Program Options

with Carlos de León
October 27 through November 1, 2025

Open to Everyone!

SAVE YOUR SEAT–Limited Spaces! Register by January 10, 2025, for $525, and enjoy the Retreat Savings!    

SPECIAL OFFER VALID UNTIL JUNE 10, 2025!
SAVE UP TO $467.82 CAD OFF REGULAR TUITION!

Join us for Dancing with the Dakinis, a 6-day Residential Meditation Retreat designed for beginners and seasoned practitioners to deepen their practice in a beautiful and serene location. This immersive intensive provides a meditation environment to cultivate and deepen your connection to Dakini Sky Dancers; practices considered some of the most profound, graceful, swift, and blissful we could learn. Dakini's practices are valuable, practical, and relevant in a world like this!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Prior to registering for your lodging choice, please contact the Ontogony Team at info@ontogony.com to confirm lodging availability, as only a few spaces are available. Reservations are limited to Quad Room Lodging, and an Offsite option of attending the retreat is accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Dakini in Sanskrit or Khandro in Tibetan means "sky dweller" or "sky dancer" and embodies the most sacred aspect of Tibetan Buddhism's feminine principle, reflecting humanity and divinity in feminine form.

This retreat introduces essential elements for a meditation practice for new students. For more seasoned practitioners, it connects with energetic beings in feminine form, evoking the movement of energy in space. In this context, the sky or space indicates Sūnyatā, the insubstantiality of all phenomena and the pure potentiality of all possible manifestations.

In Dzogchen, the Dakini represents the final stage on the Vajrayana Path:

  • Guru: Initial realization of the actual condition of reality, introduced by the Guru in empowerment.

  • Yidam: Devata meditation is the method used to develop the state discovered in the initial realization.

  • Dākinī: The source of activities based on guru realization and devata meditation.

As the Base, the Dākinīs are the energies of life; as the Path, they are the activities of advanced practitioners; and as the Fruit, they are the actionless activities of the realized Masters.

Attending the first year of this retreat is not a prerequisite for joining us for the program's second year of the Dance of the Dakinis. However, we strongly recommend reviewing the Mini-Series: Meditation Practice as preparation. It will deepen your awareness and enrich your in-person time with Carlos de León.

Program Objectives of the Meditation Retreat

  • To experience the profound benefits of sitting in daily meditation practice, inviting a messenger of emptiness, who may also appear in dreams to guide the meditator;
  • To advance in your level of meditation practice, and invite the Dakini as a force of truth: wherever we cling, she cuts; whatever we think we can hide, she reveals;
  • To understand the essential practices—the fierce, powerful feminine energy which offers potential for enlightenment;
  • To gain a fuller appreciation of both the 'gradual' and the 'instantaneous' approach to meditative technologies;
  • To clarify the best approach for your personal practice, with the goal of liberation.

Retreat Highlights: Fundamental Practices and Theoretical Foundations of Yeshe Tsogyal and Yumka Dechen Gyalmo

  • Yeshe Tsogyal Dakini Practices
  • Decheng Yalmo Dakini Practices
  • Thrul Khor Tsa Lung
  • Heart Essence of the Dakinis: Six Sutras (Bonpo Text)
  • Dakini Practices of Phowa Shitro Bardo


Yeshe Tsogyal (c. 757 or 777 - 817 EC), also known as "Victorious Ocean of Knowledge," Empress of the Lake of Knowledge," or by her Sanskrit name Jñānasāgara "Ocean of Knowledge," or by her clan name of "Lady Kharchen," reached enlightenment during his life and is considered the mother of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Yeshe Tsogyal is the most important woman of the Nyingma Vajrayana lineage. Some sources say that as a princess of Karchen, she was a wife or consort of Tri Songdetsen, the Emperor of Tibet. She began studying Buddhism with Padmasambhava and became his main Karmamudrā consort. Yeshe Tsogyal is also considered a manifestation of Bodhisattva Tara and an emanation of Samantabhadrī, Prajnaparami, and Vajrayogini.

She focuses on the transformation from ordinary grasping and clinging to altruistic, supreme love; it focuses on the transformation of our identity and the re-inhabitation of the experience embodied in the energy of the yidam, the deity of meditation. It is a practice that frees the mind from the confines of its habitual reference points. This is a profound method of meditation based on the Vajrayana view of the mind so that our identity is opened and aesthetically charged with the energies of the five wisdoms.

Yumka Decheng Gyalmo ("The Queen of Great Joy") is a Dakini and an emanation of Vajrayogini. She is called Yumka ("mother") because she is the mother of all the Buddhas and incarnations of the goddess Mahayana Prajnaparami. Yumka Decheng Gyalmo is the Pacific Dakini practice of Longchen Nyingtik, Jikmé Lingpa's Terma revelation.

Yumka Decheng Gyalmo is a Sadhana practice about Yeshe Tsogyal, the consort of Guru Rinpoche, as the Dakini of wisdom. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Yumka Decheng Gyalmo is the incarnation of the wisdom unity that emptiness and great joy perform. Its Dakini nature symbolizes original purity and perfection, which is associated with the nature of Buddha. The practice of Yumka aims to reveal innate consciousness (Rigpa), which is beyond dualistic concepts.

