In Ancient Greece, there were four words for love… Eros, Agape, Storge and Philia. Philia stood for deep friendship and affection. It represented a mutual heart to heart connection that gave rise to fondness between people. Aristotle considered philia to be a necessary ingredient for happiness. He was quoted as having said, “no one would choose to live without friends even if he had all the other
goods”. Philia, as the name suggests is a sacred space where healing occurs first and foremost through connection. It is our intention that at Philia, each person will experience new depths of interpersonal connection, emotional intimacy and relationship. In today’s fast paced and abrasive world, most of us spend our time on guard. We cannot truly be ourselves and let others really see into us because we don’t feel emotionally safe around other people.Philia is a place where people can be emotionally safe enough to dropping their masks and allow their full vulnerability to surface and to be held by others. As a result, by visiting Philia you are opening yourself up to genuine heart to heart connections and friendships that can last a lifetime with both other guests and the people who live and work at Philia.The staff at Philia are all trained to be completely emotionally present with all guests as well as to facilitate The Completion Process. Many people who visit Philia, come to take a break from life. However, we often find that we end up taking all of our emotional baggage on vacation with us too. This is expected at Philia. At Philia, when emotional triggers surface, our certified practitioners will lovingly support you and guide you through the past trauma that is surfacing so that you can create a new life as a result, free from limited beliefs and fears.Philia is an epicenter for sharing some of the most advanced spiritual knowledge, practices and programs. At Philia, we also cater to your physical health with nutritious and invigorating vegan meals that limit the contribution to suffering on our planet. Located in beautiful Central America, in addition to our own practices, programs and activities, Philia is located in Atenas, Costa Rica that is known to have the best Climate in the world according to a 1994 issue of National Geographic. It is a place with outstanding views where all life flourishes, whether it be human, animal, mineral or vegetal. We offer access to many other activities that are unique to Costa Rica such as canyoneering, hiking, scuba diving, rain forest adventures, zip lining and rafting. As well as the opportunity to explore local beaches, hot springs and the incredibly diverse and exotic wildlife that call Costa Rica home. Philia was created by the Spiritual Luminary, Teal Swan and her husband Ale. Their vision was to build a retreat where people could awaken, heal and come alive in an atmosphere that is centered on human connection. Today, that vision is a reality. Come and join in our dream today.
