About Grateful Minds
Grateful Minds Retreats offers spiritual wellness experiences in a beautiful center called Selva Del Sol in the mountains of Costa Rica that was once a permaculture farm. We believe retreats are the most potent medicine for our times and Selva Del Sol invites both healers and seeks to immerse themselves in this stunning setting seeped in the wisdom of nature’s beauty. In addition to offering retreats on the property, we share Selva Del Sol with retreat leaders, healers, and spiritual teachers as a welcoming and wonderful place to host retreats of all kinds.
We believe in holistic health and aim to increase accessibility to well-being by providing a collection of mindful retreats that integrate diverse healing modalities. Our platform makes it easy to find or host a retreat aligned with your values, needs, and healing path. Before ever listing a retreat, we ensure that the offering is reputable and aligns with the Grateful Minds philosophy. We connect you with qualified retreat leaders and empower you to make informed choices by including background information, methodologies, and expertise all in one place. We support you in discovering the retreat that supports your unique healing journey or hosting the retreat of your dreams. All of our retreats offer opportunities to reset, reflect, and rejuvenate and personal growth is at the core of all our offerings. From meditation retreats to nature-based experiences to plant medicine ceremonies, find the retreats that resonate with you. Philanthropy is one of our core values, and all of our retreats give back in meaningful ways.
Grateful Minds Values
Gratitude
Peace
Presence
Spirituality
Community
Wellness
Love
Philanthropy
About Selva Del Sol
Welcome to Selva Del Sol, a hidden gem nestled in the majestic mountains of Costa Rica. Our retreat center is a haven of modesty and spirituality, offering a very private escape deep within the heart of the jungle. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds us, where the rainy season transforms the landscape, unveiling four small waterfalls that cascade gracefully. As you wander through our lush grounds, you'll discover a network of paths that lead to serene meditation decks, a sacred labyrinth, and a welcoming fire pit where stories unfold under the starlit canopy. Our two dedicated yoga decks provide spaces for rejuvenation and self-discovery amidst the tranquility of the jungle.
Behold the enchanting sunrise as it graces us each morning, with Mount Chirripo standing tall in the background. Selva Del Sol consists of six separate and uniquely designed buildings, with our Fruition Center being the original, constructed mostly of Cobb and featuring its own greenhouse. Formerly a permaculture farm, our property is adorned with abundant fruit trees, embodying the principles of permaculture throughout.
In this haven that sleeps 20-25, you'll find a harmonious blend of nature's serenity and the healing energy of our retreat center. Located just 45 minutes from Uvita and the renowned Whales Tail, Selva Del Sol also offers easy access to scenic destinations like Morete Waterfall. Whether you seek solitude, spiritual awakening, or simply a connection with the beauty of Costa Rica, Selva Del Sol invites you to embark on a journey of rejuvenation and self-discovery. Welcome to our sanctuary in the mountains, where nature's embrace and healing energies converge.
Meet the Founder
In the rich tapestry of life, John Holien emerges as a living testament to resilience, redemption, and the unwavering pursuit of spiritual awakening. Celebrating 60 years of life, John is the visionary founder of Grateful Minds Retreat, where his life's narrative unfolds as a compelling story of triumph over adversity, profound transformation, and the relentless quest for a higher purpose.
John's journey is a dynamic mosaic, marked by towering peaks and profound valleys. From the zenith of success and reveling in the joys of fatherhood to the nadir of homelessness and addiction, he has navigated through the highs of financial success and the lows of losing it all. The dances with the devil, as he calls the valleys, were the tests that defined him more than anything else.
From the brink of death at age 23, where a vision of his mother coming to his funeral became a moment of clarity and inspiration to live, John's journey of self-understanding and growth was fueled by this gift of desperation. The greatest lesson he learned is that the best medicine is to help another human being—a lesson at the core of why he created Grateful Minds Retreat and how he continues to apply it to the rest of his days on this planet.
In search of solace and introspection four years ago, John found himself on a permaculture farm nestled in the mountains of Costa Rica. For the first time, he paused, giving himself the invaluable gift of self-reflection. Instead of seeing challenges, he looked back at his life and witnessed a person who had become a remarkable version of himself, ready for rebirth through the gifts of his myriad life experiences. In the mountains of Costa Rica, John made peace with himself and embarked on a healing journey. With a mere $500 to his name, he backpacked and hitchhiked across the country, serendipitously encountering healers who would shape his newfound vision. Costa Rica's vibrant wellness community left an indelible mark, compelling John to realize that this is where he belongs, illuminating his purpose to unite healers with seekers.
Today, as the steward of the very permaculture farm that catalyzed his healing journey, John envisions Grateful Minds Retreat as a spiritual conscious haven and healing center. Through his myriad lessons and experiences, he has transformed the permaculture farm into a retreat center—a space where seekers of growth and change can join hands with true healers. This retreat is not just a culmination of John's journey but a sanctuary where others can embark on their paths toward healing, gratitude, and mindful living.
In John Holien's story, we discover an extraordinary tale of redemption—a beacon of hope for those seeking transformation and a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them. Grateful Minds Retreat stands tall as a testament to the power of resilience, the beauty of second chances, and the boundless possibilities that unfold when one's heart is open to gratitude and healing.