愈慧 RETREAT
A healing immersion into Chinese wisdom
Xishuangbanna & Beijing
November 4-16, 2024
Our intention
Since our first encounter while collaborating on the creation of our beloved book “Tea, Remembering the Essence of Life”, we, Jade & Pauline, have been dreaming of creating a special journey to unveil the hidden and misunderstood magic of China with our community. Often left feeling that what appears to be shared about China in the West is far from our experience of its land and culture, we have decided to offer you the opportunity to explore the China that has moved and impacted our lives profoundly. It is our hope that this retreat will not only be an inspiring immersion into Chinese and tea culture – but also a very transformative and healing journey.
Our both experiences in China have given us the chance to discover very special places that we now feel ready to share with others. Settling roots in China, Pauline had the opportunity to cross the paths of inspiring beings that we are honored to give you the chance to meet as well, during our exclusive retreat next November in the birthplace of tea.
This unique immersion will be focusing on tea medicine, indigenous wisdom, sacred crafts, immersion in Nature and the meeting with talented artists, masters and medicine people from the Bulang and Dai indigenous communities, among others. You will have the chance to experience the Five Elements through the healing ritual of tea, by discovering the unique ecosystem of the ancient tea trees forest, by connecting with the “Tea Spirit tree” – and through various creative, meditative and healing practices in inspiring locations.
Because this retreat holds a very special place in our hearts, and to preserve the intimacy and privacy of it, we are welcoming only 15 guests on this retreat at this time. For this reason also, the reservations for the retreat are made directly with us, by email at the following address: contact@deyi-living.com
The journey will be separated into two, with the option to join one or both. The first immersion will be in Yunnan province, in the ancient tea region of Xishuangbanna in Southwest China, and the second optional part of the journey will be held in Beijing, by the Great Wall mountains, in the North of the country.
Our journey essence
Consciously curated journey
We are fully independent from any travel agency. We have designed this all-inclusive retreat by immersing ourselves in the lands, with the support of Chinese tea friends and artists. We deeply care about the authenticity and uniqueness of the experience.
Tea wisdom
Camellia Sinensis will be our companion all retreat long. Connected to the roots of this ancestral medicinal plant, we will be infusing our body, mind and spirit with the most precious teas from all over China, learning from various tea farmers, masters and from the plant itself.
Nature reverence
师造化 shizaohua, “Nature is our Master”.
Like this Chinese proverb says, we believe that Mother-Earth is our best teacher. We aspire to cultivate contemplation and mindfulness amidst the magnificent flowers, sacred trees and soothing soundscape of Xishuangbanna.
Spiritual cultivation
We will delve into the other realm by immersing ourselves in Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, exploring the Way of Tea, learning concepts from Buddhism and Daoism, and exploring animism through the indigenous wisdom of the Bulang people.
Slow rhythm
“Less is more” is our motto. When designing the journey, we were very cautious to dedicate time for integration, meditation, qigong practices and journaling. We will honor presence every day, fully immersed in Nature, disconnected from the modern world.
Community healing
We gather a group of 15 mindful beings maximum for this life-changing experience in China. We wish to create a caring and intimate environment for everyone to feel supported to share their own feelings and inner journey with the community.
Creative practices
We genuinely believe in the healing power of Art. Our journey will be filled with various creative explorations supported by local artists: craftsmanship, dance, music, intuitive drawing and writing practices and more, to nourish our creative inner fire.
Cosy accommodations
We have mindfully selected very comfortable accommodations in inspiring locations, allowing you to fully rest and rejuvenate yourself amidst Nature. We aim to weave an exclusive experience filled with beauty, magic and spirituality.
Food medicine
During this all-inclusive experience, we deeply care about offering nourishing and healthy food to balance our Qi, the vital energy. We will also use traditional Chinese medicine plants to support the healing journey. Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are possible.
愈慧 RETREAT
Our JOURNEY ITINERARY
The schedule may be subject to minor changes.
