WELCOME TO OUR YEARLY TAO SUMMER RETREAT - WITH INNER ALCHEMY AND KAN & LI
More than a retreat - A week to return to yourself
In this Tao retreat, you’ll reconnect with your body, refine your energy and explore the Taoist practices of Inner Alchemy and Kan & Li.
A space to slow down, reconnect and embody a deeper level of awareness.
Not by learning more — but by arriving more fully in yourself.
Date: 11-18 July 2026
Location: De Poort, Groesbeek, The Netherlands
Facilitators: Carsten Dohnke & Dewi De Waele
All information about the schedule, content, and registration can be found below.
Click here to secure your spot. Registration comes with no obligation—we will contact you afterward to arrange all details.
Book a free call or email us with your questions— we’re happy to guide you!
Experience a deep inner peace, a stillness hardly known in daily life.
This week is an invitation into a deeper process.
Through Taoist practices, meditation, bodywork and presence, we create a space where:
the body can soften and open
the mind can settle
and a deeper layer of awareness can emerge
This is a heartfelt invitation to
✔ Develop your higher consciousness and inner wisdom
✔ Awaken your energy and inner resources
✔ Find emotional balance and clarity
✔ Reconnect with your inner self through meditation, movement, and a mystical approach
✔ Experience deep inner transformation with advanced Taoist wisdom practices and mantra healing
Choose Your Retreat Experience:
Entry level or Advanced Level
Immersion retreat (3 or 5 days) - Newcomer: Open to anyone familiar with and passionate about body movement, meditation, and self-reflection.
Alchemy retreat (8 days) - Intermediate & Advanced: A deep dive into Taoist Inner Alchemy, Kan & Li, and extended silence—designed for intermediate and experienced practitioners. This retreat is for those with at least two years of meditation, internal yoga, Tao, Qigong, or similar inner practice, and the ability to sit in stillness.
Not sure what to book? Schedule a free call for guidance here!
Click here to secure your spot. Registration comes with no obligation—we will contact you afterward to arrange all details.
Book a free call or email us with your questions—
we’re happy to help you! (in Dutch, English or German)
What to expect
This Tao retreat is a profound, direct experience that touches you on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. You will discover the deep healing qualities of the Tao. Not only will you gain new insights but you will also feel and anchor them through your own experiences.
Perhaps you are sensing that
… you have a huge healing potential you would like to tap into.
… your next step in life or in your physical state needs resources on an energetic level.
… you would like to get out of the status-quo.
… your soul is yearning for meaning and purpose.
In a combination of advanced guided Taoist healing and wisdom practices, Qigong, meditation and a supporting group field, you will embark on an inner journey that awakens clarity, new vitality within you and a brand new connection to life.
You will
Experience a deep inner peace, a stillness hardly known in daily life, inner expansiveness, and new perspectives.
Strengthen your connection to nature, body, and your inner resources.
Activate your self-healing and boost your immune system.
Find new vitality, courage, and focus for your path.
Experience deep self-acceptance and a tangible connection to your true self.
Our combination of guided practice and personal space
Daily Taoist meditations & Qigong sessions
Wisdom talks & shared reflections in a supporting group energy
Mantra Healing sessions for deep inner transformation, transcending the personal self
Personal guidance by Carsten Dohnke & team, and optional coaching by Dewi De Waele tailored to your journey
Space for silence, contemplation and deep integration
Walks in nature—through vast Groesbeek forests and serene protected heathland
De Poort—a friendly staff & a haven of peace and reflection, surrounded by nature
Full board with nourishing, lovingly prepared meals, tea & coffee
Serene, comfortable accommodations or a retreat package for non-residential participants
The Essence of our retreat
Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong - Cultivating stability and nourishing your tendons and bone marrow
FUSION 1 of Inner Alchemy - Returning to Inner Peace - the ancient Taoist art of transforming energy within, bringing balance, vitality, and spiritual growth. Fusion 1 connects the organs as a cycle through meditation.
FUSION 2 of Inner Alchemy - Compassion Meditation & the Inner Energy Channels - Cultivating Virtue and Compassion
Kan & Li, a profound Tao practice of harmonizing fire and water within the body, helps refine emotions, enhance vitality, and awaken your inner light and higher consciousness.
