A Zen Habits Retreat with Leo Babauta

Clarity
in Darkness

Five days in a Finnish forest,
at the edge of the longest nights.

November 13–17, 2026 Outside Helsinki, Finland
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
Led by
Leo Babauta of Zen Habits

What's included

What's not included

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To hold a spot

$3,000
$2,600
Early Bird · Through May 16
per person · fifteen spots
Place a $500 Deposit

Fully refundable through May 16. See below.

An honest note

I'm running this retreat if ten people commit by May 16, 2026. If we reach that number, I book the venue formally and we go. If we don't, every deposit comes back in full, no questions.

Early bird pricing runs through the same date. If you're in early, you save $400 and help me hit the threshold that confirms the retreat.

I'd rather tell you that up front than build something that doesn't land. A $500 deposit is real — it's a way of saying yes, I want to do this — and it deserves honesty in return.

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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.

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A few questions

Do I have to be silent the whole time?
No. There's teaching, group coaching, and conversation alongside the meditation and practice. Silence happens during sits, walks, and certain practice times — part of the rhythm, not a vow.
What about the cold?
Finnish November is around 35–40°F (2–4°C), sometimes snowing, often damp. You'll need warm layers. I'll send a detailed packing list once you're in. We'll be warm indoors, warm in the sauna, and you can skip the cold plunge anytime.
What if I've never done a meditation retreat before?
That's fine. This isn't a silent Zen monastery. I'll teach the practice, and there's room to be a beginner. What matters more is willingness — to be quiet, to be uncomfortable sometimes, to meet what comes up.
What's your refund policy?
The $500 deposit is fully refundable through May 16, 2026. If we reach ten participants by then, the retreat is confirmed and your deposit applies to the full cost. If we don't, every deposit is returned. Once you've paid the full balance, there's a standard partial-refund window — details in the registration email.