Home Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

It is easy and secure to book tickets online to attend meetings, seminars, retreats and other events with Rupert Spira.

Booking onto Retreats and Events

Browse events and retreats by country or date available through Rupert Spira’s website.
Search events using the search box on Rupert’s website.
Filter the type of events you want to see by location or date.
Read more information or book your chosen event through the specific event pages on the website.
Click the ‘Add to Basket’ button to go to our secure online payment site, where you can pay with a credit or debit card.
If you’re having trouble booking please email the event organiser, whose address can be found on the information page associated with each event.

Deposits and Booking

Your booking is secure, until the balance due date, upon payment of a non-refundable deposit (if requested on the information page of the website). The balance is due on the date specified on the website.

You will receive an email reminder one week prior to the balance due date with a link to complete payment. Please note that if you fail to complete the balance payment in time your place will no longer be secure and will be offered to someone on the waiting list. You will, of course, be notified of this beforehand.

If you have any problems with completing the payment by the date specified please make arrangements with the organiser of your event prior to the balance due date as soon as possible in order to ensure that your booking is held.

Family and friends are not permitted to accompany attendees during the retreat unless they have registered to attend the retreat.

Group bookings for online retreats (livestreams and RAHs) – please book in as usual on the event page. In order to keep these retreats accessible and affordable we would be grateful if any groups ensures that donations are made for any extra attendees to cover their attendance.

Covid 19

All retreat venues comply with the local requirements for the health and safety of attendees. By signing up for a retreat, day-long or evening meeting, you agree to comply with the guidelines in place at the time of the event. Venues in the US require proof of double vaccination; proof should be submitted to the organiser according to the guidelines on the individual event information pages.

Guests may be required to take lateral flow or PCR tests, depending on the venue, within 48 hrs prior to arrival. Please check with individual Covid-19 policy on each event page or check with the organiser for further information. It is imperative that attendees stay home and notify the organiser if test results come back positive. Should any symptoms occur during an event, attendees may be asked to take a further test to determine whether or not they have Covid-19. Should the test come back with a positive result, the attendee may be required to leave the event or isolate themself on-site.

Attendees are fully responsible for their transport from the event they are booked into and will be required to make their own arrangements for quarantine, should it be needed.

We reserve the right to refuse entry or ask to leave anyone at an in-person event who has Covid-19 symptoms and cannot produce either a negative PCR or lateral flow Covid-19 test.

Anyone who is required to stay at home or leave an in-person event because of Covid-19 will be given access to the livestream of that event so that they can continue to participate from home. If there is no livestream for that event, we will give them access to a future livestream event of their choice.

Masks may be required at some venues; we encourage everyone attending in-person events to look after themselves and others by wearing masks and using hand sanitiser where appropriate. If you have any questions or concerns about the Covid-19 protocols at any of Rupert's events, please get in touch with the organiser of the event you wish to attend.

Service Animals, Pets and Accessibility

We strive to ensure our events are accessible to everyone, including individuals with service animals like guide dogs. If you plan to attend an event with a service dog, please contact us in advance to registering for the event. We can then arrange suitable accommodations or seating. We appreciate your understanding if certain situations make accommodating service dogs difficult due to safety or logistics. In these circumstances, we will strive to do our best to offer alternative solutions.

Attendees are not permitted to bring pets or animals into venues where Rupert is holding retreats or meetings which are not classed as service animals, such as certified and trained guide dogs. The only exception for this is if there has been explicit permission given by the retreat organiser beforehand. Please contact the event organiser for further information.

Accessibility and Special Needs

We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all attendees. If you have a disability or special need, please let the event organiser know at the time of booking or prior to arrival (for door payments) so that we can make appropriate arrangements to support you. We will do our best to accommodate your needs and ensure your participation. Your advance notice will enable us to better meet your requirements and support you to have a smooth experience of the event.

Cancellation

Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The cancellation policy is clearly stated on each event page and again during the checkout process.

Rupert Spira reserves the right to cancel any event for reasons which are beyond his control, including insufficient attendee registration. However, if an unforeseen cancellation is required, your event fee will be refunded in full. Every endeavour will be made to inform you of this at least one week prior to the event. Rupert Spira can accept no further liability for course cancellations beyond the course refund.

We wish we could compensate people encountering unforeseen circumstances (injury, illness, family emergency, etc.). However, as this is a small business we regret that we are not able to underwrite these kinds of costs, and as such our policy is non-negotiable. We strongly recommend that you take out your own insurance in case of cancellation to cover travel, accommodation and such expenses outside of the course itself.

If you need to cancel your place on the event for personal reasons you will be refunded according to the cancellation policy. You will be responsible for covering expenses outside the event itself and it is recommended that you take out insurance as outlined above to cover such circumstances.

Rupert Spira can accept no responsibility for accident or loss experienced by attendees while on one of his courses, retreats or events, although all reasonable efforts are made to ensure safety and enjoyment throughout.

Images

If you are attending our retreats, courses or other events we reserve the right to take photographs or make videos and recordings. The filming and recording of such events may be viewed on our website and possibly shared on social media platforms, such as but not limited to Facebook and YouTube. In such circumstances your identity will not be disclosed.