The Benefits of Inner Alchemy and Kan & Li
✔ Transform fear (water) & excessive heat or fire into inner peace & clarity
✔ Shift raw vital energy (Jing) into spiritual force (Shen)
✔ Open the door to profound meditation & personal evolution
✔ Surrender, let go deeply & align with the natural flow of life itself
✔ Expand your consciousness & activate your energy centers (chakras)
Want to know more?
Video: Carsten answers your most burning questions regarding inner alchemy, Kan & Li and this year’s summer retreat.
Testimonials
"I thought I would learn relaxation techniques and activate positive forces within me. Instead, I experienced an entirely new dimension that deeply transformed me: My entire body, my energy, and my being were completely reconnected."
— Sarah
"Carsten's seminar is the best gift I have ever given myself. I realized that I had never truly relaxed in my life – this was really on a completely different level. I experienced a feeling of total contentment with everything."
— Justine Kontou
“Most things I hear about Carsten Dohnke, I found, could not express accurately how souverain he is as a qigong teacher and as a human being. His profound knowledge, his skillful pedagogic teaching and not in the least his conviction and passion exceed every expectation.”
— Brigitte Burlefinger
Hear what Marten has to say about the Tao summer retreat.
Three retreat options
Our retreat offers three immersive options to deepen your connection with Taoist practices at your own pace.
The first three and five days serve as standalone retreats.
At the same time they provide a solid foundation for a smooth transition into the deeper practices of Kan & Li for those choosing the 8-day option.
Find out more:
-
Focus: Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong + Inner Alchemy with Compassion Meditation
What you’ll experience: A gentle yet profound introduction to Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong, and a deep dive into Inner Alchemy with Fusion I, helping you balance energy and release emotional blockages.
Who it's for: Open to all, beginners or those with some experience in bodywork, meditation, or self-reflection. This option offers a well-rounded introduction to Taoist practices, suitable for newcomers or anyone seeking a reset, more energy and connection.
-
Focus: Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong + Inner Alchemy with Compassion Meditation + the First Day of Kan & Li
What you’ll experience: Build on the foundation of Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong and Inner Alchemy, while also exploring the transformative practice of Kan & Li—harnessing fire and water within the body to refine your energy and awaken your inner light.
Who it's for: Recommended for those with some prior experience in body movement, meditation, or inner Qigong. Days 1–3 provide an accessible introduction for all, and Day 4 will introduce you to Fusion II and Kan & Li practices, which require some more experience and readiness for deeper practices.
-
For those committed to deep transformation
Focus: Full immersion into Inner Alchemy, Kan & Li, and spiritual awakening
What you’ll experience: This extended retreat offers the full depth of the practices—Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong, Inner Alchemy, and Kan & Li—leading you to a profound inner evolution. You will experience personalized guidance and dedicated practice time to deepen your connection to the Taoist teachings.
Who it's for: This option is for those committed to a deep, transformative journey, with prior experience in inner Qigong, silent meditation, or Taoist practices. You’ll be ready for the advanced techniques of Kan & Li after the foundational preparation in the first five days.
🗓️ PROGRAM INSIGHTS in detail
11 July
Shaolin Tendon and Bone Marrow Qigong
This day strengthens your inner power and presence. With the effective and easy-to-learn form of Shaolin Qigong, you will gain stability and guide fresh Qi into your tendons and bone marrow. Combined with the renowned Bone Marrow Breathing and a meditation to activate your primal force in the abdominal center, the Qi penetrates even deeper within and becomes refined. Bone Marrow Breathing also supports the healing of fractures and old injuries. A simple lying variation allows you to continue the practice at home. This day builds an ideal foundation for the following days.
(All movements will also be repeated during the following days)
12-13 July
Fusion I – Returning to Inner Peace
In this course, we step out of the shadows of everyday life and open the door to a reality beyond worries and burdens. The practice of Fusion I – the Fusion of the Five Elements – is an ancient form of Inner Alchemy, a treasure of Taoist wisdom. It leads you deep into the mysteries of your own energy and allows you to experience a quiet, inner transformation.
“From the shadows of everyday life arises a pearl of light – peace, clarity, inner strength.”
-
With gentle awareness and the power of your mind, you gather, purify, and refine the Qi of your inner organs until it condenses into a radiant pearl of light and Qi. Within this inner radiance, a state of peace reveals itself – a profound sense of being nourished, as if carried from within.
