Daily Activities at the Tree of Life
"Cousens' innovative, holistic vision at the Tree of Life attracts the attention of anyone concerned with living more consciously."
- East West Journal
The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center offers daily, weekly and specially scheduled program activities as a part of every Tree of Life program, whereby guests experience the Culture of Life first hand. The "Tree of Life Daily Activities" are the foundational activities for all our breaks, retreats and workshops (365 days per year). These activities – available to everyone staying at the center – are the "Culture of Life" that inspire rejuvenation, healing & transformation. Delicious, organic live foods and juices are a part of every program at The Tree of Life. A healthy lifestyle is the primary focus of Tree of Life’s Rejuvenation programs, which teach healthy organic eating habits and activities of daily living that inspire a spiritual life. You will also find inspiration and wonder in the high desert enhanced by this lifestyle approach to whole person awakening. Partaking in the "Culture of Life" allows freedom to cultivate valuable skills and perspectives that will empower you to return home and continue living in a way that supports a life of joy and inner peace.
The following activities are the basis of ALL Tree of Life Programs
Guest Services Orientation & Welcome When you arrive at the Oasis (our main office facilities) our Guest Services staff will greet you. They are here to answer any questions about your stay. They are also committed to supporting your entire journey and will help you meet any needs. It may be helpful to answer the Guest Intention Form before you come to help you create your experience. The Tree of Life Facilities are 166 acres of high desert mesa with spectacular views and great hiking on our property. The Tree of Life land also borders the Coronado National Forest and its land flows from the majestic 6,300’ Red Mountain. We have a variety of marked hiking trails. Walking is healing for the brain and body. The Tree of Life is intentionally designed to encourage your walking the moderate distances between locations. If this walking is unfeasible for you, please rent a car for your stay.
Daily Offerings
Creating Community – Communion with the Angels Holding space for all the guests, start your day off with intentions! Connecting with the energy of the morning communions, together we'll tap into our greatest potential for the day, while feeling supported by the Tree of Life staff and guests.
Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine The Tree of Life diet is an evolutionary rejuvenating diet of 100% organic, vegan, Kosher, gourmet, international, low-glycemic, live-food, gourmet cuisine prepared to support your healing on all levels. Enjoy this vibrant cuisine in the beautiful, natural setting of the Tree of Life Café. We provide 2-3 meals a day during your stay.
Conscious Living Food Preparation We offer 4 food preparation classes and 1 sprouting class each week to support you in bringing Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine home with you. These include: breakfast recipes, savory foods, fermented foods, and challah. For more in depth food prep skills you may enjoy our Conscious Eating Intensive and Live Food Training.
Kali Ray TriYoga® is a systematic method which includes the full spectrum of traditional Yoga practices. TriYoga’s methodology, “TriYoga Flows,” is the union of postures, breath, and focus (asana, pranayama, and mudra) allowing the inherent Flow to emerge. By the nature of its origin, this trinity practice is deeply meditative, promoting relaxation and inner peace. The method is as therapeutic and gentle or as challenging as desired because the flows are systematized by level. Daily classes are taught in a format that can be modified so that each student, no matter his/her ability, can benefit from the practice. Classes are taught by Shanti GoldsCousens, Senior Instructor of TriYoga, and Tree of Life’s certified Yoga instructors. “Kali Ray TriYoga Flows (Parasara) is a complete Kundalini-inspired, hatha yoga method that is the union of posture, breath and focus—that is, asana, pranayama, and mudra. The art and science of Yogaflow®, TriYoga fundamentals, include relaxation-in-action, wavelike spinal movements and economy of motion. Students increase their knowledge of posture and flow, as well as strength, flexibility, endurance and breath control.” –Kaliji
Sunset Fire Ceremonies (Agni Hotra) Sunset Fire Ceremonies help one attune with the cycle of the day, move into the yin part of the evening, and deeply connect with the living Earth.
Evening Meditations Conscious living in our daily lives is a balance of body, mind, and spirit. As we enter the yin cycle of the day, meditation moves us into the Divine Presence of who we are, reminding us of this essential truth that we often have forgotten during the day. In this 40 minute meditation we collectively create world peace by being peace. (Please see the Peace Every Day Initiative founded by Gabriel, or read 'Creating Peace by Being Peace' by Gabriel, for more information on this practice) Three nights per week, the evening meditation program includes Satsang, a time for spiritual questions and answers with Gabriel and Shanti or one of our Tree of Life Spiritual Teachers.
