Winter Silent Retreat

This retreat can be your pilgrimage into your own Heart.



Villa Ruusula, Finland
Available in Finnish and English
60 hours
17 spots per experience


What are we going to do

This retreat can be your pilgrimage into your own Heart and Sensuous Being.
The beauty and silence of Nature of Finland gives us the perfect environment to deepen our sense of Self and return to the wisdom of Heart.

”All the wonders of life are already here. They’re calling you. If you can listen to them, you will be able to stop running. What you need, what we all need, is silence. Stop the noise in your mind in order for the wondrous sounds of life to be heard. Then you can begin to live your life authentically and deeply.”

Thích Nhất Hạnh

Sometimes we can find support in returning to the beauty of silence. The winter nature in Finland is one of such things. It is incredibly peaceful and beautiful. The silence is complete in the Northern nature. Everything turns completely white, frozen, and still. In nature, in the vastness of the frozen lake, it feels possible to touch something eternal.

Another support can be a retreat. Sitting and walking together in silence can be the most powerful experience of awakening to the essence of your mind and sensuous being. Retreat gives you an escape from your daily routines and everyday environment, so that you can discover yourself. The quietude of nature will support our Inner Silence, as we retreat into our own spiritual heart. This retreat opens a possibility to leave the noises and sounds of external world, its expectations, and sources of possible stress. Trust and find again the peace, tranquility, balance, and ease within yourself.
On Friday, you will receive instructions for the retreat meditations, after which we will spend the whole weekend in silence until Sunday. A silent retreat can act as a kind of pilgrimage into your inner self. We can free ourselves from the thoughts and definitions that limit our identity. We allow the mind to return to the heart and senses. You can experience the transformative power that comes from opening your senses and quieting your mind. The purpose of the silent retreat is to relax the senses and to get to know and feel more deeply who you are. Silence can open a compassionate heart – to yourself and to the world. Our mind can rest from constant processing, analysis, evaluation, or determination - or, for example, from listening to other opinions.
For the duration of the retreat, I also recommend a digital detox, where we turn off electronic devices for the weekend, and give ourselves a break from electronic devices and media addictions.
During the retreat, you will receive written poems or aphorisms, which you can optionally use as a support in meditation. On Saturday, we will also do drum relaxation at the end of the day, before going to the sauna. You have also a possibility to try winter swimming from the sauna, if you wish to do so.
The retreat takes place in the incredibly comfortable and beautiful surroundings of Villa Ruusula, next to very quiet nature in Rasivaara, Rääkkylä. Finnish folk musician Sari Kaasinen's home is a loving and safe cradle, where our whole being can just rest. We meditate in silence by the frozen lake panorama. Yet enjoying the comfort, warmth, and excellent vegetarian food by Villa Ruusula.

The retreat guide is a local Helena Karhu, who draws from her Tibetan Buddhist experience in guiding and coordinating the retreat. The content of the retreat will be very simple silence meditation, which we will do both sitting and walking, inside and outside depending on the weather. If the snow conditions permit, we will also walk on the ice of the lake.

Guide:
Helena Karhu:

I am a wellness and nature entrepreneur from North Karelia, a mother of twins and a cultural researcher. I work at Karhu Talo (www.karhuntalo.com), which I founded, which aims to produce services based on connection with nature, cultural empowerment and inspiration, as well as holistic well-being in my birthplace in North Karelia. At Karhun Talo retreats, we use ancient and reliable methods to increase comprehensive and natural well-being. I have taken a huge number of different courses in the fields of holistic well-being, from shiatsu to herbal courses, traditional blood cupping, shamanism, reiki therapy, and practiced Tibetan Buddhist mind exercises for about 15 years.

Retreat destination in North Karelia:
Villa Ruusula, Metsolantie 39, Rasivaara, Rääkkylä. About 45 minutes from Joensuu. Villa Ruusula is cultural home of one of the most famous folk musicians of Finland, Sari Kaasinen. Villa Ruusula's incredibly bright cozyness, motherly care, the freshness of the local nature, and the beauty of the entire courtyard create an unforgettable weekend experience. A wonderful beach sauna allows you to take a dip in the waters of Pyhäselkä Lake. Our retreat circle meets in a wonderful and high-ceilinged retreat space.

More about the retreat place: https://villaruusula.fi/
If you come to the course location from further away by public transport, you can arrive, for example, by train or bus to Joensuu, from where we can arrange carpools to Rääkkylä.
Is the retreat right for me?
The retreat is suitable for everyone who is able to participate for the entire duration of the retreat. Our retreat time together is alcohol-free and drug-free. Meals during the retreat are vegetarian.
REGISTRATION:
You can sign up by e-mailing to info@karhuntalo.com
The participation fee is 215 EUR including 24% VAT including the retreat program.
In addition to this, accommodation with full board (breakfasts, lunches and dinners according to the program) are total. 260 EUR / person.
The course fee does not include travel or travel insurance. Please read Karhun Talo's reservation and cancellation conditions: https://www.karhuntalo.com/booking-and-cancellation-conditions


Preliminary program of the retreat:

Friday:

16.00- Arrival of the participants and getting to know the retreat's surroundings

17.00 Start of the retreat: Getting to know circle. Instructions for meditation exercises.

19.00 Dinner

20:00 Evening meditation: We begin silence together. Poem.



Saturday:

07.30 Morning yoga and stretching session (optional)

08.00 Breakfast

09:00 Retreat program:

09.00 Sitting meditation. Poem.

09.30 Walking meditation outside

10.00 Break

10.15 Sitting meditation

11.00 Walking meditation outside

12:00 Lunch

13:00-15:00 Break

15:00 Retreat program:

15.00 Sitting meditation. Poem.

15.30 Walking meditation outside

14.00 Break

14.15 Sitting meditation

15.00 Walking meditation outside

16.00 Drum relaxation by laying down.

17.00 Dinner

18.00 Sauna and possibility for winter swimming at the lake



Sunday:

07.30 Morning yoga and stretching session (optional)

08.00 Breakfast

09:00 Retreat program:

09.00 Sitting meditation. Poem.

09.30 Walking meditation outside

10.00 Break

10.15 Sitting meditation

11.00 Guided meditation standing outside (Helena opens the talk) – The silence ends

12:00 Lunch

13:00-14:00 End of the retreat: Talking circle and closing of the retreat

14.00 Return home

About Karhun Talo / House of the Bear - the Doer

Helena Karhu:

I am a wellness and nature entrepreneur from North Karelia, a mother of twins and a cultural researcher. I work at Karhu Talo (www.karhuntalo.com), which I founded, which aims to produce services based on connection with nature, cultural empowerment and inspiration, as well as holistic well-being in my birthplace in North Karelia. At Karhun Talo retreats, we use ancient and reliable methods to increase comprehensive and natural well-being. I have taken a huge number of different courses in the fields of holistic well-being, from shiatsu to herbal courses, traditional blood cupping, shamanism, reiki therapy, and practiced Tibetan Buddhist mind exercises for about 15 years.

Upcoming events

17 spots available · Book for private group from 2795€

Requirements

The retreat is suitable for everyone who is able to participate for the entire duration of the retreat. Our retreat time together is alcohol-free and drug-free. Meals during the retreat are vegetarian.

Reviews

Jenni

Jenni

Aivan uskomattoman hieno tilaisuus ❤️ En ollut koskaan rummuttanut porukassa, mutta täällä tunnelma vei heti mennessään ja vanhan salin tila oli paikkana täydellinen. Villa Oraksen upea miljöö, ihanat vetäjät ja mikä tietämys 🙏

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