Transylvanian Myths and History: Between Ancient Wisdom and Living Tradition
A Workshop by Regenerative Futures Transylvania - on Zoom and in Zărnești, Transylvania
In what has become one of Europe's last wilderness areas, we will explore the living memory of Transylvania through its myths, traditions, and archetypes.
As the start of our journey in building Regenerative Futures Transylvania, with this workshop we ask: what role does remembrance play in building a peaceful and thriving future? Which stories, characters, and wisdoms can guide us through this time of upheaval and transformation? What can we learn about being connected to nature and community from the memory of our ancestors?
The Place and Its Stories
Nestled in the Carpathian basin, Transylvania (Latin: "across the forests") has a rich history, often at the crossroads of empires and cultures. Romanian, Hungarian, Roma, German, and pagan influences have created a rich cultural repertoire closely connected to stunning natural heritage - primal forests and majestic mountain chains.
Like a journey back to when time was cyclical, the mythological world we explore in this workshop invites reflection on our relationship with Transylvania and its inhabitants through stories and the archetypal characters living in them.
What You'll Get:
· Understanding of how Transylvanian myths encode ecological and community wisdom
· Tools for using mythological thinking in your work
· Connection with others exploring ancestral memory's role in building futures
· Personal mythological story-framework for your work in/with Transylvania
· The opportunity to join at the start of Regenerative Futures Transylvania
Meet the Mythological Inhabitants:
Balaur – A dragon-like creature with multiple heads and serpentine features. He appears at times of destruction and the adversarial challenges that punctuate human experience. While events like war or ecosystem collapse seem too big to face, his presence reflects both our darkest fears and most radiant hopes. Despite the direness of circumstances, courage and wits can light our way, even when faced with multiple, fire-breathing heads.
Uriaș – These giants are guardians of the lands and judges of human action. A traveler seeking wisdom or a desperate favor might bring a gift—a wildflower, a flask of honeyed spirits—hoping to catch an Uriaș in a generous mood. If you are respectful and true, they may guide you through a mountain pass no map shows, or teach you the forgotten names of birds and stones.
Zburatorul – The mystical lover, a sexy teacher in Eros, who appears in dreams, awakening deep longing and creative inspiration. This shape-shifting spirit represents the power of desire and the visionary force that drives transformation. In regenerative work, Zburatorul reminds us that passion and vision are essential—but we must balance dreams with grounded action.
Practical Details:
· Date: 20 January at 16h (Transylvania, GMT+2) / 14h (GMT)
· Location: online and at Co-bana (Zărnești, Brașov county, Romania)
· Onsite registration: by email to David (deadline 16 January until capacity of 20 people reached) - [email protected]
Who Should Attend: Anyone curious about Transylvania's cultural heritage and interested in exploring how to connect more deeply to Transylvania through shared regenerative practices—whether you're a changemaker, visitor, cultural practitioner, or entrepreneur from this or other bioregions.
Facilitated by Jean-Philippe Steeger (Regenerative Futures Transylvania, re:storied and Perspectivist), a French-Romanian-German entrepreneur who works in narrative strategy, leadership development, and collective story embodiment in organizational and social transformation.
Hosted by David de Jong from Cobana (Zărnești), regenerative co-living hub and living lab of Regenerative Futures Transylvania, developing bioregional accelerator and incubator programmes for sustainable and regenerative businesses.
Supported by Emilia Prodea and the team at Nomad Ecovillage: a mobile, ecological NGO, focused on fostering sustainable living, community life, cultural exchange and nature-based tourism.
This workshop marks the beginning of Regenerative Futures Transylvania's community journey. As we work to transform this region into a thriving bioregional economy in harmony with nature, we recognize that the future must be rooted in the wisdom of place. Join us in remembering forward—using the myths and memories of Transylvania to guide our regenerative work.
Join Regenerative Futures Transylvania
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