Winter Retreat with Shai Tubali
Walking with Rumi into the house of God
December 27, 2026 – January 1, 2027, Online & On-site in Portugal (limited places)
A retreat to enter the living heart of Rumi’s mystical teaching — and let love become the way.
Each winter we gather with Shai Tubali to enter the inner cave — the hidden light of the heart.
This year, we step into the world of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, the great 13th-century Sufi mystic whose poems have moved millions across eight centuries.
Yet Rumi’s words were never meant merely to inspire. They were encoded invitations — to a direct, living experience of the Divine.
In this retreat, we move beyond inspiration into transformation.
We enter Rumi’s heart.
“Love is not an emotion. It is your very existence.”
— Rumi
At the center of this retreat lies the mystery of divine longing:
How longing itself is already the answer to your prayers.
How love acts as a magnetic force, drawing the heart toward union.
How the Beloved seeks us as ardently as we seek Him.
How love is not just the path — it is the call, the way, and the fulfillment.
“I am the ocean and you are the fish.
Don’t go to the dry lands.”
— Rumi
WHEN YOUR HEART SHOWS THE WAY
What if the longing you carry is not a problem — but a call?
There are moments when ordinary life feels strangely insufficient. Not because something has gone wrong, but because something deeper is stirring.
A restlessness that no achievement, relationship, or experience quite resolves. A hunger that persists beneath the surface of even the happiest days.
We tend to treat this longing as a wound to be healed, a gap to be filled. We look for better answers, richer experiences, more meaningful work. And still, the longing remains.
Rumi knew this feeling intimately. And he saw it differently.
For Rumi, this ache is not a sign of lack — it is the most sacred movement of the soul. It is the Beloved calling. It is love, not yet recognized as love, pressing against the walls of the self.
The longing you feel is the return message.
In his world, the seeker who burns with longing is closer to God than the one who has settled for comfortable answers. The wound is the opening. The hunger is the way.
This retreat is an invitation to stop managing the longing — and to finally follow it home.
Be reborn in the heart of Jesus
The Living Fire of Sufi Mysticism
Rumi lived in the 13th century — a time of extraordinary mystical flowering. Saint Francis, Meister Eckhart, and Rumi were all alive within decades of one another. Something vast was moving through the world.
From within this fire, Rumi wrote poems that shattered the boundary between human and divine, between lover and Beloved, between longing and union. His Masnavi and Divan are not philosophical texts. They are transmissions — encoded in beauty, carried by the poetic soul, addressed to something deep within you that already knows.
But here lies the challenge: most of us encounter Rumi through loose translations and new-age adaptations. The raw, difficult, ecstatic power of the original poems is rarely met.
In this retreat, guided by Shai Tubali, we go to the source.
We read the real poems.
We sit with their difficulty.
We let them do what they were written to do: reveal the hidden light, break open the mind, and carry the heart into the house of God.
“There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.”
— Rumi
Walking the Path of Realization
From Inspiration to Mystical Understanding
Rumi’s teaching is a complete mystical path — not a collection of beautiful quotes. It is built on the central recognition that:
Love is the only catalyst for religious experience
In this retreat, Shai Tubali will guide us through Rumi’s vision in deep, meditative teaching sessions — exploring the poems not as literature, but as doorways.
Each poem will be approached with full attention, allowing its hidden meaning to surface and its transformative power to become direct experience.
The threads we will follow:
The Lamp Within the Heart
The divine light is not somewhere far away. It is burning within you — hidden, intimate, waiting. Rumi’s poems are maps to this inner lamp.
The Lover and the Beloved
In Rumi’s universe, God is not an authority to obey but a Beloved who hungers for union. The lover pursues, but the Beloved is the true hunter. You are loved more than you can love.
The Wedding with Eternity
For Rumi, even death is not an ending but a wedding — a dissolution into the eternal. This retreat invites you to taste that dissolution while still in this body, in this life.
