Mythomorphosis

‘Mythomorphosis’, a 7 day program, is a unique journey crafted with love by weaving what we could call ‘Personal Myth’ - an identity rooted in Soul’s unfoldings; and ‘Metamorphosis’ - the ongoing process of human development, transformation and maturation. 

OUR PERSONAL MYTH or our Mythopoetic Identity holds the body of truth that lives in the depths of who we are and that shapes things like ‘who am I?’; ‘why am I here?’, ‘what is the world?’ ‘what is the purpose of life?’; ‘what is my role in the world?’, ‘where do I truly belong?’ The Personal Myth tells us that there is a story beneath the story of the every-day life, a story which is filled with magic, mystery, potency and a deep sense of belonging. 

OUR SMALL STORY is the one that hasn’t embraced the wisdom of wholeness and the glimpse of Soul which is required for true maturity. The small story is the one keeping us stuck in a narrow perspective from which we can easily identify with our wounded or immature parts. From this place we are captured under the regime of our current Western culture that disappoints us with meaningless and unfulfilling answers. 

PERSONAL MYTH invites us to live a symbolic life: enriches our lives with images, metaphors and archetypes that, when we embrace and follow, feed our need to live from a wider, cosmic sourced-based perspective. To live as mythical characters, with divine powers and qualities and with courage and passion which transcend the bloodless, apathetic life. Living from this place of our mythopoetic identity means embracing life with responsibility and dedication to fulfilling our Soul's desire in service for Earth and the greater web of life. 

While being in the wild splendors of Apuseni mountains, we will grasp our inspiration from the outer landscapes, while journeying inwards, on a descent into the wild terrain of the self, where identity is questioned, creativity stirred awake, and fresh ways of perceiving begin to take shape. In this sacred gathering, we invite you to step into a space where your transformation is kindled through personal and mythic story, nature and the wisdom of the more than human ones surrounding us.

The program includes:

MYTHOPOETIC IDENTITY & THE NATURE-BASED MAP OF WHOLENESS

This journey will invite you to step into the depths of self-discovery, guided by the wisdom of myth, archetypes and nature-based consciousness. Rooted in eco-centric development, this approach helps us understand human wholeness as a dynamic interplay of inner and outer landscapes. Through storytelling, symbolic exploration, and deep nature connection, we will uncover hidden aspects of ourselves, embracing both light and shadow. By mapping our experiences onto the larger web of life, we will learn to navigate personal transformation with authenticity and inclusivity, awakening a sense of belonging within ourselves and the natural world.

CREATIVE-EXPRESSIVE ARTS

Creativity is a bridge between and as well towards our inner world and the collective experience. Through various practices participants will be invited to weave together storytelling, poetry, movement, visual art, and embodied expression as pathways to self-exploration. Through these diverse modalities, we will engage in a deeper dialogue with our emotions, identities, and lived experiences. By allowing creative flow to emerge without judgment, we will tap into an intuitive sense of self, breaking down barriers to inclusion and connection. This process nurtures both personal and communal transformation, offering a space where authenticity is seen, honored, and expressed in its fullest form.

THE GUIDES of this journey:

SANDRA HOREA: Sandra is a soul initiation guide and mentor to the depths who wholeheartedly invites people to be in intimate and meaningful conversations with their Soul. She calls humans to fall in love and be in relationship with Mystery, Eros, Death, Soul and live their larger story delivering their gift to the hungry world. As a guide, she creates deep purposeful spaces of inner-discoveries incorporating in her work her experience regarding depth psychology and soul-based practices, eco-centric development, embodiment, storytelling, poetry and deep imagination. She has a wide experience of 13 years in working with youth and adults in facilitating spaces of personal and community transformation. She graduated the Wild Mind Program (focusing on eco-depth psychology of wholing and healing) at Bill Plotkin’s Animas Valley Institute in the USA. At the moment she is intensively studying Soul Initiation Guiding Apprenticeship and Initiation Program (SAIP) within the same organization, an in-depth study of soul-initiation practices and guiding skills.

LELDE GUSTA (Apprentice Guide) Lelde is a facilitator, artist, and space-holder from Latvia, dedicated to the transformative power of art, community, and nature-based practices. With over eight years of experience in international projects, she crafts immersive experiences where creativity and deep reflection foster authentic connection and personal growth. As an artist, Lelde designs workshops for local communities, exploring the interplay between spaces and human interaction. She creates opportunities for artists to express themselves, be seen, and embrace their gifts without hesitation—curating exhibitions and artistic gatherings that nurture both transformations and self-exploration. Deeply engaged in continuous learning, she has participated in multiple Anima Valley courses and remains passionate about expanding her knowledge. She is also apprenticing Pirts—the traditional Latvian sauna practice—seeking to reconnect with ancestral wisdom and the profound power of contrasts.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: This 7-day training course is part of an Erasmus+ project, designed for youth workers from Latvia and Romania. A total of 18 participants (9 from each country). 

Who can participate?

Human beings who feel called by the depths of this program, youth workers, youth group leaders, activists, active community leaders who are eager to develop themselves by exploring their depths and bring the treasures they will find in a resourceful way back to their communities, to inspire and nurture themselves and others. 

The participants must be over 18 years and have a good level of English.

Participants can apply to this training with a legal residency in LATVIA and ROMANIA. 

Travel Information: The main and closest city to arrive in Romania is Cluj-Napoca.

For Latvian participants: The maximum budget for travel is 300 EUR with a highly encouraged focus on opting on sustainable travel options whenever possible (bus, train, carpooling). 

All participants (including Romanian participants) will be provided with transportation from Cluj-Napoca to the venue of our program, Valea Ierii. 

When and Where? Dates: 23th of June – 1th of July 2025

23th of June – Arrival day in Cluj-Napoca and travel to the venue of our program

24st – 30th June– Full program days

1th July – Departure day

Location: Caps, Valea Ierii, Cluj, Romania. Nestled at the foot of the Apuseni Mountains in Romania, this landscape beckons you into a quiet sanctuary of reflection, healing and renewal. Kilometres of secluded, ever-shifting terrain - deep valleys and shadowed forests - unfold in pristine, untamed beauty, home to bear, wolf, fox and hawk. All of it set to the timeless song of the Iara Creek, weaving its melody through the wild.