Dr. Joe Dispenza Meditation Retreat – What To Expect!
After experiencing two of Dr. Joe Dispenza’s week-long meditation retreats, I wanted to share my thoughts and tips on what to expect and how to prepare!
My introduction to Dr. Joe’s work began about two years ago — when one of my favorite transformational speakers, Kyle Cease, shared a video of Dr. Joe talking about why it’s so hard to change our habits. Dr. Joe’s scientific explanation about how the brain works and how our subconscious mind can sabotage our efforts to change our beliefs and habits rang so true for me personally.
For years, I had known that reprogramming my subconscious was the key to changing my unhealthy habits, but this seemed like such an impossible task. I had tried hypnotherapy, meditation, plant medicine, positive affirmations — and while while those things were all beneficial in their own way, I still felt like my conscious mind and my subconscious mind were on two completely different planets.
It wasn’t until I spent a week at one of Dr. Joe Dispenza’s meditation retreats that I really began to understand what was holding me back in my life. I felt such a significant change after my first week-long event in Vancouver, Canada, that I booked a second week-long retreat six months later (which coincided with my 40th birthday!) and convinced Scott and my sister to come with me!
Table of Contents
Dr. Joe Dispenza Week-Long Meditation Retreat
What to Expect
Dr. Joe has several events; one-day events, Progressive Workshops, cruises, advanced week-long retreats and Advanced Follow Ups. I personally have done a one-day event and two week-long advanced retreats.
Dr. Joe’s events are constantly evolving and no two events are ever exactly the same, but this will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect if you’re thinking of booking a week-long retreat.
Team Assignments
With 800 to 2,500 people at many of his events, this is a big group. A few weeks before each event, I received an email with my team leader’s name and the name of my team. In Vancouver, I was on Team Caribou and in Portland I was on Team Marigold. The names of the teams change at each event.
If you’re traveling to the event with someone you know, they recommend that you allow the quantum field to choose whether or not you’re on the same team. Scott and I did not request to be on the same team, but we ended up on the same team. However, we chose not to sit together every day.
Part of the reason people go to these events is to get outside of their comfort zone in order to change their subconscious programs. We felt like we would get more out of the event and meet more people by choosing not to sit together.
I love that each team feels small enough to get to know each member and that you all sit in a group together every day. You will inevitably form a bond with your group members and team leaders. They also have a team meeting at the end of each day for announcements and questions. This is when people might share an experience they had or ask a question about something they experienced in meditation.
The Schedule
Plan to be surprised! There’s no schedule ahead of time, so if you are a planner, now is the time to let go of your expectations. Some days you’ll be up at 3am and end at 7pm, some days you’ll start at 6am and end at 7pm and some days you might go all night.
There are scheduled breaks — plus a breakfast and lunch break — and the time really does fly by because it’s split between lectures and meditations. You definitely won’t be looking at the clock.
Meditations
The meditations are always different, but you can usually count on doing several Blessing of the Energy Centers meditations, a couple of Pineal Gland meditations (4+ hours), at least one Kaleidoscope meditation and a couple of walking meditations.
Meals
Breakfast and lunch is included on most days of the retreat along with drinks at each break. It’s buffet style and there’s always plenty of healthy and light options. It really makes the cost of the retreat worth it when you only have to pay for dinner.
Lodging
Each week-long retreat is usually hosted at a hotel and they block out the rooms for the event. However, those rooms book up quick so a good portion of people end up staying nearby. It’s obviously much easier to stay at the host hotel, but also more expensive.
In Vancouver, I booked a room at an Airbnb and in Portland, I found a hotel within a 5-minute walk from the event. Both times, I paid less than half of what it would have cost to stay at the host hotel.
Costs
The current week-long retreat cost is $1899. Hotel is not included in this price.
What To Pack
Sleep Mask: I recommend bringing a sleep mask for the meditations. I’ve tried a few and have found this one to be the most comfortable and inexpensive.
Yoga Mat: A lot of people bring yoga mats to lay on during the meditations. The ground doesn’t always feel the cleanest and it’s nice to have a cushion. I love this yoga mat because it comes with a carrying strap and it’s compact for travel.
Blanket: I HIGHLY recommend bringing a soft, warm travel-sized blanket for the meditations — it can get cold in that room!
Comfortable Clothes: Bring anything you will be comfortable in — yoga pants, sweatshirt, and plenty of layers.
Challenge Exercises
One of the things that really sets Dr. Joe’s retreats apart from others I have attended is that he goes above and beyond to create new methods of overcoming your body. It’s incredibly easy to stay centered and focused during a meditation with no distractions, but we all know that when life throws us challenges, that’s when our automatic programs throws the kitchen sink at us.