The Call
Before the path, before the longing, there is a call. Something in you already heard it — that is why you are here.
Beauty as a Path
Rumi knew that the poetic soul is not an ornament on the spiritual path — it is a direct vehicle of transformation.
In this retreat, we explore how beauty, eros, and aesthetic experience can open doors that theory, philosophy, and meditation alone cannot.
This is a teaching about letting yourself be moved — and discovering that being moved is already a form of union.
WHAT AWAITS YOU
A Journey into Love, Silence, and Union
This retreat is both a contemplative journey and a lived spiritual practice. Guided by Shai Tubali and carried by the living spirit of Rumi’s tradition, each day opens the heart more deeply to divine love and inner transformation.
Contemplative Teachings with Shai Tubali
Two in-depth sessions per day, exploring Rumi’s poems as direct pathways into mystical understanding — meditative, precise, and alive.
Sufi Zikr (Remembrance)
The rhythmic practice of divine remembrance — using breath, sound, and repetition to dissolve the surface mind and enter the heart’s deeper chambers.
Sufi Whirling
The sacred turning of the dervish — a practice of surrender, of becoming a vessel for the divine breath, of letting the self spin away.
Expansion of the Divine Heart
A direct experience of unconditional love as the ground of being — Shai’s signature practice, now entered through the doorway of Rumi’s world.
The Inner Cave
The classical winter practice of deep interior listening — adapted this year into the spaciousness of Sufi contemplation.
Circle of Transformation
Moving from words into the sacred reality they point to.
FEEDBACK
This is what enthusiastic participants say
AMY ELIZABETH FOX
Chief Executive Officer, Mobius Executive Leadership
"Dr. Shai Tubali is one of the great master teachers of our generation."
Ludwig Kramer-kleTt
Entrepreneur and Investor
"Shai Tubali's teachings filled me with an inner peace and feeling of liberation."
VIV SAF
Coach and facilitator of the Work
"Shai's presence, his processes and his enlightened answers to your questions will leave you feeling transformed."
I’m so grateful Shai has chosen to share his wisdom and scholarly knowledge with us. His books, satsangs and courses are a great contribution to humanity.
Viv Saf
Thanh Dang
Police Officer
"Nothing remains but a quiet, open heart full of gratitude and liberation."
Effi Rabsilber
"Through the connection with the light that your retreat revealed to me, I always find my way back to my true needs"
For the first time, I understand what it actually means to be absolutely unconditionally loved and to love unconditionally, and what a need I have to let this realization unfold within me and to fulfill my being and my actions. I perceive this as a key that makes it possible for conflicts and contradictions, pain, pressure, fears and doubts within me and in my relationships with others to truly dissolve. Even if it is not always easy, through the connection with the light that your retreat revealed to me, I always find my way back to my true needs. Life feels less like a burden and more like a miracle that needs to be given space. Knowing that I know almost nothing and yet the ONE essential thing makes me more relaxed about life, which often presents itself to me as a great chaos.
I am infinitely grateful and feel deeply connected.
I wish never to forget that we are all connected.
Konstantinos Schiffmann
"The summer retreat prepares every participant to a possible spiritual awakening, which has happened to me several times during the retreats."
A summer retreat with the enlightened Kundalini Master Shai Tubali is an extraordinary opportunity to merge into the essence of deep silence. To be in silence is more than calming down from the stress of our high demanding and overactive postmodern society. Beyond the psycho-somatic regeneration the subtle energetic systems are stimulated, which leads to unblocking energy blockages and enables it’s free flow from in- and outside to the body-mind-complex.