Join us for this transformative retreat to deepen your meditation practice, connect with profound feminine energies, and advance on your spiritual Path.


Carlos de León, the founder of Ontogony, holds Ph.D.’s in both Clinical Psychology and Holistic Medicine. Dr. de León has spent more than 40 years in related research, study, and practitioner experience, particularly in the area of personal transformation. As the founder of the Mexican Association for Psychotherapy and Transpersonal Development, he teaches and, perhaps more significantly, has developed the model known as  Ontogony: an inquiring discipline for the research, study, and development of liberating tools and paradigms. Read more... 

Program Format: Residential Retreat of 6 Days and 5 Nights

Program Dates: October 27 through November 1, 2025

October 27, 2025: Retreat Registration opens at 2:00 p.m. for room check-in and a light lunch. The program session starts at 4:00 p.m.

November 1, 2025: The closing session ends at approximately 1:00 p.m., followed by a light lunch before your return.

Session Times: (Estimates only, due to the nature of Carlos de Leon's teaching style)

October 27, 2025: 4:00 to 10:00 pm

October 28 to 31, 2025: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm

November 1, 2025: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm 

Location: Loon Lake Lodge & Retreat Centre, Maple Ridge, BC, nestles on the shores of a pristine lake within the University of British Columbia's Malcolm Knapp Research Forest. Just 1.5 hours from downtown Vancouver, this location offers an oasis of tranquillity, surrounded by an enchanted forest brimming with walking trails and wildlife.

Tel: (604) 463-8149; Toll-Free: (866) 463-8165

Address: 14500 Silver Valley Road, Maple Ridge, BC V4R 2R3

Website: http://www.loonlake.ubc.ca

Language: English

Program Access & Material: To support the integration of the teachings, audio files and PDFs will remain available for your personal download for two months following the retreat's conclusion. After this period, the program materials will be removed from the website.

Accommodation & Tuition Options in Canadian Dollars, Inclusive of GST (Goods & Services Taxes)

Program Fee: Includes tuition, accommodation for 6 days/5 nights, and meals; this encompasses five breakfasts, six lunches, and five dinners, starting with a light lunch on October 27, 2025, and ending with a light lunch on November 1, 2025. Lodging options are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your preferred accommodation, we advise registering early, selecting your accommodation choice, and providing us with the names of your roommate(s). Without this information, we cannot guarantee your lodging preference. Should you opt for a double or quad room and we cannot meet the roommate specifications, an additional charge will be applied to your tuition fees for an upgrade.

Please Note: All Payment Plans must be secured with a credit card that we can enter into our secure banking system.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please contact the Ontogony Team at info@ontogony.com to confirm availability. This ensures we can arrange roommate(s) for you if you haven't specified a preference.

KOERNER LODGE

REGISTRATION FEE & SPECIAL OFFER: Valid until January 10, 2025

A – Registration Fee & Special Offer: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Payment in Full): $1,913.82 CAD. The Registration Fee of $525.00 CAD is due at the time of enrolment to save your seat. The balance of $1,388.82 CAD is due on April 15, 2025.

B – Registration Fee & Special Offer: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Three Instalment Payment Plan): $2,009.51 CAD. The Registration Fee of $525.00 CAD is due at the time of enrolment to save your seat. The balance of $1,484.51 CAD is due in three instalments; the first payment of $494.84 CAD is due on April 15, 2025; plus two equal payments on the 15th of the following month.

C – Registration Fee & Special Offer: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Six Instalment Payment Plan): $2,105.20 CAD. The Registration Fee of $525.00 CAD is due at the time of enrolment to save your seat. The balance of $1,580.20 CAD is due in six instalments; the first payment of $263.37 CAD is due on April 15, 2025; plus five equal payments on the 15th of the following months.

SPECIAL OFFER: Valid January 11 to June 10, 2025

A – Special Offer: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Payment in Full): $1,913.82 CAD, due at the time of registration. 

B – Special Offer: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Three Instalment Payment Plan): $2,009.51 CAD. The first payment of $669.84 CAD is due at the time of registration; plus two equal payments on the 15th of the following month. 

C – Special Offer: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Six Instalment Payment Plan): $2,105.20 CAD. The first payment of $350.87 CAD is due at the time of registration; plus five equal payments on the 15th of the following months. 

EARLY BIRD: Valid July 11 to September 10, 2025

A – Early Bird: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Payment in Full): $2,126.47 CAD, due at the time of registration. 

B – Early Bird: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Three Instalment Payment Plan): $2,232.79 CAD. The first payment of $744.26 CAD is due at the time of registration; plus one equal payment on the 15th of the following month. 

REGULAR TUITION: Valid from September 11, 2025

A – Regular Tuition: Koerner Lodge Quad Room (Payment in Full): $2,339.12 CAD, due at the time of registration. 