He’s created a multitude of challenge exercises so event guests can practice staying heart-focused in a challenging situation. He wants people to learn how to do this work with their eyes open — which is something that is incredibly useful when you head home, back to your day-to-day life.
I won’t give away any of the specifics about the challenge exercises he’s done at previous events because part of the fun is not knowing. It’s great practice for stepping into the unknown in your regular life.
Read more: 10 Ways Breathwork Can Change Your Life
My Transformational Experiences
During my first retreat, I spent A LOT of the time learning how to let go, overcoming my body, and releasing emotions that had been stored in my body for decades. When I had mentioned that my conscious mind and my subconscious mind felt like they were on two completely different planets — that is an understatement.
My subconscious mind was so hidden from my conscious mind that I had suppressed 90% of my childhood memories. About six months before this retreat is when I finally had come to the realization that I had been sexually abused as a very young child. This information was still very fresh for me as I went into my first week-long retreat.
Dr. Joe’s work has a way of getting people in touch with their subconscious unlike any other meditation technique I had ever experienced and I spent my first retreat coming up against my biggest fears, the darkest parts of myself, and allowing all of that stuck energy to move through me.
Oftentimes when you release energy that’s been stuck in your body for years — or in my case, decades — you feel that emotion as it leaves. I felt terrified during some of my meditations, but I also felt a level of love that I didn’t even know was possible, which is what gave me the courage to stick with the meditations even when they felt uncomfortable.
After my first retreat, I continued doing my meditations daily and felt a renewed love for life. I went on my second retreat less than six months later and had the most amazing heart-opening experiences.
These events can shift massive amounts of energy and after my second retreat, things began to fall apart in my outer world and I felt extremely exhausted for months. The circumstances at that time in my life were no longer a vibrational match for my energy. Even though I knew this was happening, I went through a grieving process and had to learn to let go of everything familiar to me.
It was not an easy process and I know I made it harder on myself than it had to be, but my past self had such a hard time letting go and trusting the unknown, that it fought to stay in its known reality.
Now, about six months after my second event, I feel like a completely different person. It’s so much easier for me to trust that things are always working out FOR me.
All of these external and internal changes inspired me to make a couple of really big moves — including physically moving somewhere closer to nature and the forest. I now see endless possibilities instead of what might go wrong. I used to wake up and have to force myself to feel happy to be alive and now I’m actually excited to get out of bed. In the past, I looked for things outside of me to make me happy and now I’m able to feel grateful for every moment.
These are huge wins for me. I realized about five years ago that chasing external circumstances would never fulfill me and I’d always want more, but I couldn’t figure out how to change that program that had been playing on repeat since I was a child.
I’m so grateful for Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work. He’s figure out a way to combine science and spirituality in a way that makes sense to the masses and he has created a formula that has helped thousands of people change their lives in infinite ways.
Ongoing Support & Integration
I honestly felt like the ongoing support after a retreat was phenomenal. The team leaders each create a WhatsApp group for everyone to connect or to ask questions. There is also a Facebook group for previous event attendees (which is extremely active and helpful!). Every month, Dr. Joe does a Facebook live for everyone in the group.
I recommend finding a local Dr. Joe group if there is one in your area. We’re so lucky that we found a fairly active group in San Diego and we have met so many people through this group that now feel like family to us.
If you’re thinking of booking a meditation retreat with Dr. Joe Dispenza, you will not be disappointed. There’s a tiny part of me who wants to keep this community all to myself because of how difficult it is to get tickets to his week-long events, but the new me realizes that there’s no such thing as lack and there’s plenty of love to go around!
Want to learn more?
For those of you who want to dip your toes into guided meditation, I have created a virtual meditation retreat. Join us if you’re looking to reconnect to your inner wisdom, find clarity, and release what’s been holding you back from finding true inner freedom.
Our online retreat includes guided meditation, breathwork and written exercises to help you change habits at a deep level, release stuck emotions, and become aware of your self-sabotaging subconscious beliefs. You can find out more at The Unfolding Retreat.
