Hi, I am Ellen van Iersel
Silence is my calling
I was 20 when I first experienced the power of being in silence. It was during my first Vipassana retreat in India. Lots of years and retreats later I started sharing my passion for meditation in Silent Weekend Retreats in Holland. Over the years hundreds of people joined and I was always amazed by the profound impact participants experienced.
Since I moved to Spain in 2018 I share longer retreats at locations in the middle of nature, here we can dive even deeper. I often receive messages from participants months after their retreat telling me how the insights they gained changed their lives.
“Ellen is an authentic and inspiring retreat facilitator, she holds space in a joyful and calm way.” Anna
Life is a journey
As a child I felt most alive when I was with the scouts in the forest, building huts and jumping puddles. Being in nature has always been my passion and my refuge.
From a young age I contemplated existence, could feel the depth of the human challenge and the unsatisfactory of western life. At the age of 20 I packed my backpack and bought a one-way ticket from Amsterdam to India. Accompanied by many questions and a great urge to experience life in a different way I embarked upon an adventure that formed the base of my adult life.
I travelled low budget to places off the tourist track. I saw the power of simplicity, the great spiritual connection, the chaos, perfection and rawness of life. It touched me deeply. It was on a meditation cushion in in a Tibetan monastery during my first 10-day-Vipassana retreat that I experienced a peaceful sense of knowing. My meditation journey has continued ever since. I studied Buddhism, sat many silent retreats, often with Christopher Titmuss and was trained as an MBSR Mindfulness trainer. Since 2014 I have been sharing retreats, mindfulness trainings, and spiritual journeys to India.
Working with hundreds people has given me an even deeper understanding of how the mind works and the challenges of our fast pace, goal-oriented society.
My longing to live in nature brought me to the mountains in Spain. In 2018 I co-founded Kausay, a small off grid community where I shared my passion for nature and silence in many retreats. Each participant shows me the power of being in silence and nature. These two simple elements have such a transformative impact, it is amazing.
Due to some funny rules and regulations retreats at Kausay were no longer possible and life asked me to find new ways. I now hold the Silent Meditation Retreat at Casas Benali, a stunning retreat venue higher up in the mountains. The Silent Walking Retreats are shared in smaller groups and have my own private home as a base. Both places are located in the middle of nature and breath peacefulness and calm. It is a joy to continue sharing my love and passion.
Come and join me on one of my retreats!
Emerge yourself in nature, let me guide your meditations, be in silence and connect deeply to yóur inner calmness, passion and joy.
