In this age of hyperconnection, constant stress and incessant notifications, it’s becoming almost revolutionary to slow down. To take a break. To be silent. It’s in this context of mental and emotional saturation that spiritual retreat is returning to the heart of wellness practices, not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
Far from clichés, this approach is no longer confined to initiates or fervent believers. It now attracts exhausted city dwellers, creative people looking for inspiration, or simply people who want to reconnect with themselves. A spiritual retreat is not an escape from the world, but a return to oneself.
What is a spiritual retreat today?
Traditionally associated with monasteries, meditation or prayer, spiritual retreats have evolved. Today, it can take a thousand forms: in silence in an abbey, in the heart of a forest, guided by a Buddhist monk or a holistic practitioner… But what they all have in common is a peaceful, intentional setting, conducive to introspection, inner alignment and reconnection with the living.
Activities such as meditation, yoga, mindful walking, writing and energy healing are often practised here. Some places, such as those working with wellness or luxury houses, even offer immersive retreats combining spirituality and aesthetics, like the Dior x Royal Scotsman retreat, where the beauty of the Scottish Highlands becomes a meditative backdrop in its own right.
Why this craze?
Because we’re running out of space for silence and presence. In a world that glorifies productivity, the very idea of ‘doing nothing’ has become counter-cultural. But spiritual retreat is precisely the kind of thing that allows us to withdraw and then come back. It invites us to listen to what, in the din of everyday life, can no longer be expressed – our emotions, our intuition, our breath.
It’s also a response to widespread burn-out. Taking a few days, or even a few hours, to refocus can profoundly ease anxiety, boost creativity and give new meaning to your life path.
An approach accessible to all
We often think that these retreats are reserved for a spiritual or financial elite. However, there is a wide variety of formats, from solidarity retreats to top-of-the-range experiences. The most important thing is not the place or the price, but the intention to choose yourself, to find yourself.
Whether it lasts three days or three weeks, a spiritual retreat is not intended to transform your life overnight, but rather to sow a seed. A seed of calm, of listening, of alignment. In a world saturated with noise, messages and speed… retreating is not escaping. It’s about coming back. To yourself. To what’s essential.
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