The Bardo

(Photo credit: Joshua Newton)

Your old life ends. Your new life begins. What happens between? In Tibetan Buddhism, the interval between death and rebirth is called the “bardo.” It is a space of possibility and liberation. It calls on you to reflect on the journey you’ve completed and prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

The Bardo is a “leavership” programme for leaders in a space of conscious transition. Designed and hosted by Bramble, The Bardo will incorporate solo and small group reflection, creative, somatic and nature-based practices, and inspiration from pioneers in diverse fields to activate your awareness, hope and agency – three capacities we believe are vital for leaders who want to evolve themselves and the systems around them. Our essay “In Praise of Leavership” outlines more about why we believe leavership is so important for a regenerative future. 

What kind of participants is The Bardo for?
You are a leader in your field, sector or community who is sensing a need for something radically different – both for the systems around you and for yourself. Perhaps you’ve been sensing this for a while, but you had commitments you wanted to honour or projects you wanted to see through. For whatever reason, the time finally feels ripe to pause, take stock and prepare to venture out to meet the better future you know is possible. You are hungry to unlearn alongside unlikely peers. 

What can you share about the programme?
The Bardo will be centred around a multi-day immersive gathering at beautiful retreat venue in either Barcelona or London.

Monday | Arrival and welcome dinner
You are welcome to check in any time from 17:00.

Tuesday | Through the looking glass
We start our journey with an exploration of what we are leaving behind, allowing our own “business as usual” to become strange to us. What are the narratives, goals, hypotheses, or theories of change on which we have based our work to date? What elements of these beliefs no longer resonate with us? What elements of our recent and current work do we believe are worth preserving in whatever we choose to do next?

Wednesday | Experiments in imagining otherwise
We spend our second day seeking inspiration through encounters with alternative futures. We learn from leavership trailblazers – individuals who have made conscious work transitions in pursuit of greater purpose and values alignment. We channel our inner dreamers and imagine multiple possible futures for ourselves, before stepping back and considering the underlying preferences these potential selves reveal.

Thursday | The new wilderness
We conclude our journey by returning to the present and near future. How will this new knowledge allow us to navigate unexpected opportunities and challenges that may arise as we undergo this transition? What commitments will we make, and how will we hold ourselves to account? 

Friday | Departure
We will share a final breakfast before checking out at 10:00. 

Who else will be there?
Our years of hosting impactful leadership programmes like The Performance Theatre and The Leadership Vanguard have taught us that your fellow participants are often the most important ingredients in any learning experience. For that reason, we have a strictly limited number of places in the programme, and The Bardo is an invite-only gathering. We will ask those interested in participating to have an introductory conversation with us, and we will curate the group to maximise intimacy and inspiration. 

We take your privacy seriously – especially given the nature of this gathering. If you join The Bardo, we will ask you not to share the identities of or views expressed by your fellow participants without their explicit permission.

What does my ticket cover?
Early bird (pre 1 July): €3750 / £3250 (excl. vat)

Full price: €4250 / £3650 (excl. vat)

We may be able to offer additionally discounted places for participants currently experiencing financial hardship. 

What does my ticket cover?
Your ticket will cover: 

• four nights of single-occupancy accommodation 

• all meals and coffee breaks during the week  

• all programme materials 

• cost of our small team of facilitators

• opportunities for virtual and asynchronous pre- and post-retreat engagement 

"I had no cherished outcomes going into The Bardo, but coming out of it, I'm still wowed by how much of the programming has stuck with me. Our group of strangers became friends, cheerleaders, advocates and allies during our days, and a few of us had breakthroughs that we didn't know we needed. So glad I did this.”