Satsang, guided meditations, body work, creative writing, music, dance and walks in nature etc. support this process. The summer retreat prepares every participant to a possible spiritual awakening, which has happened to me several times during the retreats. Spiritual awakening is often expressed though strong, even overwhelming feelings of love, compassion, devotion, serenity, bliss, freedom and oneness. One peak experience was merging with the abyss of divinity where oneness can be felt as an orgiastic ecstasy. For me the retreats with Shai Tubali are life changing. Life has gained a new meaning and the sense for beauty has been sharpened. A non-reversible and ongoing process of development and integration has been initiated. I just can express my gratitude and recommend to every interested person to try this wonderfully life changing opportunity.
With love
Verena Winkler
"All the enlightening words that my thirsty mind absorbed dripped like precious nectar into my hungry heart, supported by the practices that, in their ingenious simplicity, created a space of connection and wholeness."
The Winter Retreat was a healing journey within, into the hidden precious treasure of the heart. It feels gentle and at the same time very powerful. Without a doubt, these mystical days at the end of the old and the beginning of the new year were the most meaningful Christmas gift I could experience. All the enlightening words that my thirsty mind absorbed dripped like precious nectar into my hungry heart, supported by the practices that, in their ingenious simplicity, created a space of connection and wholeness.
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you all for this precious encounter and the opportunity for remembering.
With an open heart, Verena
DR. BETTINA PRENEY
Literary scholar
"It is a wonderful intimate journey to one's Self."
A Retreat with Shai Tubali is a wonderful intimate journey to one’s Self.
Bathing in Shai’s pure Energy, we are cleansing and purifying ourselves – like in a bath of Light.
Especially his powerful Life-Force-Meditations let us experience the Unity we are – since I am sure that there are no real boundaries between us – that we are all this flowing Life-Energy.
Really, that gives such happiness!
In the time between the meetings with Shai, we can walk in beautiful landscapes, Yoga-exercises are proposed, Dynamic Meditation – and last not least, we have delicious vegan food.
So, I’m really grateful that I can participate in this new Retreat 2024, thank you for organizing such beautiful events!
Liliane Meier
Yoga Teacher
"My personal transformation process was an immense opening to the inner source."
“My personal transformation process was an immense opening to the inner source.
This connectedness, from which I can draw at any time in order to give, is probably the most sacred thing I have realised. I have experienced so much peace in my being that emotions no longer take up so much space. I react much more calmly and clearly when a storm breaks in from the outside. Decisions are no longer based on offended ego, but in compassion and peace.
I would definitely recommend this training. This training is key and there is probably no one who could not use this kind of healing. Especially now in this time when there is a global awakening going on.”
Dr. Nir Brosh
Medical Doctor, Meditation Teacher
"It is a haven for true seekers of truth and transformation."
“The meditation retreats with Shai Tubali had been one of the greatest engines of true spiritual transformation for me, combining profound spiritual wisdom, with crystal clear guidance, imbued with depth and inspiration. Shai is a true master of spirit, and the atmosphere in the retreats is highly supportive and well thought through- it is evident that every little detail is taken into consideration, in order to create a highly transformative and empowering spiritual field. It is a haven for true seekers of truth and transformation.”
Franziska Schneider
"This Universe is unbelievable and full of miracles – and so is this retreat! "
This Universe is unbelievable and full of miracles – and so is this retreat!
Thank you with all of my heart for all the Love!”
About the Retreat Venue:
RETREAT VENUE
Arrival
As we don’t start the retreat until the evening of the 27th, it is basically possible to arrive on the same day despite the flight.
The nearest airport is Lisbon.
From there, we will be happy to organize a shuttle for the 27th that will take you directly from the airport to the retreat location, Terra Quinta, for about 20-30€ per person.
Alternatively, you could book an Uber or Bolt yourself, or team up with other participants to rent a car together. We will be happy to help you arrive at the retreat location in the best way possible.
philosopher and spiritual teacher
Dr. Shai Tubali (Ph.D.)
Shai Tubali, PhD, a mystic philosopher, blends academic expertise in the philosophy of religion with 25 years of mystical insight. He bridges the gap between tradition and the non-traditional world, offering a unique perspective and teachings that convey the mystical power of ancient doctrines.
