Ritam Special Events

News & Updates

You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself at Ritam, fully absorbing each offering throughout the time you are with us.

Mastermind Visioning

Spiritual seekers yearn for a way to experience connection with their divine source to gain strength and support.

A frequent problem faced by seekers on the spiritual path, is finding an effective and safe way to pursue their interest in spirituality. Many of our Guests are looking ways to navigate their spiritual path in the face of problems and challenges. They are looking to go deeper in their knowledge and experience of spirituality.

Seekers also face procrastination. There is something they need to do but they leave it undone. Inertia can result. They may suffer from blind spots, being unable to see their way forward. Many become blocked or stuck. Their current method may not be working for them. A feeling of emptiness and the lingering question, "Is this all there is?" may plague them.

Other challenges may be internal or external. The dominant materialistic culture’s focus is outward-looking but here at Ritam, our Guests can pursue inward-looking. Many seekers long for a community with whom to share their spirituality, which the Retreat can provide.

At Ritam Spiritual Retreat, we offer a transformational environment to inspire our Guests to make progress on their spiritual path.

Ritam is a spiritual oasis where our Guests can find rest, refreshment, rejuvenation, inspiration, and then, reset their course.

The dynamic silence present at Ritam supports the transformative breakthroughs and progress our Guests may experience during the Retreat. Each morning, our Guest's ability to see their way forward will be expanded by the Yagam Pooja. The afternoon Mastermind Visioning sessions will be flexibly responsive to our Guests’ needs and will also assist them to surface issues, sharing their complexities, and accepting opportunities for creative solutions to be born.

Ritam's Unique Process

Two sutras referred to in the ancient compilation of yogic wisdom called The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali inform our unique process:

distinction between intellect and transcendence; and
transcendence and intuition.

We reference these two sutras in the Mastermind Visioning, as both the intellect and the intuition of each of our Guests will have been enhanced as a result of the morning Yagam Pooja, regarding their capacity to envision their next steps on their paths.

At Ritam, we use the mastermind principle, first enunciated by Napoleon Hill, who stated, "No two minds ever come together, in harmony, without thereby creating a third invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind - a mastermind."

During the Mastermind Visioning, our Guests will work together collaboratively on their respective issues, thereby creating a third presence that adds to their vision-creating capacity.

Each of us has to do our own work, but that, in itself, may not be enough. When we allow more than our own individual perspective to be brought to bear on any challenge we may face, an effective solution often surfaces.

Yagam Pooja

The Alchemy of Pooja

Why do we perform Yagam Poojas? To feed the devas and thereby serve Nature.

Sri Sakthi Amma, teaches that the devas are the administrators of the set rules of life in the world. They function on behalf of the Divine here on Earth. We, as humans, have the greatest privilege and duty of performing Yagam Poojas, because the holy smoke from the fire sustains the devas.

There is a system of reciprocity, or give and take, between us humans and the devas. The word yagam comes from the Sanskrit word yajana, meaning giving – humans giving to the devas. We give to the devas through our offerings into the Yagam Pooja fire and thereby the devas are fed; nourished through the smoke produced from the fire. In turn, the devas bless us, and support and keep the world in balance. Whatever is provided to the devas through the smoke of the Yagam Pooja fire benefits and yields to us and the world much more than what has been given.

Another name for Yagam Pooja is kama-dhenu, meaning one who bestows – someone who grants you what you need. Only humans are able to bestow upon or provide for the devas, through creating the holy smoke of a Yagam Pooja fire.

The devas have form but they do not have a physical body. Since devas are in astral form, their food likewise must come to them in an astral form as holy smoke from the Yagam Pooja fire. When we perform a Yagam Pooja, we attract the devas by our chanting. Whenever and wherever a Yagam Pooja takes place, the devas will converge at that place and accept what is offered.

The devas require us to understand and perform Yagam Poojas in a proper and disciplined manner. For a Yagam Pooja, we do not use just any sort of offering: we use flowers; specific foods and herbs; and ghee (clarified butter). This mixture of flowers, foods, herbs and ghee, offered to a Yagam Pooja fire, creates a holy smoke, which feeds and nourishes the devas.

Pooja means to perform with flowers.