Read More:
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10 Ways To Stay Calm During Difficult Times
15 Of The Best Personal Development Books (Travel, Self-Help & Spirituality)
How to Choose the Best (And Safest) Ayahuasca Retreat
How to Choose the Best Spiritual Retreat for You
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Hi Christy, I am attending a Dr.Joe week long event in June. I also don’t remember my childhood and I have a bad feeling about it. I learn sexual things at the age of 3. That is not normal. Your case resonates so strong with me. I dont know if investigating on my past would help me. Thats why I try to focus on the present. But, there is always a feeling that i have to search into my dark unconcious and let “something” go. But i’m so scared of searching into rubish that i don’t remember. And I have no idea how to do it. Or my EGO doesnt want to know how to do it ;). Thats why i am attending to dr.joe event. Whatever. I have two questions maybe you can help. Which meditation you use to meditate into hidden shadow? I normally do blessing of the energy centers. These meditations are amazing. But they are focused in love, and i have the feeling that i have to go into dark, accept, and release. Do you think you would have discovered your past and let go without trying Ayahuasca? Many thanks! sorry for my terrible english! I hope it is understandable. Love.
Hi Elisa,
Thank you so much for your comment and for sharing a bit of your story. For me, I didn’t go looking for that information, I feel it came to me once I was ready. I truly believe our subconscious will make it known when it’s time for us to heal. I do believe it would have come to the surface without the help of Ayahuasca. I’m also a certified hypnotherapist and I’ve seen what our subconscious is capable of and it’s always here to help us. I love that you are focusing on love. Focusing o love at the Dispenza retreats was so powerful for me. I needed to focus on love in order to heal the dark.
Hi! I am going to my first advanced workshop in June in Cancun! Can’t wait! I live in San Diego, how can I get in touch with someone in the SD group?
Thanks so much for this insightful blog!
Congrats on getting in! Do a search for Dr. Joe San Diego on Facebook and request to join the group. See you there!
Hi Eden,
I was ath the SD event I 2 weeks ago and I am in the SD group on FB!
Feel free to contact me if you need some more details.
Regards,
Alin.
Hi Christy,
Very nice description of your experiences with Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work, well done! I’ve discovered him in December 2019 and I am doing his meditations almost every day ever since and that has completely changed my life!
I really want to go to the next Week Long Advanced Retreat April 2022 in San Diego and just wanted to know if the purchase process is straight forward? You’re not the first person I saw saying that is difficult to get tickets to his events and so I am asking if there’s anything in particular that I should now such that to ensure a smooth purchase experience?
I mean, I already have an account on his website and the way I understood it is that on the day of the registration a link will be posted and should we just go from there…is that it? Is there any other tip you can provide?
Many thanks!
Alin.
Yes that is correct! It’s pretty straight forward. Good luck and may the force be with you! 😉
Thanks a lot Christy for the quick reply, I really appreciate it and also, thanks for the tip with the hotel!
It gets indeed quite expensive for 6 nights x $224 = $1344 USD and plus the dinner which is not included comes close to cost of the event itself.
In your past experiences, did you book the hotel before or after the actual retreat registration?
Cheers,
Alin.
I book it after. If you’re staying at the event hotel, they won’t let you book before.
Hi Christy,
I just wanted to say that I managed to get the ticket for the Week Long Event in San Diego! I also booked the hotel they suggested but I will look for cheaper options available as it comes to almost $2000 CAD for 6 nights…ouch!
I believe the meals are included with the event itself and are not conditioned by booking the hotel where the event is taking place, is that right?
I am so happy!
Thanks,
Alin.
That is correct! You do not need to be staying at the host hotel. Congrats on getting into the retreat!
Hi Christy, thank you so much for your post! I’m planning to sign up right the day registration opens, but I’m afraid it’ll sell out (like I am always afraid of everything, and that’s one of the reasons I want to try this week long retreat out). : ) Is it crazy on the website the day registration opens? How easy is it to sign up? Thanks in advance!
It’s really easy to sign up. I believe if it’s meant to happen, it will happen. I recommend getting on his email list!
Wow Christy!
I just wrote an article on Joe and bumped into yours. Love the first-hand account. I’m curious, what was your biggest goal in attending his workshop, and did you feel if was too many people for one?
I want to attend an event but reviews seem mixed?
I don’t think it was too many people for one event. They vary though. Some are less capacity than others.
Hi sweet lady, this is a wonderful blog I loved all of the comments. I discovered Dr. Joe last evening on a Netflix show and he blew me away. I had prayed for help for healing my spinal injury that was a result of a fall in 2017. I have gone to a number of doctors and I have seen many surgeons. they all says that there is nothing that can be done for me due to my age of 71 yrs. and the fact that I am not a candidate for surgery. After hearing Dr. Joe’s testimony of his healing I know that I must attend his events. Due to covid 19 do you think he will be holding more events state side? Attending one of his live events is absolutely a must for me. Please ask him to consider doing more events in the US.
Thank you and God Bless you
BJ Mccreary
I’m so glad you found him! I really hope he does more events stateside! We’ve been asking for years!
