AWAKENINGS IN THE SILENCE OF NATURE
Silence Retreat during Christmas time in Finland

December 23–28, 2025

Facilitator:
Helena Karhu

This retreat offers a chance to enter into silence during the Christmas season in a shared circle. It is intended for those seeking an alternative to the usual holiday traditions — to sit in a circle of gentle friendship in the midst of stunning winter nature, under the starry sky. Perhaps your spiritual tradition differs from the mainstream, and you are looking for your own way to honor the sacred days of winter.

During this retreat, we engage in guided meditations — seated, walking, and with body movement — and through mantra. We will attune ourselves to the sacredness of nature and the spirit light of winter. There will be time to relax in the wonderful, wood-heated sauna. We’ll also enjoy daily foot baths with Finnish herbs.

As a creative start to the retreat, we will do fabric printing — designing and printing our own retreat t-shirt, where you may add a word, symbol, aphorism, or image that expresses your sense of silence and peace. More details about our silent time together are listed below in the program.

This retreat invites you into stillness and to listen to your heart’s voice. A silence retreat can be a kind of inner pilgrimage — a time of deep inner insight made possible by stillness. Many days of silence can open something special and sacred. You may begin to truly hear your dreams, emotions, and the whisper of the winter forest.

We can let go of thoughts and definitions that limit our identity, allowing the mind to return to the heart and the senses. The mind can rest from constant processing, analyzing, judging, and forming opinions. We can simply be — and feel the wonder of life.

This Christmas, you don’t have to stress or do anything in a particular way — you can simply come as you are, relax, and enjoy the silence and, at the same time, the connection with others and with nature.

The retreat includes guided practices, poetry, and mantra meditation. The silence will only be gently broken by two drum journeys or relaxations — one to the “Underworld” to encounter inner power and recovery, and the other to the “Upperworld” to seek vision for the year ahead.

Aside from these, the retreat will be held in silence from the end of the introductory circle until the final day. You may experience the transformative power that arises when the senses open and the mind quiets. It is a powerful experience to share space with others in silence.

Silence can open the heart to compassion — toward yourself and the world.

A digital detox is also encouraged: turning off devices for the duration of the retreat to give yourself a break from technology and media dependency.

Retreat Location
The retreat takes place in the heart of North Savo, at Metsäkartano Nature Retreat, located near Tiilikkajärvi National Park. We’ll stay about 1,5 km from the main building, in a private cabin called Metsäkämppä — a former lumberjack cabin with plenty of space to simply be. The cabin is beautifully located by a lake and features a large, wood-heated sauna.

Facilitator: Helena Karhu
I am a North Karelian entrepreneur in the fields of wellness and nature, a mother of twins, and a cultural researcher. I run Karhun Talo (House of the Bear) [www.karhuntalo.com], which provides services based on nature connection, cultural empowerment and holistic wellbeing in my home region and across the north. At Karhun Talo retreats, we use time-honored and reliable methods for natural and holistic wellbeing.

I have participated in numerous courses in these fields — from shiatsu and herbalism to shamanic practices and traditional Finnish folk healing methods, reiki healing, and I have practiced Tibetan Buddhist mind training for appr 18 years.

 Retreat Venue
We will meet near Tiilikkajärvi National Park in Rautavaara. The address is Metsäkartanontie 700, Rautavaara.

Metsäkämppä is an authentic lumberjack’s cabin located 1.5 km from the main building of Metsäkartano [www.metsakartano.com]. Built in 1955, this log cabin has been modernized with electricity, heating, and running water. It is a beautiful and safe location surrounded by forest and by a lake. The traditional and spacious sauna offers an excellent steam experience.

Note: There are no single rooms available in the cabin — only shared rooms with bunk beds in traditional lumberjack style. Mattresses, duvets, and pillows are provided. There is plenty of space in the building. (Single rooms are available at the main building of Metsäkartano only from Dec 23–27. Please inquire if you’re interested in those.)

The closest train stations are in Kuopio and Joensuu (approx. 2 hours away), and in Nurmes (approx. 30 minutes away). Metsäkartano is only accessible by car, but we will help coordinate carpooling. Local transportation options can also be arranged.

 Is This Retreat Right for Me?
This retreat is open to anyone who feels called to it. The retreat is alcohol- and substance-free. Meals are vegetarian if you opt for the meal package.

Registration

Register via email: info@karhuntalo.com

Please include any dietary restrictions and whether you can offer or need a ride, and from where.

Participation Fee:
€290 / €390 / €450 — according to your wish. Includes VAT 25.5%, full 5-day retreat program, t-shirt and fabric printing, candle making, and herbal foot baths.

Accommodation Fee:
€97–182 per person depending on the number of participants.

Meal Package (optional):
Covers daily lunch and dinner from arrival day’s dinner to departure day’s lunch. Price TBA. (Meal package requires a minimum of 10 participants.)
Participants are asked to bring their own breakfasts and snacks.

The course fee does not include travel or travel insurance. Please read Karhun Talo's terms and cancellation policy here: https://www.karhuntalo.com/varaus-ja-peruutusehdot

Preliminary Program

Tue Dec 23:
16:00 – Arrival and exploring the retreat environment
17:00 – Opening circle & meditation instructions
19:00 – Dinner
20:00 – Evening meditation & entering silence. Poem.
Sauna & foot baths

Wed Dec 24:
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Silent meditations
Fabric printing: Design & print your own retreat t-shirt with a personal word, symbol, or quote
12:00 – Lunch
13:00–15:00 – Break
15:00 – Silent meditation
Candle path & honoring forest spirits
Decorating sauna with greenery & preparing for sauna
Sauna, birch whisking, relaxing foot baths
Dinner

Thu Dec 25:
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Silent meditations (begins with a walk in the winter forest)
Candle-making for the evening ritual
12:00 – Lunch
13:00–15:00 – Break
15:00 – Talking stick circle by the fire: How is everyone doing?
Mantra and silent meditation
Dinner
Sauna & foot baths

Fri Dec 26:
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Silent meditations
12:00 – Lunch
13:00–15:00 – Break
15:00 – Silent meditations
Drum journey: Empowering inner journey / relaxation
Dinner
Sauna & foot baths

Sat Dec 27:
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Silent meditations
12:00 – Lunch
13:00–15:00 – Break
15:00 – Silent meditations
Drum journey: Vision for the coming year
Dinner
Sauna & foot baths

Sun Dec 28:
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Silent meditation
End of silence
Final talking stick circle
Lunch
14:00 – Departure