Tom Slater is an innovator in self-discovery and the teaching of authenticity and personal truth. Born in the United Kingdom, Tom has been recognized by Scottish Screen, the Irish Film Board, and the UK’s Channel 4, having spent the last 40 years on a journey of creativity, self-discovery, and healing. As an underwater cameraman and teacher, his exploration has taken him from the UK to Australia, Borneo, Central America, Malaysia and Bali, where he and his team at The Sapience Retreat facilitate groups seeking transformation.
We talked with Tom about the unique experience he has created and how his own journey has influenced where he is today.
WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER TOM SLATER, WE ARE IN AWE BY WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED WITH THE SAPIENCE RETREAT. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY?
My journey began in Australia when I was 17 years old and sparked an 18-year exploration of culture, people, and spirituality. I lived with tribal communities in Borneo, apprenticed in an ancient fire-making technique in Malaysia, and immersed myself in the wisdom of native spirituality and medicinal plants. In Egypt’s Sinai Desert, I lived among the Bedouin people and pursued my passion for the ocean as an underwater cameraman in the Red Sea.
These experiences ignited a passion for storytelling. I went on to film tribal life in Malaysia and street children running their own bank in India. My work earned recognition from Scottish Screen, the Irish Film Board, and Channel 4.
All this time through all my travels and explorations, I was seeking answers to questions I had about myself and the nature of the life I was experiencing. For years I thought that there was something wrong with me and that I needed help to “fix” myself. Through my 20s and 30s I was in and out of therapy and experimented in many healing modalities. What I finally came to realize was that my unmet childhood needs and wounds from my past were playing a key role in my present behavior and that unconscious influence lay deep in my nervous system. So when I started to approach myself somatically through the body and addressed these parts that felt dissonant, things really began to change for me. It was through this experience that I discovered that I had a unique ability to help others to do the same.
Through The Sapience Retreat, my work focuses on helping others break free from the limitations of their past and discover themselves and what it truly means to be human. Through connection, we all find our way home to ourselves.
WHAT ARE SOME TRADITIONS OR LEADERS IN THIS SPACE THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED YOU?
For much of my life, I searched for truth and understanding outside myself. I explored meditation practices, rituals with medicinal plants, and wisdom rooted in native spirituality. These traditions held immense value and often served as pivotal steppingstones on my journey, and each experience offered profound teachings that shaped who I am today. Yet, as meaningful as these experiences were, I came to an essential realization: there is no singular external authority that holds the ultimate truth for me. No guru, lineage, or tradition could define my path or provide all the answers.
Truth itself became the authority. I learned to trust my perception more deeply and to listen to the intelligence of my body. As I did so, life itself became the most profound and inexhaustible teacher. I discovered that every moment, when met with presence and curiosity, has the potential to reveal something meaningful. Every interaction, whether challenging or joyful, carries lessons if we remain open to them.
This shift in perspective transformed how I engage with the world. I stopped seeking validation or guidance solely from external sources and began learning directly from the unfolding of life. I realized that wisdom doesn’t reside in distant temples or esoteric teachings alone; it is embedded in the fabric of everyday existence.
Remaining open and attuned to life requires a deliberate practice of presence and receptivity. It means listening deeply to what life is offering in each moment and trusting that even the most difficult experiences have the potential to guide us toward growth and understanding.
Ultimately, life became an ever-evolving field of wisdom, where truth is not something handed down by an authority figure but revealed through the fullness of lived experience. This realization continues to shape my work and my path, reminding me that the journey itself is the teacher.
WITH SO MUCH OUTSIDE NOISE, HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN YOUR OWN DAILY LIFE?
For me, spirituality is not something separate from life; it’s not an activity I carve out time for or a specific ritual I perform. Life itself is the practice. My focus is on integrating presence into every moment, which comes with both successes and challenges.
It’s about having the flexibility to meet life as it unfolds, with a dynamic range that accommodates the practical, creative, and emotional aspects of existence. Rather than creating a hierarchy where one part of life supersedes the other, I try to be present with whatever life is asking of me in that moment. Whether it’s a call to focus on work, respond to emotions, or connect with others, I aim to meet each moment with curiosity and groundedness.
This approach requires adaptability and a willingness to lean into life instead of retreating to an altar or a specific practice when things get challenging. My spiritual practice is found in everyday experiences, feeling into the subtle moments, responding authentically to life’s demands, and being attuned to whatever is emerging.
The invitation is to trust that life itself is constantly presenting the perfect opportunities for growth and insight if I remain open and receptive. It’s less about withdrawing from the world and more about leaning fully into it, embracing the messy, dynamic, and beautiful experience of being human.
WHAT ARE YOUR CORE SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND HOW DO THEY INFORM YOUR APPROACH TO LEADING RETREATS?
