San Damiano Retreat, March, 2026

R U M I
A Mirror, A Compass, A Touchstone.

with Camille & Kabir Helminski, & Amir Etemadzadeh, master of Sufi music
March 27-29, 2026, San Damiano Retreat, Danville, California

Now, how is it possible that the words and ideas of a 13^th century Sufi mystic can help us with the magnitude of problems we face? Might it be more wise to focus ourselves fully on the unprecedented problems and challenges of the present rather than search the ideas of past centuries for wisdom and guidance?

One answer to this question is that Mevlana Rumi has left us a mirror, a compass, and a touchstone. The amazing soul qualities latent within a human being are begging to be awakened. The spiritual path of Rumi awakens and develops the soul leading to a joyful relationship with the Divine Friend.

Whatever dark curtains seem to drop before our eyes, the radiant eye of the soul is neither deceived nor distracted from the Eternal Presence. We come together to deeply experience and nurture our souls through community, spiritual dialog, prayer, meditation (muraqaba), music, and zikr. All are welcome, especially the young at heart.

Join us for a contemporary experience of sacred space, beauty, and friendship in beautiful countryside with precious community!

REGISTER

Please submit your registration form: https://forms.gle/hXR3cE1m5CQF5u2w5 and once you have confirmation, we will send you a link for payment

From Friday afternoon until Sunday lunchtime:
$560 single ensuite (all inclusive)
$510 double/twin ensuite (all inclusive)
$390 Commuter (meals only)

TEACHERS

Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski has been a student of the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophets for more than 45 years. She works to provide more in depth understanding of the Mevlevi tradition, and has produced some of the first modern English translations of Jalaluddin Rumi, freshly rendered a significant portion of The Qur’an into English, compiled the wisdom of female Muslim saints in the now classic guide, Women of Sufism, co-translated classics of the tradition including Rumi’s Sun: The Teachings of Shams of Tabriz, has offered poetic reflections, on the Divine Attributes in Ninety-Nine Names of the Beloved, Intimations of the Beauty and Power of the Divine, and most recently, Exaltations, Songs of the Soul. And with The Way of Mary, Maryam, Beloved of God, drawn from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources, she illuminates our Oneness in Spirit.

Shaikh Kabir Helminski is the co-director of The Threshold Society, a non-profit educational foundation rooted within the traditions of Sufism and inspired by the life and work of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. He is an author, a translator of the works of Rumi and others, and a shaikh of the Mevlevi Order which traces back to Rumi. His books on spirituality have been published in at least twelve languages. Kabir is especially interested in finding a contemporary, creative approach to Sufism without compromising the authenticity of tradition. He has toured as shaikh with the Whirling Dervishes of Turkiye bringing Sufi culture to more than 100,000 people. See more about Kabir and Camille’s work here.

Amir Etemadzadeh is a Middle Eastern musician, instructor, performer, and composer. Born and raised in Iran, he received extensive musical education throughout his youth. After arriving in the U.S. in 2003, he expanded his instrumental repertoire, learning a variety of percussion traditions from around the world. Amir believes in the healing and expressive power of music for students and masters alike. Through this dedication to the holistic power of musical education, Amir strives and continues to build a loving community of innovative and empowered artists. See more about his work here.

LOCATION

San Damiano is a Franciscan retreat centre set in the beautiful hills of the San Ramon Valley deep in Contra Costa country. This peace-filled setting is the ideal environment to take some time to reflect and relax in fifty-plus acres of spectacular nature. Accessible with public transportation from San Francisco International Airport. See more about the venue here.