The Heart of Relationship Retreat

The Heart of Relationship
Star River Sanctuary with elders Karuna & Paul Erickson

Practice Love. Tend the Field. Live the Way.

The Heart of Relationship is a soulful, immersive retreat for everyone longing to bring more loving kindness, compassion,  joy, and balance to both intimate and all interpersonal relationships.

​The insights and practices that will be shared in this retreat are inspired by a combined experience of Karuna & Paul’s 60 year partnership and Darcy & Robin’s 20 year love adventure. 

​**How do we navigate through all of the great joys and deep challenges of committed relationships, through the daily tending to life and living our unique authentic spiritual paths, **

and continue to keep turning toward one another in love?

In the Heart of Relationship, we will explore, remember, and experience the unity

**that underlies all seeming dualities  **the place of loving awareness the mystics call the Sacred Marriage.

​** You are welcome whether ​you’re in an ongoing relationship presently or not, in a thriving chapter or navigating tender terrain, or curious about exploring what fundamental qualities are important in a relationship. This retreat is an invitation and opportunity to deepen your connection and return to love as a living, evolving practice in all your relationships.**

​**In this retreat we will explore the foundational qualities of relationship that support and sustain us through the inevitable challenges and pain and open us to the deep joy of connection. **

When our close relationships are strong and healthy, we are resourced to bring more of the inherent qualities of our heart forward. Our interpersonal

connections become a source of deep nourishment, strength, courage and

prosperity. But when they are strained or unwell, they can also become some of the most painful and disorienting parts of our lives.

​

This retreat is about remembering who and what we most deeply are.

It’s about finding and sustaining the goodness that draws us to relationship – the spark of love, the soul resonance, and the magic that connects us.

What If Your Relationship Wasn’t Just Surviving, But Truly Thriving?

This retreat is rooted in the lived experience of two couples who have spent decades walking the path of sacred partnership:

• Karuna and Paul Erickson, together for 60 years
• Robin and Darcy Kopas, partners for nearly 20 years

Together, we will journey into the deep waters of what it truly takes to grow, sustain, and thrive in a conscious, loving relationship. This is not philosophy but the practical wisdom born of direct experience. 

During our time together, we will explore:

•  What makes love last—and how to keep it vibrant and nourishing through the seasons of change
• Tools for navigating the hard times—from conflict to miscommunication to long periods of disconnection
• How to make your relationship a true sanctuary—a space where both hearts feel safe, seen, and inspired
• What it practically takes to thrive in joyful partnership and marriage over the inevitable challenges and pain of relationship  -how to individually navigate beginning with one’s self and bringing those insights to relationship
• How to keep the good flowing—whether you’re currently in an intimate relationship or calling it in

This retreat is for anyone in a partnership, or anyone who is preparing their heart for sacred relationships. No matter where you are on the journey, you are welcome here.

A Multi-Lineage, Heart-Led Journey

This retreat is deeply inspired by the perennial wisdom traditions of:

• Mystical Yogic Wisdom
• Embodied Buddhist teachings and practices
• Andean & Cross Cultural Earth honoring ceremonial practice

Each lineage we work with offers a unique path to the Universal Heart—the timeless wisdom that lives within each one of us. This is not a philosophy, but a lived experience that awakens, heals, and evolves all that we truly are.

Together, we will explore and embody the great truth at the core of every mystical path:

• Love is what unites us.
• Loving awareness transcends all illusion of separateness.
• Our unity is not a dream. It is reality. It is who we are.
• Through movement, breath, ritual, honest dialogue, and sacred ceremony, we will co-create a field where love can be remembered, reclaimed, and renewed.

As Hafiz once asked,

“How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light against its being…”

Let us be that light for each other.

What Awaits You in This Sacred Gathering

• Enter the Great Mysteries through the profound teachings of Yoga, Buddhism, Earth Honouring Shamanism, Breathwork, and Somatic Integration.​

• Experience deep healing through a Heart Medicine Ceremony focused on bringing Love to all relationships.​

• Engage in powerful shamanic journey work to uncover the hidden wisdom stored within our DNA.​​

• Focused support for your life, relationship, and path of awakened Heart.
• ​Sacred Council: Share in deep, heart-centered dialogue with a circle of kindred spirits.
• Restorative Movement & Embodiment: Experience breath work, yoga, dance, and shamanic energy practices to ground your transformation.

• Radical Cooperation & Open-Source Innovation: Together, we will birth new systems of mutual support for ourselves, our families, and our communities during this Great Turning.

• Self-Care & Renewal:There will be opportunities for body work, medicine baths, and long walks in the many hiking trails on Crystal Mountain.

• Post-Retreat Integration: Receive support through a follow-up Zoom integration call to weave your experiences into daily life.

​

What is included in this retreat:​

• Three Days of Earth-Honoring Ceremonial Work, Yoga, and Meditation
•  Heart Medicine Ceremony
• Guided Shamanic Journey Work 
• Nourishing Organic, Vegetarian Meals
• Cozy lodging
• Highly Skilled, Experienced Facilitators
• Optional Flower Baths & Bodywork Sessions
• A Powerfully Held Container for Deep Transformation
• This retreat will be held at Star River Sanctuary 

Across all Visionary Hearts events, our members are invited into a carefully held ceremonial field devoted to embodied healing, relational truth, and spiritual maturity. While each gathering has its own unique focus, rhythm, and medicine, all are held within the same devotional container of care, discernment, and integration. 

Sacred Reciprocity

$1,111 Shared Twin Shared Lodging (14 spaces) 

$888 Camping (4 spaces)

*Please note for this event we are able to offer a 3 or 6 month payment plan 

Retreat Schedule

Friday, September 11

• 9:00–9:30 am · Arrival & Welcome
• 10:00–12:00 pm · Opening Circle
• 12:00–1:00 pm · Nourishing Lunch
• 1:00–6:00 pm · Heart Yoga & Meditation with Karuna & Paul
• 6:00 pm · Dinner

Evening · Rest & Relaxation

Saturday, September 12

Heart Medicine Ceremony
A sacred day of Earth-honoring ceremony facilitated by Darcy & Robin

• All day · Immersion in Kamasqa Ceremony
• Mid-Evening · Dinner

Sunday, September 13

Integration, Embodiment & Nourishment

• 8:30–9:30 am · Smoothies & Tea
• 9:30–11:30 am · Heart Yoga & Meditation
• 11:30 am · Brunch
• 12:30–5 pm · Ceremony Integration Circle closing circle (Guests who need to return home can or you are welcome to stay one more night for deeper rest and integration) 
• 5-8pm Bodywork
• 6 pm · Dinner (optional) 

**Optional: Stay for an extra night of rest and integration onsite (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR PERSONAL INTEGRATION) **

This retreat will be held at Star River Sanctuary near Nelson, BC. Please visit our website to learn more: https://www.starriversanctuary.com/

​All Visionary Hearts retreats and offerings are held within our Private Member Association; membership is included and completed as part of the registration process.