2026 is the year of the Fire Horse.
In Lakota tradition, the horse is called Šúŋkawakȟaŋ, the Holy Dog. Its energy calls us toward mending what needs mending, pursuing what is real, and returning to alignment with nature and with ourselves.
This June, the co-founders of Earth Wisdom, Kathi and Nando, are hosting a gathering in the mountains of Italy to answer that call.
"The Horse Catcher with Moon" acrylic on canvas, by Bernie Granados
Earth Wisdom Retreat
Mandali Center, Lake Maggiore, Italy
June 28 – July 3, 2026
Mandali sits on a hillside above one of Italy's most beautiful lakes, surrounded by the Alps. It is one of Europe's most beloved retreat spaces, known for its stillness, its beauty, and its devotion to genuine transformation.
Three years ago, the Earth Wisdom community gathered here for the first time. This June, we are returning. Many are coming back. Some will be arriving for the first time.
Each day is treated as a ceremony. The week includes:
- Fire circles and sacred dance workshops
- Ceremony and storytelling
- Talks, meditations, and personal consultations
- Cleansing practices and plant baths
- Nature walks in the Italian mountains
- Guest facilitators — musicians, yoga teacher, and acupuncturist
- Full spa access at Mandali
- Fresh, natural food prepared on site
- Spirit Kids Club for families (inquire for details)
The intention is for you to integrate the experience into practices and tools that you can take home.
About the Facilitators
Kathi Von Koerber
Kathi is a dancer, healer, and filmmaker from Germany and South Africa. For fifteen years she has taught sacred dance internationally and sat with Indigenous elders across Africa and the Americas. Her life's work is the preservation of living wisdom — ceremony, song, and practice that help people connect with who they are. She is the co-founder of Earth Wisdom Collection. The clothing grew from this work.
Hernando Villa
Nando is from Colombia, from the land of the Quimbaya Nation. For thirty years he has carried the Indigenous wisdom of the Americas. He was adopted by the seventh church of the Lakota Nation and trained by communities across the Amazon. He spent fifteen years as director of RAICES, an NGO protecting land and communities in Colombia. He now leads ARKA de la Tierra, devoted to reviving ancient practices that preserve the natural world.
The Mandali Center
Mandali is a world-class eco-retreat center set in the Alpine foothills above Lake Maggiore. It offers an immersive environment devoted to learning, healing, and genuine rest, including spa facilities, beautiful grounds, and a kitchen committed to nourishing, natural food.
To learn more about Mandali, visit www.mandali.org.
How to Join
This retreat is kept intentionally small.
Reach out via email to inquire about the workshop and registration.
