SPIRE
SPIRE
SPIRE
SPIRE
SPIRE
SPIRE
SPIRE
SPIRE
Who
are
Who
are
Who
are
we?
we?
we?
We are a growing fellowship of artists, facilitators, philosophers, and seekers—held together by shared questions, not fixed answers.
We are a growing fellowship of artists, facilitators, philosophers, and seekers—held together by shared questions, not fixed answers.
We are a growing fellowship of artists, facilitators, philosophers, and seekers—held together by shared questions, not fixed answers.
We’re 5ToMidnight International — a company that trains people in the TIAMAT ecology of practices. We want to build a space where people grow existential resilience, reclaim playful agency, and practice transformation that uplifts both the person and the commons.
We live in a world where people meet life’s beauty through play, deepen connection, and wield the skills to navigate complexity with grace and purpose.
We’re 5ToMidnight International — a company that trains people in the TIAMAT ecology of practices. We want to build a space where people grow existential resilience, reclaim playful agency, and practice transformation that uplifts both the person and the commons.
We live in a world where people meet life’s beauty through play, deepen connection, and wield the skills to navigate complexity with grace and purpose.
We’re 5ToMidnight International — a company that trains people in the TIAMAT ecology of practices. We want to build a space where people grow existential resilience, reclaim playful agency, and practice transformation that uplifts both the person and the commons.
We live in a world where people meet life’s beauty through play, deepen connection, and wield the skills to navigate complexity with grace and purpose.
Ethan Hsieh
Artistic Director
Ethan Hsieh
Artistic Director
Ethan Hsieh
Artistic Director
is the creative and philosophical heart of 5ToMidnight. As Artistic Director, he weaves together theatre, ritual, psychology, and systems thinking to design the architectures of transformation that define TIAMAT. Over the past decade, he has developed TIAMAT through deep practice-as-research across Asia and Europe—working at the intersection of actor training, 4E cognitive science, post-Jungian depth work, and the many tangled threads of being human.
Equal parts performance-maker, teacher, and systems designer, Ethan crafts pedagogies for everyone from first-time participants to facilitators-in-training—always with an eye toward what’s possible when practice meets presence, and presence meets fellowship. Whether he's facilitating a group ritual, sketching a theory map, or building new pathways for character development, virtue cultivation, and existential resilience, Ethan's work is grounded in one animating principle: transformation is artful and relational.
He currently splits his time between Singapore and the UK, and also serves as Platform Manager and Business Development Lead of John Vervaeke's Lectern.
is the creative and philosophical heart of 5ToMidnight. As Artistic Director, he weaves together theatre, ritual, psychology, and systems thinking to design the architectures of transformation that define TIAMAT. Over the past decade, he has developed TIAMAT through deep practice-as-research across Asia and Europe—working at the intersection of actor training, 4E cognitive science, post-Jungian depth work, and the many tangled threads of being human.
Equal parts performance-maker, teacher, and systems designer, Ethan crafts pedagogies for everyone from first-time participants to facilitators-in-training—always with an eye toward what’s possible when practice meets presence, and presence meets fellowship. Whether he's facilitating a group ritual, sketching a theory map, or building new pathways for character development, virtue cultivation, and existential resilience, Ethan's work is grounded in one animating principle: transformation is artful and relational.
He currently splits his time between Singapore and the UK, and also serves as Platform Manager and Business Development Lead of John Vervaeke's Lectern.
is the creative and philosophical heart of 5ToMidnight. As Artistic Director, he weaves together theatre, ritual, psychology, and systems thinking to design the architectures of transformation that define TIAMAT. Over the past decade, he has developed TIAMAT through deep practice-as-research across Asia and Europe—working at the intersection of actor training, 4E cognitive science, post-Jungian depth work, and the many tangled threads of being human.
Equal parts performance-maker, teacher, and systems designer, Ethan crafts pedagogies for everyone from first-time participants to facilitators-in-training—always with an eye toward what’s possible when practice meets presence, and presence meets fellowship. Whether he's facilitating a group ritual, sketching a theory map, or building new pathways for character development, virtue cultivation, and existential resilience, Ethan's work is grounded in one animating principle: transformation is artful and relational.
He currently splits his time between Singapore and the UK, and also serves as Platform Manager and Business Development Lead of John Vervaeke's Lectern.
