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The Layers of Awakening

February 20 - March 1, 2026

Nosara, Costa Rica

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Hosted By

Eric L

2.3k followers

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9 nights, 10 days

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33 person retreat

Highlights

  • Uses The Mind Illuminated framework and the Layers of Awake Awareness map for clarity and direction.

  • Practical, safe, trauma-informed, and results-driven approach. Adaptive guidance that meets you exactly where you are.

  • A dynamic 10-day blend of: Presentations, Experiential practices, Interactive exercises, Daily small-group coaching.

  • Expert Instruction - Certified The Mind Illuminated Instructor.

  • Direct work with mental, emotional, and energetic patterns to support natural, sustainable awakening on and off the cushion.

  • Methods that actually work! Plus customized adjustments to accelerate progress.

Details

My co-facilitator Holly and I are excited to reveal a powerful new map of awakening. It draws from our direct experience as Finders and mystics, thousands of hours coaching clients and teaching meditation, interviews with advanced practitioners, insights from the world’s wisdom traditions, and the best research available. This retreat is built on real experience, real results, and zero dogma. We prioritize participant wellbeing above all else. No gurus, no hierarchy...just skilled guides and spiritual friends who are here to support your transformation with honesty, integrity, and compassion. Our approach is practical, safe, trauma-informed, and results-driven. We teach proven methods that help you stabilize, deepen, and reliably access the Layers of Awakening while empowering you to live with grounded inner peace in everyday life. And if you need an alternative approach at any point, we’ll adapt the practices to meet you exactly where you are. Throughout the 10 days, you’ll experience a dynamic blend of presentations, experiential practices, movement and sitting meditations, interactive exercises, and small-group coaching. All designed to create fast, stable, and lasting breakthroughs. This is your opportunity to go deeper into awakening than ever before. Why this retreat? This retreat is an awakening accelerator. Crafted to dissolve inner blocks, unlock your most authentic self, and catalyze profound transformation. Using the powerful framework of The Mind Illuminated and our map of the Layers of Awake Awareness, you’ll gain clarity on your path and break through what has been holding you back. You’ll work directly with mental, emotional, and energetic patterns to create space for awakening to unfold naturally, then continue effortlessly in your daily life (“off the cushion”). What makes this retreat different? Daily Rotating Small-Group Coaching: Get personalized, targeted support every single day. Large-Group Q&A With Expert Facilitators: Bring your deepest questions and get clear, actionable guidance. Methods That Actually Work: Learn proven, highly effective practices and receive customized adjustments to supercharge your progress. This retreat is for you if: You’re ready for personalized, high-level support to accelerate your spiritual evolution. You want whole-human awakening, not just temporary states of peace or insight. You’ve felt stuck or plateaued and want help breaking through. You’re ready to deepen your access to Awake Awareness and stabilize a new level of inner peace.

Location

Nosara, Costa Rica

Nosara is a tranquil and picturesque beach town located on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, renowned for its pristine beaches, lush jungles, and dedication to sustainable living. This unique destination is popular among surfers and yoga enthusiasts, offering some of the best waves in the region at Playa Guiones and a plethora of yoga retreats and wellness centers that cater to all levels. Nosara stands out for its commitment to environmental conservation, with an emphasis on protecting the area’s abundant wildlife, which includes howler monkeys, exotic birds, and diverse marine life. The town’s laid-back vibe is complemented by a vibrant expatriate community, and its streets are dotted with organic cafes, stylish boutiques, and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the surrounding natural beauty through activities like hiking, horseback riding, and zip-lining in the nearby jungle. With its harmonious blend of adventure, relaxation, and eco-conscious living, Nosara offers a serene escape that attracts visitors seeking a deeper connection with nature and themselves.

Venue

Tierramor

4.9 14 Reviews

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Tierramor is a living research center and eco-regenerative community located in the lush highlands of a famous surfing beach town, Nosara, in Costa Rica. At Tierramor, each space is intentionally designed to support each soul’s awakening through freedom of expression, authentic relating, and radical responsibility. Whether you drop in for a day or plan to live with us in community long-term, we want your stay to be an unforgettable adventure!

