A ten-week journey of exploration and change,
centred around a four-day walking retreat
in Occitanie in southern France, April 27th-30th, 2023
led by Magda Hoekman & Renée Ryerson
Integral Master Coaches, Facilitators and Co-founders of Beyond Either Or
Welcome to Walking Home!
When did you last take time to reflect deeply over what you want to express through your life, and what you’d like more of? If you are not yet fully “home”, what would “home” look like for you? And how can you start to move in that direction?
Give yourself the gift of four days of listening for answers to these questions in the picturesque Occitanie region of rural southern of France, supported by the two of us. You will have nature walks, follow coaching paths, and enjoy home-cooked food, idyllic accommodation, and meaningful, fun interactions with your very small group of fellow explorers.
This gift to yourself will ripen into a gift to the world, as you become more effective in what you do.
We are excited to meet you and support you on your journey.
When we have the courage to walk into our own story and own it, we get to write the ending. And when we don’t own our stories of failure, setbacks and hurt – they own us.
Brené brown, Professor, bestselling author, public speaker and podcast host
Renee Ryerson is a gifted facilitator and inspiring leader. She truly has a passion for leadership and for getting to the heart of the matter. It is all about caring about the people around you. One of the best out there.
Peter Shub
WHAT IS WALKING HOME?
Now is your opportunity to find out what “Walking Home” is for you.
We have designed a four-day retreat, including walks in nature, reflection time, coaching, and mealtime conversations and other interactions with a small group of fellow travellers. We take care of your practical needs so you can give your full attention to your inquiry.
Also included are two videoconference calls. The first, one month before the retreat, will help you to prepare. The second, six weeks after the retreat, is intended to maintain and build momentum towards something you have identified as important for yourself.
Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Steve jobs, entrepreneur, business magnate, industrial designer, media proprietor, and investor.
CONNECTING TO NATURE
While on retreat, you will spend time each day unplugged from your phone, instead tapping into the power of the natural world. You might be surprised at what you’ll find in the silence between footsteps. When outdoors for several days, free from your normal stimuli, new insights will arise.
More awareness emerges through the power of nature: nature works as a source of inspiration and encourages ‘blue sky thinking,’ opening us up to what needs to come alive.
Time and silence are the most luxurious things today.
Tom ford, fashion designer, film maker & Entrepreneur
This is a journey of self discovery – of understanding what has shaped you, what drives you, and of realizing that your thoughts, your feelings, and how you hold yourself are inextricably connected.
Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind.
Gary Snyder, poet, essayist, lecturer, and environmental activist
Once you have discovered what you want to express more of in the next months and years of your life, we will help you get started with initial planning and exploring what it will take for you to move past the inevitable obstacles you will encounter – truly enabling you to walk home.
The rhythm of walking generates a kind of rhythm of thinking, and the passage through a landscape echoes or stimulates the passage through a series of thoughts.
Rebecca Solnit, Writer, historian, and activist
WHERE DOES THIS TAKE PLACE?
The retreat takes place close to the town of Tanus in the Tarn department of the Occitanie region, a little over an hour’s drive from Toulouse. The area is popular with hikers and known for its stunning countryside.
When we are not outside in nature, we will spend our time in Cantegrel, a secluded house at the end of a rocky road, with wonderful views and space for both individual and group activities and reflection. Your accommodation is a 1.5 kilometer walk from Cantegrel.
You can get to Cantegrel by car or by taking a train to Tanus, Albi or Carmaux. Many European airports have direct flights to Toulouse.
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Walking is a way to find the purpose that lies within you and unleash your hidden potential.
Gautama Buddha
I love Renee’s awareness and presence with herself and the group. Renee’s leadership creates a safe container for expressing deep feelings and emotions. She is able to create cohesion within groups as well as navigate discord if it’s what’s present. My experiences with Renee felt very rich and nourishing
Connie DiPasquale
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This program is for a maximum of six participants, who will be supported and guided by two experienced Integral Master Coaches, workshop designers and facilitators, ensuring you get all the personal attention you could need. Participants can come from a variety of organizations, both corporate, government, and non-profit.
This program is for you if you:
- struggle to set aside time for deep reflection while attending to your usual responsibilities
- have a question about what you want more of in your life, or how to make a change
- are excited to spend time in nature reflecting on personal, professional and other goals
- would like to be supported by processes led by experienced coaches and facilitators
- are willing to be open and step out of your comfort zone
- are willing to listen generously, helping others find clarity and offering encouragement
- aim not to judge your fellow participants nor rush to “fixing their problems”
- are physically able to walk 2 kilometers or more on dirt paths at your own pace
- speak English
A good walking companion is a real find, like a good friend or a fine wine.
Bill bryson, journalist and bestselling author
HERE’S WHAT’S INCLUDED
85‑minute group conversation
On April 4th, from 4:30 PM Central European Summer Time (10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time), you will participate in a group conversation on the Zoom videoconferencing platform.
You meet your coaches and fellow participants, begin the process of clarifying your intentions and desired outcomes for the retreat, and have an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.