14 July
Fusion II – Compassion Meditation & Inner Energy Channels
On this day, the focus is on Compassion Meditation. You will experience how your Qi condenses in the abdomen into a radiant pearl, which you consciously guide through the cycle of creation. Along its journey, the powers of your organs intertwine with their inner virtues – until a state of pure compassion is born.
-
Furthermore, you open the subtle inner energy channels that run from the pelvic floor through the body’s core to the crown of the head. Harmony then flows through your entire body, and you experience a living connection with the forces of the cosmos. A feeling of peace, safety, and quiet vastness arises. Combined with meditations of self-acceptance this allows you to “truly come home in yourself and your body” – and you approach Inner Alchemy with a heart that has become clear and spacious.
Mind power moves into a dance, and Qi transformed into a sparkling vapour flows along special meridians - a centrepiece of Taoist meditation that enables profound processes of inner transformation.
The first step of Inner Alchemy is easier than it seems. It leads to the emergence of a deep inner balance – in a way that many people know only as a memory of carefree days in childhood.Whether you’re new to the practice or already seasoned, Course 1, 2 and Course 3 are open to all – while a certain degree of experience with body movement, meditation, and self-reflection is recommended. What truly matters is your curiosity and eagerness to delve into this transformative experience.
15-18 July
Higher Inner Alchemy – Kan and Li (July 15-18)
In “Kan and Li” the love of our heart merges with the energy of the kidneys and libido – “fire and water unite”, as the Taoists say. This creates a refined Qi, which like an “inner vapour” nourishes and rejuvenates each of our cells from within and carries the practitioner into higher states of consciousness. Deep inner contemplation, the dissolution of the physical body, the slowing down of the aging process and inner healing are the central themes. “Kan and Li” is also called the “marriage of soul and spirit”. The depth of this course has a life-changing effect on many participants.
Conditions of participation in Course 4– Kan and Li: 2 years or more experience in Taoist practices, inner Qigong, other meditation or longer silent retreats.
-
In the Inner Alchemy of Tao, the practice of “Kan & Li” becomes the basis for the development of higher forms of consciousness. It is the inner marriage of soul and spirit, the union of heaven and earth, and it touches our innermost longings for wholeness and harmony.
Mind power moves into a dance, and Qi transformed into a sparkling vapour flows along special meridians – a centrepiece of Taoist meditation that enables profound processes of inner transformation.
Meet your teachers
Carsten Dohnke carstendohnke.com/en
A modern mystic, Tao teacher, sinologist with 40+ years of experience, Carsten explores both ancient and modern approaches to understanding the body and mind. He trained with masters such as Mantak Chia and specializes in Inner Alchemy, Kan & Li, Qigong, and Eastern mysticism. His teaching goes beyond technique—focusing on true connection, feeling, and transformation. He has facilitated Inner Alchemy and Kan & Li retreats in Germany and The Netherlands for more than 25 years.
-
Carsten is a modern mystic and spiritual teacher who helps people find deeper meaning in today’s fast-paced, consumer-driven world. Rooted in the mystical path of the Tao, his teachings cultivate a profound connection to the heart and inner core—unlocking pathways to health, happiness, vitality, and spiritual growth.
For over 40 years, Carsten has explored both ancient and modern approaches to understanding the body and mind. As a trained sinologist specializing in Taoism, he has gained deep insight into Chinese culture and philosophy. His journey has been shaped by traditional Taoist teachings, Qigong, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Kung Fu, and Eastern mysticism.
When he was 14, Carsten began his deep exploration of martial arts and Zen meditation. During his studies at university, he founded his own school for Internal Kung Fu and Qigong and spent four years living in Taiwan, training with Shaolin masters. and meditating in monasteries. He received extensive teachings from renowned Qigong and Taoist masters such as Li Jun-Feng and Mantak Chia, whom he assisted for over 20 years. To deepen his practice and knowledge, he meditated intensively at Thai monasteries and studied anatomy, Chinese medicine, therapeutic work, modern psychology, and coaching.
In his seminars, Carsten creates an inspiring and supportive space where each participant can grow at their own pace. His teaching fosters transformation on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Through his guidance, you will gain a new perspective on yourself, your challenges, and the world—while experiencing a deep connection to the forces of Heaven and Earth.
