Three-week silent retreat
November 1-21, 2025
Retreat Start Time: Saturday, November 1, 2025 (3:00pm)
Retreat End: Friday, November 21, 2025 (12 noon)
Location: Feraxi, South-Sardinia
Course language: English and German
About the Retreat
This „Dharma time-out“ is intended for all those who feel the need to be on their own for a longer period of time, unbound by everyday duties, in order to make space for deeper questions and processes. Nature, mindfulness and silence will be the container of the experience unfolding. The focus will be on your own experience and the mindfulness practice that develops from it.
The structure of the retereat will be daily meditation sessions with one guided session per week, supported by group discussions as required. There will be times of group meditation practice (with and without guidance) as well as sharing in the group. Participation in these activities is, however, merely voluntary.
Participation in the retreat requires a willingness to help as part of mindful work. The work on site includes preparing meals, taking care of the kitchen and cleaning the rooms/bathroom facilities.
Participation only with previous experience in mindfulness and meditation (minimum retreat experience of a 4-days reatreat).
Course Teacher
Dr. Julia Harfensteller teaches mindfulness and insight meditation in the Vipassana tradition. Her teaching is based on her 20 years of meditation experience, often under the guidance of teachers from the Theravada Buddhist tradition in East and West but also from the Tibetan tradition (among others, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Dhammajiva, Bhante Rahula, Upul Gamage, Sharon Salzberg, Roshi Joan Halifax, Fred van Allmen, Tsoknyi Rinpoche).
During her several months of retreats in Asia, she has visited and got to know centers of various traditions in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. These include centers of S.N. Goenka, but also other centers of the Mahasi tradition (Chanmyay Yeiktha, Sayadaw U Janaka) and Pa Auk, but also with teachers whose names she has long since forgotten. Later she intensively studied the Advaita tradition (Ramana Maharishi, Mahesh Maharishi).
For various reasons, Julia has increasingly moved away from traditional teaching methods of strict meditation discipline (e.g. S.N. Goenka) and found her own approach through the open and everyday approach of S. U Tejaniya.
Julia emphasizes a relaxed awareness with all that is in the here and now. Her style is non-esoteric and undogmatic, humorous and open.
Requirements
- Respecting the periods of Noble Silence during the retreat
- Full registration
- Willingness to participate in the daily kitchen clean-up after meals and facility cleaning.
Further general conditions of participation can be found here.
Venue and Travel Information
Venue: Azienda Erbe di Brai Loi, Località Feraxi, 09043 Muravera, Sardinia
The farm is about 1 hour’s drive from Cagliari. The nearest village that can be reached by public transport is San Priamo.
>> For travel information, plese click here.
It is possible to extend your stay at Brai Loi for 1 week after the retreat (self-catering).
Climate: In November the temperatures are between 18-22° Celsius during the day and between 13-17° at night. In exceptional cases it can cool down to 9° at night for one or two days. This is the rainiest time on the island, which means that it can rain for 2-3 days straight. Anyone camping on the island should not only bring a rainproof tent, but also a sturdy one due to the strong winds on the island.
Accommodation and Meals
The accommodation is organized by the SAGE Institut. Please indicate your accommodation preferences at registration with SAGE. Also, please mention food allergies and special food intolerances (e.g., gluten intolerance).
Accommodation options:
- Single, double or triple bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities. The single accommodation consists of simple log cabins on the grounds.
- Camping in your van or tent on the grounds; shared use of communal bathrooms and toilets in the house.
Catering:
All course participants receive full board. The meals (breakfast, lunch and a small evening meal) consist of healthy and balanced vegetarian food. Vegan options are always offered on the buffet.
Costs
The costs for the seminar are made up of the course fee and teacher donation.
Course fee
The course fee covers the costs for the course organization, catering, cook and accommodation. The course fee is required for a binding registration and is paid when registering online.
Course organizaion: 90€
Three weeks accommodation with meals:
Single room: 700€
Shared room: 630€
Tent/camper: 500€
Teacher donation
The course fee does not include a fee for the course teacher. In accordance with the Dana principle of the Buddhist tradition, the course leader requests a voluntary donation. This is usually paid in cash at the end of the course. Donation amount at own discretion.
Discount regulation
No one should have to forgo participation for financial reasons. If you have difficulties to pay for the course fees and / or if your budget is far below the recommended donation for the accommodation, please contact us by email. We will find a solution.
Supporter option
Some participants cannot afford the costs for accommodation and meals. In order to enable these participants to take part, we are dependent on donations. With 50 or 100€ you can finance the participation for someone. Please indicate how much you would like to donate when registering.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations within the first two working days after registration are free of charge.
If you cancel up to 4 weeks (30 days) before the start of the course, the course fee will be refunded in full minus a cancellation fee of €20.
In the event of withdrawal up to 7 days before the start of the course, 50% of the course fee will be refunded.
In the event of withdrawal within 7 days before the start of the course and in the event of early departure, the full course fee will be refunded.
Registration
To register, please read the conditions of participation and fill in the registration form on our website by clicking on the button below.
We will get back to you as soon as possible. If you do not receive a reply from us by email within 2-3 working days, please check the spam folder of your email program. Unfortunately, our messages sometimes end up there.
Please note that the course fee need to be transferred for a binding registration. By completing the online registration form, you are not yet registered, but only express your interest.
ferred for a binding registration.
Any questions? Need Help?
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have, including accommodation via phone (+49-30-2637-2067) or email (info[at]sage-institut.de). If you do not find someone by phone, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible.