Donate
Log In

Chia Om

The Essence is a conscious slow living community, operating a retreat centre in the serene Nature of the Óbidos region in Portugal.

About me

We are a conscious community— united in a life of connection, awareness and simplicity.
Together we inquire into the nature of the mind to remember the root cause of our suffering and pain. We create a space where we can be vulnerable and authentic. By sharing our struggles and reactions openly and honestly, we bring clarity to doubts and find peace with who we are and each moment as it is.
Our Vision
To share the light of awareness with all beings, holding space to support and be supported, now and for generations to come.
Our Mission
We are creating a space where awareness, connection, and presence form the foundation of a conscious way of living.
Through daily practice, reflection and guidance, we cultivate clarity and resilience—supporting the journey of self-realization, self-transformation and a life in harmony with nature, ourselves, and those around us.
About Us
We are grounded in slow living, sharing plant-based meals, and living close to nature and to ourselves. Life here is about being rather than doing. We’ve cultivated a sanctuary where we can stay present, be conscious, and build resilience.
Our Current Phase
Our community currently consists of seven members plus a one-year-old.
We are currently based in Obidos, Portugal, where we focus on building our inner foundation and strengthening our connection through shared living and daily practice.
We host life-awareness retreats and welcome those interested in joining our conscious community. Whether for a short stay or a longer-term commitment, we invite you to grow stronger, connect deeply, and live with authenticity alongside us.
As we grow together, we envision settling on a piece of land in the coming years—a space to nurture a conscious way of life for generations to come, and stay awake.
The Essence – Conscious Community Program
Location: Portugal
Program Type: Immersive Community Living
Discover a life of presence, connection, and growth.
The Essence offers an immersive experience in conscious communal living. This is not a retreat, but a full integration into the daily rhythm of our community—a space where simplicity, shared work, and spiritual growth come together.
You’ll engage in daily meditation, self-inquiry, conscious movement (like Qigong and breathwork), and mindful plant-based eating. Each day is structured to support deep presence, self-reflection, and communal connection.
Who is it for?
This program is for those who feel called to slow down, live simply, and participate fully in shared living. Ideal for individuals interested in self-realization, shared responsibility, and conscious contribution.
Program Structure:
2-week immersion (€1111)
Optional 2-week extension at no extra cost
Pathway to a 3-month residency (€3000 total)
What’s Included:
Shared double-room accommodation
Daily vegan meals and juices
Meditation and movement practices
Group awareness sessions
Time in nature and communal co-creation
This is a space for those who want to live the practice—together.

Languages

  • English
  • German
  • Hebrew

Chia Om

Promoted Needs and Offers

  •
  • Events
10 years ago

Yo Mujer, Yo Ecologico, Yo Gaia

Taller Vivencial de Ecologia Profunda para Mujeres Un fin de semana para Reconectarnos con nuestro Poder, la Naturaleza y la Red de la Vida Vivimos en tiempos desafiantes, con crisis en nuestros ecosistemas, economias y sociedades que están afectando a toda la vida del planeta. Para muchas personas esto puede ser angustioso y abrumador; tal vez no sepan como reaccionar. En este taller vamos a explorar como son nuestras respuestas al estado actual en que se encuentra el mundo; de un modo que nos ayude a despertar y acceder a la motivación, creatividad, fuerza y solidaridad necesarias para la transición a una cultura humana sostenible. Juntas haremos un recorrido que nos llevará a espacios en los que podamos reconocer en que maneras, nosotras como mujeres, sentimos los peligros que hay en estas crisis, experimientando sus efectos y visualizando y co-creando nuestro futuro. El sonido nos acompañara en este viaje y jugaremos con nuestras voces y tambores, para expresar nuestros sentires, nuestros deseos y nuestras esperanzas. Estas prácticas pueden reconectarnos con nuestro poder, el poder CON la Tierra, en lugar de Sobre la Tierra, lo cual es algo que las mujeres desde la antigüedad han sabido y entendido. Vivir en plenitud es conectar con nosotras mismas como partes activas de la Red de la Vida. Las mujeres siempre han sido activas en los movimientos sociales y medioambientales: en la Guerra Civil española, las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo en Argentina, en el Reino Unido ha existido un campamento antinuclear con unicamente mujeres por 20 años. Y más recientemente oimos las voces emergentes del Sur como Vandana Shiva y Wangari Maathai en campañas por la soberania alimentaria y los derechos de acceso a los recursos locales para la población local. Estas prácticas que realizaremos, han sido desarrolladas y utilizadas desde hace más de 40 años y están basadas en el trabajo de Joanna Macy, ecofilósofa, activista, estudiosa y profesora de la teoria de sistem
  • Events
5 years ago