Together with his partner, Dewi De Waele (dewi-tao.com), Carsten presents Tao & Qigong – The Art of Living— a unique approach they created, that offers meaningful answers to some of life’s most pressing questions.Dewi is co-teacher during the summer week – for Qigong movements, questions, allround support, optional coachings and much more …
Dewi De Waele (dewi-tao.com), Carsten’s partner, is your co-teacher for Qigong and embodiment at the retreat. Dewi is Qigong teacher and trauma-informed coach with 25+ years of experience in Taiji, Qigong, and movement. Dewi’s gentle, Yin-based approach creates a safe space for deep self-exploration and transformation. Dewi offers optional coaching sessions during the retreat.
-
Dewi is of Belgian-Indonesian descent and has been teaching Taiji and Qigong for over 20 years. Moreover, she offers trauma-Informed Taoist Coaching & Embodiment (with an optional focus on past life integration)
Since 2015, she has been a co-teacher and coach in the Tao & Qigong – The Art of Living teacher trainings, Inner Alchemy - Kan & Li retreats, and courses in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.With her warm and gentle approach, Dewi teaches from a calm, feminine Yin state, creating an atmosphere where participants can quietly tune into themselves while feeling inspired. This allows them to move closer to their inner core.
In her classes, Dewi integrates the wisdom she’s gained from her travels and silent retreats in Asia with her deep knowledge of Taiji, movement, Classical and Balinese dance, and therapeutic practices. She fosters a compassionate presence that supports each participant on a personal level. Her trauma-informed coaching (available optionally during the retreat) focuses on self-reflection, untangling blockages, discovering your next step or practice, and reconnecting with your deeper truth.
Still unsure if this retreat is right for you? Feel free to reach out to us without any obligation.
Book a call and we’ll help to answer all your questions!
Or write us an e-mail: dewi.dewaele@gmail.com
Video Introduction “Tao & Qigong - The Art of Living”: Get to know Carsten, Dewi, our method and philosophy
Retreat Details
📅 Date 11 - 18 July 2026
⏰ Times 10:00-18:30 (Last day until 17:00)
📍Location De Poort Groesbeek, The Netherlands
(near Nijmegen/German border)
💰Course fees (without accommodation) - BRUTTO
• Alchemy retreat - early bird (until 10 April): € 680 (8 days)
• Alchemy retreat - Regular fee (after 10 April): € 780 (8 days)
• Immersion retreat:
3 days Shaolin-Qigong & Fusion I: € 325
5 days Shaolin-Qigong & Fusion I & Kan & Li: € 540
🏡 Accommodation incl. all meals, tea, coffee, snacks, use of all facilities- NETTO prices - subject to change
Please book directly through De Poort, bookings possible after end of March.
8 days:
double room - single use: € 1200 pp
double room single use - with shared bathroom: € 1100 pp
double room - shared with another participant: € 1074 pp
camping: € 758 pp
not staying overnight: Approx. 84 € pp per day: this includes facilities, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee
5 days:
double room - single use: € 720 pp
double room single us - with shared bathroom: € 665 pp
double room - shared with another participant: € 650 pp
camping: € 468
not staying overnight: Approx. 84 € per day: this includes facilities, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee
3 days
double room - single use: € 385 ppdouble room single us - with shared bathroom: € 360 pp
camping: € 275
not staying overnight: Approx. 84 € per day: this includes facilities, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee
📧 Contact Carsten Dohnke & Dewi De Waele dewi.dewaele@gmail.com | Tel. 0049(0)151 5200 1724
The course is conducted in English.
A Warm Invitation to Fully Immerse Yourself - This seminar is an opportunity for a true inner retreat, free from external stimulants, allowing the depth of this sacred practice to unfold. We invite you to step away from daily life—leave work behind and minimize phone use to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
During the Kan & Li sessions, we will also embrace moments of silence, especially right after the guided meditations, to deepen integration and inner connection.
Free download meditation
Enjoy or download this meditation:
Power of the center and organ meditation of Day 3.
After two days of embodiment, Qigong, and practices centered on self-love, presence, and awareness, we explored the power of the center and prepared the organs for Inner Alchemy. Our main organs hold emotions and essential qualities—through focused intention, we can nurture and transform these qualities into deeper inner power.
Relax, let go, and experience an inner melting...