When The Forest Teaches Care: A Pataxó Ancestral Retreat

Step into a day of guided reflection, ancestral teachings and nature-based ritual within the forested grounds of Patch of Heaven Sanctuary. This immersive retreat welcomes special guest Arassari Pataxó of Brazil for a program centered on collective care, environmental stewardship and the living relationship between people and the natural world.

When The Forest Teaches Care: A Pataxó Ancestral Retreat takes place Sunday, April 12. The program is intentionally designed as a daylong experience of reflection, cultural exchange and ecological awareness. Participants join not only to learn from Indigenous knowledge, but also to support community-led environmental stewardship rooted in reciprocity and respect for the Earth.

Ancestral Wisdom in the Forest

Rooted in the traditions of the Pataxó people of Bahia, Brazil, the retreat explores the understanding that individual well-being is inseparable from community and from the Earth itself. Through sacred chants, forest sounds, herbal smoke cleansing and embodied practices, participants are invited to reflect on how their emotions and actions shape shared environments of harmony or tension.

The gathering emphasizes interdependence, mutual responsibility and conscious presence. Care is approached not as sacrifice, but as reciprocity: caring for others, honoring nature and maintaining healthy boundaries are presented as pathways to resilience and balance. Participants are also encouraged to receive care as an essential part of belonging within a larger web of life.

Retreat Program Highlights

The day unfolds through guided experiences designed to foster connection and awareness:

• Welcome and Opening Ritual with traditional chants and the selection of a sacred adornment handcrafted by women of the Forest Peoples
• Forest Meditation and Sound Immersion integrating mindful presence with natural soundscapes
• Elemental Connection Ceremony focused on air and sacred fire, concluding within the butterfly sanctuary
• Immersive Clay Therapy encouraging tactile exploration and emotional expression
• Grounding Circle at the Tree of Life with bare feet on the earth and communal chanting
• Sacred Lunch in Silence, shared mindfully and without utensils to honor nourishment as sacred
• Artisanal Exhibition and Community Support, featuring traditional handicrafts that sustain Indigenous-led initiatives

A light breakfast and lunch are included.

About Arassari Pataxó

Arassari Pataxó is a leader, educator and advocate from the Barra Velha Territory in Bahia. A law graduate from Estácio de Sá University in Rio de Janeiro, he champions Indigenous rights and environmental awareness through his initiative Indigenous Day is Every Day. His work highlights sustainable relationships with the land and promotes cultural understanding across global audiences. In recent years, his visits to Miami have created opportunities for dialogue and education across schools, universities and community spaces.

The term “Arassari” refers to a forest keeper, a guardian entrusted with protecting the land through wisdom and spiritual connection. As part of his broader environmental mission, Arassari supports reforestation efforts in Brazil, including a project to plant 200,000 trees to restore damaged forest areas.