Yearly Cycle
Our schedule of events follows the traditional Gaelic calendar. We have Zazen days on the Solstices and Equinoxes and Sesshins on the traditional Gaelic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lúnasa. Below is a visual depiction of our yearly cycle:
Upcoming Events
First Sesshin of the New Year! Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day Weekend
10 Jan 2026Practicing with the first days of early Spring, our Imbolc Sesshin will begin on Saturday, January 31st and end on the bank holiday Monday, February 2nd. The sesshin will take place at Earth+Sky Zen Dublin Dojo, 1 Upper Gardiner St. A small number of residential places are available. Non-residential participants, staying nearby, are welcome. Send us an email if you would like to join!
Winter Solstice Zazen Day Sunday, December 21st
03 Dec 2025Join us at Earth+Sky on the shortest day of the year to sit zazen together. The day will end with a Christmas celebration and some music.
Stillness at Samhain Sesshin at Earth+Sky Zen Dublin Dojo - Friday Oct. 31st to Sunday November 2nd
29 Sep 2025The ancient festival of Samhain from which our contemporary Hallowe’en comes, occurred during the period from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st. It marked the beginning of winter and the transition to a new year.
At Earth+Sky we will mark the occasion with a sesshin, beginning on Friday evening with zazen at 7:30pm and ending after lunch on Sunday. See poster and timetable here.
Send us an email if you would like to join: zen.in.ireland@gmail.com
Autumnal Equinox Zazen Day Sunday, September 21st
05 Sep 2025On Sunday, September 21st, to mark the Autumnal Equinox we will have a Zazen Day at Earth+Sky Zen, Dublin Dojo. We’ll start the day with zazen at 7:30am and finish with the normal Sunday evening sitting. Poster and timetable attached.
Earth+Sky Zen at Dublin Dojo re-opening after the summer break, Sunday August 31st
24 Aug 2025On Sunday evening, August 31st we will re-open the dojo for our regular practice schedule. Morning zazen will return to the 7am schedule, Monday through Thursday. Our evening zazen will be at 6:15pm as before on Wednesdays and Sundays. Beginners / newcomers introduction will be on Sunday evenings at 5:30pm.
Zen Retreat at Lúnasa on beautiful Clare Island, 26/07 to 02/08/2025
16 Jun 2025Join us on Clare Island for the summer sesshin hosted by Earth+Sky Zen on beautiful Clare Island. This is a week-long opportunity for zen practice in a peaceful environment. Activities include, zazen (silent meditation) kinhin (walking meditation) outdoors weather permitting, practicing with food preparation, cooking, mindful eating. There will be dharma talks and workshops helping us to engage with the fundamental aspects of practice, such as breathing and posture, chanting and ceremony, sutra study and more.
Please email zen.in.ireland@gmail.com if you want to register.
Mid-summer Zazen Night
06 Jun 2025Join us in person or online for a Zazen night on Saturday 21st June at Earth+Sky in the Dublin Dojo.
We will begin at 8pm on Saturday, the shortest night of the year, and finish at 7am on Sunday - we’ll have a break before midnight to sleep for 4 hours -.
Bealtaine Sesshin at Earth+Sky Zen Dublin Dojo
23 Apr 2025On May 3rd 4th 5th - the May bank holiday weekend - Mary Soshin will lead the Bealtaine Sesshin. On Saturday, there will be a Sewing Workshop led by Joan Sansen.
This is a good opportunity for anyone sewing a rakasu or for those who want to practice sewing. The sesshin will continue through Sunday and Monday morning. All are welcome to attend this non-residential retreat to be held in the Dublin Dojo at 1 Upper Gardiner St.
Please register before April 28th. Cost €100. See attached poster and timetable for more information.
The Spirit of Bamboo : Meditation and Ink Painting Retreat at Earth+Sky Zen
22 Apr 2025Yingge Xu will lead the meditative brush-painting weekend on May 24th and May 25th at Earth+Sky Zen in the Dublin Dojo, 1 Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. For more information see Art of the Brush
Vernal Equinox Zazen Day
26 Feb 2025Sunday, March 23rd we will have a Zazen Day to mark the Vernal Equinox, starting at 11:00 am and ending after the Sunday evening zazen at 7:30 pm. There will be a dharma talk, as well as zazen and kinin. Organic, vegetarian lunch will be served. Suggested donation €25.
Screening of 'Are We One'
05 Dec 2024Sunday afternoon, December 15th, The IFI will post a special screening of ‘Are We One’ - Dónal Ó Céilleachair’s film about Roshi Robert Kennedy, please mark your calendars! More info. here: https://ifi.ie/film/are-we-one-2024/#
Oriental Christmas Card Workshop - Online
03 Dec 2024Saturday morning, December 14th, Yingge (our Chinese calligraphy teacher) is offering a free online workshop about using calligraphy and brush painting skills to create Christmas cards. For more info. please visit Yingge’s website at www.artofthebrush.ie
Winter Solstice Zazen Day
16 Nov 2024On Saturday, December 21st, we’ll have a short Zazen Day at Earth+Sky Zen. All welcome, see poster for details. The suggested donation is €25.
Medieval Chanting workshop at An Tairseach
15 Nov 2024A life-long friend, Eilish Butler, is offering a Medieval Chanting workshop at An Tairseach, the Wicklow Ecology Centre, December 7th - 8th, based on the life and work of Hildegard Von Bingen
Imbolc Sesshin
14 Nov 2024Our first sesshin of the New Year will be held at An Tairseach, Feb. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, at the St. Brigid’s Day bank holiday weekend, the ancient festival of Imbolg. More info. later! Meanwhile, Save the Date!
Stillness at Samhain 2024
27 Sep 2024Join us at Hallowe’en for a non-residential retreat at Earth +Sky Zen Dublin Dojo, Oct. 25th - 28th. Send an email for programme costs & info.
Autumnal Equinox Zazen Day September 15
30 Aug 2024On Sunday September 15th, join us for a day of zazen, samu and discussion to re-set the season!
We’ll begin at 7:30am until after lunch, then we will take the opportunity to talk about the upcoming months of participation in practice together.
Summer Arrangements at Earth+Sky Zen Dublin Dojo
29 Jul 2024We are closed for the Lúnasa Sesshin and summer break. The dojo will re-open for the normal zazen schedule on Sunday evening, Sepember 1st.
Lúnasa Sesshin 2024 at Wicklow Ecology Centre
09 Jun 2024The Earth+Sky Lúnasa Sesshin this year will be held at An Tairseach, Wicklow Ecology Centre, from July 25th to 29th.
Send an email for more information and registration details.
Aran Sesshin August 3rd to 10th, hosted by Galway Dojo
31 May 2024The Galway Dojo will host a Summer Sesshin on the Aran Islands from August 3rd to 10th. For more information, contact zengalway\@gmail.com