Start the New Year Mindfully: Spend a Weekend in Silence
The start of a new year invites us to pause for a moment. The stillness of winter is still palpable, yet spring is slowly making its presence felt—a time of transition in which movement and new growth gradually emerge from this period of retreat.
But instead of diving right back into action, making plans, and checking off goals, let’s take the time to first listen inward: What is truly important to me? What do I want to make more space for in my life? Where do I want to direct my path?
During this silent retreat, we’ll explore these questions in silence and allow a personal intention to emerge from what arises—not as a rigid resolution, but as an inner guide for our own path.
What to Expect:
On the day of arrival, we’ll begin around 4:30 p.m. and go over all the important details in the evening so that you can drift into silence safely and securely as you go to sleep.
Until the morning of the day you leave, we’ll envelop ourselves in dignified silence, focusing entirely on introspection. Looking inward. Listening. A shared lunch on the day of departure will bring our time together to a close.
At the heart of the retreat are gentle physical practices drawn from yoga and a moderately intensive meditation practice, which is well-suited even for those with little experience. We sit together several times a day, usually for no longer than 25 minutes at a time, with some guidance and plenty of space for your own experience in silence.
The program is complemented by various contemplative elements—such as brief reflections, stories, journaling, group walks, or silent exercises. The exact structure varies from retreat to retreat and is shaped by the questions and themes that are currently occupying me in my own practice and philosophical work.
What past participants say:
“The weekend of silence was a highlight for me this year, and I hope the effects will last a long time. Despite the usual Christmas stress, I’m already approaching many things a little differently, meditating every day, and writing a bit in my journal in the evenings. It was such a wonderful weekend that I’d love to experience it again in the future—and we were so lucky with the group! Thank you again so, so much for your fantastic introduction to silence, Yin Yoga, and so much more.” — Marisca M.
Your instructor:
Ever since my first philosophical wonder at the strange phenomenon of consciousness took hold of me about 30 years ago, I’ve been exploring philosophy, psychology, meditation, yoga, and all such things. It is the search for truth and for answers to the ultimate questions of human existence that has always driven me: I want to explore and understand consciousness, life, and what it means to be human in all their depth.
With great joy and dedication, I have been creating experiential spaces since 2020 that are inspired by this quest—spaces where people can move from doing to being and find peace, encounter and question themselves, and thus sharpen, enrich, shape, and expand their consciousness—ultimately leading to a more joyful and peaceful life. In this way, I hope to contribute to a more peaceful, conciliatory, and humane world.
The most important facts in a nutshell:
Moderately Intensive Meditation Practice (max. 25–30 min at a time)
Yin Yoga
Gentle body-awareness exercises from Hatha Yoga, done here and there throughout the day
Food for Thought, Short Presentations & Insights
Breathing Exercises
Exercises for Finding and Setting an Intention
Integration Exercise
A space for questions, personal needs/concerns, and discussion
Shuttle to/from the train station: €12 per person, €5 for two or more people
Optional: One-on-one counseling/spiritual guidance for existential questions about life
Free parking at the hotel
Bedding for rent: 8€
A beautiful, natural setting that invites you to take long walks | Nature Reserve + Forest
Delicious meals (full board: vegetarian, wholesome, and organic) | To be paid directly to the hotel
Overnight Stay | Pay directly at the hotel
The costs for lodging* and meals** are paid directly to the hotel (invoice will be sent by email; payment by bank transfer) and depend on the category:
€98/night/person for a bed in a shared double room with a private bathroom
€118/night/person for a single room with a private bathroom
€98/night/person for a single room with a shared bathroom
* Please bring your own bed linens or rent them for 8 €.
** Full board with three meals per day, plus tea, coffee, and fruit. Meals are vegetarian, wholesome, and organic; vegan options are available upon request—please specify when booking.
You can look forward to delicious cuisine that will keep you well-fed throughout your stay. Meals are provided on a full-board basis, with three meals a day as well as tea, coffee, and fruit. The meals are vegetarian, wholesome, and organic; vegan options are available upon request—please specify this when booking.
Please note: See the section on “Accommodations”—meal costs are paid directly to the hotel and are included in the prices listed above.
Like everything else, my program is constantly evolving: I’m learning new things, coming up with new ideas, wanting to try something out, and continuing to grow. That’s why nothing is certain—the only constant is that the program is always changing. It’s shaped, not least, by what I’m currently reading, what I’m exploring, and what’s on my mind. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to see the programs from past retreats.
Generally speaking, you can expect a well-rounded, varied program consisting of different meditations and gentle yoga, along with other activities (e.g., short talks, journaling, integration exercises, group walks, breathing exercises...).
The program is provided as an example only—subject to change:
Friday
4:30–5:00 p.m. Welcome & Organizational Matters
5:00–6:30 p.m. Yin Yoga & Meditation
7:30–8:15 p.m. Group walk | Talking about silence
8:30–10:00 p.m. Meditation, check-in session, clarifying questions
~ Beginning of silence ~
Saturday
7:00–7:25 a.m. Silent Meditation
7:30–8:30 a.m. Morning Practice & Meditation
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Therapeutic Yoga & Meditation
3:00–4:00 p.m. Meditation, Short Talk & Yoga Nidra
4:00–5:00 p.m. Optional: Opportunity for one-on-one conversation
5:00–6:30 p.m. Yin Yoga & Meditation
7:30–8:30 p.m. Optional: Opportunity for one-on-one conversation
8:30–9:30 p.m. Meditation & Storytime
Sunday
7:00–7:25 a.m. Silent meditation
7:30–8:30 a.m. Morning practice & meditation
10:00–11:00 a.m. Group walk & meditation
~ End of Silence ~
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Meditation, integration exercise, and closing session
1:00–2:30 p.m. Optional: Sharing & fellowship
By Car
In Götz, follow the signs for the Rosenwaldhof. Some GPS systems direct you along rough forest roads.
There are always free parking spaces available on the Rosenwaldhof grounds.
By train
The nearest train station is Götz, Groß Kreutz (Havel).
Please DO NOT get off at Groß Kreutz. Be sure to continue all the way to Götz.
From the Götz train station, you can either walk (about 1 hour), ride a bike (about 20 minutes), take the bus, or have the Hotel Rosenwaldhof pick you up by shuttle
Shuttle from the train station to the hotel
Shuttle prices vary depending on the number of passengers.
1 passenger: 12 euros
2 or more passengers: 5 euros per person
In any case, the shuttle fare must be paid in cash at check-in
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