Swiss Mountain Retreat 2023
A one-week retreat in Elm, Switzerland, all living under one roof.
One to two morning sessions each day on topics such as Ibn al-ʿArabī’s grammar of the cosmos, the letters, character inflection, and practical living in the station of maḥabbat (love), all based on The Openings Revealed in Makkah. This is part of the continuing journey of the first-ever translation of and commentary on this great work of the Greatest Teacher (shaykh al-akbar).
Afternoons are devoted to the sensory, with walks, music, calligraphy, and sleep.
Evenings are devoted to celebration of the Divine, in dhikr with ilahis. Our intention is to receive the sacred trust given to Ibn al-ʿArabī to convey the counsel of the True to His creatures. For this, we practice shura (gathering honey) from the special face of the True in every created being.
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the picturesque surroundings, the vibrant community, and the profound experiences that made this retreat so special. Each photograph carries the energy and spirit of the retreat, evoking feelings of peace, inspiration, with the wonderful comments we received.
“We gathered as a community for Swiss retreat in the Alps to spend one week in prayer, dhikr, art, contemplation and learning. Brought together by Ibn Arabi's teachings, the participants came from 3 continents and around 10 different countries, bringing with them a variety of cultural traditions and Sufi spiritual paths. In a stunningly beautiful setting, we were working, cooking and sharing meals together. Everyone left in some way transformed by the experience. Our days were spent reading and receiving wisdom from the Futuhat, contemplating the special face of the Beloved in nature walks, calligraphy, whirling, singing, and music. We were blessed with daily dhikrs and sound healing. Art, movement, nature and music helped us anchor the wisdom and knowing that is beyond words. We are grateful for the wonderful sense of community and belonging, and are already looking forward to the next retreat.”
"Quite literally, a heartening experience, a week of joy and enlightenment."
"The retreat was a magic carpet, piecing together threads of different Sufi traditions, languages, forms of spiritual and artistic expression, knowledge, and wisdom. Gathered together, all these threads formed a flying carpet of incomparable beauty, taking us at times into spaces in between worlds. InshAllah, we get to have many more retreats like this!"
"Wonderful! A great way to immerse yourself into Ibn Arabi's world."
“I loved Shuayb's metaphors, which brought Ibn Arabi's teachings to life. The place was beautiful and amazing. The food was delicious, the community worked together wonderfully. The calligraphy lessons with Hoca Haji Noor Deen were amazing. Azize's and the team of musicians and singers were the best. I felt I was with my spiritual family. Thank you so much to everyone. It was such an enriching retreat, and I highly recommend it."
A unique learning experience of the wisdom of ibn Arabi with Muslim dervishes from throughout the world.
Looking ahead, we are excited that preparations are already underway for the Swiss Mountain Retreat 2024.