Zen, Tea & QiGong
Silent Retreat with Wu De & David Melladew
Septemeber 9 - 18, 2024
- Limited availability -
Ten-day retreat held in noble silence
offered by Wu De and David Melladew in collaboration with Casa Cuadrau.
Delve into the ancient tradition that unites Zen and Tea, movement and breath, and discover how to live more consciously in your daily life.
- Meditate daily at dawn and dusk.
- Attend tea ceremonies with Wu De and have time for group tea practices.
- Enjoy Qigong sessions in nature and lectures with David Melladew.
- Listen to these two experienced teachers lecture as they weave their teachings on meditation, tea, and Qigong together.
- Immerse yourself in the soothing nature of the Spanish Pyrenees.
- Enjoy this marvelous opportunity to experience a 10-day silent retreat where you need only worry about showing up and following the schedule.
Words from Global Tea Hut
The last years of Zen and Tea retreats at Casa Cuadrau have changed the lives of so many!
Casa Cuadrau is a gorgeous center, built brick by brick with love and light, and going there has become such an important part of our lives that we couldn’t imagine a year without it. It is a part of us now: our sister center, our light and love. Daniel, Katya and the entire staff at Casa Cuadrau understand the meaning of hospitality and the great work of service. The food, accommodations and care are simple, nourishing and held so beautifully.
The hikes in Nature fill the soul with a lifetime of expansive quiet, space, breadth, depth and a deep connection to the natural world all around. The landscapes of this area are breathtaking and hiking every day in silence is life-changing. Daniel is a special outdoor hiking guide, as well. He knows and loves the area and is passionate about sharing it with us.
About the retreat
Silence Hikes, Meditation, Tea, Zen & Qi Gong
The entire ten-day retreat will be held in noble silence, as in previous years. There will still be silent hikes every day, as well as a day-long hike in the middle of the retreat. We will still learn and practice meditation, tea and Zen, as we have in past years, though a bit less. Along with the hikes, meditation, tea and Zen discourses, we are also adding two Qi Gong sessions every morning and evening (outdoors if weather permits), lectures on Chinese medicine by David Melladew, who is also an incredibly gifted Traditional Chinese Doctor, including acupuncture, herbs, and dietary advice.
This is the most holistic retreat we have ever offered at Casa Cuadrau and will be similar to the Tea and Qigong retreat offered last year. Until the new tea center opens in Taiwan, this may be one of the only opportunities for a deep course in tea and Qi Gong this year.
Some insights of previous years...
“The Zen, Tea & Qigong retreat was the most profound retreat I have ever experienced. For me, attending this retreat brought about a sensation of clarity and connection with myself and the sacred mountains. The meditation, the discourses, the Qigong practice in a magnificent location with stunning views and hiking in Nature – all in silence – accounted for one of the deepest and greatest experiences I’ve ever had.”
– Samuel Izquierdo, Spain
“The wisdom and profound insights are still trickling in months after returning from the sacred mountain ranges of the Spanish Pyrenees. My heart unfurls like a rose every time I think back on that majestic landscape, the beauty and the knowledge that was brought to life and shared within Casa Cuadrau by Wu De and Dave Melladew…
Being in Casa Cuadrau felt like being bundled up in a warm blanket. It felt like home, and Daniel and Katya made you feel that way as well. Their kind energy filled the rooms, and even the walls felt like love was oozing out of them.”
– Cassie Polgar, Australia
Activities
Noble silence is silence of body, speech, and mind. It is not just about abstaining from speech but about cultivating a deep sense of presence, awareness, and mindfulness that permeates every aspect of our being and should be adhered to for the entire duration of the retreat.
Any meditation practice is acceptable—from any tradition, so long as it is quiet. But please follow along with meditation instructions whenever they are given in the meditation hall. Formal meditation instructions will be available for those who need them. Meditation is signaled by a gong ten minutes before meditation. Please arrive to the hall promptly.
Qigong is a traditional Chinese practice that involves coordinated body movements, breathing techniques, and meditation. It is based on the belief that the body has a vital energy, known as qi, which can be harnessed and directed to promote health, healing, and spiritual growth. Qigong exercises are gentle and slow, designed to increase the flow of qi throughout the body, strengthen the internal organs, and improve overall well-being.
Qigong is a traditional Chinese practice that involves coordinated body movements, breathing techniques, and meditation. It is based on the belief that the body has a vital energy, known as qi, which can be harnessed and directed to promote health, healing, and spiritual growth. Qigong exercises are gentle and slow, designed to increase the flow of qi throughout the body, strengthen the internal organs, and improve overall well-being.
All tea lessons are life lessons. It is important to fill and empty our bowls as we receive the lessons and wisdom of tea and then integrate them into our daily lives. These tea classes will cover more practical and linear information about tea in general that will compliment the deeper lessons experienced in the tea ceremony.
Meditative walks and hikes are essential practices in our retreats. They are very simple and accessible for everyone.
They help us to understand, through experience, our deep connection with nature. It makes us notice in each step and in each breath, that the energy that exists inside us, is the same as the energy that exists all around us.
