WISSAL RETREAT : CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

An Immersive Retreat into Connection and Cultural Spirituality

Are you an artist, scholar, or seeker looking to explore the intersection of material culture and spirituality? Do you long for a deeper engagement with the ways craftsmanship, ritual, and daily rhythms shape mystical experience? Wissal is not an abstract concept but a lived experience—one that unfolds through interaction, craftsmanship, and cultural rhythms. This retreat, deeply rooted in Moroccan traditions, offers a unique opportunity to explore spirituality through the tangible elements of daily life: artisanship, language, rituals, and the dynamic pulse of Fez.

What is Wissal?

Wissal—derived from the Arabic root wasl, meaning connection—embodies the unity of the sacred and the everyday. It is a practice of encountering spirituality within the material world, where meaning is revealed through physical engagement. This retreat is an invitation to experience how Fez’s cultural heritage fosters an intricate relationship between the spiritual and the practical. From the meditative process of crafting with master artisans to the cadence of Qur’anic recitations at dawn, Wissal takes shape through the rhythms of daily life. It is not encountered in abstraction but in the lived reality of tradition, skill, and communal exchange. This program encourages participants to explore the sacred through interaction, dialogue, and immersion in cultural practice.

Who Should Apply?

This retreat is designed for individuals who seek to bridge intellectual inquiry with experiential knowledge. It is ideal for:

Artists, writers, and scholars exploring material culture and spirituality.
Researchers interested in embodied knowledge, ritual studies, and ethnographic engagement, supported through hands-on workshops, field observations, and guided discussions with local artisans and spiritual leaders.
Seekers looking to immerse themselves in cultural practices that reveal the sacred within the ordinary.
Anyone drawn to the intersection of traditional craftsmanship, spiritual practice, and philosophical reflection.

What Will Participants Experience?

Immersion in Fez’s Spiritual and Artistic Heritage:
- Witnessing recitations drifting from shopfronts in the early morning, shaping the city’s sacred soundscape.
  - Engaging in hands-on workshops with artisans, learning from the last masters of traditional crafts.
- Experiencing indigenous rituals that have been preserved across generations, offering a window into Morocco’s spiritual heritage.
- Meeting with Sufi and spiritual leaders, engaging in philosophical and practical discussions on connection, devotion, and cultural transmission.
- Visiting sacred spaces, from ancient mosques to hidden shrines, including zaouias and traditional schools, to explore the mystical dimensions of architecture, devotion, and the transmission of spiritual knowledge.
- Participating in guided discussions that interweave history, spirituality, and material culture.
Daily Practices Bridging Mysticism and Craftsmanship:
- Learning directly from master craftspeople and spiritual leaders, whose work is an extension of their spiritual practice and historical lineage, offering insights into the deeper connections between craftsmanship, devotion, and mystical traditions.
- Understanding the rhythms of life as a form of spiritual discipline, from the structured patterns of the souks to the meditative labor of artisans.
- Engaging in intellectual and experiential dialogue on the nature of Wissal—where the material and the mystical coalesce—through talks and seminars on the intellectual and mystical history of Fez, and discussions on the role of material rituals in well-being.
READ THE DETAILED PROGRAM HERE

Logistics & Structure

Dates & Location: Fez, Morocco – November 20-27, 2025
Duration: 7 days of immersive exploration
Group Size: Limited to 15 participants to ensure meaningful engagement
Languages: Sessions will be conducted in English and Arabic

How to Apply

Deadline: May 25, 2025
Selection Criteria: Applicants should submit a short personal statement reflecting on what connection (wissal) means to them and how it relates to their personal or academic pursuits.
Fees : $1,700 (with paiement in 2 installments option)
Since places are very limited a deposit of 400$ is mandatory to garantee your participation.
Make sure to read the detailed program here
Application Form and terms Click here

Embark on the Journey of Wissal

This is more than a retreat—it is an encounter with a living tradition, an exploration of connection through culture, craft, and community. Spaces are limited. Apply now to secure your place in this transformative experience. Early applications encouraged due to high demand.

✨ Stay tuned for further details. ✨