Ricardo van Mildert
Executive Director
Ricardo van Mildert
Executive Director
Ricardo van Mildert
Executive Director
steers the long arc of 5ToMidnight—keeping one eye on the numbers and the other on the horizon. As Executive Director, he leads our business strategy, brand identity, and long-term positioning, ensuring TIAMAT’s integrity is matched by its sustainability.
With a background in marketing and spiritual leadership, Ricardo balances the visionary with the viable: shaping high-level partnerships, managing organisational risk, and weaving psychological safety into every layer of the work. He's also responsible for refining our external presence—translating the complexity of TIAMAT into a clear, compelling invitation to the world.
At heart, he’s here to make sure the people who most need this work—leaders, educators, policy-makers—actually find it. And that when they do, they’re met by a system ready to hold them.
Futurist in form, facilitator at heart. Sharp in a crisis, generous in a circle.
steers the long arc of 5ToMidnight—keeping one eye on the numbers and the other on the horizon. As Executive Director, he leads our business strategy, brand identity, and long-term positioning, ensuring TIAMAT’s integrity is matched by its sustainability.
With a background in marketing and spiritual leadership, Ricardo balances the visionary with the viable: shaping high-level partnerships, managing organisational risk, and weaving psychological safety into every layer of the work. He's also responsible for refining our external presence—translating the complexity of TIAMAT into a clear, compelling invitation to the world.
At heart, he’s here to make sure the people who most need this work—leaders, educators, policy-makers—actually find it. And that when they do, they’re met by a system ready to hold them.
Futurist in form, facilitator at heart. Sharp in a crisis, generous in a circle.
steers the long arc of 5ToMidnight—keeping one eye on the numbers and the other on the horizon. As Executive Director, he leads our business strategy, brand identity, and long-term positioning, ensuring TIAMAT’s integrity is matched by its sustainability.
With a background in marketing and spiritual leadership, Ricardo balances the visionary with the viable: shaping high-level partnerships, managing organisational risk, and weaving psychological safety into every layer of the work. He's also responsible for refining our external presence—translating the complexity of TIAMAT into a clear, compelling invitation to the world.
At heart, he’s here to make sure the people who most need this work—leaders, educators, policy-makers—actually find it. And that when they do, they’re met by a system ready to hold them.
Futurist in form, facilitator at heart. Sharp in a crisis, generous in a circle.
Ellie Chan
General Manager
Ellie Chan
General Manager
Ellie Chan
General Manager
is a practitioner-researcher working at the intersections of care studies, environmental thought, and embodied practice. With a background in dance, social-ecological systems, and interdisciplinary research, she brings a unique sensitivity to how emotion, cognition, and behaviour weave together in the work of transformation. A weaver, builder, healer, and disrupter, she holds multiple perspectives without flattening complexity.
At 5ToMidnight, Ellie keeps the organisation grounded and growing. She leads our operations across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan—balancing grant applications with theoretical frameworks, team coordination with virtue ethics, and spreadsheets with serious play.
She’s also laying the academic foundation for TIAMAT, bridging practice and research to grow it into a rigorous, publishable framework for transformation. Whether she’s designing cross-cultural workshop formats, facilitating high-stakes conversations, or quietly holding a circle, Ellie models the virtues TIAMAT exists to cultivate: clarity, care, and the courage to remain in relationship.
Aspiring facilitator. Reluctant diplomat. Thinks with her body—and walks with a well-thumbed notebook.
is a practitioner-researcher working at the intersections of care studies, environmental thought, and embodied practice. With a background in dance, social-ecological systems, and interdisciplinary research, she brings a unique sensitivity to how emotion, cognition, and behaviour weave together in the work of transformation. A weaver, builder, healer, and disrupter, she holds multiple perspectives without flattening complexity.
At 5ToMidnight, Ellie keeps the organisation grounded and growing. She leads our operations across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan—balancing grant applications with theoretical frameworks, team coordination with virtue ethics, and spreadsheets with serious play.
She’s also laying the academic foundation for TIAMAT, bridging practice and research to grow it into a rigorous, publishable framework for transformation. Whether she’s designing cross-cultural workshop formats, facilitating high-stakes conversations, or quietly holding a circle, Ellie models the virtues TIAMAT exists to cultivate: clarity, care, and the courage to remain in relationship.