In his teachings Shai makes use of ancient mystical knowledge to enlighten our human experience. He believes that transcendent states of consciousness have the power to pour meaning, depth, order, and clarity into our deeply complex and sometimes troubled life. In his work, he aims to clarify the principle of psychological and spiritual transformation as much as possible.
Based on his own direct and ongoing revelation of cosmic consciousness since the age of 23, he is a pioneering figure in the field of self-transformation who has helped thousands of people to transform their lives in his many years of teaching around the world.
Among Shai’s books:
ORganizational details
Begin the New Year in the House of God
Date
Dezember 27, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Time
The retreat begins at 18:00 with a group dinner. Arrival from 14:00.
The retreat ends on the last day at 14:00 after lunch.
Retreat Venue
Terra Quinta
R. do Zambujeiro,
2130-532 Santo Estevão
Portugal
Organization
Carlos J. Stickel
carlos@shaitubali.com
+49 178 5175 114
Retreat Prices
The retreat contribution is €445.
Terra Quinta charges the following prices per person for full board accommodation and meals:
Single room: 1200 €
Double room: 775 €
Three-bed room: 575 €
Five-bed room: 525 €
The corresponding total prices (room and board + retreat fee) can be found in the table below. To make booking easy for you, everything will be handled and paid through us. Later you will receive an invoice for the retreat fee from us, and one for your room option from Terra Quinta.
Save a Place Now
How You Can Participate
Whether you join online or in person, this retreat is an invitation to end the year in silence and begin the new one in divine love.
Together we will rediscover the real Christmas — not as a date in time, but as the eternal birth of the Divine within the human heart.
Rooms and Prices:
For onsite participation we have only 10 rooms available.
This year, the rooms will also be booked directly through us. The price therefore includes both the room with full board and the retreat fee.
The total price is made up of 395€ retreat fee (early bird price) and the accommodation + full board:
Total Price per Person (Early Bord):
| Single Room | 1.645 € |
| Double Roome | 1.220 € |
| 3-Bed-Room | 1.020 € |
| 5-Bed-Room | 970 € |
| Online-Participation | 445 € |
Join the Retreat Now
FEATURED IN:
You have open questions?
Who Should Attend
This retreat is for anyone ready to:
- Let love lead beyond thought — into silence, surrender, and trust.
- Move from Rumi as inspiration to Rumi as living teaching.
- Explore Sufi mysticism as a direct path to divine union.
- Begin the new year rooted in beauty, longing, and inner fire.
- Allow the poetic soul to become a doorway to transformation.
What you will take home:
A living understanding of love as a mystical force — not an emotion, but a transformative reality.
Direct contact with the inner lamp: the hidden light that Rumi's poems point to.
The Sufi practices of Zikr and Whirling as ongoing gateways into presence and surrender.
A renewed sense of longing — not as lack, but as the most beautiful form of prayer.
The ability to read Rumi's poems as what they truly are: transmissions from the house of God.
A deep sense of belonging to something sacred, timeless, and whole — as you cross into the new year.
Discover More
Would you like to experience a guided meditation into the inner cave of the heart with Shai Tubali?
Sign up now to receive a free guided meditation.
Start Your Journey into Mystical Wisdom Now!
GOOD TO KNOW
FAQ
TIP
I am not experienced/have only a little experience with meditation. Can I still join?
Do I need to be Muslim or have knowledge of Sufism?
Not at all. This is not a religious retreat. It is open to anyone drawn to the mystical dimensions of Rumi’s teaching — regardless of background, tradition, or prior knowledge. Rumi himself crossed every boundary of religion and culture. His invitation is universal.
TIP
How long do I have access to the retreat recordings?
You have guaranteed access to all retreat recordings on our Online Campus for 24 months.
I have more questions.
Please reach out — we are happy to meet you and answer everything.
Write to: carlos@shaitubali.com
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