Four-day small-group retreat
You will be supported by two experienced Integral Master Coaches, workshop designers and facilitators. There will be no more than six participants, so you will get all the personal attention you could need.
- April 27th: Getting grounded in where we are
- April 28th: Locating our future selves
- April 29th: Obstacles and supports
- April 30th: Preparing for action
Home-cooked lunches and dinners
Lunches and dinners are provided from the start of the retreat at 5 PM on April 27th until the final lunch on April 30th.
The meals will be home-cooked with mostly organic vegetarian ingredients. There will be an option for fish on one occasion.
Accommodation in a gîte rural
You and your fellow participants will stay in a pair of luxurious nearby gîtes rurals, Tournesol and Coquelicot. The gîtes are spacious with private bedrooms and shared bathrooms, kitchen and living room. You can read reviews of the accommodation here.
You will eat your breakfasts in the gîte. The cost of breakfast is included.
Email check-ins with your coach
In the six weeks between the retreat and the individual coaching conversation, we’d love to hear how you are doing and if you have any questions. Send us an email, and we will get back to you.
Individual coaching conversation
Six weeks after the retreat, you have a 55-minute one-to-one coaching session, where we will reflect on how you integrated the changes you wanted to make in your daily life and what you can do to continue building momentum towards sustainable change.
Walking is a path to discovering your true self.
Oprah winfrey, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist
PLUS RECEIVE THESE BONUSES
You will receive Resources for Sustainable Change electronically when you register for the program.
You will receive Words for Reflection and the deck of Camino Cards when you arrive for the retreat in France at the end of April.
BONUS #1
Resources for Sustainable Change (PDF)
A document with practices and links to accessible articles, audio and video clips that may support you in your journey.
The document is in two sections, one with resources to help prepare you for the retreat, and the other to help you implement change after the retreat.
BONUS #2
Words for Reflection (printed)
A short collection of poems and quotes, with space on each page for you to add the reflections you make while on retreat.
A standard deck of 52 poker-sized playing cards designed for people walking the Camino de Santiago.
Each card has a unique reflection exercise or micro-practice you can engage with while walking or resting.
Walking is a way of discovering who we are, what we stand for, and where we want to go.
Paulo coelho, lyricist, novelist and member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
WHAT’S THE PROCESS?
Tuesday, March 28th, from 4 PM CEST
Beginning to dream
On March 28th, from 4 PM Central European Summer Time (10 AM Eastern Daylight Time), you will participate in an 85‑minute group conversation on the Zoom videoconferencing platform.
You will meet your coaches and fellow participants, begin the process of clarifying your intentions and desired outcomes for the retreat, and have an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.
Thursday, April 27th, from 5 PM CEST
Getting grounded in where we are
The retreat begins at 5 PM Central European Summer Time. If possible, please arrive earlier (any time from 3 PM) so we can show you around our venue and your gîte.
During our first short walk, we will explore some guiding questions to know each other and dive deeper into where we are in this part of our journey. We may start to explore the stories that we live by and the conditioned assumptions that guide our habitual selves.
Dinner is at 7 PM and we end at 9 PM, giving you the time to settle in and to reflect upon your intention.
Friday, April 28th
Locating our future selves
This is both a shared journey and a private journey. We spend our days in communion with nature, engaging in inner and outer dialogue with ourselves and each other.
In the morning you will walk with a question, enjoying the open space. In the afternoon we will invite you to “Step into the future” through a walk and coaching exercises. You will develop an idea of the change you’d like to see in your daily life.
Weather permitting we will have a campfire conversation outdoors, where we encourage each of you to share your story and to learn and reflect together.
Saturday, April 29th
Obstacles and supports
The coaches will huddle to fine-tune the design of the retreat from time to time, to best meet the changing needs of the group as they emerge.
On the Saturday we plan to walk and have lunch on the trail. The main themes are to get further clarity on the change we want to see, the obstacles we may face, and how we might overcome these challenges. What support can we lean on?
There will be reflection time in the late afternoon, followed by dinner and sharing.
Sunday, April 30th, ending at 1 PM CEST
Preparing for action
Our last morning together is for integrating, through an exploration of extended ways of knowing and experiencing that have emerged in our days on the trail.
You will reflect and decide upon some course of action grounded in the experiences and insights you have gleaned during the retreat that is sustainable in daily life.
We will eat lunch together and end the retreat at 1 PM.
Second half of June
Sustainable momentum
Six weeks after the retreat, you have a 55‑minute one-to-one coaching session, where we will reflect on how you integrated the changes you wanted to make in your daily life and what you can do to continue building momentum towards sustainable change.
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.
william shakespeare
Do you want to learn more or save your spot?
The price for the Walking Home program is €1.189,- per person, excluding value-added tax and travel.
There are only six places on this retreat.
Register for a free information call
Friday, March 24th
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Friday, March 31st
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Or send us an email.
We are happy to answer questions by email and/or have a short call with you if you cannot join on March 24th or 30th.