Aspiring facilitator. Reluctant diplomat. Thinks with her body—and walks with a well-thumbed notebook.
is a practitioner-researcher working at the intersections of care studies, environmental thought, and embodied practice. With a background in dance, social-ecological systems, and interdisciplinary research, she brings a unique sensitivity to how emotion, cognition, and behaviour weave together in the work of transformation. A weaver, builder, healer, and disrupter, she holds multiple perspectives without flattening complexity.
At 5ToMidnight, Ellie keeps the organisation grounded and growing. She leads our operations across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan—balancing grant applications with theoretical frameworks, team coordination with virtue ethics, and spreadsheets with serious play.
She’s also laying the academic foundation for TIAMAT, bridging practice and research to grow it into a rigorous, publishable framework for transformation. Whether she’s designing cross-cultural workshop formats, facilitating high-stakes conversations, or quietly holding a circle, Ellie models the virtues TIAMAT exists to cultivate: clarity, care, and the courage to remain in relationship.
Aspiring facilitator. Reluctant diplomat. Thinks with her body—and walks with a well-thumbed notebook.
Rens Tesink
Persons and Places Coordinator
Rens Tesink
Persons and Places Coordinator
Rens Tesink
Persons and Places Coordinator
is the quietly buzzing engine behind many of 5ToMidnight’s workshops, retreats, and collaborations across the UK, Netherlands, and Czech Republic. From booking venues and wrangling logistics to forging new community partnerships, he makes the magic happen.
When he’s not building partnerships or coordinating events, you’ll find him training his facilitation skills—bringing with him a deep care for psychological safety, a fierce sense of fairness, and an orientation towards alleviating unnecessary suffering. He will also of course be bringing his signature laugh.
With a background in both astronomy and contemporary theatre, Rens brings a rare blend of clear-sky thinking and embodied mischief to everything he does. He creates spaces where people feel gently invited into transformation.
If you’re an individual, venue, or organisation (in the Americas, Europe, or Africa) curious about partnering with us—Rens is your person. Reach out and say hi.
is the quietly buzzing engine behind many of 5ToMidnight’s workshops, retreats, and collaborations across the UK, Netherlands, and Czech Republic. From booking venues and wrangling logistics to forging new community partnerships, he makes the magic happen.
When he’s not building partnerships or coordinating events, you’ll find him training his facilitation skills—bringing with him a deep care for psychological safety, a fierce sense of fairness, and an orientation towards alleviating unnecessary suffering. He will also of course be bringing his signature laugh.
With a background in both astronomy and contemporary theatre, Rens brings a rare blend of clear-sky thinking and embodied mischief to everything he does. He creates spaces where people feel gently invited into transformation.
If you’re an individual, venue, or organisation (in the Americas, Europe, or Africa) curious about partnering with us—Rens is your person. Reach out and say hi.
is the quietly buzzing engine behind many of 5ToMidnight’s workshops, retreats, and collaborations across the UK, Netherlands, and Czech Republic. From booking venues and wrangling logistics to forging new community partnerships, he makes the magic happen.
When he’s not building partnerships or coordinating events, you’ll find him training his facilitation skills—bringing with him a deep care for psychological safety, a fierce sense of fairness, and an orientation towards alleviating unnecessary suffering. He will also of course be bringing his signature laugh.
With a background in both astronomy and contemporary theatre, Rens brings a rare blend of clear-sky thinking and embodied mischief to everything he does. He creates spaces where people feel gently invited into transformation.
If you’re an individual, venue, or organisation (in the Americas, Europe, or Africa) curious about partnering with us—Rens is your person. Reach out and say hi.
Current
aspirants
Current
aspirants
Current
aspirants
Here are the current cohort of facilitators-in-training in our SPIRE program.
Here are the current cohort of facilitators-in-training in our SPIRE program.
Here are the current cohort of facilitators-in-training in our SPIRE program.
Transparent
Problem
Formulation
Transparent
Problem
Formulation
Transparent
Problem
Formulation
(1)
(1)
(1)
We practice being explicit with our aims, boundaries, and transfer plans. Problems we work on are stated up front (what we’re training, why, and how it should carry into daily life), rather than hidden in doctrine. All containers have a clear beginning–middle–end and integration guidance, not open-ended indoctrination.
