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About Us

Will Pate

WILL

Will is a yoga teacher, bodyworker, and medicine guide who holds space for the collective through movement and musical magic. He has spent the last ten years working on his own healing process by exploring the interweaving worlds of ancient practices and modern understandings of mind-body. Some of the tools he uses to hold space are plant and animal medicine, breath and movement modalities like fascial maneuvers and yoga and sound healing, as well as conscious music creation. Co-creating improvised musical spaces are some of the happiest moments of his life. The ultimate goal for Will is to help create a world with more bliss, clarity and centeredness; with more beings walking around who know and live from their true selves. He has a desire to foster communal connection in nature, offering respite from the frenetic pace of urban living through grounding practices and the guidance of plant allies.

Teagan Rose

Teagan

Teagan is a Certified Somatic Therapist, Movement & Voice Educator, Multidisciplinary Performer, and Creative Arts Witch. She is passionate about building experiences that support a coming home to the body, to the earth, and to creativity. She guides groups and individuals in embodied dance and movement, vocal empowerment, ritual theater, and nervous system tuning. She is the author and photographer behind The Emotional Body Book, the director of the womxn’s ritual theater group, Anima, and one of the producers of Santa Barbara’s ecstatic dance journey, Dance Hive. Her work merges the world of art and somatic healing, with a playful twist of theater-geekery. She continues to be a student of life, and considers Curiosity to be one of our most valuable resources.

Alihan Aslan

Alihan

Alihan is a spiritual guide, certified heart and brain coherence practitioner, and nutritional counselor who embodies the philosophy of "pura vida," meaning "pure life." He specializes in various body purification techniques, including sustainable plant-based and raw diets, as well as juice fasting. Dedicated to nurturing the purity of both mind and body, Alihan supports individuals in reaching higher vibrational states through ceremonies such as cacao, rapé, and meditation. Alongside his spiritual practices, he balances a decade-long career in electrical engineering, seamlessly blending logical wisdom with metaphysical insights to solve complex problems.

Our Story

Gaia Circle brings together individuals on a spiritual journey, challenging the inertia of our modern technological age by reconnecting with ancient heritage and spiritual practices. Our mission is to reintroduce the sacred into daily life through communal gatherings, fostering a profound reconnection with each other and our shared desire for deep spiritual growth.
 

The vision for Gaia Circle emerged from experiences of ceremony, community, and sacred connections...

 

In early 2023, facilitators Will and Alihan met at a breathwork event and felt inspired to create a tribe of like-minded individuals. They began conducting ceremonies, often incorporating tobacco (rapé), where they prayed, sought vision, and received spiritual guidance for the journey ahead. A clear vision soon emerged: to share these transformative experiences with a broader community in serene locations, holding sacred ceremonies and communal singing, aimed at uplifting the Earth's vibration.


Around the same time, Teagan and Will began collaborating on medicine ceremonies in Santa Barbara, offering profound healing experiences through music and plants to their local community. They discovered their synergy as musical creators, weaving together voice, guitar, and handpan regularly, as well as holding song circles for free expression.

 

The idea to unite their experiences and create a retreat where they could collectively hold sacred space took shape. Lake Atitlan in Guatemala quickly became the preferred destination for its potent energy and ancient Mayan Shamanic roots, seen by shamans as a portal to other realms for ancestral worship, healing ceremonies, and meditation.


In March 2024, the team embarked on a scouting trip to Lake Atitlan to find the perfect location for Earth Song retreat. They stumbled upon Sacred Garden in Jabalito, a tranquil village near San Marcos, where they immediately felt the healing energy of the space and were captivated by the panoramic views of the volcanoes from the yoga decks. It was an unmistakable sign that Sacred Garden was destined to be the home of Earth Song.


Our aim is to create nurturing environments where individuals can cultivate a stronger bond with both the Earth and themselves. By integrating various tools and techniques, we facilitate clarity and enhance the ability to listen deeply to one's inner voice and life song. Participants will have ample opportunities to release stagnant energy from their bodies, engage in nature, journaling, and meditation, and restore balance within their systems.

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