THE RETREAT — E-BOOK
From a mind-driven life to inner connection
The Retreat is a personal account by Niels van der Valk, founder of Elevated Mind Retreats, reflecting on a three-day retreat experience that challenged long-held patterns and opened the door to deeper self-connection.
Through breathwork, a guided psilocybin ceremony, ice baths, and a sweat lodge, Niels stepped beyond the constant activity of the mind and into a more embodied way of being. These experiences did not offer instant answers, but they did create space — space for insight, honesty, and meaningful change.
The reflections and insights from this retreat became the foundation for Elevated Mind Retreats and Breath Inspiration, where psilocybin retreats and conscious breathwork are offered within a safe, supportive, and carefully structured environment in the Netherlands.
Written with openness and subtle humour, The Retreat explores what it means to truly do the work. Alongside personal reflection, the book includes simple exercises that invite you to explore presence, awareness, and inner connection — at your own pace, and from the comfort of home.
