The Retreat Experience
Beauty in every corner
A sacred pilgrimage
This is a unique meditation retreat in Assisi Italy, where we feel the peace and sacredness of this ancient hilltop town. Our Retreats are small-group retreats which offer an intimate one-of-a-kind experience, honoring all faiths. Each retreat period is six days and five nights. Heart Meditation and gentle walks to sacred sites, bring us closer to the simple peace that St Francis and St Clare found. There are spacious afternoons as well to rest, read, explore hidden treasures, gardens, olive groves and back streets.
Pilgrims have been coming here for centuries from all corners of the world and keep coming for this peace. It is the peace of St. Francis, the peace from all the prayers of the pilgrims and religious orders, it is our hearts peace in the blessed sanctuary town of St. Francis, Assisi! The essence of a sacred pilgrimage, in Assisi, is to practice receiving. This practice includes being nonjudgmental, gentle, and open. We offer ourselves to the presence that is here, to nature, to one another. We offer our self completely. May the special peace of Assisi give us shelter to find life's true treasure, God in the depths of our hearts.
Pilgrims have been coming here for centuries from all corners of the world and keep coming for this peace. It is the peace of St. Francis, the peace from all the prayers of the pilgrims and religious orders, it is our hearts peace in the blessed sanctuary town of St. Francis, Assisi! The essence of a sacred pilgrimage, in Assisi, is to practice receiving. This practice includes being nonjudgmental, gentle, and open. We offer ourselves to the presence that is here, to nature, to one another. We offer our self completely. May the special peace of Assisi give us shelter to find life's true treasure, God in the depths of our hearts.
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AccomodationsWelcome to Assisi and Hotel Posta, which is the home of our meditation center. The Hotel is located only 75 meters from Piazza del Comune, the center of Assisi. The Hotel's caring staff will take care of your every need. They can help you with organizing a taxi to the train station or questions about your room.
At check-in you will receive a personal note from your retreat leader greeting you that will include instructions how to find the secret gate to our retreat center located in a back garden area of the Hotel. They serve an abundant continental breakfast and our opening dinner. Their central location near Piazza Comune allows guests to walk to all corners of Assisi in about 20 minutes !! After getting settled in your accommodations begin your spiritual adventure of Assisi by consciously relaxing, slowing down from your travels and the pace of your normal life. Breathe and just be. Find yourself in one of the most sacred places in the world. Enjoy the ancient cobbled stone streets. Watch the sunlight weaving through the olive trees, the medieval paths and buildings. As we become more and more present to the moment, we become present to the special peace of Assisi. |
First gathering ~ Orientation/Meditation
Upon arrival you will be given a welcome note from your retreat leader. Please follow the map to find the secret gate to our meditation center. Our meditation room is a part of the Hotel through a gated entrance.
We start at 4:30pm on the first day. We will give you one of Bruce Davis' books on the life of St. Francis and some inspiring writings that help guide your retreat experience. Included is a little map showing you our favorite eating corners in Assisi that you can use as you explore in your free time. Our meditation center is open all day for our guests, to practice quiet, journaling, yoga or meditation. Practicing Listening instead of Thinking Whatever you are doing, practice listening instead of thinking. If you are walking, listen. When you eat, listen. When you rest or fall asleep, listen to the sounds Assisi. When you wake up, listen. Whenever you find yourself thinking, bring your awareness back to feeling and listening deep inside your heart of hearts. Listening to our heart, in our heart, through our heart, frees our busy mind to the reality of our pure being, our souls. |
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Meals in the Hotel
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The hotel includes a daily continental breakfast buffet.
They are open daily and famous for their pizzas and large salads. 
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All bedrooms have AC & Heat ~ plus private bathrooms
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Each guest can have a private room with en suite bathroom. You can request additional nights for before or after your retreat during registration. Each room has heating and air conditioning.
The charm of being in Assisi is the ancient buildings you get to be inside. Most of the buildings, fully modernized are anywhere from 1500 to 2200 years old. Hotel Posta was the original Post Office. The owners take pride in their cleanliness and are here to serve you. Each room is different and unique.
Generally, your room will be adjacent to our meditation room which is open all day to our guests.
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White doves above the entrance of the meditation room
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Flowered Courtyard Garden in front of Assisi Retreats Meditation Room
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Assisi Retreats Meditation Room
We have created a beautiful meditative space
where the grace of Assisi touches us deeply.
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Our meditation room is just off the flowered courtyard garden at the Hotel. It is open all day for you to use for continued meditation or yoga practice. You have access to our yoga props, library and quiet space between meditation sessions. This room is reserved exclusively for our retreat guests.
Generally meditation is at 9 am, 3 pm and 6 pm. We lead heart centered meditation to feel the peace of Assisi all around us and the deep stillness within. Quiet heart practice Quiet, stillness, silence, brings us back to our hearts. Take a walk in the quiet of your heart. Eat and feel the meal nourishing your innermost being, the heart within the heart. Rest as if resting in the arms of your heart. Instead of being busy with thinking, rest back softly into the heart of this moment. The challenge is to love, to embrace our hearts no matter what we discover, accepting and welcoming every part of us as we are. |
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The heart based meditation provides the contemplation for the day and when practiced during the retreat stay, lessens mental activity while bringing us closer to our inner peace and love. Each day we practice gentleness to ourselves and others, softening our awareness and honoring our humanness.
Normally our awareness is busy with our everyday world. The silence of meditation invites us into other realms. When our awareness softens into the silence within, we find our daily life, our personality also softens and we experience something more. The silence introduces us to fresh awareness. It is beautiful just to accept our awareness without judgment, analysis, and trying to figure out what it all means. Simply be if images, nothingness, vastness, contraction, light, darkness, or feelings surface from within. As we accept ourselves, we are freeing ourselves. Our natural, pure Self is present. There are many realms of consciousness to explore and enjoy as the daily world falls to the background and we sit in the peace of Assisi. Here we allow another part of life to come forward. Meditation benches, cushions or chairs are provided. The meditation periods are a spiritual support and an anchor for your retreat. |
Gentle Walks with Meditation in the Sacred Sites
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Each day we take gentle walks to different holy sites of Assisi and find quiet corners to continue meditation in each little chapel or olive grove. We are filled with the exquisite and unique beauty of this ancient town and are carried by its offering of peace. Each retreat provides suggestions about how to continue your retreat in your daily life. |
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Meals all around the town
Great little eateries are everywhere!!
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Tempio di Minerva Ristorante |
Andrea's Pizza al Taglio ~ Piaza San Rufino
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One of our most favorite fun eateries is found on Piazza San Rufino. They have literally the best sliced pizza in the world !!! Meet our friends and your Assisi happy homemade pizza place.
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Hotel Terrace dining to soak in the peace of Assisi
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Enjoy a meal on the Hotel patio overlooking the valley below. Here you can reflect on the day and soak in the peace of Assisi.
Hotel entrance in the evening light.
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Ending the day you can walk the gentle quiet streets of the town. Here you see the entrance of the Hotel. Only steps away, on the left, is the ancient tower of the Minerva Temple (c. 500 bc)
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Old Assisi Residents bring kindness back to our heart
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This is Columbo, one of my dearest old Assisi friends. He is the embodiment of what Assisi gives to each person that comes. Assisi is a sweet hug from the universe and supports each person to find that sweetness in their heart. We welcome you to Assisi, Italy and our retreats of Simple Peace,
Ruth Davis, Founder |
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