From caterpillar to butterfly by the power of nature and silence

I love to travel to the desert of Sinai. Where I go by foot or camel. With cooking gear, a sleeping bag and an awesome group of bedouins that know everything about the desert. And with Joyce (or Subheya as the Bedouin call her ) who lives among the Bedouin with her family of camels and is the founder of DesertJoy. DesertJoy welcomes groups of people to travel by camel through the desert, near Dahab, the area of the Muzziena Bedouin tribe.

It is like entering the centre of the earth. My phone does not work. There’s no electricity. there’s no noise except from the camels and the wind. ( ok, a jeep can be heard on occasions ;-)) 

There is only nature, nature in its grand form. That totally surrounds you and does not seem to give a shit about who you are and your little mind that has a million thoughts.

I bring a book. And I never read. I don’t meditate. I do not do yoga, I don’t drink a glass of wine to feel relaxed. I just wander, eat, sit, stare at the fire, talk with people who are with me, go to sleep when it is dark, wake up when it is light.

The first time I was there it took some days but now after doing a few desert trips, as soon as the Jeep goes offroad I start to cry a little. I feel so relieved. Relieved I can let go of my busy life, to let go of my monkey mind, to let go of all my comfort and of all stuff I think I need. Like a shower or a bed. 

The day is about eating, packing, riding, wandering, eating, packing, rinding, eating, sleeping and eating again. 

It is a rhythm I love. 

It brings you to a place where you are just you. 

After a week, I feel and look different. Like I have been washed. My eyes are brighter. My skin feels softer. And of all the things that seemed important before, only my family and friends are left. I need some time to reconnect to the loud and busy world. And I look at it with different eyes. Usually I change my habits when I come back. Or make a choice that had to be made for a long time. 

This spring, 2nd till the 9th of March 2020, I will deepen my Desert experience, by making it a Rite of Passage program guided by me and my beautiful & wise friends Annemieke and Jeroen.

A trip that will calm you, challenge you, and invite you to let go of all that is not needed anymore. We offer a program that carefully takes you through the steps of transformation. 

The intention of a rite of passage is to give a new sense of purpose and meaning; a way to bring completion to the old and the freedom to embrace the new. We will go through the steps of a framework that follows the steps that all Rites of Passage have in common and we will adjust it to today’s world and needs. In this way a Rite of Passage helps you to move fully through life’s natural cycles of decay and renewal. And celebrates all your beautiful unique talents. It will end with giving you the ability to take what you have experienced back home to be integrated into your own context.

If you have gone through intense changes in your life or if you feel you have changes to make but don’t know how, if you are looking for a deeper connection with yourself at this point in your life, if you are looking for a way to deepen your sense of purpose and personal leadership, if you want to understand change and transformation to help others, this trip is for you.

If you want go from caterpillar to butterfly powered by the beautiful nature and silence of the Sinai desert; you are invited. 

Love Nynke

P.s: For questions or more info on what the program entails drop me line in the comments :-)