FIRE HORSE PLAY

About the retreat

The Monarch’s Play:  
Entering the Gate of the Summer Solstice

An Extended Weekend of Alchemy, Qigong, and the 5 Dynamic Agents

“The Heart holds the office of the Monarch; the radiance of the spirits stems from it.” > — Neijing Suwen, Chapter 8

Welcome to the peak of the Fire Horse season. As the sun reaches its zenith, we gather at the magical lands of Black Hole Hollow to explore the “utmost expression” of our energy. This retreat is an invitation to run free, to play within the natural alchemy of the 5 Elements, and to refine the spirit under the guidance of the Heart.

The Vision: Alchemy & Play

Using Chinese 5 Element Theory (Wu Xing) as our map, we will navigate the cycles of Generating (Sheng) and Control (Ke). This is not merely a theoretical study, but a lived exploration of how these agents compound and dissolve within us—shaping our physical, emotional, and spiritual embodiment and environment.

The Heart as Monarch

In this retreat, we honor the Heart not just as an organ, but as the refiner of spirits. We will explore its pivotal role in the elemental cycle:

• The Fire of Summer: Understanding the joyful, expansive energy of the solstice.
• The Alchemy of Form: Moving between the “form and formlessness” of our energetic selves or qi 氣 and refinement of the shen 神.
• The Heart-Mind (Xin): Cultivating the clarity and presence required to lead the other “officials” of the body, also called ‘the knowing how.’

How the days will unfold:

The Threshold: Tuning into Yang Raising

With  Daria Faïn

At sunrise we’ll draw on the transition between darkness and light before the nervous system gets into our ordinary self, Daria leads a practice to tune in to the yang-raising energy, open the main meridian, and bridge the three Tan Tian Vitality 精, Qi 氣, and Shen 設. with the opening of Central Channel (中 脈  Zhong Mai)— the highway of vitality that connects our physical and spiritual poles.

Early Morning: Wild Goose 

With Margit Galanter 

Wild Goose Qigong (Dayan) is a Taoist/Buddhist alchemical movement and life force practice that guides people to experience the inheritance of their self-healing. Through moving, attending, and breathing, we harmonize the body-being with the dynamic patterns of the environment and cosmos. In this gathering, we will focus on forms such as Aroma Qigong and Wild Goose sitting meditations, giving special attention to nurture our heart-mind, or shen, and explore movement expressions that emerge uniquely from cultivating our heart vibration, coherence, togetherness, and HORSE PLAY.

Late Mornings and Afternoons: Creative Fire 

Taught by Daria Faïn and Margit Galanter 

Morning: Integration of the Wild Good practice into intuitive exploration between self, land, and the collective.

Afternoon: Theoretical input, individual reflection, and communal sense-making.

Culinary Alchemy: The 5 Agents Table

Curated by Athena Kokoronis Our meals are not separate from the teaching; they are the teaching. Chef Athena Kokoronis will integrate the 5 Dynamic Agents into our nourishment. Each meal is designed to:

• Balance the five flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty).
• Support the Heart energy of the season.
• Demonstrate the “compounding and dissolving” of elements through the craft of cooking.

The Land: Black Hole Hollow

The setting for our work is as vital as the teaching. Black Hole Hollow offers a magical backdrop, featuring a green brook serpenting through the landscape. This water element provides the necessary cooling counterpoint to our Fire-focused exploration, allowing for a natural “Control” cycle to manifest in our environment.

The Journey (Overview)

Phase/Theme/Activity

Thursday June 25: The Spark, Entering the Gate

Arrival, Orientation to the Land, Lighting the Internal Fire.

ARRIVAL: June 25, between 2-4 PM:

• Camping setting and guided tour of the land
• 4 PM – 6 PM: overview of the retreat

Friday June 26: The Radiance: The Peak of Fire

Wild Goose Qigong Intensive, Neijing Suwen Ch. 8 Study, Collective Play.

• 6 – 7 AM The Threshold: Opening the Centrel Channel
• 7 – 8:30 AM  Wild Goose Qigong
• 8:30 – 9:30 AM Breakfast
• 10 AM – 1 PM PLAY 
• 1 PM – 2 PM Lunch
• 3 PM – 6 PM PLAY in the Dynamic Agents Exploration 
• 6 pm dinner

Saturday June 27: The Refining: Alchemy in Motion

Individual Explorations, The 5 Flavor Feast, Dissolving into Formlessness.

• 6 – 7 AM The Threshold: Opening the Centrel Channel
• 7 – 8:30 AM  Wild Goose Qigong
• 8:30 -9:30 AM Breakfast
• 10 AM – 1 PM PLAY 
• 1 PM – 2 PM Lunch
• 3 PM – 6 PM PLAY in the Dynamic Agents Exploration 
• 6 pm dinner
  

Sunday, June 28: Integration

Carrying the Light: Closing Circle, Final Qigong Form, Departing the Hollow.

• 6-7 AM The Threshold: Opening the Centrel Channel
• 7-8:30 AM  Wild Goose Qigong
• 8:30 -9:30 AM Breakfast
• 10 AM – 1 PM PLAY 
• 1 PM – 2 PM Lunch
• 3 PM – 6 PM PLAY in the Dynamic Agents Exploration 

Camp out and goodbyes!

Our Facilitators

• Daria Faïn: Deep exploration of the Neijing Suwen and the 5 Phases centered on the Heart in the year of the Fire Horse and the ignition of the inner fire.

• Margit Galanter: A long-time friend and expert in bodymind exploration, Taoist practices, and performance.
• Athena Kokoronis: Chef extraordinaire and collaborator in the sensory integration of the 5 elements.

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Accessibility

We encourage anyone interested in coming who may need accessibility support to reach out in advance to hello@blackholehollow.org or call (917)499-9030. We encourage participants to bring a support person to accompany them as we navigate different terrain.

Parking

Parking is available about 20 feet from the main entrance to Black Hole Hollow. There is a gravel road with a slight downward incline from the parking area to the main entrance. If this is not accessible for your needs, guests can also park in the main driveway, which is closer to the gathering space.

While we have the intention to expand our capacity to support expanded accessibility, we apologize that at this time we are not able to offer ASL support and do not have ADA compliant spaces. We are open to any conversations that might ensure your ability to participate.

COVID Protocol:

This event will take place outdoors. In the interest of supporting those with compromised immune systems we will enforce COVID protocol such as mask wearing depending on COVID levels at the time of the event.