself and make space for my inner processes. And that’s exactly what happened. The workshop with Anna was interesting and touching; I learned a lot about shamanism, and thanks to the “journeys” I connected with important parts of myself. Anna is an incredible woman with enormous talents. I will be forever grateful for the healing effects she brought into my life, and she is a truly delightful person. I hope to meet her again soon.
The changes within me were very powerful, and I’ve been able to integrate them into my daily life. The many daily drum meditations are opportunities to connect with oneself and with the divine.
At the Garden of Nâm, there are assistants who take care of the place in a familial way, respecting the environment. The vegetarian food is good and plentiful, nourishing both body and soul.
Leaving the Garden was hard, but it’s a place with a unique power that remains forever within me as a safe space to return to, even if only in my heart, while waiting to do so physically.”
As a conclusion we share an inspiration of Anna herself. Something to contemplate on and to play with when, on occasion, you are visiting the Garden of Nâm. It regards the symbolic and architectural art piece that was designed by Yoginâm: the Triad of Nâm. For those who have participated in the shamanic retreats and have been travelling through the realm of Soul this inspiration may contain yet another meaningful teaching:
Looking back May was a rich, dynamic and wonderful month. As usual most guest blended seamlessly in the rhythm of living and working in the Garden. It is really adding something special, the living and working together like this. It suddenly became summer. One of the Italian speaking guests, a chef cook from Napoli, decided to stay an extra month to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Garden which, as one can imagine, also brought an unexpected extra joy to the taste palate of those who were and still are lucky enough to be here.
Have a joyful summer!
