Sound has been used as a healing tool throughout all cultures around the globe to bring communities together, to help raise energy and to dive deeply into their inner journey for personal healing. This interactive retreat is an introduction to meditation and the five elements using experiential sound and music to open participants to a deeper understanding of themselves, their connection to nature and appreciation of their own gifts.
Buddhist temples are designed to symbolize the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Your facilitators will encourage you to expand your awareness and harmonize your relationship with all of nature, both within yourself and all around us through these elements. It is with this full awareness of both our inner nature and connection to ‘mother’ nature that we can engage and be fully present in the moment and in our lives.
Participants will be introduced to the five elements through a variety of ways; meditative walks in nature, classical music, sound journey experiences, co-creative sound experiences, ceremony, self-directed movement, working with the intuitive voice, Bija seed sounds and resonance. Throughout this retreat participants will be encouraged to explore creative ways of incorporating the five elements into their own personal practice through an exploration of the arts including meditation, drawing, creating personal mandalas, ritual, journaling and self-directed movement. All can be used to deepen one’s meditative practice.
Please note that this is not a silent retreat, rather it includes open ‘wisdom’ sharing circles where participation is expected. This naturally opens greater compassion for others when working together in community for the betterment of all beings, both sentient and non-sentient.
Participants list of materials to bring:
Writing, colouring pencils/crayon materials for journaling and mandala drawing.
Participants will be encouraged to set intentions for their weekend of work so please bring along a significant article to place and be energized on the five element altar throughout the weekend.
Your guides through this journey are Steven Gellman and Ann-Marie Boudreau:
Steven Gellman is a renowned Canadian Composer, pianist and educator, now retired as Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa. He has been a practitioner of Dharma and Meditation for 50 years, since first meeting his Root Teacher, Namgyal Rinpoche. He received his Dharma training from Namgyal Rinpoche in courses, meditation retreats and empowerments as well as in travels around the world with him. He and his wife, Cheryl, received teachings, empowerments and the Lama Couple ordination from H.H. the 16th Karmapa, as well as from Namgyal Rinpoche. He has also studied and worked with Tarchin, Chorpel Dolma, Cecily Kwiat and Lama Mark Webber, as well as regularly deepening his practice in solo meditation retreats.
Steven has been teaching meditation in both Theravada and Vajrayana traditions for the last 30 years. In addition to offering guidance in meditation retreats, Steven regularly co-teaches with Ann-Marie Boudreau in retreats on Transcendent Sound, Music and Meditation. He also co-taught courses with Namgyal Rinpoche on the subject: Music and the Transcendental.
Steven’s approach to teaching is as a spiritual friend. His gentle presence and love and knowledge of Dharma help people to better understand and deepen their own practice. For more information on Steven Gellman the composer and to listen to his music please visit his website: stevengellman.com
Ann-Marie Boudreau is dedicated to working with communities and individuals to enable them on their personal journeys toward self-realization and fulfillment addressing the needs of the soul, spirit and human experience. “In our effort to communicate with the larger part of life we can lose touch with our natural ability to express ourselves.”
Ann-Marie trained as a Classical Concert Pianist with the Royal Conservatory of Music gaining her ARCT, along with training in India on the Sitar and Voice. She also trained and assisted in teaching Gary Diggins’ Soundwork as Soulwork program during its inaugural year at TAC for soundwork practitioners. She is a Sound Doula, Soundwork Practitioner, multi-instrumentalist, improvisational and intuitive vocalist, Reiki Master, composer, recording artist and painter. Along with her private sound practice, she was a faculty member of the Transformational Arts College for 10 years where she taught their sound healing programs and in their Spiritual Director program on Death & Dying and Ritual.
One of the co-Founders of the Music Can Heal Organization, Ann-Marie also brings her music and compassionate care to her bedside work in hospices, hospitals, residences and palliative care facilities in support of individuals facing long-term and terminal illness: https://www.musiccanheal.org You Tube Channel: @ann-marieboudreau8570
Important Details
When: April 24-27, 2026
Rates: $414 - non members $375 - members
(To find out how to become a member please visit our membership page)
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Steven and Ann-Marie are sharing their experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:
What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation policy:
All cancellation are subject to a fee of $100. These funds will support other low income practitioner (Practitioner Support Fund).
Loss of 50% of deposit if cancel within 14 days ( = 25% of the retreat cost) – Funds to go into the Renewal Project (Uplifted Property Fund)