Ask away...
"A good question is never answered, but a seed to be planted toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea." - John Ciardi
Fit and Orientation
Dirt Temple aims to reach this pinnacle. It is the brain child of Deidre Steadman and Nick Meyer.
For many years Deidre had been seeing clients who were increasingly beset by micro-trauma, isolated from family and community, anti-fragile and attention-deficient. The mental health crisis was undeniable for her, being on the front lines as a clinical psychologist. People were clearly set adrift in the psychobabble of armchair-therapists and ill informed lay-counsellors with more and more exposed to bite-sized, attention-rotting, 30 second-superficiality. It became abundantly clear that cognitive biases, emotional vulnerabilities and somatic maladies were driving tribal behaviours and empathy disorders. Deidre has devoted her career to the study of transpersonal psychology as her professional passion together with psychedelic-assisted therapy. For over 15 years, with client after client, she has witnessed first hand how profound and powerful it can be to draw from ancient wisdom traditions and weave them together with cutting edge, contemporary science and rigorous, psychological research.
Professionally and personally Nick was noticing the same things that Deidre was. As a lifelong seeker and self-confessed wisdom junkie he has a burning passion to make a lasting and loving contribution to the world – one glass of wine at a time. Nick discovered all that is sacred in sacraments and service. Exquisite wine and delectable food are his drugs of choice and he gets no greater pleasure than inviting others to find reverence for food and wine. Being a master orator and devout connoisseur he has poured his personal brand of profundity into every glass served and sipped.
Through two different service industries; Deidre in psychology and Nick in hospitality they both came to the same conclusion – wisdom and connection have never been more important. After many wide ranging conversations (over a glass of wine of course) Dirt Temple was born. Deidre and Nick have each lived the Dirt Temple ethos for their entire adult lives. They don’t just talk the talk but have first and foremost walked the walk, as a result, they now have much to share with you.
No. Dirt Temple retreats are not a substitute for therapy, psychological treatment, psychiatric care or medical support.
Although psychological frameworks may be referenced, the retreat does not establish a therapist/client relationship, and facilitators are not acting as your personal therapist, psychologist or healthcare provider.
While the retreat may be psychologist-led, it is not a clinical program and does not constitute therapy, counselling, diagnosis or treatment. Participants are encouraged to maintain their own external mental health and medical support before, during and after the retreat.
Dirt Temple is for people who want to slow down, go deep, rediscover wisdom and discover – perhaps for the first time – body wisdom. It is for those who are able to, or willing to learn to, listen to the land and to others. Not with a hidden agenda, not with judgement and condemnation but with the lost art of sacred Curiosity and divine Compassion.
Its for the secular seeker (the spiritually curious but scientifically savvy) individual who has felt over-stimulated, over-theorised or up in their heads and yet sense that something important happens through grounding, descent, through contact with what’s real rather than what’s impressive. It is for people who want to remember how to belong – skillfully – to their bodies, to their communities, to the earth and whatever lies beyond.
The Dirt Temple retreat is an immersive, experiential retreat designed to support reflection, connection, personal growth and embodied practices in a contained group setting. The retreat combines guided experiences, group processes, ritual, rest and nature-based practices.
This retreat is suitable for individuals who:
- Are emotionally stable and able to self-regulate
- Are comfortable participating in group environments
- Are open to self-reflection and embodied experiences
- Can take responsibility for their own wellbeing
You must be able to assess your own physical, emotional and psychological readiness to participate.
The retreat is not suitable for individuals who are currently experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, acute or severe mental health episodes, including but not limited to:
- Active psychosis
- Acute manic or hypomanic episodes
- Severe dissociation
- Active substance addiction or withdrawal
- Recent psychiatric hospitalisation
- Suicidal ideation requiring immediate clinical support
If you are unsure whether the retreat is appropriate for you, we strongly recommend consulting with your treating healthcare professional before booking.
Dirt Temple does less – but achieves more. There is much we know about the world, we possess mind blowing facts like: Venus rotates so slowly its day is longer than its year, a jellyfish species is essentially biologically immortal by reverting to a younger state of itself, it actually rains diamonds inside gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn due to the intense pressure and other oddities include octopuses having three hearts and nine brains.