Hey! Thank you so much for writting about Joe Dispenza events. I am wanting to go to the London event. This will be my 1st event with him. However, I find their website a bit difficult to interpret at times. Sometimes it seems that the event is already sold out when, in actuallity, is not confirmed yet.
I wrote to Encephalon and their answer was that the event, that I thought was sold out, is not confirmed yet – and that I should keep consulting the website.
By your experience, and since we have 2 months to go until November, when are the events open to registration, more or less?
Of course you do not have how to know exactly, I am asking from the point of your experience – because I’m new to this.
Thank you!!!
I have found that the opening dates are all over the place with his events. There’s really no way to know, unfortunately! I would definitely keep checking back. Good luck!!
Heyy Christy, so I just wanted to ask you about using Joe’s retreat to cure my IBS which is a gut issue. I just bought his books and meditations and I’m ready to start off from 0.
I saw so many testimonials but I’m still skeptical about the fact that the retreat will get me to heal and cure my disease.
Is it really true that people are curing themselves with Joe’s work?
Or is it just a small percentage of people that are being able to overcome these illnesses?
Hi Tia! I’m not sure of the percentage but there are soooo many success stories! More and more people are healing themselves because there’s so much proof it works. You got this!
Dear Christy, I am from Germany and started to meditate 6 weeks ago after my physiotherapist gave me the book of Dr. Joe „become supernatural“. But Before starting to read I googelt and found that incredible amount of YouTube videos about his work, his interviews and meditations for free. In the meantime I bought my one meditations and another book. I am a very impatient person and when I am convinced of something This has to happen at once. But this is not the case. Every day I watch a testimonial because this helps me a lot to answer questions that come up. And often I have tears in my eyes because what people are telling that they went through. Now I stumbled over your explanation of your own experience which answers quite some of my questions. This helps me to not give up and to trust that the way of Dr. Joe I decided to follow will help me to surrender and to finally become the new personality. My prominent health challenge is Parkinson knowing that medical science has no cure available. Thank you so much for your words written with a lot of love for live. With thankfulness Gisela
I am so happy to hear that my story helped you! These comments mean the world to me. Thank you so much for sharing your story as well.
I’m curious to know if your Parkinson’s was cured ? I have a dear friend deteriorating with Parkinson’s an MS with positive results to report I believe he can also fix himself
Your response is appreciated
Carolyn
Sforzabuono@hotmail.com
I’m interested in Parkinson’s as well. Also would like to know about the San Diego Group.
Wow Christy I resonate with your story SO much…ihave alot of childhood trauma that I have blocked out.. I have been on my own spiritual journey for quite some time! I do ALL the things lol but i feel like I can’t quite grasp fully trusting yet! I’m obsessed with Joe, your story inspired me so much!
I am so happy to hear this! The trusting feels like such a lifelong process. We got this!
Hi Christy,
Your beautiful writing made me cry! Thank you for this! I just discovered Dr. Joe 4 months ago. I’m going to manifest going to one of his week longs. Your article really moved me. I have a lot of pain and anguish as well as physical ailments. I feel that everything (including me) is limitless now! Don’t get me wrong—-I have my moments!
I just really wanted to thank you for this article. I feel your love! I want to connect to the Dimension and I know I will. I also really want to attend a week long. I have no idea how because I have no money, but I know I will!
May you continue to be blessed!
Lots of Love,
Ellen
Hi Ellen. You are so sweet! I’m really happy to hear his work has helped you so much! Wishing you all the best in your healing journey and hope to meet you at a future event!
All of your comments are an inspiration to me. I adopted a child last year and I am excited about the probabilities for transformation( for both of us). He is young and I am not. And he is a joy.
I’m excited about being empowered to make our dreams a reality. I have been longing to do a
Dipenza retreat. It’s my greatest desire right now!!
If anyone cancels or needs to reschedule I would be SOOO grateful for an opportunity to attend ANY retreat.
Blessings
Pamela Peters
You are a miracle worker in your own right. Thank you so much. I just started crying from reading this because I have been applying some of his teachings and seeing results but I am exhausted and still trying to hold on to abandonment and codependency
Hi Christy. I have stumbled upon Dr Joe’s work after I, myself, have sustained a spinal cord injury and am in a wheelchair currently relearning how to walk. I just don’t know where or how to begin. I have never meditated before. How did you find that group in your area? Also, how do I find his retreats that are in the states? I see a lot are over season. Thank you from writing about your experience!
