About us

Jonathan thrives through and with its people who live and work here, as well as with the people who come here as guests or seminar participants. Everyone is welcome and allowed to be who they are. This is one of the key aspects that makes Jonathan so special. Development is important to us, each person at their own pace, according to their desires and needs.

In the following sections, you will learn about these people and the vision of Jonathan that is lived here, through work and daily interactions with guests.

Would you like to be part of this vision? You have the opportunity to contribute, perhaps as a Working Guest.

Our Vision

Jonathan is a space for inner peace work—held as such for over three decades—for guests, for the people who live and work here, and likely for all those who come into contact with the house.

Our mission is to create a space for inner peace work in its various forms, held at all times. Each person in their place, with their abilities, with dedication, from the heart, in deep gratitude for this opportunity, and with the best possible connection to "the Highest."

We safeguard the space, we nurture it, and we continue to develop it—gently, lovingly, aligned with the needs of peace work—toward light, inner stillness, and a profound joy that is not influenced by the ups and downs of daily life.

The Place is a Learning and Practice Space for

• Awakening to the truth ("Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God." - Central quote from A Course in Miracles)

• Classrooms of love

• Inner and thus outer peace

• Nonviolent communication (Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?)

• Inner freedom, the freedom to follow the path of the heart

• Forgiveness and non-judgment

• Being a channel, not the source

• Consciously "Being"

We serve an idea, a place where unfolding and awakening take place. In doing so, we ourselves unfold and awaken.

We take full responsibility for our own being, feeling, thinking, and acting.

We are convinced that the daily living space is also the space for each individual’s "awareness path," where old entanglements are released and reintegrated. In this, we support each other in many ways—with joy, laughter, anger, fear, tears, and everything that comes with it.

Jonathan the Seagull

To find a new understanding of community, it is necessary to question old norms and limitations. This motif is found in the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, which gave the hotel its name.

Jonathan the seagull believes there must be more to life than just picking food. She feels that the individual purpose of her life is to learn the art of perfect flight. However, the seagull flock is convinced that the only meaning of life is the struggle for survival.

As Jonathan sets out to break the habitual thinking of her flock, she faces hostility, even to the point of being excluded. But Jonathan the seagull trusts herself, moves through pain, joy, and loneliness, and encounters new friends, teachers, and partners on a new level, all of whom are also on their own journey.

We see our hotel as a place where people can meet, who are ready to question outdated behaviors. Here is the opportunity to support each other in becoming better equipped to face the challenges of everyday life, both internally and externally, with the doubters within and around us.

The Jonathan-Team

Here we introduce the current team members of Jonathan, in the order of their joining.

Charles Kunow

Board Member of the Stiftung Bewusst-Sein, Founder of the Jonathan Seminar Hotel, Consulting and Support

Sandra Suresha Joachimsthaler

Managing Director of the operating company of the seminar hotel, guest care & service, coaching

Martin Tischer

Managing Director of the operating company of the seminar hotel, event organizer support, planning, and controlling

Founder and longtime director of the seminar house, now our "Council of Wisdom". He knows all the processes, tasks, tips, and tricks in the house. Now, he stands by with his presence and wisdom to advise the new team, providing the necessary knowledge, skills, sensitivity, and foresight. His work is shifting more towards coaching and leading his own seminars, desert retreats, and new books are also in the pipeline...

Since 2017 at Jonathan, currently serving as the managing director for everything related to daily contact with the guests.

As a doctorate in economics and consultant for sustainable development, Martin (born in 1966) exerted himself in the first phase of his career. Now, he takes on responsibility without exhausting himself, a daily trial and error... He is rarely in direct contact with guests when they are at the house. Instead, he is more involved in initiating events, controlling, marketing, and strategic management.

Susanne Krüger

Reservations and Office

Christian Wachter

cook

Stephanie Peter

Training as a hotel specialist

For almost everyone who comes to our house, the journey goes through Susanne. After her training as a hotel specialist—naturally at Jonathan—she is now responsible for our guest reservations and other important tasks in the office. Favorite activity: Opening the mail. Every day feels like a little Christmas...

He knows almost every restaurant kitchen around Lake Chiemsee from the inside. When he no longer wanted to work with factory-farmed meat and cheap products, he came to us.

She began her training with us in the summer of 2022. By now, she has become a key support in service and guest care. Let's see if she can part ways with us after completing her training...

Silvia Hetz

All-rounder, service and guest care

Boris Mrkonjic

cook

Michael Schubert

Service and guest care

She came to Jonathan in early 2023—with her whole house. Although her caravan is no longer on the Jonathan grounds, she continues to ensure that the space for seminar participants is well maintained.

A vegetarian cook for many years. The Croatian (yes, there are actually vegetarian Croatians!) has been delighting our guests since March 2023. Specializing in desserts.

He came to Jonathan as an intern. For a while, the possibility of an apprenticeship with us was considered. However, he decided to continue his education. Now, he strengthens the service team on weekends and during the holidays.

Paulina Koziol

Housekeeping

Simon Krämer

Craftsmanship in the House and on the Grounds

Elke Weber

Service and guest care

Where she has been, it shines and sparkles. Paulina gets to work, tidying up, sweeping, vacuuming, polishing, and wiping. We’re truly glad to have her with us!

Often, you don’t see him for days. When he reappears, the floor in the seminar room is newly oiled, a dormitory has been painted, the shed is tidied up, and the wood is stacked...

Service staff to provide support when things get busy.

Devim Adigüzel

Service and guest care

Marliese Vöhringer

Service and guest care

Since spring 2024, he has been working with us in the service team. He lives on-site with us and clearly prefers the evening shift.

After a long career as an occupational therapist, she technically doesn’t need to work anymore. But somehow, she enjoys being at Jonathan. When it fits, she helps us out in the service.