The Divine is embodied in a Yagam Pooja fire. A flower offering symbolizes the flower of our heart, which is our soul. When we perform a Yagam Pooja, we are offering our soul energy, with devotion, to the Divine. As we perform Yagam Poojas regularly and continuously, day after day, gradually our ritual becomes a source of Divine energy for us.

Even though we perform Yagam Poojas physically, during that time we are also thinking of the Divine by being mindful in our actions and by chanting Divine names. Externally, it appears that we are doing a physical action; however, throughout the duration of the Yagam Pooja, our consciousness is actually on the Divine.

Yagam Poojas allow us to connect our soul with the Divine.

Changing everything into itself is the specialty of fire. When we make offerings into a Yagam Pooja fire, it will burn them to ashes. Whatever we want to offer to the Divine, we can do through a Yagam Pooja, which then allows the Divine to accept it immediately.

The great secret is that the Divine is close; the Divine is within us. We do not need to go searching here and there for the Divine. Whenever we are performing a Yagam Pooja, it is good to remember that we are making our offerings to the Divine within us.

We are a part of the Divine through our soul. Bringing the Divine and our individual soul together is like mixing water with water; they will mix. A Yagam Pooja attracts the Divine; by experiencing a Yagam Pooja, our soul is able to connect with the Divine.

Performing Yagam Poojas is a way of lovingly giving back to the Divine what has already been given to us. Indeed, everything we offer into the Yagam Pooja fire has come from the Divine. It is the love and devotion (our bhakthi) with which we make our offerings to the fire that matters to the Divine. When we give a gift, it is not the gift itself, but the thought behind the gift that brings happiness to the recipient. The thoughts, "I want to make this offering, and I want to perform a Yagam Pooja", make the Divine happy.

Aarthi

Dispel the Darkness

We all want peace, happiness, and a problem-free life. Sri Sakthi Amma teaches that in our life, there will always be problems and difficulties which disturb our peace and happiness and that, according to the Law of Karma, even though we may try to live our life without harming anyone, or otherwise doing wrong, we may have produced negative karma in our previous life through our actions. The negative karma from our previous life has followed us and comes back to us in this lifetime in the form of problems and difficulties. There is a solution for this. Through the grace and blessings of the Divine, our difficulties and problems can be reduced or even wiped clean. Just as the paper burns in a fire, our difficulties will become less with the Divine's grace and blessings.

There are several ways to receive the Divine's grace and blessings in our lives, one of which is through Aarthi, or Ghee Lamp Pooja.

The unique feature of Aarthi is agni (fire), using ghee as its fuel. The flame from the Aarthi lamp produces jyoti, which is the light of the Divine.

If a room is dark, we turn on a light. Similarly, to dispel any darkness which we may be experiencing in our life due to problems and difficulties besetting us, we can perform Aarthi, the divine light from which will dispel the darkness caused by the negative karma we created in our previous lifetime.

Whatever we offer into a fire will be burned. Likewise, when we offer our negative karma and everything else that is negative about us to the jyoti light of Aarthi, they will be burned by the sacred flame and in their place, the Divine will bless us with positive thoughts and energy and our lives will be much better. We may be experiencing difficulties because of the past negative karma of our previous life, but when this negative karma has been burned or wiped clean by the jyoti light of Aarthi, we will not be distressed any further.

Theertham

Strength for the Soul

Water has the special feature of changing into what has been added to it. For example, a few drops of rose essence will change plain water into scented rosewater. Among all the five elements, only water has this characteristic of changing according to what has been added to it.

As part of a Yagam Pooja ceremony, ordinary water is added to a metal pot, called a kalasam, and a coconut is placed on top of the pot. The pot and the coconut are decorated in a certain fashion; this combination is referred to as a purna kalasam and is a representation of the Divine.

To infuse divine energy into the water in the kalasam, a Yagam Pooja is performed, with mantras being chanted to the Divine. The energy from the mantras goes into the kalasam and also into the water, transforming the plain water into sacred water or theertham.

Drinking theertham from a kalasam, activated by a Yagam Pooja and the chanting of mantras, provides us with the divine energy contained within the theertham, producing a calming effect on us; and also, we gain strength and courage therefrom.

Even if we only consume a small drop of theertham, our difficulties will be reduced or perhaps may even vanish.