DATES
Monday, November 4th – Wednesday, November 13th, 2024: Xishuangbanna Immersion
Wednesday, November 13th – Saturday, November 16th, 2024: Beijing Immersion (optional)
Day 1 – Welcome to the Lands
of Eternal Spring
Arrival at Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport
Resting time at the hotel with tea medicine, fresh tropical fruits
& nourishing food
Welcoming tea ceremony with guqin performance
Gifts sharing to the community
Overnight stay in Menghai county
Day 2 – Discovery of Nannuo
enchanted Tea Mountain
Morning tea meditation
Setting up our intention as a community for our initiatory journey
supported by a Yijing oracle reading
Slow hike in Nannuo tea mountain, the home of Ahka people
Course & meditation in Nature among the ancient tea trees
Evening tea ceremony & intuitive writing practice
Overnight stay in Menghai county
Day 3 – Exploration of the Five Elements through craftsmanship
Morning qigong practice
Course dedicated to the Five Elements Wisdom
Ceramics workshop led by talented Qiu Master from the Dai people
Discovery of his innovative work rooted in traditional Dai pottery
exclusively made with local sands and plants, all collected in the mountains
Tea ritual in the master studio nestled in the vibrant forest
Overnight stay in Menghai county
Day 4 – Immersion in Jingmai sacred sanctuary
Morning tea meditation
Innerlandscape exploration through Bazi Chinese Astrology
Heading to Jingmai Tea Mountain after lunch
Meditation in the magnificent Manlei Buddhist Pagoda
Visit to Manggeng Dai village and its Buddhist temple in Jingmai mountain
Settling into our very special retreat center immersed in the forest
Slow walk in the surrounding Nature, lands of Dai & Bulang peoples
Welcoming dinner, Overnight stay in Jingmai Tea Mountain
Day 5 – Diving into the wisdom of Bulang indigenous people
Morning tea meditation
Encounter with Yu Mu, an extraordinary tea farmer from the Bulang minority
Mindful hike in Aileng sacred hill by her side to discover the ancestral culture
and spirituality of her inspiring people worshiping the Tea Ancestor
Contemplation and reverence amidst the holly trees of the Mountain
Immersion in the tea garden of Yu Mu’s family in the jungle
Puerh tea cake workshop in the local farm
Qigong practice, Overnight stay in Jingmai Tea Mountain
Day 6 – Cultivating presence in the ancient tea trees forest
Immersion in the traditional Bulang market at sunrise
Outdoors tea ceremony supported by Yu Mu’s handcrafted Puerh tea
amidst the sacred banyan trees and the Tea Spirit tree
Slow walk in the dreamy Dai village of Nuogang nestled in the jungle
and blessed with late afternoon light
Meditation and journaling nearby Nuogang Buddhist temple
Evening tea ceremony
Overnight stay in Jingmai Tea Mountain
Day 7 – Drawing inspiration from Bulang ancestral medicine
Early morning tea meditation with a very special Bulang sour tea
handcrafted by Yu Mu’s dad, a highly respected indigenous healer
Mindful walk in the beautiful Bulang village of Wengji
Exploration of the local temple and the surrounding vibrant Nature
Exclusive “Jungle to table experience” designed by French creative
Jean-Charles Peno & Bulang chief with a unique menu
honoring Bulang medicinal plants & rainforest ecosystem
Last night in Jingmai Tea Mountain
Day 8 – Nurturing mindfulness
through art
Morning tea meditation & intuitive drawing practice
Outdoors course supported by Jingmain Mountain spirits
Heading to Menghai County after lunch
Discovery of the Dai village of Manzhao renowned for paper craftsmanship
Handmade paper workshop facilitated by Dai indigenous artisans
Settling into our cosy hotel in Menghai county
Tea ritual & Five Elements dance practice
Overnight stay in Menghai county
Day 9 – Remembering our own medicine
through tea
Morning Qigong practice
Exclusive tea wisdom course with Master Liu
a dedicated Buddhist tea master crafting his own “harmonized” teas
rooted in traditional Chinese medicine & metaphysics
Closing ceremony in Master Liu’s tea house with Chinese artists
Collective experience sharing about our journey in Xishuangbanna
Last night in Menghai county
Day 10 – Transitioning into
a New Chapter
Morning tea meditation
Resting time & nourishing brunch before heading to our next destination
Afternoon flight from Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport
Arrival at night at Beijing International Airport
Heading to the North of Beijing to our unique hotel nearby the Great Wall
Overnight stay in the Great Wall mountains
Day 11 – Delving into the essence of traditional Chinese culture
Morning qigong practice
Morning tea ritual & qigong practice
Slow hike on the magnificent Mutianyu Great Wall
Discovery of the inspiring world of ancient Chinese literati
Workshop dedicated to Chinese calligraphy and literati floral art
with the talented artist and poet Master Ma
Traditional Beijing hotpot feast
Overnight stay in Great Wall mountains
Day 12 – Exploring the sacredness
of the megalopolis
Morning qigong practice
Discovery of the Japanese tea ceremony with Master Xiuyan
Introspective time in the majestic Lama Buddhist Temple
Exploration of the lively traditional hutongs and parks of Beijing
Closing tea ceremony in a sacred secret location in the capital
Reflecting on our healing journey together in the Chinese lands
Last night in China
Day 13 – Bringing the transformative
experience home
Morning tea meditation
Five Elements dance practice
Nourishing brunch before transitioning home
Departure from Beijing International Airport
Loving farewell before our paths crossed again
The journey is all-inclusive, covering everything except for international flights, visa and travel & medical insurance. We will assist you in selecting the best flight options to Xishuangbanna Gasa airport and support you through the visa application process. Notice that several European countries benefit from a 15-day visa-free travel policy in China.
