Vinagra Village · Viana do Alentejo, Portugal
Rooted & Connected
A Weekend of Practical Energetic Sovereignty
A two-day intimate meditation retreat in the peaceful Alentejo countryside for those seeking a more grounded and aligned way of being. Through guided instruction, qigong warm-ups, and the step-by-step Rooted & Connected Meditation, you will learn a simple practice you can return to again and again to feel more at peace and more at home in yourself.
September 5–6, 2026 9:00 AM–5:00 PM 400€
Healthy meals included
Very limited on-site lodging available, first-come, first-served.
Small group experience
Intimate setting with individualized attention
Beginner-friendly
No previous experience required
Healthy meals included
Fresh wholesome food prepared on site
Optional on-site stay
Very limited lodging available
The Weekend Experience
You are invited to slow down, settle more deeply into yourself, and spend this weekend learning one simple practice that can continue serving you long after the retreat ends.
At the heart of the weekend is the Rooted & Connected Meditation, a standing practice with Taoist roots, refined into a practical method for modern life. The teaching will be mostly experiential, with just enough explanation to help you understand what energetic sovereignty means in real life and how this practice helps cultivate it.
Rather than filling the weekend with many different techniques, we will go deeply into one complete meditation and the supportive practices that help you truly embody it.
How the Weekend Unfolds
This immersive weekend will be practical yet spacious, with time to learn, rest, and let the practice settle in.
- Guided instruction in the Rooted & Connected Meditation
- Brief qigong warm-ups to awaken the body and energy
- Supportive micro-practices to deepen embodiment and self-awareness
- Concise teaching on the practical meaning of energetic sovereignty
- Healthy meals and relaxing breaks woven throughout both days
- Time for reflection, conversation, and integration
What You’ll Carry With You
Rooted
Feeling more grounded, steady, and settled in yourself.
Connected
Feeling more aware of your body, inwardly alive, and fully present.
Sovereign
Being more intentional about where your attention and energy go.
The Setting
Our meditation retreat takes place at Vinagra Village, a peaceful 20-hectare eco-retreat in the Alentejo countryside of Portugal. Set among open land and the slower rhythm of rural life, it offers a natural setting for rest and embodied practice.
Healthy meals will be prepared on site, and very limited accommodations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These elements make the weekend both a meaningful training experience and an intimate, nourishing getaway.
Vinagra Village Features:
- Peaceful Alentejo countryside setting
- Healthy meals prepared on site
- Very limited on-site accommodations available for an additional fee
- Intimate small-group getaway atmosphere
Who It’s For
Anyone who feels drawn is warmly welcome. This weekend retreat may be especially supportive if you:
- want a simple meditation practice you can easily carry into daily life
- feel pulled in too many directions and long for greater inner steadiness
- are spiritually curious and want something grounded and practical
- want a simple meditation practice you can easily carry into daily life
- feel pulled in too many directions and long for greater inner steadiness
- are spiritually curious and want something grounded and practical
- appreciate intimate group settings and individualized attention
- are seeking a meaningful weekend in a beautiful, restorative setting
- are a complete beginner and want an accessible place to begin
- appreciate intimate group settings and individualized attention
- are seeking a meaningful weekend in a beautiful, restorative setting
- are a complete beginner and want an accessible place to begin
No previous experience with meditation or qigong is needed. The practice is well suited to beginners and can also be adapted to a seated position when needed.
What is Energetic Sovereignty?
What is Energetic Sovereignty?
Energetic sovereignty is the ability to remain rooted in yourself while staying conscious of where your energy goes.
In practical terms, it means greater awareness of your time, attention, presence, and inner state. Rather than being easily pulled, drained, or shaped by circumstances, you cultivate a steadier relationship with your own life force and a clearer sense of what you are truly investing yourself in.
This weekend approaches energetic sovereignty as a practice to be felt and embodied.
Meet Your Facilitator
Dr. Sebastian S. Smith is a meditation teacher, Qigong instructor, energy healer, and spiritual guide. Informed by Chinese medicine, Medical Qigong, Taoism, Buddhism, and years of contemplative practice, his work brings ancient spiritual principles into practical modern life. He works with private clients and teaches across the United States and internationally.
Intimate group settings like Vinagra Village allow him to offer highly individualized attention, helping people embody practices they can carry beyond the retreat and into everyday life.
One Participant’s Reflection
Practical Questions
Reserve Your Place
This is a small-group weekend by design, allowing for individualized attention and a more personal experience of the practice. Places are limited, so early contact is encouraged.
- Investment: 400€ per person
- Includes: two full days of retreat with teaching and healthy meals prepared on site
- On-site stay: very limited accommodations available on a first-come, first-served basis
- Location: Vinagra Village, Viana do Alentejo, Portugal
You’re also welcome to email Paulo with any questions about the weekend.