Hi Steve! Welcome! He does have some retreats in the States. One or two a year usually, but, yes, most of them are overseas. He has one coming up in Florida I think. I suggest getting his book “Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself” which has so much great information on how to get started. Wishing you all the best in your healing journey and please let me know if you have any further questions!
Thanks for your insight about his retreats! I randomly stumbled across Dr. Joe Dispenza on Youtube, and have been in love with his messages since day 1. A couple years ago I suffered from a traumatic brain injury, and have been on a long road to recovery ever since. His work has been so helpful at helping me heal, and release.
I’m a big traveler too, so I’m happy to know he has meditation retreats! I never knew about them till reading your post, but after reading about your experience, how it changed you internally and externally making you feel more alive and wanting to live closer to nature, I would love to attend one myself.
Thanks for sharing Christy!
Hi! Thank you so much for reading! I’m happy to hear his work has helped you heal. It’s been such a blessing in my life as well. I hope you are able to make it to a retreat soon!
Hi my dear, thank you so much for sharing your experience. I have started Dr Joe studies one year ago and I want to attend long week retreat but I have no idea how many days before the event allow the subscrive. Each time I check the site it is full with waitlist. Do you have any tip for me?
Thank you in advanced and my best wishes for you.
Patricia
Hi Patricia. I recommend getting on his mailing list and they should email as soon as they open up! Good luck!
Thank you so much for this beautiful piece, Christy. I’m attending my first workshop next week and this was so helpful. I’m hoping to blast off!
Exciting!! See you in the field! 😉
Christy,
Thanks so much for your blog. I found it while looking for a roommate for an upcoming retreat. Major shifts have been happening in my life so I understand what you went through. A marriage of 20 years . . . A move to a natural setting where there is NO ONE around . . . Scary but I know it is all necessary. And letting go. Not many people are willing to venture there.
Good luck. And bless you.
Love,
Patricia
Hi Patricia! How exciting! I’m still looking for the place I want to move to. Where did you move? And which retreat are you going to? I’ll be at the Chicago event in April!
Hi My name is Susan and I am 52. I just feel lost and that nothing is going right for mexample. Personally, my business, financially
spiritually and health.
I started Dr Joe meditation about 3 months now and I feel great like something happening but letting go is hard
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been having a tough time. That’s amazing you have been doing his meditations for 3 months. I have been doing his meditations for over a year and I STILL struggle with letting go. I think it just goes against our survival instinct. Stick with it though because it does get easier! Sending love and hugs.
Hi Christy,
Thank you so much for your open and honest and factual report of your time with Dr Joe Dispenza at his retreat.
I am from South Africa and I’m unable to go to any of his retreats overseas. I have Multiple Sclerosis and also the cost is prohibitive from here.
I have been doing his work for two months now and got his book you are the placebo. I have been doing his morning and evening meditation ( 30 day challenge) and you are the placebo meditation. Should I try as many of his meditations as possible?
I have a lot of questions, not sure where to direct them. One that bothers me is about my own feelings. I think I have been quite numb for decades and wonder how I will be able to “feel “.
Also, do you think it is important to read all of his books.?
Kind regards,
Trish Street
Hi Trish. I’m so glad you found the post useful! Yes, I highly recommend getting more of his meditations. I really love the walking meditations because it’s great practice to stay in my heart with my eyes wide open. The feeling part will come with time. Your body is very intelligent and it knows how to create those emotions, even if it doesn’t seem that way at first. Just don’t give up! I have found that right when it feels like you will never make any progress is the moment you need to keep pushing past that resistance. Remember, it’s just your mind telling you that you can’t do it. You are infinite and anything is possible! I think it’s great to read all of his books and re-read them because there is so much information that it’s tough to take it all in with just reading it once. By re-reading them, you will create more neural networks for that information and it will start to become second nature. Please let me know if you have any further questions! xo
I was excited to purchase a ticket for the San Diego April 2022 week long event this morning. I have been meditating, reading & working with Dr Joe’s material
for nearly 2.5 years.
I was prepared far in advance.
Hence received the opportunity to register & check out. By the time I hurried through the process of filling out forms, it was
‘SOLD OUT’.
Although like you, I’m of the belief that ‘everything happens for a reason’, I was surprised that the entire event sold out within minutes. Any ideas on what I could have done differently that would have allowed me the privilege of attending this or a future week long workshop?
Thank you for all the helpful info & your personal experience too.
By the way, what local group in San Diego were you involved with that studied Dr. Joe?
With Love & Gratitude,
J
I’m sorry to hear it was already sold out! It’s so common and there’s not much you can do besides what you tried. I’m sure it will happen for you when it’s meant to. If you do a search on Facebook for Dr. Joe San Diego, the group will come up.