YAKAON - A FOREST INITIATION · SACRED SOLITUDE · ANCIENT RITE OF PASSAGE
Brought to life through the collaboration of Stefanie Frank and Andrea Calderon Raincloud.
Within our sacred N.E.S.T. and the ancestral forest of Woodstock, we open YAKAON: an initiation into the living temple of Nature.
Inspired by practices of retreat, silence and passage carried by humanity across cultures for thousands of years, YAKAON calls our ceremonial family—those ready to transform, open the road and step consciously into another time of their lives. For one, two or three days and nights, participants in the forest passage will enter their own sacred place among the trees, where the mind becomes silent, the senses awaken and the memory, wisdom and counsel of the forest may finally be heard.
YAKAON is a Lenape word for “shelter” or “bark house”—a sacred home formed from the forest itself. To enter YAKAON is to return to a place held by Nature: to release what has completed its cycle, remember the power of our lineage and receive clarity for the path ahead. It is a rare privilege to step away from ordinary life and be cared for through an initiation shaped around each person’s own story, transition and present time.
THE CEREMONIAL WEAVING
* Enter the Forest: One, two or three days and nights of sacred solitude, silence and deep listening. Forest solitude is reserved for adult participants and shaped through an individual preparation process.
* Support YAKAON: Become part of the ceremony by caring for the sacred ground, the fire and those crossing through their forest initiation.
* Receive Deep Instruction: Temazcales and purification, ancestral altar teachings, sacred fire and ceremonial circle design, songs, prayer and service.
* Cross the Threshold: Ceremonial diet, deep renewal and reset, initiation, liberation, reclaiming personal power and conscious transition into the life now asking to be lived.
Testimonials:
“Stefanie and Andrea and the entire team were the most hospitable and compassionate people. Andrea is the "Real Deal" and allowed a space for an immense healing to happen within me.
My stay at the N.E.S.T. was incredible. It always is, but this time I allowed for the full immersion experience, and it did not disappoint. These are ALL people that can be trusted to accompany us for our higher good”.
Barron W.
"Going to the Nest is like going home again. It fills my heart, helps me grow, and protects and nurtures me."
Carey T.
Your Guide - Andrea Raincloud- Curandera, Mystic, and Guardian of Ancestral Medicines:
With more than 25 years on the path of ancestral medicine, Andrea Raincloud serves as a guardian of ancient altars and a vital guide in the recovery of ancient wisdom across the Americas and Europe.
Her path is distinguished by a unique ceremonial responsibility: she held the leadership and headship as Woman Drum Chief of the Sun Dance, the only woman in the continent to hold this sacred role. Recognized for her Sacred Awakolla songs and the power of her prayers, Andrea dedicates her life to caring for and preserving the ancient rites of humanity, honoring our ancestors, and upholding the sacred knowledge of the unseen worlds. Her life’s purpose is consecrated to the knowledge of the Spirit and the preservation of the sacred rituality of our humanity.
Listen & Learn more about Andrea:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRiB5pXCVr9/?igsh=cW5pcjVzYzhuaHkx
Your host - Stefanie Frank is the founder and director of ESKFF N.E.S.T., healing arts retreat center.
For more than a decade, she has created transformational experiences rooted in Nature, ceremony, community, and spiritual exploration.
Nature is Stefanie’s primary teacher. Her work is informed by years of learning with wisdom keepers, healers, ceremonial leaders, and traditional practitioners, as well as training through the Four Worlds Talking Circle Leadership Program.
She recently completed a four-year Vision Quest commitment, including periods of fasting and solitude on the sacred land of NEST. This profound experience deepened her relationship with the land and her calling to create spaces for others to experience the healing power of Nature, solitude, and intentional community.
Investment:
We are doing our best to make this seven-day immersion as accessible as possible. Through the N.E.S.T.’s Green Bottle philosophy, we offer community-supported pricing based on a fair exchange, allowing each participant to choose the level that best reflects their circumstances.
Full Week Immersion:
Community Exchange $777
Supporters Exchange $999
Sustainers Exchange $1,222
Partial participation /Daily rate:
$111 Community
$222 Supporters
$333 Sustainers per day.
Important:
This week of Passage & Initiation unfolds at a profound seasonal threshold, coinciding with the Fall Equinox and Yom Kippur—a natural time for reflection, release, renewal, and entering a new cycle.
Complete the application form to get the process started right away and arrange your 1:1 consultation:
Ready to join? Make your commitment by registering now!