Trillions and trillions of facts we have amassed and yet there remains a fundamental mystery to the universe – an unknowable thing we call ‘God’. If we came to know 99% about the world over the coming millennia we would still be utterly transfixed by that remaining 1%. It is around this 1% that Dirt Temple orbits. Dirt Temple could be rightly accused of being besotted and enchanted by this mystery. This is true psychospiritual wisdom – “the more you know the more you realise you don’t know” – to tarry with this mystery directly means that Dirt Temple achieves more – more elegantly, more easily and more enticingly – while doing less. Less hustle, less peacoking. At Dirt more is less.
To ensure the best experience for all participants, we require completion of a comprehensive questionnaire at least 1 month before arrival and a group preparation call at least 2 weeks before commencement.
Some of the questions you are asked in your comprehensive questionnaire may feel quite personal — and that’s intentional. Your honesty helps us determine whether Dirt Temple is the right fit for you and allows us to uphold the highest standards of care, safety, and support for everyone involved.
It is both and might be neither. It sits at the crossroad of spirituality and psychology but is not either – but it could be both. It is spiritual in the sense that it works with meaning, ritual, ecology, belonging and the unseen aspects of life. It invites reverence and relationship rather than dogma or stringent beliefs.
It is therapeutic in the sense that it supports nervous-system regulation, emotional honesty and integration. But it is not therapy: there is no diagnosis, treatment plan, promise of healing and facilitators are not substitutes for your own medical or mental health professional. Dirt Temple ultimately asks not “how do I fix myself?” But “how do I belong – to my body, my life and the world I’m a part of?”
No, you don’t need any prior experience at all. Dirt Temple itself is agnostic about religion and does not assume any beliefs, spiritual trainings, or familiarity with meditation, ritual or shadow work.
Dirt Temple is a ‘safe space’ for a certain type of person rather than a certain set of skills. Genuine curiosity, authentic humility and a touch of courage matter much more than experience. All practices are clearly explained, deceptively simple and embodied (not technical), they are all fundamentally optional and focused on presence rather than performance so it’s impossible to ‘get it right’ because it’s impossible to ‘get it wrong’.
Dirt Temple doesn’t teach beliefs, doctrine, cosmolgy and nothing requires you to interpret your experience in spiritual terms. If anything, you are strongly invited to keep interpretations grounded in scientism and rationalism wherever possible to counterbalance the prevailing pseudo-spiritual nonsense. You are encouraged to first and foremost understand experience through psychological, philosophical, somatic, ecological and symbolic lenses and then; humbly, reverently, tentatively through a spiritual lens.
Rituals at Dirt Temple are offered as practices of attention and relationship, not acts of faith or superstition. You will not be asked to adopt meanings, make declarations or share interpretations that you don’t believe in. Many who are secular, sceptical or wary of “spiritual talk” will find allies at Dirt Temple because we focus on direct experience as sovereign. You are welcome and encouraged to come exactly as you are, with your own language – or none at all.
You begin by filling in our short ‘Dig Down’ questionnaire which you can find here.
This is like sitting down together and introducing ourselves. If you request a phone call we will follow up with you and from there will book a 1:1 discovery call with one of our team members, where you can ask any additional questions that may have arisen – this essentially deepens the conversation as we can get to know each other further.
Finally, a ‘Nitty Gritty’ form, that includes personal and healthcare questions will be sent to you via email in order to help us understand your needs and the appropriateness of the retreat for you; rest assured that no intrusive questions are asked and your right to privacy is respected. Only personal information that is relevant to the retreat; namely general suitability and safety information is collected and retained until after the retreat has ended.
Once we have assessed suitability with the discovery call and the ‘Nitty Gritty’ form, we can confirm you acceptance into one of our upcoming retreats. Once your place is secured, we will send you billing and preparation information.
The short answer is yes!
We would love to welcome you there and learn and grow together. One of our flagship courses is 21 Days of Gratitude. Join us here and you’ll receive direct access.
Safety, Consent and Ethics
Dirt Temple is designed with safety, consent and care at its core – but it’s important to be clear about what that means.
The retreat uses grounded, ancient and contemporary practices designed and delivered by professionals. Choice is built into every practice and the pace is intentionally supportive. That said, Dirt Temple does not promise comfort at all times. Feelings, memories or questions might arise – but always within a contained, non-coercive environment that prioritises stability and integration. Dirt Temple aims to be as emotionally safe as a non-clinical, non-religious retreat can responsibly be. It offers expertly held support and skillful containment from practitioners with extensive trauma-informed expertise.
