Clarity
in Darkness
Five days in a Finnish forest,
at the edge of the longest nights.
What this is
I want to make a retreat about turning toward the hard stuff — and finding what becomes clear when you do.
Five days in the dark of Finnish November, and the parts of ourselves we spend most of our lives avoiding. Fear. Grief. The "what now" question waiting underneath. We'll sit, walk in the forest, sauna and cold plunge, eat by candlelight. Teachings, group coaching, breathwork, and lots of silence — slow, quiet, honest work, done in a forest where the dark makes things clear. Along the way, glimpses of how a place that lives with darkness has learned to hold it.
The shape of five days
Friday is for arriving. A shuttle from Helsinki in the afternoon. A candlelit welcome, an opening sit, a sauna.
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday find their own rhythm. Morning sits before dawn. Teaching in the warm indoors. Forest walks in that strange low light Finland has in November — slanting, golden, already fading by mid-afternoon. Solo time. Group time. Evening practice with a single candle. Sauna and cold plunge at night.
Sunday is the deepest day. A long stretch alone in the forest as the light leaves.
Tuesday morning is for coming back. One final sit. A closing circle. Breakfast. The shuttle to Helsinki.
Who this is for
People who've read me for a while and want the teaching in person. Creators, founders, leaders at a "what now" moment — career success that's started to feel hollow, a chapter ending, a quiet question that won't go away. People with a contemplative practice already, or reaching for one. People ready to form a new relationship with cold, silence, discomfort, and the fears underneath.
If you need constant activity or can't do silence, this one isn't for you — and that's okay.
The details
- When
- November 13–17, 2026 · Friday afternoon to Tuesday morning
- Where
- A retreat center outside Helsinki (address shared with confirmed participants)
- Size
- 15 people · 1 spot remaining
- Led by
- Leo Babauta of Zen Habits
What's included
- Four nights lodging at the retreat center
- All meals (with plant-based options) prepared by a Helsinki-based chef
- Sauna and cold plunge each day
- Round-trip shuttle from central Helsinki
- Teachings, guided sits, breathwork, forest walks, group coaching
- A taste of Finnish culture — sauna ritual, foraged foods, the local way with darkness
What's not included
- Flights to Helsinki
- Hotel before or after the retreat
- Travel insurance (recommended)
The last spot
One spot remains of fifteen.
I'll be in touch within a day.
About the last spot
The retreat is confirmed and on. The fifteenth spot is the only one still open.
A $500 deposit holds it. The remaining $2,500 balance is due by September 15, or via a four-month payment plan I'll send once you're in.
Full refund details come in the registration email — but if something feels uncertain before depositing, reach out and we'll talk it through.
About Leo
I'm Leo Babauta. I write Zen Habits, and I've been teaching meditation and habit change for nearly twenty years.
I've led retreats in Costa Rica, the Blue Mountains of North Carolina, London, and Mexico. This is my first in Finland. If you've read my work for any length of time, you already know my voice.