ABOUT JADE 雅德 & PAULINE 宝琳
Jade Brunel is the founder of WAOTEA, an online space and educational-experiential platform focusing on tea culture, where she offers selected tea & items that she has been sourcing from conscious tea farmers and artists, since 2017. During an important healing journey, while grieving the loss of her mother in 2011, Jade was initiated to the art and ritual of tea by her Malay-Chinese friend Sherab Jin, in his hometown, in Penang, Malaysia.
She has since then traveled extensively to China, Japan, Thailand and Laos, to explore and source tea with a variety of farmers, teachers and artists. Passionate about Chinese culture, metaphysics, archetypal language, the healing arts, and with her background studying tea, creative writing, mindfulness meditation, astrology, biodynamic psychology, and a variety of creative & healing modalities – Jade is facilitating online courses and retreats, focused on exploring personal & collective healing, through the way of tea, meditation, elemental embodiment, astrology and creative practices.
In 2022, Jade published her first book, Tea, Remembering the Essence of Life, in collaboration with inspiring artists sharing the same love for tea, Chinese culture, and nature. Following the occasion to meet Pauline during the creative process of the book, and having her join the creative team, our growing friendship and shared vision has led us to co-create this retreat immersion in China. Together, our intention is to offer our community the occasion to experience the quiet and healing wisdom of China, in an intimate and mindful way – in the same way that moved us and impacted our lives profoundly.
Pauline Ferrières is a French creative entrepreneur based in Beijing, passionate about traditional Chinese culture, craftsmanship, and healing arts. Through her creative projects, Pauline aspires to forge a future in harmony with Nature, rooted in ancient Chinese wisdom. Co-founder of DEYI ethical design studio, she is empowering Dong indigenous women in Southwest China, preserving their extraordinary textile heritage. Their slow fashion collection showcases ancestral handwoven fabrics dyed with medicinal plants.
Fluent in Chinese, Pauline has been a dedicated student of Chinese arts, calligraphy, and metaphysics since 2018. She has been learning alongside esteemed teachers like Taiwanese tea Master Liu, with whom she delves into the realms of tea medicine and Chan/Zen Buddhist philosophy.
With a background in arts management, Pauline curates art exhibitions and hosts creative retreats and workshops in China, Western Europe, and the States offering a profound understanding of Chinese culture, arts, and tea philosophy. Pauline contributed to the creation of the healing book “Tea, Remembering the Essence of Life” with Jade, published in 2022.
Continuing this fruitful collaboration that has blossomed into a beautiful friendship, Pauline has mindfully curated this retreat immersion in China. She aims to enable the community to intimately connect with the essence and spirituality of the Chinese lands she calls home.
IG @pauline.ferrieres @deyi.living
愈慧 Yuhui Retreat
Both passionate about the etymology of Chinese characters and the poetry of the Chinese language, we chose together a name filled with profound meanings and resonating with our vision for this unique retreat in China: 愈慧 Yuhui.
The character 愈 (yù) means to heal. Exploring the origins of this ancient glyph reveals all its depth. The upper part, 俞, represents a boat on the left, the movement of water on the right, and the tool that permits the construction of the boat above. As for the lower part of the character, it represents the heart (心), the seat of emotions. This poetic language offers us a beautiful metaphor: the process of healing is to enable our inner boat to navigate the currents of our inner world with fluidity and confidence.
The second character 慧 (huì) means intelligence, wisdom. The upper part 彗 represents two straw brooms above a hand. As for the lower part of the character, it once again represents the heart (心). This image depicts a hand cleaning a heart, removing the dust. Thus, this glyph teaches us that the path to wisdom would be to rid ourselves of the impurities from the heart in order to honor our life mission with clarity and enthusiasm.
The teachings of the 愈慧 Yuhui characters will be our guides during this retreat. Nourished by traditional Chinese wisdom, supported by Mother-Earth, and soothed by tea ceremonies and various rituals, we aspire to sail together our inner boats into the depths of ourselves and to free our hearts from the impurities that hinder us from unfolding our full potential.
We are very looking forward to experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime journey together, on the lands of China that have changed our lives.
