An Easter retreat in Bath, UK: a three-day residential spiritual retreat, followed by a half-day of integration.
Enlightenment Intensives have one sole purpose: to give ordinary people the best possible opportunity for an enlightenment or awakening experience. That is, the direct inner experience of knowing ultimate truth.
Uniquely, they combine individual self-enquiry with deep sharing and listening.
Dates: Thursday 25 to Easter Monday 29 March 2027
Arrive: between 6 and 7:30 pm (UK time) on Thursday 25 March
Depart: by 2 pm (UK time) on Easter Monday 29 March (bank holiday)
Where: our retreat house on the edge of Bath, UK
Mastered by: Emma McGuinness
Price: £550 early bird, when your registration form and deposit are received on or before Sunday 3 January 2027. £650 from Monday 4 January 2027. Price includes all meals and 4 nights' accommodation. Prices are in GB pounds. Some concessions may be available, please contact us.
Places: up to 18
Mastered by Emma McGuinness
Emma has been running Enlightenment Intensives since 1993, together with her husband Barry. Today they also train others to lead this work.
Why take an Enlightenment Intensive?
Each of us can awaken to the truth that lies at the core of our being: the absolute Truth of who we really are, of what life actually is. Everything about an Enlightenment Intensive is designed to support the possibility of awakening.
Typically, the experience is sudden and very brief, like the chime of a bell. It is a timeless moment in which you awaken to the way things actually are. You don't get there by reading about it or listening to people who teach about it, but by finding it for yourself, within yourself, by direct experience.
What people experience in these moments is both universal and, paradoxically, unique to each person. Common descriptions include:
a profound sense of having "come home"
an awe and reverence for life
unparalleled joy
intense gratitude
quiet certainty
a deep sense of Love
“There came a timeless moment at which I just knew who I was. It was as if I had always known it, but had simply forgotten. It was so obvious, yet so marvellous! I started laughing uncontrollably…”
Barry
“The process allows you to be in touch with the purest part of you, and helps you realise you are more than your thoughts, words, language, beliefs, perceptions etc. There is an undeniable, unapologetic TRUTH… It simply IS, and allowing and opening to this truth brings me so much joy!”
Manisha
“It was like a giant peony rose exploding all its petals at once. Bursting for joy, not despair.”
Frances
What happens over the three days
For three days, you are immersed in continuous self-enquiry. This isn't simply meditation: it is an active search for truth.
At the start of the Intensive, you are taught a simple contemplation technique using the question: “Who am I?” You will be supported to contemplate this question throughout the three days. This is part of what makes the process intense. Other questions people work with include “What am I?”, “What is life?” and “What is another?”
At the heart of this process are partnered contemplation exercises called dyads. Sitting in pairs with other members of the group, you take turns to communicate what's happening in your contemplation.
Talking with others in this way is not like having a normal conversation. You listen and are listened to with full attention, but what you say is never commented on. No advice is given, no judgements made. The safety of the dyads gives you incredible freedom and promotes ever increasing openness.
Each day alternates between these partnered contemplation-communication exercises and periods of silent contemplation, including walking, eating and gentle physical exercise. Trust, courage and great heart build up within the group. You are not alone in your quest.
A typical day
The day runs from about 6 am to 10:45 pm. Its main feature is the dyads, the partnered contemplation exercises. There are 11 or 12 dyads every day, and everything else fits in between them:
eating contemplations at mealtimes
walking contemplations, in the garden and the beautiful countryside nearby
gentle physical exercise
a talk from Emma
an hour and a quarter's rest every afternoon.
The morning schedule
6:00 am · Wake-up call (15 mins)
6:15 am · Dyad 1 (45 mins)
7:00 am · Physical exercise (15 mins)
7:15 am · Tea (15 mins)
7:30 am · Dyad 2 (45 mins)
8:15 am · Breakfast (30 mins)
8:45 am · Dyad 3 (45 mins)
9:30 am · Dyad 4 (45 mins)
10:15 am · Walking contemplation (45 mins)
11:00 am · Dyad 5 (45 mins)
11:45 am · Lunch (45 mins)
The afternoon follows the same rhythm, with more dyads, a talk from Emma and the afternoon rest, and the day ends at about 10:45 pm.
Outside the dyads there is no normal social talking, so the time between dyads is largely silent. This helps you stay with your contemplation throughout the day.
You are never on your own with it, though. Supportive staff are available throughout the day, and you can talk to them at any time, including for a one-to-one conversation.
“This was a tough intensive for me, but I felt the loving support and attention to detail that was skilfully applied by Barry, Emma and the team. I am deeply moved by their unwavering commitment to the flowing of truth within a well held container.”
Anthony
“The structure was held so beautifully that when I really had no idea of myself I felt totally safe to fall to pieces.”
Amala
Our Questions & Answers give a much fuller sense of what it's like to take part, including first-hand accounts. They also explore what we mean by enlightenment and how the process works. They're well worth a look before booking.
Who is it for?
Thousands of ordinary people around the world, young and old, from every background, have discovered who and what they are through Enlightenment Intensives.
You do not need any prior experience of meditation, spirituality or psychotherapy, and you certainly don't have to have resolved all of your issues or life problems. The only prerequisites are:
a sincere desire to know Truth
an openness to the possibility that you can realise it for yourself, directly, at an absolute level.