We practice being explicit with our aims, boundaries, and transfer plans. Problems we work on are stated up front (what we’re training, why, and how it should carry into daily life), rather than hidden in doctrine. All containers have a clear beginning–middle–end and integration guidance, not open-ended indoctrination.
We practice being explicit with our aims, boundaries, and transfer plans. Problems we work on are stated up front (what we’re training, why, and how it should carry into daily life), rather than hidden in doctrine. All containers have a clear beginning–middle–end and integration guidance, not open-ended indoctrination.
Collaborative
Correction
Collaborative
Correction
Collaborative
Correction
(2)
(2)
(2)
We practice being embedded in dialogue: practices are placed in ongoing dialogue that bridges disciplines and traditions with individuals in daily life. We commit to cultivating mutual vulnerability + critical feedback instead of axioms of mystique. Dialogical work harnesses distributed cognition so groups can surface blind spots and self-correct in practice, not just in theory.
We practice being embedded in dialogue: practices are placed in ongoing dialogue that bridges disciplines and traditions with individuals in daily life. We commit to cultivating mutual vulnerability + critical feedback instead of axioms of mystique. Dialogical work harnesses distributed cognition so groups can surface blind spots and self-correct in practice, not just in theory.
We practice being embedded in dialogue: practices are placed in ongoing dialogue that bridges disciplines and traditions with individuals in daily life. We commit to cultivating mutual vulnerability + critical feedback instead of axioms of mystique. Dialogical work harnesses distributed cognition so groups can surface blind spots and self-correct in practice, not just in theory.
Dynamic
Distributed
Authority
Dynamic
Distributed
Authority
Dynamic
Distributed
Authority
(3)
(3)
(3)
We actively discourage any person forgoing their agency to a single leader or ritual. We emphasize transfer to life (skills must generalize beyond sessions), uses multiple facilitators where possible, and warn against any lone facilitator “catching everything.” This design distributes authority and reduces guru-dependence.
We actively discourage any person forgoing their agency to a single leader or ritual. We emphasize transfer to life (skills must generalize beyond sessions), uses multiple facilitators where possible, and warn against any lone facilitator “catching everything.” This design distributes authority and reduces guru-dependence.
We actively discourage any person forgoing their agency to a single leader or ritual. We emphasize transfer to life (skills must generalize beyond sessions), uses multiple facilitators where possible, and warn against any lone facilitator “catching everything.” This design distributes authority and reduces guru-dependence.
Multi-Perspectival
Sense-Making
Multi-Perspectival
Sense-Making
Multi-Perspectival
Sense-Making
(4)
(4)
(4)
Facilitators invite direct notes and then route them into group reflection, so judgments about what to do next are shared and corrigible. The point isn’t leader control; it’s collective sense-making where teacherly input, peer feedback, and each person’s stated aspiration are held in live tension.
Facilitators invite direct notes and then route them into group reflection, so judgments about what to do next are shared and corrigible. The point isn’t leader control; it’s collective sense-making where teacherly input, peer feedback, and each person’s stated aspiration are held in live tension.
Facilitators invite direct notes and then route them into group reflection, so judgments about what to do next are shared and corrigible. The point isn’t leader control; it’s collective sense-making where teacherly input, peer feedback, and each person’s stated aspiration are held in live tension.
Thought Partners & Practice Collaborators
We are always open to collaboration—with curiosity, care, and shared integrity.
Whether you’re:
A facilitator interested in becoming a well-rounded leader
An artist, thinker, or practitioner exploring similar ground
A past participant wanting to stay in the orbit
Reach out to us!
Thought Partners & Practice Collaborators
We are always open to collaboration—with curiosity, care, and shared integrity.
Whether you’re:
A facilitator interested in becoming a well-rounded leader
An artist, thinker, or practitioner exploring similar ground
A past participant wanting to stay in the orbit
Reach out to us!
Thought Partners & Practice Collaborators
We are always open to collaboration—with curiosity, care, and shared integrity.
Whether you’re:
A facilitator interested in becoming a well-rounded leader
An artist, thinker, or practitioner exploring similar ground
A past participant wanting to stay in the orbit
Reach out to us!
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mailinglist
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Get the latest on fresh practices, workshop invites, and field notes on meaning — no spam, just signal.
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mailinglist
Get the latest on fresh practices, workshop invites, and field notes on meaning — no spam, just signal
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