The simple answer is absolutely not. You are never required to take part in every practice.
Each offering is an invitation, not an obligation and opting out is treated as a valid and respected choice, not a failure or lack of commitment. You are always welcome to sit out and observe, or rest. Modify a practice to suit your body or your capacity. Or step away if something doesn’t feel right. Listening to your limits and asserting healthy boundaries is considered part of the practices not a disruption to them. Dirt Temple is built on a foundation of consent, personal agency and self-trust.
Safety at Dirt Temple is not a single policy or disclaimer – it is woven throughout the entire retreat from inception to design, from deliver to aftercare.
This is what sets Dirt Temple apart – the level of professionalism, intellectual rigour and legitimately informed by ancestral, indigenous wisdom. In line with our ethical roots Dirt Temple is transparent, respectful of personal boundaries and autonomy, has a non-hierarchical tone with clear group norms, uses balanced and well-rounded practices to support nervous system activation and release, imposes no interpretations (spiritual, psychological or otherwise) and is designed and delivered by professionals.
If you have concerns, comments or criticisms you are strongly encouraged to raise them.
You will always be asked for your constructive feedback upon completion of your retreat as standard practice. But you can always speak with a facilitator or co-facilitator during the retreat, at a time that feels safe and appropriate. Alternatively you can contact the organisers privately after the retreat. Complaints are taken as opportunities and are valued highly. We take the responsibility of running retreats very seriously and receiving feedback without shaming or exclusion is a big part of that.
While a culture of respect and confidentiality is encouraged, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in a group setting.
Other participants are not bound by professional confidentiality obligations. You are encouraged to share only what you feel comfortable disclosing. However, all sensitive information provided, including relevant medical history, to Dirt Temple will be handled confidentially and in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws. Information will not be shared with third parties except where required by law, where there is a serious threat to health or safety, or where emergency intervention is reasonably necessary.
You are required to disclose any medical conditions, injuries, medications, allergies, physical disabilities or accessibility needs that may impact your safety or participation.
This allows the retreat team to assess suitability and make reasonable accommodations wherever possible. Unfortunately, not all needs can be accommodated in a retreat environment however Dirt Temple aims to be inclusive and to support diversity to the very best of our ability.
Please call to discuss how we might accommodate your needs.
Content
Dirt Temple is intentionally designed to be balanced. There are ecstatic, cathartic and homeostatic practices all in proper proportion.
Think of it like following a recipe for wisdom; mixing different combinations of spicy, medium and mild with different combinations of sweet, sour and salty. At Dirt you will discover the perfect psychospiritual concoction. Practices are non-strenuous physically. There is no endurance work, extreme postures, fasting or sleep deprivation. Movement is simple and always optional with plenty of scope for rest and respect for personal limits. The container is very strongly and solidly held by professionals and if difficult feelings arise there is ample expertise to support. There is never any pressure to relive trauma, share deeply personal stories or reach any particular emotional state.
Shadow work is doing exercises and activities designed to explore psychological and emotional material that is ordinarily outside of conscious awareness such as hidden fears and undesirable traits (eg., anger, jealousy, vulnerability).
Meeting the parts of ourselves that we usually avoid, suppress or judge with Curiosity and Compassion achieves greater self-awareness, healing, wholeness, and authenticity. Rather than trying to “fix” or chase away these parts we learn to allow and accept. In a setting like Dirt Temple shadow work is somatic and non-dramatic. There is no forced confession, emotional dumping or uncontained release. It’s about learning to stay present to whatever is arising with Curiosity and Compassion.
Rope work or ‘Shibari’ in a context like Dirt Temple is not sexual.
It refers to the intentional, consent-based use of rope as a somatic and symbolic practice in the energetics of authentic, healthy power exchange. It is not erotic play or sexual activity. We use rope to explore boundaries – saying “yes” and saying “no”. We use rope work as a medium to explore choice and agency, trust and communication, embodied awareness and containment. The rope is a tool for attention not for arousal. Practices are fully clothed, slow and mindful, clearly explained in advance and opt-in only (with alternatives offered). Absolutely no nudity, sexual touch or erotic framing is involved. It is not foreplay, kink, power exchange for erotic purposes, about humiliation or ‘power over’. Rope is used because it makes boundaries visible and tangible. Shibari places emphasis on aesthetics, intimacy, trust, and connection and often involves intricate patterns on the body using natural fiber ropes like jute or hemp. For many people the practice is actually regulating rather than activating. It is about learning to feel safe inside limits, not about crossing them.
