For those with group retreat experience of the kind offered at Gaia House, an extended period of solitary meditation is an excellent way to refine one’s practice, deepen one’s understanding and foster greater self-reliance. Gaia House offers a rare opportunity to undertake a personal retreat in a supportive environment with regular guidance from teachers.
Personal retreats can be undertaken throughout the year for any length of time, although for practical reasons stays of less than one week are only possible between group retreats. The Hermitage Wing is dedicated to those undertaking personal retreats of one week or longer. In general personal retreatants are expected to have completed at least one week-long teacher-led Insight Meditation/Vipassana retreat in silence (not necessarily at Gaia House). All applications for personal retreats need to be approved by one of the Gaia House teachers and personal retreatants must agree to meet with a teacher at least once a week. Gaia House offers three partially subsidised rates for personal retreatants wishing to stay for 90 days.
The three places are available when the retreatant begins their 90 day retreat on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October.
