Day-Before Arrival (For Long-Distance Travelers): Recommendation: Arrive in Amsterdam the day before and stay overnight at a hotel near Amsterdam Centraal Station. Benefit: Allows for a relaxed morning departure to the retreat venue and reduces the risk of delays on the first retreat day. Arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: To ensure you can comfortably join the retreat on time, please arrange your flight to arrive before 10:30 a.m. CET (local time) on the first day of your retreat. We understand that this arrival window may be restrictive. If you’re having difficulty booking a flight that lands before 10:30 a.m. CET, feel free to reach out to us at info@aestraretreats.com, and we’ll gladly assist you in planning your travel. Next-Day Departure (Optional for Flexibility): If you prefer a more relaxed schedule, consider booking a hotel near Amsterdam Centraal Station and departing the following day. This option gives you time to unwind after the retreat before continuing your journey. Departure from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: For your return journey, we recommend booking flights that depart after 7:00 p.m. CET on the final day of the retreat. The program officially concludes at 4:00 p.m. CET, and you should allow for at least 60 minutes of travel time to the airport. This timing should give you plenty of time to clear customs and catch your flight without stress.

Aestra Retreats does not arrange transfers to and from the retreat location. The retreat location is located within an hour's drive from either Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam Central Station. We recommend using taxi, Uber, or public transportation. Staxi provides a reliable airport pickup service. Please be mindful of unauthorized taxis as the airport and train stations. We will provide more details about the retreat location and travel tips closer to the retreat date.

Unfortunately, we aren't able to offer an extra night of accommodations at the retreat venue. Please reach out to our team for ideas: info@aestraretreats.com

If you experience a high-risk COVID-19 exposure, please contact a team member immediately. Keep in mind that if you test positive for COVID-19, you will not be allowed into the venue and cannot take part in the retreat. Any expenses related to quarantine, accommodations, transfers, and travel due to a COVID-19 positive test will be your responsibility. Additionally, while retreat tuition refunds will not be provided for a positive test, your tuition credit will be saved for a future retreat. Aestra Retreats Netherlands 09:00 - 17:00 Central European Time (CET) +31 20 225 4806 Aestra Retreats Canada 09:00 - 12:00 Pacific Standard Time (PST) +1 236-334-1476

If your medical needs change, please let our team know so we can keep your records current. In the event of any changes, please follow these steps: Email info@aestraretreats.com with details about your situation, and mention which retreat you’re scheduled to attend. We will evaluate each case individually, considering the nature of the change, the timing relative to the retreat, and your overall situation. Options may include cancellation, transferring to a future retreat, or providing you with the necessary information to decide whether to proceed with your participation.

The psychedelic ceremony will be held in a cozy indoor setting, equipped with a mattress for relaxation, comfortable eye shades, and headphones featuring a thoughtfully curated playlist. This environment blends traditional ceremonial elements with modern, research-backed methods to create a space that supports deep and meaningful experiences.

Existential Analysis (EA) from the Vienna School is a psychotherapeutic approach founded by Viktor Frankl and later developed further by his student Alfried Längle. It focuses on helping individuals achieve a meaningful and authentic existence by fostering self-awareness, responsibility, and the capacity to make conscious choices aligned with personal values. Key Principles of Existential Analysis: Search for Meaning (Logotherapy Roots): Originally developed by Viktor Frankl as Logotherapy, EA emphasizes the human drive to find meaning in life, even in difficult or tragic circumstances. Frankl's famous concept, the "will to meaning," suggests that fulfillment arises from discovering purpose in life, rather than pursuing pleasure or power. Expansion by Alfried Längle: Längle expanded EA beyond Frankl’s focus on meaning by integrating emotional and relational aspects. He introduced the four fundamental motivations necessary for a fulfilling life: Existence (Being-in-the-World): Feeling safe and having the right to exist. Life (Liking Life): Experiencing relationships, pleasure, and joy. Self (Being Oneself): Acting with authenticity and expressing individuality. Meaning (Purpose in Life): Finding a deeper sense of purpose and significance. Phenomenological and Dialogical Approach: EA uses a phenomenological method, encouraging clients to deeply explore their inner experiences without judgment. The therapeutic relationship is dialogical, focusing on genuine, empathetic dialogue between therapist and client. Core Questions in Existential Analysis: EA helps individuals explore existential questions, such as: What gives my life meaning? How can I live authentically and true to myself? How do I relate to freedom, responsibility, and limitations? What role does suffering play in my life? Freedom and Responsibility: A central concept is the idea of personal freedom—humans have the capacity to make choices. With freedom comes responsibility for those choices and their consequences. Goals of Existential Analysis: Promote Authentic Living: Encouraging clients to live in alignment with their inner values and convictions. Enhance Self-Awareness: Helping individuals recognize their emotions, desires, and motivations. Strengthen Decision-Making: Empowering clients to make meaningful and responsible life choices. Foster Personal Fulfillment: Guiding individuals toward a life rich in meaning and connection. Applications of EA: Individual Therapy: Addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, existential crises, grief, and trauma. Crisis Intervention: Helping individuals navigate life transitions, loss, and periods of uncertainty. Coaching & Counseling: Supporting personal development and decision-making in professional or personal contexts. In essence, Existential Analysis from the Vienna School is about enabling individuals to lead a life that is both meaningful and personally fulfilling, even in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.

Logotherapy is a form of existential psychotherapy developed by Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor. Rooted in the belief that the primary human drive is the search for meaning—rather than the pursuit of pleasure (Freud) or power (Adler)—Logotherapy emphasizes the significance of finding purpose in life, even amidst suffering. Core Principles of Logotherapy: The Will to Meaning: Humans are driven by a deep desire to find meaning in their lives. Unlike Freud’s “will to pleasure” or Adler’s “will to power,” Frankl asserts that meaning is the fundamental motivator. Freedom of Choice: Even in the most restrictive circumstances, individuals have the freedom to choose their attitude and responses. This inner freedom is essential for finding meaning. Meaning in Suffering: Life retains meaning under all conditions, even the most miserable. Suffering, when unavoidable, can be transformed into a source of personal growth if approached with the right mindset. Responsibility Over Happiness: Frankl posits that happiness ensues when one commits to a greater purpose. Individuals are responsible for finding meaning rather than passively seeking happiness. The Defiant Power of the Human Spirit: People have the capacity to withstand even the harshest conditions if they perceive their life as meaningful. This concept was central to Frankl’s survival in Nazi concentration camps. Key Themes from Man’s Search for Meaning: Meaning as a Survival Mechanism: Frankl’s personal narrative of surviving Auschwitz demonstrates that those who found meaning, even in the smallest things (like hope for reunion with loved ones or the desire to complete unfinished work), were more likely to survive. Suffering as an Opportunity for Growth: Frankl emphasizes that while suffering is inevitable, how we choose to respond to it defines our character. “If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.” Freedom of Attitude: Even when external freedoms are stripped away, individuals retain the “last of the human freedoms” — the ability to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances. Existential Vacuum & Modern Life: Frankl identifies an “existential vacuum” — a sense of emptiness and aimlessness — common in modern societies. This lack of meaning can lead to boredom, depression, and even destructive behaviors. Three Pathways to Meaning: According to Frankl, meaning can be found through: Creative Work or Deeds – pursuing one’s passion or contributing to society. Experiencing Love or Beauty – through deep connections with others or appreciation of nature, art, etc. Attitude Toward Unavoidable Suffering – transforming suffering into personal growth when it cannot be avoided. Transcendence of the Self: True fulfillment comes not from self-centered goals but from transcending oneself to serve a higher purpose or cause. Famous Quotes from the Book: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear almost any ‘how’.” “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” Why Man’s Search for Meaning Still Matters: The book is more than a memoir of Frankl’s time in concentration camps—it’s a guide for finding purpose amidst adversity. Its lessons on resilience, inner freedom, and the human spirit continue to inspire individuals facing personal challenges and those seeking deeper fulfillment in life.

Short Answer: In the Netherlands, psilocybin mushrooms are illegal, but psilocybin-containing truffles remain legal. These truffles, which contain the same active compounds as the mushrooms, are available in licensed "smart shops." Long Answer: The Netherlands is renowned for its progressive social policies, and its stance on psychedelics—such as magic mushrooms and truffles—is no exception. Over the decades, the country’s approach has evolved from full legalization to a more regulated framework. Psychedelics, known for their ability to induce hallucinations and alter consciousness, have long played a role in indigenous spiritual practices worldwide. In the 1960s and 1970s, magic mushrooms and truffles became popular in the Netherlands as part of the global psychedelic movement. During the 1970s, magic mushrooms were legal in the Netherlands. This decision was largely influenced by the perception that these substances had a lower toxicity compared to drugs like heroin or cocaine, leading the government to view them as less harmful and to refrain from criminalizing their possession, sale, and use. At that time, truffles were not explicitly addressed in the legislation, creating a legal gray area. As a result, some smartshops began offering truffles as an alternative to magic mushrooms, which sparked both curiosity and controversy regarding their legality. In 2008, due in part to incidents involving tourists affected by magic mushrooms and external political pressures, the Dutch government reexamined its policies. This led to magic mushrooms being classified as controlled substances and subsequently banned—a move that significantly altered the country's psychedelic landscape. Despite the ban on magic mushrooms, truffles were not mentioned in the new legislation, allowing them to remain legal. Although this decision has not been without debate, truffles continue to be available in certified smartshops, providing many with a regulated option for experiencing psychedelics. Today, truffles are legal in the Netherlands, though their sale is regulated through certified smartshops and is restricted to those aged 18 and over. The Dutch approach has shifted from complete freedom to a controlled system designed to ensure safety while still allowing access. While substances such as magic mushrooms, LSD, and Ayahuasca face stricter regulations, truffles remain legally accessible in the Netherlands. This unique stance underscores the complexity of drug legislation and the country’s ongoing effort to balance individual freedom with public safety. Source: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport Coördinatiepunt Assessment en Monitoring nieuwe drugs (CAM). (2014). Informatierapport sclerotia (hallucinogene truffels). Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM). https://www.rivm.nl/sites/default/files/2018-11/028-2014%20CAM%20Informatierapport%20truffels%5B3%5D.pdf