a Experienced Meditation Retreat with Susan Mickel
Sunday, October 19 - Saturday, October 25- 2025
Intimacy in the Gap
Intimacy in the Gap is a contemporary approach to the “bardos,” literally “in-between” experiences that are taught in Tibetan Buddhism as a way to understand the important life phases and transitions. In essence meditation we become progressively more intimate with our mind-body experience, which enhances our sense of grounded well-being, capacity for presence in the world, and our access to acting with pure awareness. Meditation and the unpredictable mix of life experiences present us with “gaps,” moments that open us to new possibilities. Some gaps are big: a change in job, a relationship that we suddenly see in a new way, or a new opportunity. Death is said to be the biggest gap. In meditation many moments occur in the stillness between thoughts in which perspective may shift and presence may deepen. Each of these gaps is an opportunity to open to new ways of being. The retreat will explore intimacy with self, others, and experience, and the process of living fully into these gaps, which leads naturally into preparation for death. There is no required text for the retreat, but Mingyur Rinpoche’s book "In Love with the World" and Dzogchen Ponlob Rinpoche’s book "Mind Beyond Death" both explore these ways of experiencing.
Location: De Burcht in Amsterdam
This retreat is designed for students with experience of at least one weeklong retreat with Susan or a teacher from Pointing Out the Great Way, who continue to practice.
The way of teaching will include explanation and instruction, guided meditations, and group discussion.This retreat is designed for students with experience of at least one weeklong retreat with Susan or a teacher from Pointing Out the Great Way, who continue to practice.
The retreat will begin Sunday October 19th at 9:30 hr.
and will end Saturday October 25th at 17:30 hr.
There is a morning and an afternoon meditation session each full day. There are no evening sessions. Participants must attend all sessions.
Retreat fee: € 895.-
Enrollment is limited to 25 participants. Participants who have not previously sat a weeklong retreat for experienced students with Susan will need a brief zoom meeting with Susan. Email: susanmickel2@me.com
The retreat is non-residential: please make your own arrangements for accommodation and meals.
Registration: by submitting the application form and payment of the retreat-fee.
You can send in your application form also when you still have are waiting to zoom with Susan.
Any questions? Contact Guusje:
Guusje van de Ven, guusjevandeven@planet.nl,
Tel: +31 (0)6 107 900 40