As a doctor will only draw the required amount of medicine for your medical condition and not use the entire bottle, the theertham produced from a Yagam Pooja has the same effect on us, whether we consume a drop or a tablespoon.

Meditation

At Ritam, we practise Transcendental Meditation (TM), a form of mantra meditation originating in Vedic times of ancient India and modernized through the innovation of the enlightened sage, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

When a meditator sits comfortably, with eyes closed, their attention is turned inward through the use of a mantra. Mantra is a Sanskrit word, defined as a sound whose effect is known to the yogis. Jumping, random, interrupting thoughts, a common feature of mental functioning, become less attractive during meditation, as the mind prefers the sound of the mantra. As one meditates, silently repeating the mantra and without being caused any strain, one’s mind is easily and naturally drawn toward subtler levels of the sound of the mantra, until one’s mind transcends the level of conscious thought to emerge into transcendental consciousness, where one is conscious but there are no thoughts; a state of pure consciousness. Transcendental consciousness is not ordinarily available to one’s conscious mind, except through the practice of the technique of TM.

Transcendental consciousness has been scientifically identified as a fourth state of consciousness, with its own characteristics, separate from waking, sleeping and dreaming, each of which have their own distinct characteristics.

In the Vedic philospohy, consciousness is considered to be the source of all creation; it is fundamental to material reality, not derivative; it permeates all of material creation. Thought impulses, having their source in pure consciousness, become more manifest when approaching the conscious level of the mind, so that they can be appreciated as a thought. Once a thought reaches the conscious level of the mind, it develops into speech and action. During TM, the process is reversed, whereby a meditator takes a conscious thought, the mantra, and follows it back to the source of thought, being transcendental consciousness.

After meditating, a meditator returns to wakefulness, and brings back with them some of the pure consciousness they just experienced, which enhances their living experience in all respects. This beneficial effect of accessing pure consciousness is cumulative over time. With regular practice of meditation, pure consciousness gradually becomes permanently established in the meditator’s awareness, whether the meditator is awake, sleeping or dreaming; this is called cosmic consciousness and is potentially available to everyone.

Each morning our Guests will have an opportunity to sit quietly together and absorb the profound impact of the Vedic ceremonies which have just been performed, including Yagam Pooja, Aarthi and Theertham, and during that time, they will be able to practise their individual meditation styles or sit in silence and appreciate the moment.

If any of our Guests wish to be instructed in TM, we can arrange a supplement to the Retreat to accomodate their instruction.

There are further higher states of consciousness available to meditators, but they are beyond the immediate scope and focus of the Retreat; however, we will discuss and explore the benefits of meditation with our Guests, as opportunities arise during the Retreat. We welcome meditators of all styles, as well as non-meditators, to the Retreat.

Yoga

Achieve Greater Control

The practice of yoga asanas, or poses, allows yogis to achieve greater control over their entire body and nervous system. When our Guests attend Yoga sessions during the Retreat, their yoga asanas practice will be supplemented with the addition of gong/crystal bowl soundings by Ritam’s gong master. An effect of adding the soundings of Ritam’s three gongs and five alchemy crystal bowls, specially selected for their individual frequencies, during the Retreat’s Yoga session, will be to naturally extend the length of time each yoga asana is held. Our Guests will experience new awareness and understanding, of their bodies and how they are being affected by their yoga practice. Enhanced energy flows will be released, producing in our Guests greater sensitivity in all areas of their bodies, senses and minds and the improvement of the physical condition of every part of their body. The physical slowing down of their performance of yoga asanas, as a result of the supplementation of the gong/crystal bowl soundings during their Yoga sessions, will also help our Guests develop their ability to listen intuitively to their bodies, and begin cultivating a wisdom beyond the intellect.

At various venues located on Ritam’s grounds, whether in the forest at the sacred fire circle, or by the waterfalls or along the creek, in the open fields, or within the profound silence of the Main Lodge, with each successive Yoga session over the course of the Retreat, our Guests will more easily release deeper symbolic and mystical expressions. These will be in alignment with what their bodies and nervous systems are capable of supporting. Experiences during the Yoga sessions will be different for each of our Guests, depending on their level of proficiency in practising yoga asanas but each will have the opportunity for expansion and growth as a result of this valuable opportunity.

