German Whitsun Retreat 2027
Bettenburg Castle, Lower Franconia near Würzburg
Monday, May 10 - Monday, May 17, 2027
This retreat takes place in Bettenburg Castle, 75km north-east of Würzburg in Lower Franconia. Two Satsangs per day, yoga, meditation. (Google Maps)
This retreat takes place at the fairytale-like Bettenburg Castle. For the retreat’s Satsangs, we’ll be in the spacious and quiet north wing of the castle complex. More about Bettenburg Castle below.
If you like, you can start your retreat days with light yoga under the guidance of Simone Maria. After dinner, you can round off every day with collective Samarpan Meditation.
Free of charge on a donation basis
Like everything I share, this retreat are also free of charge. If it gives you joy to support me by making a donation for the retreat, that is very helpful for me. More on this here.
Daily Schedule
The daily schedule will look something like this (except first day):
| individual | Individual Meditation | ||
| 7:00 | - | 8:00 h: | Yoga (optional) |
| 8:00 | - | 9:00 h: | Breakfast |
| 10:00 | - | 11:30 h: | Morning Satsang (German) |
| 12:00 | - | 13:00 h: | Lunch |
| 16:00 | - | 17:30 h: | Evening Satsang (German) |
| 18:00 | - | 19:00 h: | Dinner |
| 19:00 | - | 19:30 Uhr: | Group Meditation (optional) |
The Satsang room is available as a quiet space and meditation room during the entire retreat, except for yoga and cleaning times. Newcomers to Samarpan Meditation have the opportunity to take part in an online introduction to Samarpan Meditation during the retreat on Monday evening. More information below.
First and last Day
- The retreat starts on Monday, May 10 2027 at 6 pm with dinner, meditation 7 pm and Satsang 7:30 - 9 pm.
- The retreat ends on Whitsun Monday, May 27 2027 after Satsang with lunch at 12 pm.
Further travel info see below.
Silence in the Retreat
A retreat is a valuable and rare opportunity to turn your attention entirely to yourself. I encourage you to use the time of the retreat as a real retreat. You could leave the computer at home, tell your loved ones that you won't be available during this time, and turn off your cell phone...
If you feel like it, you can stay in silence during the retreat time, refrain from talking and experience what it is like to become truly silent. There will be silence pins for those who want to signal to other people that they are not approachable, and there will be a silence table in the dining hall. Not speaking for several days is a wonderful, intense and transformative experience and I am happy to guide you through your silent time in Satsang.
However, this is not a silent retreat. It is your choice how you spend this time, and you can play with it just as you like – and if you like, you can play it differently and anew every day. A retreat is not a serious matter 🙃.
There are other groups taking place in the seminar house at the same time, so you will be surrounded by lively people at mealtimes, and there will also be people in the retreat who want to talk and engage. This is an opportunity for you learn this new dance: to keep your attention within, with you, even while being surrounded by people and dealing and talking with them – just like in "real life".
Recordings
The retreat time is a protected time, and everything that is shared there remains between us. Every Satsang of the retreat is recorded in audio and video. However, the audio and video recordings from the retreat will not be published, but will be made available shortly after the end of the retreat in a protected area of my website for you and the other participants only, so that you can watch and relive all the Satsangs of the retreat as often as you like.
English Retreats
Currentl, all of my retreats are German-language events, and there are no English retreats scheduled as of now. However, I am more than happy to schedule English retreats as soon as there is enough demand for it ❤️. Please write to retreat@dhyanmikael.com to express your interest, and I will keep you posted.
Bettenburg Castle
Bettenburg Castle is located 75 km northeast of Würzburg and 50 km northwest of Bamberg, standing alone on a hill in the midst of an enchanting old landscape park. The nearest train station is Haßfurt in Lower Franconia. (Google Maps)
Bettenburg Castle is a uniquely beautiful place for a retreat. It features a romantic courtyard and a large terrace with a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. Idyllic nooks and crannies can be found everywhere. The sprawling castle grounds are ideal for camping and RVs. There’s a sauna for working up a sweat, and the natural pool offers a chance to cool off.