EDE France 2021 | Écovillage Sainte Camelle

We had to wait 2021, against all odds, to see the very first French EDE. How come it was only the 1st? Why never before? Well, we know why. FHF. This is why making an EDE in France was a tough challenge to take on. And yes, we did it! The group of participants we had for this EDE was so diverse that no clan emerged. It is quite usual that people gather by affinity in small groups but here, the entire group stuck together no matter what. The glue was really strong. Some personalities were more extraverted of course, but with a real care for other’s presence and voice. To the extent to become a real counter-power: if we made any facilitation mistake, if we failed to propose in the most careful way and if it felt like we were imposing anything, we would be immediately in trouble. We knew it came from a childhood school trauma for these people, who were very open about it. It was an amazing journey to navigate the facilitation process with such awareness. This context led to something incredible during week two: a very quiet voice, Pauline, protested against the fact that they had agreed to community agreements on the first day but now, she said, they had to review them by themselves and check if it reflects who they really are. We, as EDE crew members, opened a space in the program for them to take the time to do it. They used Sociometry, a tool taught to them before, to assess the agreements. They counted in percentage who agreed or not for each topic. They even discussed about the structure of the program and finally approved it. It was a very beautiful real-life example of self-empowerment. One of the most iconic moment of this EDE was the Derdian roleplay in which they completely immersed themselves for three hours. The participants playing the indigenous Derdians went in the forest and created another set of social rules to add to the existing 10 social rules, making it even harder for the engineers to understand them. Howeve
  • Events
11 years ago

Liderar la Transición

Lo femenino del mundo, de las personas. De Mujeres y Hombres. La Transición que nuestro mundo sueña, necesita de una reformulación clara de los liderazgos. Reinventarse el liderazgo devolviéndolo a su lugar: ser una función de la eficiencia de los procesos colectivos; y dejando de lado los liderazgos basados en la acumulación de privilegios, en la desigualdad y en la dominación. Cuando lo Femenino ocupa el espacio de lo publico, trae consigo la realidad no visible; coloca en lo social los interrogantes necesarios para que lo social deje de estar fraccionado entre Publico/Privado, y pueda ser acogido como el Todo que es. Lo femenino en su esencia, despojado de los condicionamientos impuestos, libre de ser y expresar su potencial en un mundo que busca caminos hacia la inclusión, la escucha, la equivalencia, el empoderamiento de los seres y colectividades que cuidan de la Vida. Traer al espacio de lo Publico , lo invisibilizado: las mujeres, los pueblos olvidados, la propia Tierra, la parte oprimida de la humanidad; es una forma de integrar las necesidades de las personas , del planeta, de la humanidad como identidad . Esta propuesta quiere ser un espacio para abrir las puertas e indagar juntas sobre el papel de estos liderazgos en los procesos de cambio. Como son esos nuevos liderazgos? Como es encarnar estas posiciones en colectividades y organizaciones? Como viven el proceso las mujeres que están desarrollando estos nuevos liderazgos? Y las que no. Como se sienten los hombres ante los liderazgos de las mujeres? Y los que encarnan estos nuevos modelos de liderazgo. Buscar respuestas….temporales tal vez. Ofrecernos espacios para el debate, la indagación, profundizar, explorar. El Programa: (Provisional, sujeto a cambios) Viernes 9 por la tarde: Llegadas, instalarnos, visitar Arterra. 20.00: Cena y Presentaciones. 21.30: Cine y Debate. Sábado 10 : 9.00: Desayuno 10.00- 13.30 Taller: Liderazgo y Poder. 13.45:
  • Events
6 years ago

Online Summit Hub

Guardiamo insieme l’Online Summiit
Donate
Log In
Sign up

Information

Communities

A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

Organizations

An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

Become a + Community Member

  • Send Direct Messages and see contact information
  • Find communities based on your profile tool
  • Post Needs & Offers Listings and Events
  • Access to resources in the Members Library /// like vetted documents uploaded by communites (e.g. bylaws )
  • Member badge on your profile
  • View communities detailed reviews
  • Create Private Groups
Upgrade Plan
I am an official member of this community
Disclaimer
I affirm that my information is accurate and I am authorized to manage this listing

Free Plan

Free plan
Free
Buy plan

Intentional Advertising

Add to cart
Continue

  • Subtotal

    {{ currencyFormat( pricing_summary.total_amount ) }}

Become a + Member

  • Send Direct Messages and see contact information
  • Find communities based on your profile tool
  • Post Needs & Offers Listings and Events
  • Access to free resources in the Members Library
  • Member badge on your profile
  • View communities detailed reviews
  • Create Private Groups
Upgrade Plan