‘Into the long grass’ is a four day silent live-out retreat held on a beautiful property in rural Valla. Held from the Friday 24th to the Monday 27th of April 2026. This retreat aims to give people in the area a chance to really slow down and reconnect with their deeper selves.
The live out format allows for the provision of this precious opportunity at a much lower cost so that people are not excluded from deep healing work by their financial situation. The retreat is a place of gentle and deep connection where participants can put down their daily lives and the ruts they walk in and wander into the long grass off to the side of the road. Participants are not required to push through pain or hold strenuous meditation postures but can rest, lie down and sleep as they feel the need, responding gently to the signals of their own bodies.
The retreat will include teachings from a wide array of traditions but is rooted in Dam’s own experience and expressed in his clear and accessible style. Techniques and tools of meditation will be offered to support participants and one to one meetings with dam will be offered to participants at regular intervals during the day so they may discuss their practice privately. Participants will have ample time to commune with the abundant nature on and around the site.
New to meditation practitioners or old hands, all will get something out of this retreat, from the rest and rejuvenation of real repose to more profound shifts to bring back to your life and own meditation practice.
There is the possibility for a limited number of people with their own camping or van set ups to spend the retreat on the property or I can point you to safe and beautiful camping places close to the retreat site.
A Deep Rest Retreat typically runs between 3 to 10 days, depending on demand. You can check the website for upcoming retreat dates and durations.
‘Into the Long Grass’ is 4 days in length. Starting on the Friday 24th of April at 7am and finishing on Monday the 27th of April at 3 pm.
Yes. Ideally, participants maintain silence throughout the retreat. Silence helps us drop beneath the repetitive chatter of the mind, creating space for deeper awareness and healing. Limited necessary communication may occur, but the intention is to remain as quiet as possible.
Yes. Two simple and nourishing meals are provided each day—breakfast and lunch. As well as morning tea and afternoon tea. To help keep retreat costs accessible, participants are asked to contribute some time during the day to help with simple tasks such as dishwashing. This is offered in the spirit of seva—selfless service. If you wish to eat in the evening you will need to have something prepared at home.
We begin with a one-hour morning meditation upon arrival, followed by gentle movement exercises. After breakfast, the day flows through alternating periods of sitting or lying down meditation and walking meditation, with guidance, stories, teachings and questions.
Weather permitting, an afternoon silent meditative walk through the surrounding landscape is offered.
Each day closes with a talk, Q&A, and a guided loving-kindness (metta) meditation. Throughout the retreat, I’ll share practical tools and techniques to help you stay grounded and navigate moments when the mind becomes agitated.
There will be multiple opportunities for you to speak one on one with Dam during the retreat period throughout the day.