Beyond Yourself –
Meeting in Truth
September 17-23, 2025
Let Life be Transformed –
Enjoy the Power of Truth
A Inner Journey with Damiano Nöthen
You leave your everyday life for a few days and embark on the adventure of exploring your true nature. Beyond your self-images and learned behaviors, you encounter your essence. You meet other people who, like you, are committed to breaking through the old patterns and habits. You are ready to stop telling yourself the boring old stories about your past that keep giving you reasons not to live your life to the fullest. Beyond your self-images, beneath your mask covered by the patina of years, you touch the inner knowing of who you are. You see the potential which is not limited by yourself.
Honest togetherness and open communication create an atmosphere in which people can see each other as they are: in their automatic everyday life and in their untouched being.
Damiano’s intention is to create the opportunity to deepen the inner awakening of consciousness beyond what you think you are or you should be. Its an invitation to a wonderful radical journey beyond yourself.
Located on a medieval „Castello“ nestled in the Nature Park of the Monte Subasio, just twenty minutes from Assisi, the town of Saint Francis. Francis, the shining saint of the 13th century, inspired Damiano in the early 80th with his simple way of living and his profound love to Jesus. Since 800 years his spirit draws people from all of the world regardless of religious beliefs to Assisi.
The ACCOMMODATION
“Il Piccolo Castello”
A touch of the Middle Ages
The walls of our Retreat-Center „Piccolo Castello“ date back to the 14th century. It breathes the charm of old times and its originality invites you to enjoy the simplicity of life. It is part of the ancient village „Nottiano“ whose houses were almost all destroyed in an earthquake in 1997. The Castello is located in quietness and solitude surrounded by meadows and forests not far from the pilgrimage town of Assisi.
The bedrooms are simple and rustic furnished. The two bathrooms inside the house and the bathhouse outside are shared. A large kitchen offers plenty of space. The sessions take place in a 36 m2 room with a wooden floor, equipped with cushions, pads and blankets.
We are happy to offer accommodation in the Piccolo Castello and three vegan meals a day for those who choose to participate in the retreat.
The bedrooms are equipped with two, and three beds. Please note that there are limited places in the two-bed rooms. The rooms are equipped with wardrobes, bedside tables, chairs, and tables. The simplicity of the furnishings subtly highlight the medieval charm of the place.
In addition to the spacious dining room with integrated kitchen, there is a bright room with a wooden floor for meditation and another room with antique tiles available outside the group sessions.
what is included
– 6 nights, 6 days accommodation
– 3 daily buffet-style vegan meals
– daily meditation,
– two group sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3:30 to 18:30 p.m.
– small sharing groups in the evening
What is not included
– travel expenses
– transfer from Assisi Station or Airport to the retreat center
(we can organize a taxi, please contact us)
important note: We don’t give access to wifi, access to Internet and telephony is only possible via mobile network. To get a reasonably good reception, you have to move away from the house. There is hardly any network in the house.
Why Choose Us
Transformation can happen when you leave
the well-known for exploring new areas of life.
Are you ready?
We are trapped in the conditioned state of mind, body and emotions. Most people walk through life like well programmed robots. We wonder why everything seems to repeat like an old movie in a continuous loop. Always the same emotional reactions, same thoughts, same drama, same relationships. Even if we suddenly realize that our script does not describe the life we want, a change that not only modifies our behavior seems unattainable.
Transformation start to happen when you are willing to look into your unvarnished face, to acknowledge to yourself and to others the truth of how you constantly repeat the experiences and learnings of the past. This honesty creates the breeding ground from which the truly new can grow, filling your live with freshness and joy.
The Retreat
People meet in the group. In contact, the usual stories emerge, the pain of the past, the way people are in contact, the fears and needs, the trigger points. Instead of working with the phenomena as in psychotherapy, for example, we simply observe and share what we experience. We don’t work on it in order to change, but we show new possibilities
In sharing, we allow each other to participate in the inner process. We publish our inner dialog, our thoughts, the feelings, the current events.
We recognize the automatic filters, the limitations and the self-censorship and experiment with showing ourselves more and more honestly and unveiled. This creates an atmosphere in which close, intimate encounters become possible, in which contact and encounters can take place with the other person. At the same time, it offers the opportunity to see more clearly who I am and how I want to shape my life in this world.
Damiano supports people with his clear sight through the patterns of behavior to see themself more clearly. His intention is to unveil the very own an individual way of being of every human being beyond the automatic behavior of the trained personality. His focus is at questions:
How can you live to your maximum potential in the present moment?
What is the most honest thing you can do or say right now?
How can you transform the limitations of your personality so that your life is a fluid expression of who you always are in your essence?
Transformation is not under your willpower, you can’t do it the way you are used to control things, you can only make it happen by surrendering to what is happening in each moment.
The 6 day retreat offers a prepared structure to be together, connecting with each other, calming the mind and watching the process with curiosity and joy .
Daily Program
The retreat starts in the first evening with an opening circle and the introduction for the following days.
