Indulge in a 6-night 7-day Meditation,
Yoga, & Irish Culture Retreat
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June 18 to 24th, 2025
*depart US June 17 
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August 6th to 12th, 2025
*depart US August 5th 
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2025 6-day 7-night Retreat Options & Information
Join us on a unique and wonderful spiritual retreat that includes both quiet time and communal activities, in house gatherings and cultural excursions, time to settle in deep with your inner self through meditation, mantra, satsang, & yoga, and to explore the beauty of the sacred world around you by way of direct experience. The possibilities are endless.
This 6 night retreat offers an exploration of Irish history and culture in Western Ireland; an opportunity to practice and explore deeply meditation, mantra, and homa (fire ceremony), and to explore the stories of the mother goddess, as she appears in both celtic and yogic forms. Ready to hear more?
This 6 night retreat offers an exploration of Irish history and culture in Western Ireland; an opportunity to practice and explore deeply meditation, mantra, and homa (fire ceremony), and to explore the stories of the mother goddess, as she appears in both celtic and yogic forms. Ready to hear more?
Where we will stay
Sarasvatī Ashram & Devi Mandir, Headford, County Galway, Ireland. The Sarasvatī Ashram & Devi Mandir offers a beautiful sanctuary for spiritual contemplation. Located in Headford, Northern Galway, near the shore of the Lough Corrib, the site is surrounded by the natural and cultural beauty of Ireland and hosts the peaceful energy necessary to dive deep into our spiritual essence.
The ashram is a devotion to the Mother Saraswatī and to the teaching tradition (Daśanāmi Saṃpradāya) that SwaminiJi has taken her Sanyasi vows with. Goddess Saraswatī is the mother of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, the three Goddesses, who represent many things, including creation, maintenance, and destruction; creativity/wisdom, abundance, and change/manifestation; faith, love, and courage. You will encounter and receive the darshan of all three goddesses during your stay. This Irish sanctuary is a sacred space where those seeking knowledge of Self can explore and experience exactly that.
The ashram is a devotion to the Mother Saraswatī and to the teaching tradition (Daśanāmi Saṃpradāya) that SwaminiJi has taken her Sanyasi vows with. Goddess Saraswatī is the mother of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, the three Goddesses, who represent many things, including creation, maintenance, and destruction; creativity/wisdom, abundance, and change/manifestation; faith, love, and courage. You will encounter and receive the darshan of all three goddesses during your stay. This Irish sanctuary is a sacred space where those seeking knowledge of Self can explore and experience exactly that.
Accommodations
All beds are comfortable single beds. All rooms are shared dormitory style.
Dry Retreat
PLEASE NOTE: This is an alcohol, vape, smoke, drug & cannabis free retreat. This is an alcohol/substance free retreat. Please do not consume any alcohol during the retreat. Please also note there is no vaping or smoking permitted during this retreat. CBD containing any amount of THC is not permitted on this retreat. If you use non-THC CBD for pain or anxiety please arrange to bring oil or tablets as vaping is not permitted at the ashram. Thank you for support us in maintaining a safe environment for all.
Meals
All in house meals will be vegetarian, fresh, seasonal, organic when available. Gluten free options will be available. The daily schedule for in-house meals will be: fresh fruit, overnight oats, yogurt breakfast (about 8:00 am), lunch (about 12:00 pm), and dinner (about 6:00 pm). There will be meals provided outside the premises on Journey days. We do not have control over the ingredients in outside meals, however, we will choose restaurants and traditional pubs known for offering vegetarian friendly fare. Teas, fresh coffee, and water will be available each day. We will not provide bottled water. Attendees agree to abstain from all alcohol consumption while on retreat.
Note about gluten sensitivities: Many people, including SwaminiJi, who experience gluten allergies and sensitivities in the United States have reported that eating gluten based products in Ireland has not caused a reaction. While we do not in any way suggest you go against your regular dietary constraints, you should be aware that there is a difference and many visitors have been able to eat and enjoy the local breads and other items they would normally avoid. If you choose to indulge please do so mindfully.
Note about gluten sensitivities: Many people, including SwaminiJi, who experience gluten allergies and sensitivities in the United States have reported that eating gluten based products in Ireland has not caused a reaction. While we do not in any way suggest you go against your regular dietary constraints, you should be aware that there is a difference and many visitors have been able to eat and enjoy the local breads and other items they would normally avoid. If you choose to indulge please do so mindfully.
Yoga, Meditation, Kirtan, Satsang & Homa
There will be a variety of sessions offered each day. All sessions of yoga will be Yin, gentle or restorative. Meditations will be offered in a variety of approaches including silent, japa, and walking. Homa is a fire ceremony. Our fire ceremonies will focus on adoration of and connection with the Divine Mother. Yoga Nidra may also be offered. We will come together for chanting each evening. There may not be yoga held on Journey days depending on when we leave and return.