A/C in Rooms

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Free Wifi

Yoga Studio

Yoga Studio

Garden

Garden

Towels

Towels

Coffee / Tea

Coffee / Tea

Kitchen

Kitchen

Shower

Shower

Fireplace

Fireplace

Bathroom

Bathroom

Accommodation

1-Person Private Bahareque Casita

2 Rooms Left

Private room for 1

$3,445 USD total

3-Person Dorm

3-person shared room

$2,445 USD / person

Shared Casita (double occupancy)

4 Spots Left

2-person shared room

$2,780 USD / person

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This powerful training is being held on a private 800-acre pristine valley, in the beautiful rolling hills of Nosara, Costa Rica. We will enjoy exclusive use of this venue equipped with a spacious air-conditioned meeting room for us to gather, a large open-air bamboo structure for movement and meditation practice, a lounge with AC, salt water swimming pool, gardens, juice bar, and trails to enjoy the surrounding nature. Tierramor’s casitas are newly built with all-natural materials. They are enclosed and have a net structure out back for star-gazing or soaking up the sun. Each casita comes with linens and towels, two fans, night lamps, clothing shelves, outlets, WiFi and an outdoor shower. Shared toilets are within a 5-minute walk from each casita, and shared hot showers are located on the main site. An in-room safe for valuables. Eco-friendly, organic shampoo, conditioner and body wash in all of the showers. Onsite staff available to be contacted for issues or emergencies 24/7

Meals

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Meals provided

Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Diets catered

Vegan · Vegetarian · Organic · Nut Allergy Friendly · Gluten-free

A private chef will prepare farm to table meals (when available) curated to provide warmth and nourishment while on retreat. There will be an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and healthy, mostly-vegetarian meals with gluten-free and other options available. You will be able to share any dietary restrictions to be passed on to the chef upon registration.

Schedule

Check-in is from 4-5 pm on the day the training starts. Dinner will be served immediately after check-in. The program will start at 6:30pm sharp. We will finish at 11am on the last day. The daily rhythm of a retreat usually involves alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, eating, as well as other dyadic and group practices, talks, and rest periods. The day begins with qigong at about 7 a.m., and a typical day includes about 6 periods of sitting and walking meditations. Each morning there is a guided meditation exploring the layer a talk was given on the night before. We end about 9 p.m. The whole retreat is a succession of awareness trainings exploring all 7 layers of awake awareness we will be pointing at in various ways. A detailed schedule will be provided before the retreat.

Testimonials

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Thank you for your patience, wisdom, empathy, engagement, joy of teaching and humor. All the teachers I had on the spiritual path have been great but you have been the very first one that gave me confidence in my own faculties. This means a lot to me.

Daniel, Germany

You woke me up! I didn't even know that was possible.

Becky, USA

Working with Eric has been a game changer for me in terms of my sense of well being. Being guided into states of relaxation with techniques that work around any resistance have trained me to find the deep center of okayness even in triggering times. As we continue to work together I'm finding it easier and easier to guide myself back to a larger state of awareness beneath the tumult of every day life and it's upsets.

Laura, USA

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Host

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Eric L

Chicago, IL, USA

Eric has been meditating for 26 years and teaching since 2011. He was certified to teach The Mind Illuminated system by Culadasa. If you would like him to be your personal meditation/spiritual mentor ...

1 language

English

Teaching for 5 years

Joined Insight Timer in May 2020

What's Included

All meals

Lodging

Instruction

Not Included

Travel and transportation costs

Other personal expenses

FAQs

Cancellation policy

The remaining balance for the retreat is due 90 days prior to the start date. If this balance is paid earlier than these 90 days, you are eligible to cancel and receive a full refund of this remaining balance, provided you do so at least 90 days before the retreat begins.