Ritual wine at Dirt Temple is used symbolically and sparingly not socially or recreationally – and alcohol consumption is NEVER mandatory.
Wine, when included, is treated as a sacrament not a simple drink. It is used with clear intention for sacred purposes with a focus on meaning and relationship. It is always consumed mindfully and represents transformation not pleasure or escapism. You may decline wine entirely, request a substitute or engage symbolically (witnessing, holding the cup, sitting out). No justification or explanation is required and opting out carries no penalty. There is never any pressure to drink, absolutely no encouragement to exceed comfort or limits, not mixing with intensity-based practices and no framing wine as necessary for psychospiritual health. For many people not drinking is in alignment with their personal sovereignty and this is deeply respected. Ritual wine at Dirt Temple is an optional, symbolic element not a requirement.
Emotional responses can arise in retreat environments. Participants are expected to:
- Monitor their own wellbeing
- Step back from activities if needed
- Seek appropriate external support if distress exceeds their capacity to self-manage
Dirt Temple facilitators are not crisis responders. In the event of a mental health crisis, emergency or clinical services may be contacted, and any associated costs are the responsibility of the participant.
Having a mental health history or lived experience of trauma does not automatically exclude you from attending. However, you must:
- Be currently stable
- Be able to self-regulate without intensive external support
- Fully disclose any relevant mental health conditions, trauma history, triggers or vulnerabilities during the intake process
Failure to disclose relevant information may result in removal from the retreat without refund.
If you are uncertain about your suitability, we strongly recommend:
- Speaking with your treating psychologist, psychiatrist, GP or healthcare provider
- Carefully reviewing the Terms & Conditions
- Contact us with general (non-clinical) questions before booking
Practicalities
The venues provided as the setting for Dirt Temple retreats are opulent and serene – a big part of why Dirt Temple has chosen to partner with them.
We would certainly understand your desire to stay on after the retreat. Dirt Temple can in no way facilitate these arrangement on your behalf and you are encouraged to contact and coordinate these details with our accommodation partner directly.
Arrival: Your flight must land before 9:30 am local time on the first day of your retreat to accommodate the retreat start time of 11am. Please do not arrive at the venue before 11am as the team will be busy with preparations and will not have the capacity to greet and settle you. Please ensure that you arrive strictly on time as the retreat program is designed to start from a high point with strong focus on group cohesion. We will not delay the first activity for late-comers and failure to attend the first exercise may severely impact the group dynamics. Please be respectful of other’s time and schedules.
Departure: Unless prior arrangements with the venue are in place departure is at 12:30pm on the final day. Dirt Temple have many restaurant partners in the Barossa Valley who will happily accommodate you or your group for a lavish lunch after your retreat experience. Just ask us for some recommendations.
Retreat leaders and organisers are not available beyond 12:30pm on the final day to debrief or being integration with you. Please be mindful of our time and other commitments.
If flying interstate, we advise you to book your departing flight after 4:00 pm local time on the day of departure. The retreat will conclude at 12:30 pm local time. Please allow at least 90 minutes of travel time to the airport to ensure sufficient time.
At this stage Dirt Temple is unable to provide airport transfers.
Please make independent travel arrangements to the retreat venue. As you are considering your options, we highly recommend the services of Kym Farley of ‘Barossa Bespoke Tours’.
Mobile devices are only able to be used in your own room, as we know the more you can step into retreat mode the more you can benefit.
The retreat is non smoking ( including vaping or similar ) and we request that you do not bring alcohol, caffeine, drugs, or food to the retreat with you.
Please remember that you are booking a package that is non-refundable and non-transferable should an unplanned situation arise.
Be mindful of the following when considering if travel insurance is right for you:
- Cancellation fees
- Lost deposits
- Additional expenses for accidental injury, sickness and hospitalisation
- Medical evacuation
- Luggage and personal effects
- Travel delay and alternative transport expenses
- Personal liability
We believe that access to transformational psychospiritual experiences should not be constrained by finances.
As such, we are committed to offering financial assistance to those who are genuinely unable to afford the cost of our retreats yet demonstrate their enthusiasm and suitability for the program through the Dirt Temple Scholarship Fund. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, contact us to discuss it.
