New Years' Retreat 2026

This five-night silent meditation retreat at Gaia House in West Ogwell, Devon, England, carries practice across the turn of the year. It is led by Tony O'Connor, River Wolton and Sumedha, and is open to people with at least one week of previous silent retreat experience. The teaching draws on Insight Meditation, Buddhism, Korean Seon and the Thai Forest Tradition, and is offered in English.

What to Expect

The retreat takes place in the depth of winter, traditionally a time of rest and reflection, of letting go and nurturing new possibilities. The teachers explore practices that support the cultivation of a heart of wisdom and compassion. Alongside this there is meditation guidance, reflections, and opportunities to meet with the teachers.

Apart from individual or group meetings with the teachers, the retreat is held in silence throughout. Retreat conditions apply from arrival: observe silence, follow the daily schedule, and practise meditation.

On New Year's Eve, time is set aside for reflection, including a silent communal gathering and creative ways of honouring the turning of the year.

Registration runs from 2.00pm to 4.45pm on the opening day, and those new to Gaia House are offered an induction at 4.45pm. The retreat ends after 12.30pm on the final day, or 1.30pm for those staying for lunch. At the close there is an opportunity to offer dāna, a voluntary contribution that supports the teachers, Gaia House and its residential coordinators. Everyone is asked to commit to staying for the whole retreat.

The retreat is also livestreamed for people attending online. In the hall the setup is kept minimal: a small camera on a tripod facing the teachers and a small laptop out of view. Most of the time those in the hall will not see or hear online participants, and a volunteer or staff member handles the technical side quietly at the front.

About the Teachers

River Wolton began attending Insight Meditation retreats in 2000 and later helped establish Sheffield Insight Meditation. She completed Dharma Teacher Training with Bodhi College, is a regular teacher at Gaia House and is a Bodhi College faculty member. She has led arts projects for many years and is an activist in the LGBTQIA+ community. Her book The Subtle Art of Caring: A Guide to Sustaining Compassion explores the Brahma Viharas as an antidote to burnout.

Tony O'Connor has practised meditation since the mid 1990s in both the Insight Meditation and Korean Seon traditions. He trained under the guidance of Martine Batchelor and completed the Bodhi College Dharma Teacher Training Programme. He is interested in how Dharma teachings can be integrated into daily life and inform the issues of our time.

Sumedha became interested in spirituality in her teens and, after studying Comparative Religion at university, practised as a nun in the Thai Forest Tradition in the UK. After disrobing in 2010, she spent ten years co-creating an eco retreat place that emphasised simplicity and connection to nature. She now teaches in Europe and the UK and is a core teacher with Sacred Mountain Sangha.

Accommodation

The retreat is offered in a mix of shared and single rooms. A limited number of single rooms can be reserved in advance, and others are held for requests. These are allocated in the days before the retreat and cannot be guaranteed, with priority given to those with medical, mental or psychological needs. Gaia House has one ground floor bedroom, which is wheelchair accessible; availability should be confirmed with the retreat manager before booking.

Those who have previously attended a residential retreat of a weekend or longer at Gaia House may arrive a day early, and all retreatants may stay an extra night at the end, for an additional charge per night.

Before You Go

This retreat suits anyone with at least one week of previous silent retreat experience. Meditation retreats ask for sustained practice and some stability of psychological health. If you have recently experienced significant trauma or psychiatric illness, or are in acute emotional distress, this may not be the right time, and anyone under the care of a mental health professional is encouraged to discuss attendance with them first. Two weeks before arrival, participants receive a list of questions about physical and mental health and dietary needs.

Rates are tiered, and a Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund is available for those who need support. The retreat is currently full, and a waiting list is open.