A deepening retreat is suitable for Acem meditators who already have some experience with long meditations and who want to practise meditations of more than six hours.
Long meditations
A deepening retreat gives you an opportunity for daily long meditations of at least six hours. The retreat will focus on how to enhance your meditation. All activity under the course of the day is designed to stimulate the deeper meditative process.
Guidance groups
The long hours of silence are followed by daily process-oriented guidance groups led by experienced meditation guides, in order to maximise the results of long meditations.
Seminars
Questions arising from performing long meditations, along with meditative and existential topics will be covered in the evening seminars.
Walk and talk
There will be ample time for walks in the beautiful surrounding areas. Some of the walking time is combined with one-on-one discussions of themes and issues from your meditation.
Yoga
Daily sessions of basic Acem Yoga have a refreshing effect and facilitate the practice of long meditations.
Typical daily programme
0730 - 0830: Breakfast, exercise
0830 - 1600: Silence for meditation
1600 - 1630: Yoga
1630 - 1700: Pause
1700 - 1900: Process guidance
1900 - 2000: Dinner
2000 - 2130: Seminar
Who may participate?
Deepening retreats are for regular meditators who already have experience from regular weeklong Acem Meditation retreats and who are prepared to participate in the entire retreat.
The venue
Acem International Retreat Centre at Halvorsbøle is situated outside Oslo in beautiful and peaceful surroundings. Most of the rooms have a direct view of the Randsfjord lake.
Other retreats
A Young Retreat, an International Regular Summer Retreat and other International Deepening Retreats take place each year. See the dates on our calendar.
For people with ample experience from deepening retreats, Acem also arranges advanced deepening retreats.
Course language
The main course language is Scandinavian. Simultaneous translation and guidance groups in English are available.
Course fee
The course fee includes full board (lacto-vegetarian diet) and ensuite accommodation in a single room.
If the retreat is fully booked, student discount may entail accommodation in double room.
If you cancel your registration before 15 December, your course fee will be refunded minus an administration fee of EUR 30. If you cancel your reservation after 15 December, your course fee will only be refunded if your cancellation is due to illness or other serious reasons.
Transport
There is a bus transfer from Oslo Airport Gardermoen (bus stand B35 outside the building) to Jevnaker (near Halvorsbøle Retreat Centre). On Saturdays, the bus leaves the airport at 14.15, 16.15 and 19.00 (subject to change). Approximately 1 hour drive. Price ca. NOK 230. From Jevnaker, one can go to Halvorsbøle by taxi (NOK 250-300). A pick-up at Jevnaker may sometimes be arranged. If this should be possible, we will send information in advance.
Budget accommodation in Oslo:
Cochs Pensjonat
Perminalen
Anker Hotel
Anker Hostel
Haraldsheim Youth Hostel
Ellingsens Pensjonat
Comfort Hotel XPress Oslo
Information, registration and payment
Scandinavian participants
Contact Acem Norway (tel: +47 23 11 87 00, address: P. O. Box 2559 Solli, NO-0202 Oslo, Norway)
Non-Scandinavian participants:
Use "Registration and payment" button at the top of this column. For info, contact Acem International.
Course number:
V15500
Instructors