At the heart of my spiritual beliefs is the understanding that life itself is the ultimate teacher. Spirituality, for me, is not about seeking enlightenment outside ourselves or escaping the human experience; it’s about coming home to who we truly are, integrating all parts of our humanity, and being fully present with life as it unfolds.
I believe that spiritual growth begins with a deep inquiry into the self. This involves asking profound questions, acknowledging what we don’t know, and embracing all parts of ourselves, even the aspects we’ve disassociated from or deemed unworthy. True healing and transformation come through the reclamation and integration of these neglected parts.
Relationships play a central role in this process. While I once believed that self-practice and isolation were the path to understanding, I came to realize that it’s in connection with others where we find the greatest challenges—and the greatest opportunities for growth. Through these interactions, we confront the edges of our comfort and discover deeper truths about ourselves and the world around us.
These beliefs are foundational to the way I lead retreats. I don’t approach them as spaces where I “teach” or “fix” anyone but rather as containers for deep, shared inquiry and exploration.
Participants are invited to lean into their edges, confront limiting patterns, and explore the parts of themselves they’ve avoided or suppressed. Through guided processes, presence-based practices, and authentic connection with others, I hold space for people to experience profound healing and self-discovery.
I also trust that each participant’s journey is unique. Just as life has no fixed curriculum, neither do my retreats follow rigid structures. Instead, they remain fluid and responsive to the needs of the group and the emerging dynamics. I aim to create an environment where participants feel safe to explore and empowered to find their own truth rather than looking to me or any external authority for answers.
WHO DO YOU FEEL BENEFITS MOST FROM THESE RETREATS, THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF PARTICIPANTS?
This work is not for everyone; it requires a certain level of readiness and courage. Participants who benefit most are those who have reached a point in their lives where they are questioning long-standing patterns that no longer serve them. These patterns may once have been effective for survival, gaining love, or establishing a sense of worth, but over time, they can become limiting and even detrimental.
The people who thrive in this environment are open to being challenged and willing to face themselves honestly. They are prepared to step into a space where others will reflect back what they see, providing valuable insights that can be both confronting and liberating.
Those deeply entrenched in their narratives, highly identified with their survival strategies, or heavily defended against change may find this work challenging. Transformation becomes possible only when someone is ready to release the tightly held façade that once protected them but now limits their growth.
Ultimately, this work is for individuals who have reached a critical turning point—when the discomfort of maintaining the façade outweighs the fear of letting it go. It’s for those who are ready to step into the unknown, face their edges, and discover a deeper, more authentic way of being.
WE HAVE EVOLVED AS A TECHNOLOGY-DEPENDENT CIVILIZATION. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IN TODAY’S DIGITAL AGE?
In today’s digital age, we have undeniably evolved into a technology-dependent civilization. Our lives are interwoven with devices and digital platforms, which have revolutionized everything from communication to work, entertainment, and even spirituality. But when considering the role of technology in the spiritual journey, I find myself grappling with both the profound benefits it offers and the distractions it imposes.
On one hand, technology provides an incredible tool for connection, information, and growth. Through apps, online communities, and virtual resources, we can explore different spiritual practices, connect with like-minded individuals, and access wisdom from across the globe. It has made spiritual teachings, meditation practices, and self-improvement techniques more accessible than ever before. There’s no doubt that in some ways, technology can support personal transformation and even foster a sense of community and shared experience.
However, as much as it offers these opportunities, technology also presents significant challenges, especially in the context of our spiritual journey. In many ways, it has become a source of distraction that pulls us out of the present moment. The constant notifications, the endless scroll, the pressure to engage and share all fragments our attention, making it harder to cultivate mindfulness and be truly present. The speed and constant bombardment of information can cloud our ability to listen to our inner voice, making it difficult to hear the subtle whispers of intuition or connect with our deeper selves.
Moreover, technology often contributes to a sense of dissonance in society. While it offers countless conveniences, it can also foster a culture of comparison, insecurity, and detachment. The curated perfection we see on social media, the constant comparisons to others, and the endless pursuit of validation feed into feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty, and self-doubt. These digital platforms, despite their ability to connect, can often leave us feeling more disconnected from our authentic selves and others.
Additionally, the addictive nature of technology cannot be ignored. With its infinite scroll, autoplay features, and algorithms designed to keep us engaged, it becomes all too easy to lose ourselves in a digital world.
In many ways, technology seems to feed the insecurities and uncertainties of our age. It amplifies the noise that keeps us from hearing the quiet, subtle truths that are often where real spiritual growth happens. And, as a result, it often rewards behavior that distances us from our true nature—constant multitasking, shallow engagement, and a culture of distraction.
HOW CAN PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND THE UPCOMING RETREATS?
We have a few retreats coming up, our next one taking place in Bali, in June. Bali is an incredible place to experience this work as we have been running many retreats from there over the last four years. If of interest, listed on:www.journeytosapience.com where people can learn more, and get in touch.
