Dear beloved young friends,
We are happy to gather once more in Plum Village for time together in nature, to heal and to restore ourselves in this special retreat for young mindfulness practitioners aged 18-35.
We will have a week-long retreat from 9–16 August where we will welcome many hundreds of you, especially from Europe, to enjoy live Dharma talks, sitting meditations, walking meditations, living together joyfully, simply, and happily. There will be time for hikes, listening to one another, bonfires, and touching a spiritual dimension in our life.
Our annual Wake Up retreats are part of the active community of young practitioners in the Plum Village tradition called Wake Up.
If you are new to Plum Village retreats, we invite you to read more here.
Please spread the word with your friends and be sure to book early as spaces are limited. We hope to see you all for this legendary gathering of our spiritual family!
Practical Information
- Teachings will be in English with French interpretation
- There will be Dharma Sharing families in English and French
- To support the stability and collective energy of mindfulness, all participants are asked to stay the full week, and only arrive and depart on the designated days: Saturday 9 August and Saturday 16 August.
- All of our 3 hamlets will host this retreat together with all Hamlets receiving all genders (including singles) the same as last year. The morning, evening and circle sharing sessions will be hosted in each hamlet separately, while also coming together for Dharma talks, walking meditation, workshops, and the closing celebration. A more detailed outline of the retreat will be provided upon arrival.
Dharma Sharing
Participants will be divided into groups called Dharma Sharing Families (Circle Sharing), which you will stay together with during the retreat. Most sharing groups are open to everyone (“general”), with a mixture of genders and ages, and are facilitated by an experienced monastic. Within all sharing circles we will learn about and practice loving speech and deep listening, share our insights, joys and difficulties. Depending on the need, there may be groups based on language.
As per Wake Up Retreat tradition, one afternoon of sharing circles in safe spaces will be dedicated to topics of sexuality.
We also offer a few themed groups as follows (click to expand):
Dharma Sharing for the LGBTQIA+ community
LGBTQIA stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual. To welcome the LGBTQIA+ community, we offer sharing circles with experienced monastic facilitators to create an inclusive and safe atmosphere.
If you identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community click here (21st April)
Dharma Sharing for People of Color/BIPOC
We are offering Dharma Sharing groups for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and those who identify as such can choose to join this group if they wish.
Aware that People of Color, as individuals and communities, may have similar lived experiences, including of intended and unintended discrimination, we provide circle sharing groups offered by an experienced facilitator, in which People of Color can express themselves freely and feel safer. It is reserved for People of Color only, in order to cultivate an environment that can support our individual and collective transformation and healing.
Note that the British use the acronym BAME, meaning Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic.
If you identify as part of the BIPOC community click here (April 21st)
Registration
Registration will open on April 21st 2025 at 3pm CET.
During this retreat all hamlets will host all genders so you can register at any hamlet.
Click below to sign up for a general Dharma Sharing group, or use this link if you identify with the BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ communities and wish to join a themed family (spaces will be more limited).
More information about joining us for a retreat
- Accommodation and pricing
- Other practicalities such as transportation, what to wear, what to bring, and meals
Feedback from participants of last year’s Wake Up Retreat
The Wake Up retreat gives me hope in humanity. It is so powerful and transformative to be with young people that deeply care about social issues and—like me—are also searching for a way to live a meaningful and ethical life while working on self-love and compassion.
Richi, Brazil
A wonderful place to be in touch with yourself, with the nature and with the community!
Florian, France
Every retreat at Plum Village is an opportunity for transcendence and transformation, I’ve truly found myself here.
Zefu, China
Being a volunteer during the Wake Up retreat was one of my most joyous experiences. To be of service and part of the community while sharing so much joy with fellow volunteers and retreatants was unimaginably nourishing.
Oliver, Germany
Click here to learn about volunteering opportunities for experienced practitioners aged 18-35.