Sound Therapy

Sound is Energy

The Retreat’s Sound Therapy sessions, held in Ritam’s specially designed Sound Therapy Studio, envelop our Guests with the emanation of waves of harmonic sounds produced from our specially selected alchemy crystal bowls and gongs.

Everything is energy. Sound is energy in the form of frequency and vibration. During the Sound Therapy sessions, the dynamic energy transmitted by the sounds and vibrations of the crystal bowls and gongs, being played together, produce a sense of deep relaxation and peace in our Guests, which help them reset, rejuvenate and energize their minds and bodies.

During each Sound Therapy session offered at the Retreat, our Guests will enjoy beautiful, harmonic and soothing sounds produced by the playing of crystal bowls and gongs by Ritam’s gong master; it is as though the sound vibrations enter into their bodies, decreasing any entropy or disorder that may be present, and increasing order and healing.

Sound Therapy relaxes the brain and relieves tension and stress in those of the body’s tissues and cells that may have been damaged or have otherwise fallen into disharmony. Each person has a unique vibrational signature that reflects their level of health and well-being. If our bodies or mentalities have fallen out of vibrational harmony due to the wear and tear, stress and negativity that everyday life has exposed them to, blockages may occur. In more developed stages, these blockages can manifest as illness and disease in our physical bodies or distress and breakdown in our mental or emotional states.

Sound Therapy can help shift our body’s energy to higher frequencies, resulting in us having a greater sense of well-being, more energy and better physical health overall. As an additional element to the Sound Therapy session, the sounds and vibrations produced by the crystal bowls and gongs will be coupled with healing intentions by Ritam’s gong master towards our Guests, as well as an intention of ease and peace which will be instilled in our Guests at the beginning of each Sound Therapy session, thereby further raising our Guests’ vibrational frequencies, and in turn, helping to alleviate any inner tensions or lack of ease they may be experiencing.

Crystal Bowl Visualization

During Crystal Bowl Therapy, waves of harmonic sound, emanating from a crystal bowl, envelop and surround your body. Crystal Bowl Therapy relaxes your brain and relieves tension in your body, and soothes those tissues and cells which have fallen into disharmony, while energizing and cleansing your chakras. These extremely beneficial effects stem from the immense power of sound and vibration to bring a sense of relaxation and peace, which resets and rejuvenates your mind and body.

Combining Crystal Bowl Therapy with Creative Visualization

A very powerful exercise which our Guests will experience at the Retreat is the Crystal Bowl Visualization, which is a combination of Crystal Bowl Therapy and Creative Visualization. The Crystal Bowl Visualization, which takes place at the end of the Retreat day, will allow our Guests to rest, while capturing images of their progress in their spiritual process and journey. The visualizations take place in the specially designed Energy Room, where our Guests will lie on mats in Shavasana pose.

To begin their Retreat, as they look forward during their first Crystal Bowl Visualization, our Guests will project their intentions and goals. The visualizations over the next days will allow our Guests to capture their individual experiences, learning and insights of each day from theYagam Pooja; the Mastermind Visioning; and any other significant happenings that may have occured for them.

During the Crystal Bowl Visualization, our Guests' attention ideally will be on their immediately preceding experiences, so they stay present in their Retreat process.

The Facilitator will set up a movie theatre scenario, where three screens, one at a time, are visualized in the minds of our Guests. The content of the screens is totally under the control of each Guest, within the guidelines set by the Facilitator. Once the three screens have been completed, our Guests will be gently brought back to record the content of their three screens in their workbook. In this way, our Guests can stay up to date with and build upon their progress and growth as they move through each day of the Retreat.

Shinrin-Yoku

Shinrin-Yoku, translated into English as ‘forest bathing', means taking in the forest atmosphere during a leisurely walk. Shinrin-Yoku was developed in Japan during the 1980s, becoming a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. The health benefits of spending time amongst the trees include calming neuro-psychological effects through changes in the nervous system, reducing the stress hormone, cortisol, and boosting the immune system.

Reductions in stress, anger, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness ensue; blood pressure drops, stress levels are reduced and concentration and mental clarity improve.

You will have time each day to enjoy Shinrin-Yoku on Ritam's grounds, to supplement the effects of the other Retreat activities.

