The Winter Bardo

5 days to review and reset your life for the coming year

Every year, in that bardo-like week between Christmas and New Year, I feel torn — part of me wants to be on retreat, part of me wants to spend the time looking back over the year that's been and start dreaming about the one ahead.

I want to meditate, to stare out at the snow, but I also want to look through the last year's photos and diaries, and to think about what creative directions I want to take my life and practice in the coming year.

That's why, this year, along with Dhammasiri, I'm creating The Winter Bardo Retreat, and inviting you to join us.

What to expect

Over five days, we'll mix meditation and dharma reflection with an honest look at the year behind us and the year to come.

Alongside essential Dharma teaching, we'll draw on some of the creative thinking out there for how to review and plan our lives creatively — from Oliver Burkeman, Alain de Botton, Mason Curry, and others.

Each day moves between two threads, woven together:

• The retreat thread — seeing our lives through a dharmic lens, through short teachings, meditation, quiet reflection, and opportunities to share with others.

• The review and vision thread — taking stock of where we've been and where we're heading, our relationships, work, health, creativity, and practice.

Approaches:
Expect journaling, collage (digital and analog), letter-writing, and ritual, alongside the more traditional retreat elements.