What It’s Like
We’re deliberately vague about what happens here. This is not to be mysterious, but because arriving without a picture in your head is part of how The Pause works. The days unfold in their own order, and the moments people carry longest are almost always the ones they didn’t see coming. So what follows is the shape of it, not the content.
Almost nothing is taught. There are no lectures, no slides, no framework to take home and apply.
Each day is built from a sequence of exercises — most of them “done” more than “discussed” — followed by time to make sense of what happened, alone in a journal or aloud with the group. Some are quiet and contemplative. Many involve writing. Some involve movement. Some are done in pairs. Several ask something of the body rather than the mind. A few are small ceremonies, and speak to what we find sacred.
Nothing here belongs to any tradition or doctrine, and we hold no view about what you should conclude. There is no right answer waiting at the end that we already know and you don’t. What surfaces is yours, and nothing is ever mandatory or forced. Gentleness and freedom are at the heart of The Pause.
Dates
Thursday evening, October 29 through Sunday evening, November 1, 2026. Arrival is on Thursday between 2 and 4pm; we begin with a gathering at 6pm that evening and close with dinner together at 6pm on Sunday.
Location
Cassia Hill Villa, in the hills above Galle on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The villa is roughly three hours by road from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport. We can help arrange transport from the airport or from Galle.
What’s included
- Three nights’ accommodation at Cassia Hill Villa
- All meals (plant-based, prepared with care, nourishing without excess)
- All guided sessions and facilitation
- Materials
What’s not included
- Flights to Sri Lanka
- Airport transfers (can be arranged)
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Visa fees (most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or an ETA online)
Group size
Limited to eight participants. This is intentional: small enough for genuine intimacy, large enough for the richness of different perspectives.
Cost
US$2,500 per person for a single room, or US$1,800 per person for a shared room. Both include accommodation, all meals, and the full experience from Thursday evening through Sunday evening. Reduced-rate and scholarship places are available; if this would make a difference for you, just say so in the “Is there anything we should know?” field when you request an invitation.
Extending your stay
If you’d like more time, you can stay an additional night at Cassia Hill on Sunday, November 1. This includes the Sunday-night accommodation and Monday breakfast, for an additional US$150. You can request this when you reserve your place, or any time before arrival.
What to bring
Comfortable clothes and an open heart. We’ll send a detailed packing list after booking.
Device-free
This is a device-free experience. You’ll be invited to leave your phone and laptop behind on arrival. Emergency contact information is provided for family members who may need to reach you.
Meals & dietary needs
All meals are plant-based: fresh, Sri Lankan-inspired, and thoughtfully prepared. If you have allergies or specific dietary requirements, let us know when booking and we’ll accommodate them.
Getting to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka offers visa-on-arrival or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for most nationalities. Colombo (CMB) is the main international airport. We recommend arriving in Sri Lanka on Thursday morning or earlier to allow time for travel to the villa.