Ganesha Package

The Ganesha Retreat Package is limited to a maximun of six Guests and is for those who wish to spend five days with a group of other spiritual aspirants seeking to connect with the Divine through the structured program offerings at Ritam Spiritual Retreat. Each morning of the Retreat there will be a Yagam Pooja, followed by a silent meditation, Aarthi (ghee lamp ritual) and the sharing of Theertham (divinely infused water); in the afternoons, our Guests will participate in Mastermind Visioning, followed by a Crystal Bowl Visualization to capture their learning and experiences.

Light refreshments will be provided each morning before the Retreat offerings begin, and lunch will be catered to each of our Guest's specifications and served in Ritam’s dining room.

During their five days of the Retreat, our Guests will be able to explore the many features of Ritam’s grounds and facilities as well as enjoying Shinrin - Yoku in Ritam's magical forest.

Particulars of the Ganesha Retreat Package are:

Transit from Calgary International Airport to The Crossing at Ghost River and from The Crossing at Ghost River to Calgary International Airport
6 nights accommodation at The Crossing at Ghost River
Arrive at The Crossing on Sunday after lunch and depart on the following Saturday after breakfast
Single Room Occupancy
5 days of Retreat programming at Ritam Spiritual Retreat
Retreat Welcome Package
Retreat Attire

Saraswati Package

The Saraswati Retreat Package is for those who seek solitude over a period of six days, in a tranquil setting, supported by Ritam’s Main Lodge. The Saraswati Retreat Package is a solo experience, limited to one person, with accomodation in the Rustic Red Shack on Ritam’s grounds. It is a time to be in quiet solitary communion with divine energies connecting at Ritam. The opportunity for alone time allows for a deepened experience for spiritual seekers to engage directly with their own journey; and to pursue their questions and expressions through contemplation, art, music, writing or other representations, as they are created and refined. We are open to supporting any other self-directed retreat program our Guests may wish to propose.

Our Saraswati Retreat Package Guests are welcome to take part in Ritam’s daily spiritual activities, offered each morning and afternoon, including the Yagam Poojas and Group Meditations; otherwise, our Guests can enjoy their time on their own, uninterrupted by any superimposed schedule.

During their five days of the Retreat, our Guests will be able to explore the many features of Ritam’s grounds and facilities as well as enjoying Shinrin - Yoku in Ritam's magical forest.

The particulars of the Saraswati Retreat Package are:

Transit from Calgary International Airport to Ritam Spiritual Retreat and from Ritam Spiritual Retreat to Calgary International Airport
6 nights at Ritam Spiritual Retreat
Arrive at Ritam on Sunday after lunch and depart Ritam on the following Saturday after breakfast
Occupancy in "The Rustic Red Shack"
5 days of solitude
Breakfast, lunch and supper provided by the Main Lodge, enjoyed in the Rustic Red Shack
Morning Yagam Poojas
Afternoon Group Meditation
Ritam Welcome Package
Retreat Attire

Ritam Special Events

News & Updates

Mastermind Visioning

Spiritual seekers yearn for a way to experience connection with their divine source to gain strength and support.

Ritam's Unique Process

Yagam Pooja

The Alchemy of Pooja

Aarthi

Dispel the Darkness

Theertham

Strength for the Soul

Meditation

Yoga

Achieve Greater Control

Sound Therapy

Sound is Energy

Crystal Bowl Visualization

Shinrin-Yoku

Ganesha Package

Particulars of the Ganesha Retreat Package are:

Saraswati Package

The particulars of the Saraswati Retreat Package are:

Chinese Gongs

Chinese Gongs

Chinese Gongs

Chinese Gongs

Tibetan Singing Bowls

Tibetan Singing Bowls

Alchemy Crystal Bowl

Alchemy Crystal Bowl

Sword Forks

Sword Forks

Tuning Forks

Tuning Forks

Sound Baths

Sound Baths

Holistic Massage

Holistic Massage

Cupping

Cupping

Hot Rocks

Hot Rocks

Marma Therapy

Marma Therapy

Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Reiki

Reiki

Healing Touch

Healing Touch

Visualization

Visualization

Aroma Therapy

Aroma Therapy

Chrome Therapy

Chrome Therapy

Covid - 19 Measures

Chinese Gongs