Planned excursions
While our retreats are focused on the spiritual practices of meditation, yoga, ritual, and chanting, we include two cultural excursion days where we explore:
- Galway City
- The Cliffs of Moher, Liscannor https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/
- St. Brigid's Well
- Village of Cong
- Kylemore Abbey
- Connemara Mountains
Costs
All fees are per person and all rooms are dormitory shared.
Retreat Tuition: $2400
$500 Deposit due at time of registration, or pay in full.
Paid in full dates are as follows:
June 18th to 24th 2025 Retreat must be paid in full by May 11, 2025.
August 6th to 12th 2025 Retreat must be paid in full by July 2, 2025.
Retreat Tuition: $2400
$500 Deposit due at time of registration, or pay in full.
Paid in full dates are as follows:
June 18th to 24th 2025 Retreat must be paid in full by May 11, 2025.
August 6th to 12th 2025 Retreat must be paid in full by July 2, 2025.
What the price includes
- Room, board, scheduled classes, and excursions, including transportation for those specific excursions, as listed. Excursions are tentative based on weather conditions, etc. and may be changed to accommodate weather conditions.
- Meals both in house and on excursion days as scheduled.
- Transportation from Galway Coach Station to the ashram (we pick you up).
What is not included
- Airfare to and from Dublin Airport
- Transportation to and from the airport in both Ireland and the United States
- Any documents or paperwork associated with international travel
- Travel Insurance
- Medical Insurance
- Medical Treatment
- Personal choice items or personal shopping
- Personal excursions other than those listed in the itinerary
- Kula Kamala Foundation, its employees and volunteers, are not responsible for cancelled or delayed flights
- Kula Kamala Foundation, its employees and volunteers, are not responsible for lost or stolen luggage or personal items of any sort whatsoever
Arrival/Departure
Retreat attendees are responsible to book & pay for their own airfare and ground transportation to and from United States departure airport. Upon arrival in Dublin, your roundtrip bus ticket between Dublin and Galway is included in your retreat cost. Please schedule your arrival and departure through Dublin airport (DUB) only. You should schedule your flight so you arrive in Dublin on the morning of the retreat start date by 9:00AM (this would be an overnight flight departing the United States the night before). Please schedule your departure out of Dublin airport (DUB) for the last day of the retreat after 12:00 PM. Once you have your roundtrip airlines ticket booked, please forward your full itinerary to Jaya [email protected] and she will arrange your bus tickets to and from Galway.
RETREAT DATES |
Departure from the US |
Departure from Dublin |
June 18th to 24th 2025 |
Depart U.S. on June 17th to arrive at Dublin or Shannon Airport on June 18th by 9:00 AM |
Schedule departure from your chosen airport on June 24th after 12:00 noon |
August 6th to 12th 2025 |
Depart U.S. on August 5th to arrive at Dublin or Shannon Airport on August 6th by 9:00 AM |
Schedule departure from your chosen airport on August 12th after 12:00 PM |
Transportation to/from Dublin Airport
Students will fly into Dublin airport and then hop on the bus to Galway Coach Station. Your bus ticket to Galway will be provided as mentioned above.The bus picks you up right at the airport at a designated location. The ride is about 2 & ½ hours and provides a great opportunity to nap or see the scenery and dream of the beautiful time that awaits you. We will pick you up in Galway at the Coach Station at a pre-arranged time.
Passport
Each participant must have a valid passport and provide a copy of the passport picture page to the retreat host. The expiration date of your passport must be 6 months after the date of your flight back to the United States.
Visa
Presently there is no requirement for US Citizens to obtain a VISA to visit Ireland. We will update this page should there be any changes to their policy in 2025.
Cancellation Policy
RETREAT DATES |
Refund less $250 Cancellation Fee |
Refund less $500 Cancellation Fee |
NO Refunds |
June 18th to 24th 2025 |
On cancellations occurring before 5/12/25 |
On cancellations occurring from 5/12/25 to 6/13/25 |
On cancellations occurring on or after 6/13/25 |
August 6th to 12th 2025 |
On cancellations occurring before 7/3/25 |
On cancellations occurring from 7/3/25 to 8/1/25 |
On cancellations occurring on or after 8/1/25 |
How to reserve your space
Make your deposit or pay for your retreat in full now by clicking on the correct dates of the Registration Group at the top of this page. All fees are per person. By reserving a space you acknowledge that you will be sharing a room with people you may or may not know.
If you have questions, please call Jaya in the Ashram Office at (484) 509-5073 ex. 1 or email [email protected]g
If you have questions, please call Jaya in the Ashram Office at (484) 509-5073 ex. 1 or email [email protected]g