Beyond Yourself – Into Stillness Of Being - SILENT RETREAT IN ASSISI
Beyond Yourself – Into Stillness Of Being - SILENT RETREAT IN ASSISI
Frazione Armenzano, 53, 06081 Assisi, Perugia, Italien
Up to 15 in group
June 23 - 29, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- Daily Meditation
- Introduction and Teachings
- Personal sessions
- Sharing
- Sitting together in truth
- Wonderful landscape
- silent surroundings
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Damiano studied theology in the early 80s in Germany. During his studies he became interested in Christian mysticism, Zen Buddhism and shamanic paths. Since then he has been practicing meditation in different forms. At the end of the 80s he discovered Gestalt therapy and has been accompanying people as a Gestalt therapist for 30 years. He explored the world of spiritual and psychotherapeutic schools. In 2000 he met Paul Lowe, who gave him a new perspective in looking at the world and understanding spiritual awakening. He learned about the deep ecology movement from Joanna Macy and led various conferences with her in Assisi, Italy. In 2011 he founded the Gestalt Forum Freiburg, Germany, and has been leading three-year training groups since then. Through wonderful coincidences, he and his family found a new home in Italy. He now lives on a small mountain farm near Assisi, the town where as a young man he met Saint Franzis, who became an important source of inspiration for him. Here is the “Piccolo Castello”, the medieval building where almost all of his seminars now take place. Damiano sees himself as a wanderer through time, with a deep desire to let the truth that has been placed in every person’s heart shine through.
Details of this retreat
You step out of your daily life, drop deep into the realm of silence, surrounded by vivid nature in midst of the Umbrian landscape. Heart and mind coming at rest, consciousness expands, pierces the habitual structures of the personality. Glimpses of being beyond the known touch the heart, letting go of holding, opening for what you are.
Damiano’s intention is to create the opportunity to deepen the inner awakening of consciousness beyond what you think you are or you should be. Its an invitation to a wonderful radical journey beyond yourself.
Located on a medieval „Castello“ nestled in the Nature Park of the Monte Subasio, just twenty minutes from Assisi, the town of Saint Francis. Francis, the shining saint of the 13th century, inspired Damiano in the early 80th with his simple way of living and his profound love to Jesus. Since 800 years his spirit draws people from all of the world regardless of religious beliefs to Assisi.
The silent retreat provides the opportunity to expand your awareness to who you are in this very moment.
Human consciousness appears on the world stage in the form of individual personality. But the person, which you are identified with, is not who you are. It is a grown collection of everything you experienced, learned and what you have taken over from the individual and collective way of living. Your beliefs, decisions, longings, your story, your pain and gain lie like a veil over the being that emerges beyond the limiting appearance.
Becoming still, letting the words fall silent, slowing down, contemplating and listening, can open an inner space in which being unfolds. It is the being beyond the mechanisms of your personality, beyond emotional habits, beyond the stereotypes of your self images, beyond words, beyond control.
Knowing of who you are is not under your willpower, you can’t do it the way you are used to control things, you can only make it happen by surrendering yourself.
The 6 day retreat offers a prepared structure to spent life in stillness:
The retreat starts in the first evening with an opening circle and the introduction for the following days. After closing we end talking. Words are only used for practical purpose, teachings and during the individual or joint sessions.
Damiano’s intention is to create the opportunity to deepen the inner awakening of consciousness beyond what you think you are or you should be. Its an invitation to a wonderful radical journey beyond yourself.
Located on a medieval „Castello“ nestled in the Nature Park of the Monte Subasio, just twenty minutes from Assisi, the town of Saint Francis. Francis, the shining saint of the 13th century, inspired Damiano in the early 80th with his simple way of living and his profound love to Jesus. Since 800 years his spirit draws people from all of the world regardless of religious beliefs to Assisi.
The silent retreat provides the opportunity to expand your awareness to who you are in this very moment.