Nature is our greatest teacher. Silence and deep listening help us enrich the experience She offers.
There will be a daily 90 minute meditative walk in nature, after the Qi Gong classes.
One day will be dedicated to meditative hiking, starting just after breakfast and coming back for a light dinner. It is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the Ordesa National Park or surrounding areas.
Facilitators
Wu De
Author and teacher Wu De is a true Chajin (tea person). He has been a practitioner of Cha Dao (The Way of Tea) for over 20 years. He has reached over 100,000 people through his writings, classes, workshops, seminars, and interviews.
Born Aaron Daniel Fisher in rural Ohio, Wu De knew from an early age that his interests lay to the East. His martial arts practice began at an early age, and led him to discover the wisdom locked inside tea leaves when he was a teenager.
Upon graduating from university with a degree in anthropology and philosophy, he moved to India, where he lived and worked in a meditation center for some years. During this time, he prepared tea daily as fuel for his intensive meditation practice, and he laid the groundwork for his later work with tea as a spiritual vehicle.
David Melladew
David received his Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine at Pacific College in San Diego, CA. He is both a U.S. Nationally Board Certified Acupuncturist and Diplomat of Oriental Medicine. He has been in practice since 2008.
David continues to hone his acupuncture skills under the guidance of acupuncture master Ikeda Masakazu in Imabari, Japan and Edward Obaidey in Tokyo, Japan. Together his teachers have over 80 years of combined acupuncture experience.
David has also been an avid student of Qi Gong and the martial arts for the past 20 years. He has received formal training in Tae kwon do, Hung gar kung fu, Shotokan karate, Tai chi chuan, and Ba gua zhang as well as various systems of Qi Gong. Along with his martial art training, he has studied meditation techniques at Buddhist monasteries in Nepal, Bhutan, India, and South Korea.
David was drawn to Oriental medicine and the martial arts by his interests in Asian philosophies such as Taoism and Buddhism, and his love for the practices’ blend of science, artistry, meditation, and need for self-cultivation.
Daniel Benito
Co-director of Casa Cuadrau, Dani is a yoga and meditation instructor and mountain guide, as well as an ecological builder.
From a young age Dani felt deeply connected to the mountains and it was in the Pyrenees and the Himalayans where he discovered hiking to be a powerful meditation practice and a way of deepening his connection with nature.
Dani completed his yoga teacher training with Bharat Shetty (RYT 500) and his meditation practice is based on Buddhist teachings, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh (Zen) and S.N. Goenka (Vipassana).
Duration
The retreat starts on Monday, September 9. Check-in is from 14:30 to 16:00 followed by orientation, a light dinner, and the opening of the retreat.
The retreat finishes on Wednesday, September 18 at 8:30am after breakfast.
IMPORTANT!!
Try to arrive in Barcelona 2 – 3 days before the retreat to adjust to the time.
Please check below the recommendations section.
Accommodation options
- shared dormitories
- single room with shared bathroom
- double room with shared bathroom
- single room with bathroom
- double room with bathroom
- nearby rural house in private room
Rates
CASA CUADRAU' RATES
These rates include accommodation*, meals, meditative hikes, taxes and insurances.
| Types of accommodation | Rate per person |
| Shared dormitory | 1.020€ |
| Double room with shared bathroom | 1.120€ |
| Single room with shared bathroom | 1.390€ |
| Double room with bathroom | 1.320€ |
| Single room with bathroom | 1.850€ |
| Without accommodation* | 825€ |
*If there is no longer available accommodation at Casa Cuadrau, there are other accommodation options nearby.
TEA, ZEN & QI GONG TEACHINGS
The teachings and activities led by Wu De and David Melladew are offered on a donation basis.
Minimum donation for teachings and activities:
750 € per person.
Donations will be paid in cash or card directly to Global Tea Hut at the end of the retreat.
They will cover the travel expenses of the facilitators and the rest will go towards the creation of “Light Meets Life,” a free school of Tea and Zen in Taiwan.
Recommendations
We recommend to fly to Barcelona – El Prat airport.
Try to arrive in Barcelona 2 – 3 days before the retreat to adjust to the time.
The transportation is not included in the rates.
If you are interested we can help you to organize a shared transportation from Barcelona to Casa Cuadrau and the way back, once you have completed your booking.
Departure from Barcelona to Casa Cuadrau would be on Monday September 9th.
- 9:00 am from Barcelona City near Metro Palau Reial
- 9:30 am from El Prat Barcelona Airport T1
For the way back from Casa Cuadrau to Barcelona on September 18th.
- 9:00 h departure from Casa Cuadrau
- 13:30 h approximate arrival time at El Prat Barcelona Airport T1
- 14:00 h approximate arrival time at Barcelona City near Metro Palau Reial
The transportation fee will be confirmed depending on the number of participants interested in this option.
Please check the following information:
- What to bring to a retreat
- How to get to Casa Cuadrau (check the link, the best option is Barcelona airport)
- Frequently asked questions