SAUNA RETREAT OF THE LAKE MOTHERS

This sauna retreat invites you to the pristine nature and clear lakes of North Karelia, where forests and waters breathe deep tranquility. In these surroundings, far from the rush of daily life, we will immerse ourselves in sacred silence and the places of dreamers. Over the weekend, we’ll find peace in the natural beauty of the lake mothers and guardian spirits, tuning into the eternal wisdom and protective power of water.

The serene wilderness lake, Vaikkojärvi, in the heartlands of North Karelia, calls to us. Here, the sanctity of nature is palpable, and the rhythms of life can be felt anew. Kotakylä’s unique, hand-carved sauna world, featuring the Muasauna (Earth Sauna) and the Musta Kyly smoke sauna, provides the perfect setting for strengthening and healing sauna experiences alongside the lake.

Core values: natural purity, warmth, love for nature, authenticity, and sensuality. These values resonate throughout each moment: we bask in the calming warmth of the sauna, connect with ancient traditions in the dim light of the smoke sauna, feel the coolness of water on our skin, and hear the crackling campfire intertwining with old stories and dreamtime narratives. In the warmth of the sauna, we open our hearts. With the presence of lake mothers, we may experience feelings of gratitude and acceptance toward our lives, flowing outward as a protective and healing force.

We attune ourselves to the lake mothers and spirits, feeling their power and protection. These motherly lake spirits are called in the Finnish tradition emuut. Ancient wisdom lives within the lake mothers, and over the weekend, we will learn to sense their presence and messages. In Finnish folklore, these emuut are the matriarchs of natural elements, the creators of all nature. They were considered guardians of places and natural forces.