The castle kitchen uses almost exclusively organically produced foods, with all dairy products preferably Demeter-certified. The castle has its own organic garden, from which most of the vegetables are sourced fresh from the field. Additional vegetables come directly from an organic farmer in the immediate vicinity, and all other foods are also certified organic.
During my many years of traveling with Soham, I came here for retreats many times – also at Whitsun –, and I am very happy to be able to return to this very special and welcoming place.
I'm truly looking forward to "real" in-person encounters with you and everyone else who would like to come.
Retreat Registration
Booking of Accommodation & Catering
Booking of Accomodation:
Please book accommodation directly with Hof Schleglberg at their conditions. All prices include full board (FB).
Website: seminarhof-schleglberg.at (German)
Email: office@seminarhof-schleglberg.at
Phone: +43 (0)664 / 734 749 55
Office hours: 8 – 12 and 17 – 18 h
Note: Early booking is recommended. The number of rooms available for the retreat is limited.
The cuisine is both traditional and vegetarian and is of outstanding quality. Everything is cooked fresh and many ingredients are grown on the premises or locally. Individual special requests are possible on request.
The house has a wellness area with various saunas. Sauna prices are not included in the room price.
Prices per Day incl. FB (2026):
Single room (FB) 110 €
Single r. (FB, shared bath) 102 €
Double room (FB) 95 €
3-bed room (FB) 93 €
Dormitory (FB) 79 €
own camper / tent (FB) 72 €
Notes for the Journey
Arrival by car: Google Maps
Arrival by train: the nearest ÖBB train station is Wendling b. Haag. Hof Schleglberg offers a transfer from and to Wendling station (10 €).
Nearest international airports: Linz 56 km, Salzburg 97 km, Munich 177 km.
Meditation during the Retreat
I talk about Samarpan Meditation in one way or another in almost every Satsang and video. If you already know it, you will have the opportunity to meditate together in the group every evening during the retreat, in addition to your morning meditation.
As a newcomer, you can get to know this wonderful meditation during the retreat and try it out if you like. On Monday evening, there will be the opportunity to take part in a German online introduction to Samarpan meditation, which will be conducted by Samarpan Meditation Germany. You can also take part in this online introduction prior to the retreat on any Monday evening from 18:45 - 19:30. It is free of charge and great fun.
For English speaking participants, we will play an English introduction video on Monday evening, and I will answer questions afterwards.
Samarpan Meditation was brought to society by Satguru Shivkrupanand Swamiji from the Himalayas and is therefore also called Himalayan Samarpan Meditation. It has nothing to do with me personally – I am simply a meditator, just like you, and I share my experiences and insights from meditation.
Yoga during the Retreat
Yoga is a wonderful complement and preparation for meditation, because in yoga, you practise on a physical level what meditation is about on a spiritual level: relaxing into what is.
We are lucky to have Simone Maria, a sensitive yoga teacher, at the retreat, and if you like, you can start the day with yoga under her guidance. You can decide spontaneously each morning whether you feel like yoga or not. Yoga sessions are paid separately with Simone Maria.
Swamiji recommends starting each day with physical exercises after meditation. Here is your opportunity!
Morning Yoga Flow with Simone Maria
I invite you to
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practice a loving relationship with
your body
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experience the wonderful effect of mindfulness and slowing down
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prepare your body and mind for meditation
I look forward to seeing you!
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basic skills are welcome
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participation in individual sessions possible
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no registration required
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on a donation basis
In Retreat with Dhyan Mikael
Retreat is an opportunity for you to go on a journey of discovery towards the inside – an "inside" that has nothing to do with your body and feelings, thoughts and desires. The more silent and desireless you become inside, the more you become acquainted with what Swamiji calls the soul.
I have been traveling with my spiritual master Soham for over 20 years, and since 2017 I have been a disciple of the Indian Satguru Shivkrupanand Swamiji, who brings Samarpan Meditation from the Himalayas to society. He says: "I make your Soul your Guru." Through him and through meditation, I experience this in my own life.
When we sit together in Satsang during the retreat, you yourself get a taste of this unknown "inside" of you. It is like remembering something that you have known for a long time and have merely forgotten. And the more this grows, the more your life changes for the better, miraculously, as if by itself.
I invite you to set out on the path to discover your true self, and thus, Heaven. If I can do it, then you can too...
