Paths to Knowing Consciousness and Reality: From the Indigenous to the Academic

SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS SERIES

Paths to Knowing Consciousness and Reality: From the Indigenous to the Academic

May 20–27, 2026

Speakers: Jonathan Allday, Vicente Arraez, Vasileios Basios, Apela Colorado, Alvaro Doethiro Tukano, Ruro Caituiro Monge, Aimee Morgana (virtually), Robin Rice, Francisco Rivarola.
Curated and Chaired by: Jeff Dunne

Location: Pari, Italy

Ticket Prices:

Private Accommodation
Price: 2175.00 euros

Shared Accommodation – Private Room with shared bathroom
Price: 1875.00 euros

which includes:

• a 7-night stay;
• breakfast, lunch and dinner at the local restaurant featuring locally sourced produce and traditional dishes;
• water, wine, and coffee are provided with lunch and dinner;
• programmed lectures, activities and materials

There is a limited amount of accommodation in Pari and you will be placed on a first-come, first-served basis. We will also be using accommodation just outside of the village—within 3 kilometres. If you are housed outside Pari, a shuttle to and from the village will be provided.

Event: The event starts with on Wedensday May 20 at 17:00 and ends after lunch on Wednesday May 27.

Download information, terms and conditions for this course.

About the Event 

The exploration of consciousness, as a direct goal or as reflected in our desire to understand the natural universe, is central to every culture throughout history. In this event we consider how this quest has been pursued through both modern western intellectualism and the older indigenous paths of experiential knowing, and ultimately ask whether such approaches can be complementary.

Humanity’s recent evolution has seen an increase in anxiety of epidemic proportions, and a prevailing assessment is that it is strongly correlated with our growing sense of disconnection—disconnection with others, of course, but also disconnection from the world, and even from ourselves at the individual level. It is quite possible that the relatively recent resurgence of interest in understanding the nature of ourselves and our connection to the universe is in response to these pressures; whether at a conscious or subconscious level, we sense that this growing sense of isolation is at the core of our dis-ease manifesting at spiritual and emotional levels, and ultimately manifesting as literal disease in the physical.

We say resurgence because understanding the nature of self in relation to the world has been an enduring priority throughout most of human history, only diminished—particularly in western societies—over the last few hundred years. Modern science is now seeking these answers by exploring our prevailing models of reality (such as quantum mechanics) through the language of mathematics, but we must recognize that this intellectual path is only one approach, and quite nascent. For many thousands of years, indigenous cultures have been approaching these same questions, but along an experiential path, i.e. understanding our connection to the world (and each other) by focusing on the experience of those connections.

What is consciousness? What is reality? How are they connected? In this conference, we will not provide an answer to such questions; instead, we will provide many answers. But that is not our goal. These answers, offered from the diverse perspectives of a diverse set of presenters, are the candles with which we will examine the methods that produce such answers.

During the seven days of May 20-27^th—as nature transitions from awakening into full function… as the Gemini Threshold encourages increase cognition and the urge to converse and explain… as Indigenous cultures offer first harvest blessings and elders speak the season into the people—we will come together to explore the potential for integrating intellectual articulation with experiential knowing. A group of eight speakers will share insights on topics such as:

• The history of western science’s approach to understanding the universe, and where the scientific world stands today;
• How the process of connecting with nature has been developed over thousands of years of living with nature, and where it stands today;
• The evolution of ancient energetic traditions such as Qigong and Shamanism into modern practices;
• Alternate experiences of reality—or even alternate realities—that can be experienced through dreaming and other ways of experiencing; and ultimately…
• How we can leverage all of this into a set of coherent practices and worldviews.

But more than an opportunity to listen, this conference is an opportunity to engage. Participants will be more than individuals; they will be part of the conference community. Supported with tools, conversations, and a safe, welcoming environment, they will be challenged to make their own connections, find their own answers, and then (if they so choose) to contribute their insights as part of something bigger.

Please be part of the science, the magic, the experience.

Participating in an event at the Pari Center is more than joining a program, it is entering an experience unlike any other. This is no ordinary conference in a city hotel, nor a retreat hidden within a bustling resort. Instead, it is an invitation to step into an unspoilt medieval village in the Tuscan hills, where time slows and life unfolds at a rhythm that allows you to think, feel, and reconnect.

At the Pari Center, learning becomes a way of being. David Peat often described Pari as an alchemical vessel—a transformative space designed for reflection, renewal, and personal growth. It is a rare and welcoming environment for anyone seeking something deeper.

You will share traditional Tuscan meals and conversation with presenters and fellow participants, taste local wines, mingle with the village’s tiny community, and take in the beauty of the surrounding countryside. All of this unfolds within a gentle way of life, far removed from the hurry of work and the noise of city living.

The Pari Center gathers world-renowned thinkers, scholars, and innovators from diverse disciplines and traditions. Our mission is to explore the mysteries woven into everyday life: the subtle, essential questions that shape who we are and who we are becoming. Through rigorous inquiry, creative dialogue and participatory activities, we aim to illuminate the origins, nature, and possibilities of human experience.

We invite you to discover why so many visitors regard the Pari Center not only as a place of learning, but as a place of personal transformation.

Please contact Eleanor if you would like more information about this event at: eleanor@paricenter.com