Please note success in receiving a scholarship at Dirt Temple applies only to funding. Once the scholarship has been granted, you will still be required to go through the retreat admission process and adhere to all protocols set out in our Terms and Conditions.
Yes. The retreat is fully immersive and includes all meals and food provisions.
Participants must disclose all food allergies, intolerances, sensitivities and dietary requirements prior to attendance. While care is taken to accommodate disclosed needs, participants remain responsible for assessing their own safety around food.
Boundaries and Group work
Once accepted into the Dirt Temple community you will be guided through a process of comprehensive preparation.
A very simple and elegant way to begin your journey is to acknowledge the courage and curiosity required to step into a novel experience. Continue to hold and foster these skills throughout.
Preparation, retreat, and integration take place over a period of 5 weeks.
Once accepted into the program, you will be provided with materials and suggested exercises to support your preparation for the retreat. A senior facilitator will conduct two preparatory video calls with your group before the retreat and two integration calls afterward to help you and your fellow participants weave the insights from the retreat back into your everyday life. After completion, you may opt to subscribe to the community platform and continue to have access to integration calls, courses, and growth-oriented content.
Please note that we hold firm standards for dietary, drug, and lifestyle protocols two weeks before and one week after the retreat.
Team Members
We understand that there may be times when personal matters require reaching out to our team. However, we kindly ask that clients refrain from reaching out to our team members privately or requesting their private phone numbers. To maintain professionalism and respect personal boundaries, our team will not engage in communications through private numbers.
All communications should be directed through our official channels, ensuring that your needs are met promptly and appropriately. Our goal is to provide timely and effective support while maintaining clear boundaries between personal and professional interactions. This approach helps us provide consistent, secure, and professional support to all our clients.
Other Participants
It is expected that participants will abide by the group norms – established at the beginning of the retreat – which will always include:
- Acting in a manner that does not place oneself or others at risk
- Respecting personal boundaries within group settings
- Taking personal responsibility for ones own emotional regulation
- Seeking external professional support if distress arises beyond the scope of the retreat
Let’s keep digging into it together. Contact us now. If you have any concerns or additional questions or would just like to chat to our team about any of these elements.
Cancellation Policy
Payment of a deposit or any portion of the retreat fee indicates that you have read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions.
If you are removed from the retreat for safety reasons or breach of the Terms and Conditions, no refunds will be provided.
All payments are non–refundable and nontransferable. Should you need to make changes to your booking, the following charges will apply:
- Cost: $4,995 AUD (includes GST)
- A $750 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot
- Full Payment is due 1 month prior to the retreat commencement
- Alternatively, a “Pay in 3” installment plan is available, please ask us how
- Cancellation or postponement more than 28 days prior to arrival will incur a fee of $500 per person/per package.
- Cancellation or postponement 28-21 days prior to arrival will incur a fee of 50% of the total package.
- Cancellation or postponement 21 days or less prior to arrival, non-arrival or early departure (without prior discussion with the Dirt Team) will incur a fee of 100% of the total package.
If you have questions about payment plans or cancellations, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Guest Cancellation Policy
We have a no-refund, no-transfer policy at Dirt Temple. Exceptions to our policy cannot be made for any reason. We do not offer credits for guests arriving late, leaving early, or experiencing unforeseen medical or emotional changes. We reserve the right to change participants’ attendance based on new information provided to us and are not obligated to refund in any way.
Retreat Cancellation Policy
If we must cancel a booked retreat date for any reason, such as COVID restrictions or lack of attendance, you may postpone your full retreat payment to a future retreat date. Refunds are not possible. We will not be held responsible for your expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled retreat, such as airline tickets, loss of work, and/or other costs associated with preparing for your trip.
It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policy before making a reservation. Naturally, no one books with the intention of canceling or postponing their retreat, but unexpected things do happen, so please purchase travel cancellation insurance once you have made your reservation.
Acknowledgement of Country
Dirt Temple acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Barossa Valley as the Peramangk people who shared country with the neighboring Kuarna people (to the west/south) and Ngadjuri people (to the north) and their standing as exemplars of strong and healthy kith and kinship. We recognise that we need be guided by their example of respectful custodianship of land, so too the example given to us by all non-human life. May we too be good stewards of this land and it’s inhabitants in the time given to us.