Human consciousness appears on the world stage in the form of individual personality. But the person, which you are identified with, is not who you are. It is a grown collection of everything you experienced, learned and what you have taken over from the individual and collective way of living. Your beliefs, decisions, longings, your story, your pain and gain lie like a veil over the being that emerges beyond the limiting appearance.
Becoming still, letting the words fall silent, slowing down, contemplating and listening, can open an inner space in which being unfolds. It is the being beyond the mechanisms of your personality, beyond emotional habits, beyond the stereotypes of your self images, beyond words, beyond control.
Knowing of who you are is not under your willpower, you can’t do it the way you are used to control things, you can only make it happen by surrendering yourself.
The 6 day retreat offers a prepared structure to spent life in stillness:
The retreat starts in the first evening with an opening circle and the introduction for the following days. After closing we end talking. Words are only used for practical purpose, teachings and during the individual or joint sessions.
Schedule
Daily Program
7:00 a.m. Meditation.
We sit together in silence (2 times 30 minutes, in between walking meditation). At the first morning Damiano gives a introduction in the practice of silent sitting.
8:15 a.m. breakfast
9 a.m. Meditation.
We sit together in silence (2 times 30 minutes, in between walking meditation).
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 a.m. Individual sharing
Opportunity for a personal conversation with Damiano
12:30 a.m. lunch
In the afternoon people are free to follow their own practice, e.g. time for yoga, walking, meditation in nature, exercises, writing.
5:00 p.m. Meditation (2 x 30 minutes)
6:00 p.m. Sharing and teachings with Damiano
7:00 dinner
7:00 a.m. Meditation.
We sit together in silence (2 times 30 minutes, in between walking meditation). At the first morning Damiano gives a introduction in the practice of silent sitting.
8:15 a.m. breakfast
9 a.m. Meditation.
We sit together in silence (2 times 30 minutes, in between walking meditation).
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 a.m. Individual sharing
Opportunity for a personal conversation with Damiano
12:30 a.m. lunch
In the afternoon people are free to follow their own practice, e.g. time for yoga, walking, meditation in nature, exercises, writing.
5:00 p.m. Meditation (2 x 30 minutes)
6:00 p.m. Sharing and teachings with Damiano
7:00 dinner
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Beyond Yourself Retreat , Frazione Armenzano, 53, 06081 Assisi, Perugia, Italien
Directions
Book your flight to Rome-Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi - Umbria International Airport (PEG) or Florence Municipal Airport (FMU)
Flight, Train, Bus, Car
Flight, Train, Bus, Car
Accommodation
The bedrooms are simple and rustic furnished. The two bathrooms inside the house and the bathhouse outside are shared. A large kitchen offers plenty of space. The sessions take place in a 36 m2 room with a wooden floor, equipped with cushions, pads and blankets. The bedrooms are equipped with two, and three beds. Please note that there are limited places in the two-bed rooms. The rooms are equipped with wardrobes, bedside tables, chairs, and tables. The simplicity of the furnishings subtly highlight the medieval charm of the place. In addition to the spacious dining room with integrated kitchen, there is a bright room with a wooden floor for meditation and another room with antique tiles available outside the group sessions.
Program Price
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
The walls of our Retreat-Center „Piccolo Castello“ date back to the 14th century. It breathes the charm of old times and its originality invites you to enjoy the simplicity of life. It is part of the ancient village „Nottiano“ whose houses were almost all destroyed in an earthquake in 1997. The Castello is located in quietness and solitude surrounded by meadows and forests not far from the pilgrimage town of Assisi.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
The menu includes fresh vegetables, rice, and salads. Breakfast features fruits, porridge, jam, honey, and bread, while dinner may include soup, bread with spreads, and raw vegetables.
What's Included
- 6 nights, 6 days accommodation
- 3 daily buffet-style vegan meals
- daily meditation
- individual counseling
- evening sharing
- An afternoon tour to the Hermitage from Franzis of Assisi with inspirational story telling and silent time in nature
What's Not Included
- travel expenses
- transfer from Assisi Station or Airport to the retreat center