The group meets twice a day with Damiano from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The session begins with sitting in silence, then people can share their inner experience and questions with Damiano. He gives feedback and makes suggestions that help you leave behind what you are used to and know and discover new dimensions of being yourself and being with others. His feedback is straightforward and sometimes confrontational. The intention is to bring the unconscious automatisms of the personality into the light of consciousness and to help shape a coexistence that is permeated by the spirit of presence.
In the evening people meet in small groups to practice sharing
Damiano does not teach a method or spiritual path to enlightenment. He supports people in following their own individual path which everyone must discover and experience for themselves.
He recommends some guidelines for the path of self-inquiry that can be integrated into everyday life at home and that participants can experiment with during the retreat:
1. being honest with yourself and others;
2. to observe their own feelings, body sensations and thoughts and not take them too seriously;
3. to be open to the wonderful new that lies beyond the familiar and the comfortable.
4. to invite new experiences.
5. to trust that life is always there for us.
6. to consider it possible that the veil will open and being touched with what you already know
Damiano Nöthen
studied theology in the early 80s. During his studies he became interested in Christian mysticism, Zen Buddhism and shamanic paths. Since then he has been practicing meditation in different forms. At the end of the 80s he discovered Gestalt therapy and has been accompanying people as a Gestalt therapist for 30 years. He explored the world of spiritual and psychotherapeutic schools. In 2000 he met Paul Lowe, who gave him a new perspective in looking at the world and understanding spiritual awakening. He learned about the deep ecology movement from Joanna Macy and led various conferences with her in Assisi, Italy. In 2011 he founded the Gestalt Forum Freiburg, Germany, and has been leading three-year training groups since then. Through wonderful coincidences, he and his family found a new home in Italy. He now lives on a small mountain farm near Assisi, the town where as a young man he met Saint Franzis, who became an important source of inspiration for him. Here is the “Piccolo Castello”, the medieval building where almost all of his seminars now take place. Damiano sees himself as a wanderer through time, with a deep desire to let the truth that has been placed in every person’s heart shine through.
Embark on Your Journey Today
Explore our retreats and invite transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, we would like participants to have experience of therapeutic work or self-awareness processes, so that emerging life issues, blockages or past experiences are at least partially known. The retreat is not suitable for people who feel mentally unstable. If you are unsure whether the retreat is suitable for you, please contact us.
The retreat will be held in English to accommodate an international audience.
Yes, Damiano as a psychotherapist and experienced facilitator will be available for one-on-one check-ins if needed, and there will be guidance offered during group meditation sessions.
There will be an initial orientation, evening sharing with Damiano in the group and optional individual sessions, but the majority of the retreat will be conducted in silence.
Detailed directions and travel options will be provided upon registration. Assisi is easily accessible from Rome, Florence, and other major cities in Italy. You can travel with car, train or plane. The nearest international airports are in Perugia, Rome (Fiumicino) and Florence. From there, you can take a train or bus to Assisi, or arrange for private transportation.
Participants from the EU only need a valid ID. Non-EU citizens typically need a passport and possibly a visa, depending on the length of stay and country of origin.
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to enter Italy. Please check with your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements.
Comfortable clothing, a journal, any personal toiletries, if you want, you can bring your personal meditation cushion or mat (if preferred). We recommend insect repellent, sun cream, shoes for walking in nature
Assisi generally has a mild climate, but it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast before your trip. Spring and autumn can be cool in the mornings and evenings, so packing layers is recommended.
Absolutely! Assisi and the surrounding areas have much to offer, and many participants choose to explore Italy before or after the retreat.
While we encourage participants to stay for the entire duration of the retreat, we understand that emergencies can arise.
We recommend arriving in Assisi by early afternoon. Shuttle services to the retreat center will be scheduled around these times, and check-in at the retreat center begins at 3:00 PM.
Yes, there is free parking available at the retreat center for participants who choose to drive.
Yes, there are several accommodation options in Assisi if you wish to extend your stay. We can provide recommendations for nearby hotels or guesthouses. And you can stay at the „Piccolo Castello“.
No, Wi-Fi is not available. Access to Internet and telephony is only possible via mobile network. To get a reasonably good reception, you have to move away from the house. There is hardly any network in the house.
The retreat center is located near Assisi, which has medical facilities if needed. We advise participants to bring any personal medications and to inform us of any medical conditions prior to arrival.
What Guests Say
Voices of Our Participants
Damiano, I thank you for listening with total openness, for your empathy, for the effort you make to leave a positive imprint on those who came in contact with you, for being perceptive, for your confident, relaxed and respectful way, for your beautiful teachings of San Franzis.
Natacha Morales
The encounter with Damiano, which originally began as part of the Gestalt therapy training, has increasingly unfolded into a deep spiritual journey for me. Damiano’s deep authenticity, his way of dancing with life and his ability to lead us into the trust that something greater is holding and guiding us have deeply inspired me and without question profoundly changed my life. I wish many other people could have a similar experience with Damiano.
Sebastian Nitzschke
Working with Damiano is always very special for me. He leads the group with calm and transparency, without ever faltering. Damiano is able to draw on his life experience and use it in his work with people without losing sight of the moment and the nature of the characters around him. I look forward to his honest and warm manner before each seminar.
Ella Brillo
Continue your journey in Assisi
Take the next step toward inner peace and contact with the being beyond