NON-RESIDENTIAL


REGISTRATION FEE & SPECIAL OFFER: Valid until January 10, 2025

A – Registration Fee & Special Offer: Non-Residential (Payment in Full): $1,597.96 CAD. The Registration Fee of $525.00 CAD is due at the time of enrolment to save your seat. The balance of $1,072.96 CAD is due on April 15, 2025.

B – Registration Fee & Special Offer: Non-Residential (Three Instalment Payment Plan): $1,677.85 CAD. The Registration Fee of $525.00 CAD is due at the time of enrolment to save your seat. The balance of $1,152.85 CAD is due in three instalments; the first payment of $384.28 CAD is due on April 15, 2025; plus two equal payments on the 15th of the following month.

C – Registration Fee & Special Offer: Non-Residential (Six Instalment Payment Plan): $1,757.75 CAD. The Registration Fee of $525.00 CAD is due at the time of enrolment to save your seat. The balance of $1,232.75 CAD is due in six instalments; the first payment of $205.46 CAD is due on April 15, 2025; plus five equal payments on the 15th of the following months.

SPECIAL OFFER: Valid January 11 to June 10, 2025

A – Special Offer: Non-Residential (Payment in Full): $1,597.96 CAD, due at the time of registration. 

B – Special Offer: Non-Residential (Three Instalment Payment Plan): $1,677.85 CAD. The first payment of $559.28 CAD is due at the time of registration; plus two equal payments on the 15th of the following month. 

C – Special Offer: Non-Residential (Six Instalment Payment Plan): $1,757.75 CAD. The first payment of $292.96 CAD is due at the time of registration; plus five equal payments on the 15th of the following months. 

EARLY BIRD: Valid July 11 to September 10, 2025

A – Early Bird: Non-Residential (Payment in Full): $1,775.51 CAD, due at the time of registration. 

B – Early Bird: Non-Residential (Three Instalment Payment Plan): $1,864.28 CAD. The first payment of $621.43 CAD is due at the time of registration; plus one equal payment on the 15th of the following month. 

REGULAR TUITION: Valid from September 11, 2025

A – Regular Tuition: Non-Residential (Payment in Full): $1,953.06 CAD, due at the time of registration. 


Program Access & Material: To support the integration of the teachings, audio files and PDFs will remain available for your personal download for one month following the retreat's conclusion. After this period, the program will be removed from the website.

GENERAL CANCELLATION POLICIES

AGREEMENT TO TERMS & CONDITIONS: In completing your registration for the Retreat, you agree to the policy set forth by Ontogony Evolution LTD 2024-2025.

PLEASE NOTE: Should you cancel your registration, you will be subject to the following cancellation fees plus an administration fee of $75. A credit memo for the outstanding amount will be applied to your student account. All requests for any cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Finance Administrator at info@ontogony.com. Variable refunds for cancellations will be given as follows:

Variable refunds will be granted in CREDIT MEMOS for any cancellations and will be given as follows:

  • or cancellation requests received after the date of registration up to 356 days before the first day of the program, a credit memo will be issued for the Registration Fee paid minus a $75 CAD Admin Fee; after this date, standard cancellation terms apply;
  • For cancellation requests received 90 days to 355 days before the first day of the program, 75% of the entire program fee will be refunded;
  • For cancellation requests received 60 to 89 days before the first day of the program, 50% of the entire program fee will be refunded;
  • For cancellation requests received 30 to 59 days before the first day of the program, 25% of the whole program fee will be refunded;
  • No refunds will be given for cancellation requests received fewer than 30 days before the first day of the program;

The guidelines presented are those set forth by our host. Our contract with Loon Lake Lodge & Retreat Centre states that Ontogony Evolution Ltd must follow them. In circumstances where Carlos de León uses his reserved right to decline the admission or further participation of any person before or during a program, that person will be refunded either the full program fee (when admission has been declined) or a partial program fee that is pro-rated according to the program time remaining that he/she will no longer be attending.

GENERAL PROGRAM ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

Agreement with the following is requisite for enrolment in the Intensive Dancing with the Dakinis ~ Residential Meditation Retreat (Year Two) :

  • I fully understand the Cancellation Policies outlined for the Chiromancy: Practical Application of Alchemical Palmistry Residential Retreat. The course materials will remain accessible for three months for downloading and review.
  • I have agreed to the Terms and Conditions and am committed to the entire program and tuition payment. If on a payment plan, I will honour my debt from enrolment until the final amount is paid in full.
  • I agree to provide a credit card to pay for my financial plan and understand that my information is held in a secure web portal and hidden for maximum security.
  • Should unforeseen circumstances require me to place my payment plan on hold or seek further financial assistance, I will contact the Financial Administrator to reevaluate my situation. This may result in a temporary suspension from the program, which will be reactivated upon the commencement of my payments.
  • I have agreed to respect the privacy of all the content shared by Carlos de Leon and am aware that Ontogony Evolution LTD holds the copyright. I understand the course materials offered in the program: Videos, Audio, and Presentation Materials will be uploaded to the Ontogony classroom, with an access-only function for the video presentations.