Spiritual Gardening We offer the opportunity (upon request) to experience getting in touch with the Earth through our Spiritual Gardening and Sacred Landscaping (Nature Farming) lead by our garden manager Patrick.
Labyrinth Enjoy the primordial spiritual experience of the world’s largest Chartres Labyrinth as it helps to guide you to the mystery of your inner world.
Infrared Saunas Infrared uses the same energy produced by the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays, to produce radiant energy that heats the body and helps remove toxins from the tissues. Toxins move into the circulation and are then excreted in the sweat. The infra red sauna heats the body instead of the air, resulting in greater benefit and comfort.
Weekly Offerings
Homa (Fire Ceremony) – Monday Evening Chanting an ancient Sanskrit mantra around a sacred fire creates a powerful vibration that assists us to purify the mind and burn up that which no longer serves us. Followed by Shaktipat/Smicha le’shefa Meditation with Gabriel.
Shaktipat/Smicha le’Shefa Meditation Monday & Friday Evening This is a profound opportunity to awaken the Kundalini energy which is also the ancient Kabalistic-Essene prophetic energy (This energy is the inherent spiritualizing force within each of us that often lies dormant until awakened.) Gabriel has been instructed and empowered by his spiritual teachers to be a vehicle for this potentially life changing initiation and transmission of energy.
Conscious Living Question and Answer Session Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Assists with the integration of your experiences during your program, we include question and answer sessions each week, with Dan Engle, M.D.,.
Yogic Chanting – Wednesday Evening Lead by members of the Tree of Life’s Simcha band. Devotional singing opens our hearts to the Divine using ancient Sanskrit mantras for transformation.
Shamanic Essene-Kabbalistic Shabbat Celebration Friday Evening A mystical enlivening of this ancient profound invocation of the feminine aspect of he Divine (Shekinah). The ceremony is accompanied by ritual, spiritual stories, music, song, and dance with the Simcha band. The ceremony is lead by Gabriel, who received rabbinical initiation by Rabbi Gerson Winkler as a spiritual teacher in the Living Jewish Way. Learn More: Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration page.
Havdallah Meditation and Ceremony – Saturday Evening Marks the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the week. It is a way of setting the intention to live in awakened consciousness throughout the week.
Qigong - Saturday Morning Bagua and Taiji Qigong, beginner and intermediate levels with an emphasis on basic postures, breathing principles, and cultivating steady intention.
Moon & Sun Cycle Offerings New Moon Sweat Lodge (Inipi) A Native American spiritual purification experience in the Lakota tradition lead by “Yellow Horse” (Gabriel’s Lakota name). Call to Learn More about Inipi. Inipi is also part of a 7-day annual ceremony at the Tree, One World Spirit Dance.
Women's Circle (new moon) As women, we gather to honor and invoke the sacred feminine energy (Shekinah) through ritual, poetry, stories, dance, song and sharing of our hearts.
Peace 21 (World Peace Meditation) Held on each equinox and solstice around the globe and here at the Tree of Life. Tree of Life event open to the greater community, no charge.
Yearly Cycle of Jewish Sacred Celebrations All Rosh Chodeshes (New Moons), Rosh HaShanah (1-2 Tishrei), Yom Kippur (10 Tishrei), Sukkot (15-23 Tishrei) (encompassing Hoshanah Rabah, Shmini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah) Lag BaOmer (18 Iyar), Chanukah (25 Kislev – 3 Tevet), Shavuot (6-7 Sivan) Tu B'Shevat (15 Shevat), The Month of Tammuz, Purim (14 Adar), Pesach – Passover (15-22 Nisan) The Month of Elul, Sefirat HaOmer (16 Nisan – 5 Sivan). Facilitators: As part of their purpose in the world, Gabriel and Shanti often travel offering teachings world-wide. While they are away from the Tree, spiritual programs (with the exception of Shaktipat) are facilitated by Gabriel’s Senior Spiritual Students. See also: Special events held by visiting spiritual musicians, speakers, and artists.
Please Note: All of these offerings are subject to variation.