Italy Retreat 2026 - From complexity to simplicity
This morning we had a beautiful Satsang after our morning practice that is part of the Detox Sadhana. Satsang is the space where we come together to look at what is real and present in our lives. It is a moment of shared inquiry, where questions, experiences, and patterns can be brought into awareness, and where we explore them in the light of practice and presence.
We have been holding these moments of Satsang as part of the Sadhanas that we are sharing live since the beginning of this year and it feels like life is inviting us to step into that space, holding space to show up with whatever wants to be seen, expressed or felt. It is unprepared, alive, fresh, unfolding by simply being present, really listening to what is shared in open awareness. It is joyful and profound in all its simplicity. And as such it is a great part of doing Sadhana together.
As a school we have been sharing Sadhana almost right from the start, because it is the ‘corner stone’ of spiritual practice. It is through the repetition of showing up, day after day and noticing how we respond and react to things we meet again and again on the mat, that increases our ability to see how we meet the things that keep showing up in our life, to grow in discernment, in awareness and our agency of choice.
We don’t do Sadhana to reach something, or to accomplish something, but rather to let all this reaching, grasping, attaining, striving, trying, proving and maintaining drop away. To relax more and more in the simplicity of being here. A simplicity obscured by the complexity of the mind, a complexity that is intriguing and compelling, that can create wonderful things and at the same time can hypnotise us and keep us captive in outrun stories based upon our past experiences. The moment that drops away freshness, aliveness is here, because it has never gone anywhere, it is always right here, but we weren’t paying attention.
When we practice together it is like this power is amplified, it becomes easier in a way. That’s why besides offering Sadhana we love offering our retreats, because during those days together we live a simple life without the usual distractions to keep us going in the loops of the mind. In a way you could say that a retreat is Sadhana on steroids, hahaha.
The daily rhythm of rising early, starting the day during the first rays of sunlight with practice, meditation and chanting is probably one of the most beautiful gifts you can give yourself. The energetic container of the retreat allows you to drop the stories and land in your body, and feel the feels, express what longs to be expressed and be present with it all. It’s a return to simplicity and discovering the joy that emerges when we can simply be. Spontaneous, fresh, alive.
In June we are coming together for 7 days on our beloved mountain in Italy, a week of simple living, with daily practice, satsang, lots of chanting, healthy food and the opportunity to just be. It’s a space that allows you to rediscover what may have felt lost, but is always present right here and now.
You are most welcome to enter that space with us, we still have some spots available:
We wish you a fresh and spontaneous day, and hope to see you in Italy this year!
Marieke & Tim