Enlightenment Intensives do not promote any particular teaching or philosophy. The only thing you are taught is a way of self-discovery. You are not required or expected to buy into any belief system whatsoever.
Does everyone have an enlightenment experience?
On a typical Intensive, usually about a third of the group will have an enlightenment experience. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Taking part in an Enlightenment Intensive produces a wealth of insights, awareness and new perspectives on you and your life. This is so whether you have an enlightenment experience or not.
“I did not have a direct experience of truth on this intensive, but that seems somewhat irrelevant compared to what I have received from it. And by the end of the process, without having said a word personally to any of the other participants, I just felt this incredible quality of oneness with them that made all my initial mind-judgements utterly redundant.”
Ayesha
“This was the first EI I have participated in. I was very sceptical at first and all I can say is: it was the best experience of my life.”
Lesley
Is an Intensive right for you now?
Enlightenment Intensives are not for everybody. There is a reason why they are called “intensive”: if you give yourself whole-heartedly to the process, it will challenge you.
If you have recently experienced problems with addiction, difficulty staying in touch with reality, or significant depressive episodes, an Intensive may not be right for you at this time.
If you are drawn to this work but any of this applies to you, or you have questions about your own situation, please contact us before booking. A conversation together is often the best way to see whether this is the time for an Intensive.
Where you will stay
We run our Enlightenment Intensives in a large, comfortable house on the outskirts of Bath in south-west England.
You will be well looked after, with a light and delicious vegetarian “detox” menu, served plated four times a day.
Accommodation is in shared rooms.
There are always plenty of cushions and chairs to ensure you can contemplate comfortably.
The house is five minutes' walk from an expanse of National Trust countryside and farmland, ideal for contemplative walks.
See more photos of the house, garden and surroundings in our Photo Album.
“The physical environment was very congenial to the purpose of the retreat, comfortable, and felt homely. I felt taken care of on many levels, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”
Inessa
Getting here
The location is easily accessible by public transport. Trains to Bath Spa from London Paddington take approximately an hour and a half, and there are good taxi and bus services from the station to the venue. Bristol airport is one hour away and Heathrow an hour and a half.
Bath itself is a small, beautiful city in the South West of England, renowned for its natural hot spa waters, Roman baths and elegant Georgian architecture.
Practical details
Phones and devices: you will be setting aside phones and devices for the entire three days. You don't need to hand them in, but please keep them switched off. We are happy to look after them for you if you prefer.
What to bring: comfortable clothes, warm layers and walking shoes. We send out full details about a month before the Intensive.
Rooms: accommodation is in shared rooms, for between two and five people.
The first evening: arrivals are between 6 and 7:30 pm, and from 6 pm there is soup and bread, herbal tea and fresh fruit waiting for you. You will be shown around the house and have a one-to-one meeting with Emma. This is followed by an opening talk and the first dyad of the Intensive.
Deposit and cancellations: a non-refundable deposit of £200 secures your place. If you are then unable to attend, your deposit can be transferred to another of our Intensives, provided we have at least two weeks' notice.
Food and drink: we can cater for vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets. Please get in touch with us if you have more complex dietary needs. Drinks are caffeine-free.
Parking: there may be a small extra charge (£20) for parking at a nearby private car park.
Language: the Intensive is held in English.
Clocks: British Summer Time begins on Sunday 28 March, during the Intensive.
What participants say
“I'm almost crying simply because I have so much gratitude in my heart and I know who I am. I had no idea I could ever really be asked that question and be able to answer it with certainty. It is worth any amount of effort or difficulty, and it is only just the beginning.”
Sean
“This was one of the best Intensives I have been on. I felt utterly safe, cared for, and truly inspired by the lectures. The house and surroundings added to the pleasure of the overall experience.”
Christine
“As a bit of an initial sceptic, I can honestly say that this has been an intense, rewarding, emotional and life-changing experience for me.”
Stephanie
Read more participants' experiences
Integration and afterwards
Our Intensives finish with a period of integration work, designed to enable you to take whatever you have learned and experienced during the Intensive into your everyday life.
The schedule becomes lighter and the focus turns specifically to making use of your insights and new perspectives. There is time to reflect on your journey and any changes you may want to make in your life.
“Probably the most powerful experience of the retreat for me was after the intensive was finished, on the ‘integration day’… I felt proud of all of us for how far we had come and the struggles which we had been through.”
Ben
Most people remain in a more open and expanded state for several days following the retreat. Inevitably, as the rhythm of ordinary life resumes, some of that openness fades. To support you afterwards, we offer a regular free Online Dyad Group, in-person Dyad Days, courses in Surrender, and training in this work.
Anyone who has participated in one of our Intensives is always welcome to be in touch with us.
Book your place
Early bird price £550 until Sunday 3 January 2027, then £650. You can pay the deposit by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or bank transfer.
We're always happy to talk before you book, whether you have a question, are wondering whether an Intensive is right for you at the moment, or would simply like to get a sense of us. Please contact us to arrange a call. You'll also find more answers in our Questions & Answers.
Can't make Easter? Our other Enlightenment Intensives in 2027 are at Midsummer, mastered by Barry, and in August, mastered by Emma. See all upcoming events.