Komorebi (木漏れ日)
n. The dappled sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees.
A reminder that stillness is alive, and light finds its way through even the thickest canopy. Purring Oaks is built in the spirit of komorebi—
a slow invitation to root, rest, and remember who you are in connection with land.
Purring Oaks is a 60-acre forest sanctuary and community gathering space in Benton Harbor, Michigan. A place to heal, create, gather, and slow down. Rooted in land stewardship, reciprocity, and care.
Explore our offerings
3–6 week immersive stays for artists, land-tenders, healers, writers and somatic practitioners. A chance to co-create with the land and contribute to something lasting. Includes lodging and food in the home utilizing space for both restoration and dedicated project work. First Residence scheduled for Fall of 2026.
Purring Folks Residency Options
Event Rentals
Host your small healing circle or workshop on 60 acres of forest, meadow, and quiet. Sliding scale pricing, rustic infrastructure, and deeply supportive vibes. Space for healers, makers, facilitators, and cozy celebrations.
Body & Energy Work and Coaching
Feel what wants to be felt. Learn what your body is trying to say.
At Purring Oaks, our approach to healing is integrative and rooted in education. We offer Maneki Method sessions and Emotional Body Mapping—two trauma-informed practices that blend somatic awareness, nervous system support, intuitive dialogue, and physical touch to reconnect you with your body's innate wisdom.
This is not about fixing you. It's about listening, honoring, and empowering you with practical tools to take home—so your healing doesn't end at the session.
We work with people navigating grief, chronic illness, stress collapse, ancestral patterns, spiritual awakening, and the simple fatigue of surviving in a too-fast world.
"The body holds the story, and the body can also be the author of your reclamation."
🌿 "We are not a business, we are a biome. We are not trying to grow fast—we are trying to grow well."
Dream Keepers :A Dream Sharing Circle:
Monthly, every third Tuesday — next dates July 14 & August 18, 7:00–9:00 pm
Dreams are sacred, important, and not shared enough. When we share our dreams with each other, we validate and confirm each other as dreamers.
Dream Keepers is a monthly dream-sharing circle held at Purring Oaks, facilitated by Lilla Dent and Laura Ballast. This is a judgment-free space, rooted in curiosity and compassion — not interpretation, not analysis, just witnessing. Dreams are personal, and we make sure they stay that way.
This circle is for you if:
- You've had a profound dream that has been life-changing
- You sense your dreams mean something, but can't quite tell what
- You're heart-centered and curious
- You believe a dream is more than just a dream
What to bring:
- One specific dream that holds real meaning for you, prepared in written form with as much sensory detail as possible (sights, smells, textures, sounds, tastes)
- Written to last around 5 minutes or less when spoken aloud
- A journal
- An open mind and heart
Depending on circle size, we may do a second round of sharing.
It's never "just a dream."
10 Spots
Left
Saturday, August 22 — arrive 10:00 am, ceremony will start promptly at 10:30. Chicagoland guests: please note we are on Eastern Time (EST) — plan accordingly!
Water ceremony is a gentle practice of release. Facilitated by Kathleen Lee, we ask the waters for assistance, to help us wash away what no longer serves our greatest good, and to make room for what we are ready to receive.
The ceremony is being sponsored by Purring Oaks, amidst the lush nature of our 62 rolling acres. The earth, the trees, and the spring-fed ponds are all part of the sacred container. We encourage you to be barefoot on the land if it feels right! (Please stick to the paths - there is a lot of poison ivy.)
The day unfolds slowly:
Doors open at 9:30 — arrive and settle in
10:30 am — ceremony (will be a punctual start, so please don’t be late)
Late afternoon - early evening — open time on the land, gift exchange on the picnic blanket, swim/sauna/shower, rest
Evening — communal potluck feast and offering plate for the land
This land is not a backdrop. It is a relationship. Everyone who enters Purring Oaks is asked to honor it.
We are a soft-hearted collective of creatives, fighters, gardeners, and guides who believe that land is not a backdrop—it’s a collaborator. Purring Oaks is a living space for art, healing, quietude, and wild reimagining.
We come from backgrounds in bodywork, martial arts, herbalism, organizing, and land-based art. We value accessibility, ancestral wisdom, slow growth, and joy as strategy.
As for the founder…
Lilla is a writer, healing arts practitioner, and founder of Purring Oaks. Rooted in Chicago and Tokyo and trained in NYC with an MFA, she now stewards 60 acres of forest in Southwest Michigan, where she lives in rhythm with the seasons. Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and autoimmune conditions, her journey led her to create Honeyflow, a slow, intentional martial arts method, and the Maneki Method, a practice for deep somatic and energetic clarity. read more about us…
The HoneyFlow Studio is coming summer 2026. A dedicated movement and event space with classes, workshops, and rentals. Cat free. Community first. Join the waitlist.
Purring Oaks is located in Southwest Michigan. We are 2 hours between Chicago and Detroit, aiming to be a lovely oasis of permaculture, wellness, and art for all to enjoy.
Our Address:
2107 Roslin Rd,
Benton Harbor Michigan, 49022.
Contact Us
Want to host an event? Curious about working with us? Just want to say hi?
We’d love to hear from you.