All reasonable steps will be taken to preserve your anonymity, but the material is made available to further the development of Rupert’s work and share knowledge in the public domain relating to meditation, non-duality and philosophy. In booking to attend such an event you are deemed to consent automatically to your image, whether still, video and/or recorded, being broadcast online.

Code of Conduct:

All events are recreational-drug-free. This includes online events where using recreational drugs prior to or during the sessions or in breakout rooms is prohibited. Please discuss with the organiser prior to the retreat if you are using medically prescribed drugs that could be confused with recreational drug use.

Excess or inappropriate use of alcohol is also not allowed.

Some venues have strict vegetarian and/or no alcohol rules. Specific guidelines will be communicated to guests ahead of the retreats, please read all discussion board posts sent by the organisers to ensure you have accurate information and are prepared for the retreat and abide by the rules of the venue. The retreat venues may ask our group to leave if they feel their rules are being violated.

Organisers of events reserve the right to ask an attendee to leave the retreat, weekend or meeting if they feel the attendee poses a risk to him/herself or other attendees.

Emotional and Psychological wellbeing

If you have any pre-existing medical or psychological conditions, you may wish to consult with your doctor or mental health professional before coming on retreat to ensure that the intensity and length of this event are right for you. Please also reach out to the organiser to make sure the retreat is right for you if in any doubt so we can support you in the best possible way.

The retreats and weekends are a time for contemplation and exploration of the non-dual understanding, and the process may evoke strong feelings. We do our best to create a safe, supportive environment, and staff members are on hand to help where they can. However, neither Rupert nor our staff are trained therapists and cannot, therefore, be regarded as a substitute for therapy or be held responsible for an individual’s care during events.

Ongoing emotional and psychological support cannot be provided during a retreat or event, either by staff or other attendees. We reserve the right to ask attendees to leave a retreat or event if they cannot self-regulate or manage their emotional and psychological state. This decision will be made if we believe that an attendee's presence at a retreat or event is not in the best interest of themselves, other attendees, or staff.

We aim to create a peaceful, quiet, and safe environment during group sessions at our events. If we believe an attendee's processing during a group session is unsettling to others, or if the group session room is not the best environment for them to process their experience, we may ask them to leave the session and continue and process a more appropriate setting.

Please note that nothing Rupert Spira says at an event, nor the content of any items available for purchase or for free, are intended to replace advice from a qualified medical practitioner or to prevent an attendee or purchaser from seeking such advice where appropriate.

Any additional activities that are offered during a retreat including, but not limited to, movement workshops, yoga sessions, dance sessions etc. are taken at the attendees' own risk.

No Solicitation Policy

Attendees and users are prohibited from soliciting business, promoting products or services, distributing advertising materials, or conducting direct sales during Rupert Spira events, either in-person or through the website attendee portal.

We acknowledge that conversations about services can arise naturally. Attendees may find themselves in discussions or arrangements that are appropriate and mutually beneficial. However, if we perceive that an attendee is soliciting business, either directly or indirectly, by offering paid or unpaid services that appear inappropriate or uninvited by another attendee, we will ask that attendee to stop. If they continue, we may ask that attendee to leave the retreat or event.

Refusal of participation

We also reserve the right to preemptively refuse admission to an attendee if we believe they may be in breach of any of our terms and conditions.

If an attendee has already booked a retreat or event and we believe their attendance may not be beneficial for the retreat or event as a whole or themselves or other attendees, or we feel they may be likely to breach one of our terms and conditions, we reserve the sole right to terminate their participation in the event, in which case we will refund them their payment in full; however, we cannot be held responsible for any additional costs incurredoccurred such as transportation or accommodation costs they may have already incurred.

Room Sharing

While there are many positive experiences from sharing with other people on a retreat, it can occasionally be challenging, especially for light sleepers and insomniacs. Every effort is made to allocate rooms sensitively to ensure a comfortable stay. In some cases it may be possible to switch rooms if there are significant problems with a room-mate, but staff may not always be able to resolve these issues due to a limited number of available beds.

Anyone with problems sleeping is best advised to book a single-occupancy room, tent or outside accommodation if they feel that this may be an issue for them during the retreat (or to bring earplugs and an eye mask if needed).

Shared bedrooms are assigned based on biological sex unless booked with a friend, partner, or family member. If your gender identity differs from your biological sex, or if you feel uncomfortable sharing a room based on biological sex, please contact the event organiser. We are committed to supporting your attendance and will work with you to find the best way to accommodate your situation.

Camping

Camping is only available at Castello di Titignano retreats – the camping option supplies bell tents and ablution block facilities. An air mattress is provided but all bedding and towels need to be brought with you if you purchase this ticket type. Campers are responsible for their own valuables. Please note that we will not be liable for any damage to personal items should there be any issues with the tents. We may not be able to move you into a different type of accommodation should you have any issues with camping so please be sure you are happy with this selection before booking. We are not liable for a change in accommodation, should you be dissatisfied with your camping experience.

Commuter tickets (non-residential) tickets

Commuter tickets are non-residential. Anyone purchasing a commuter ticket for an in-person retreat or event must arrange their own accommodation and transportation to attend the retreat during the day.

We cannot refund deposits or balances or be held responsible if an attendee fails to secure appropriate accommodation nearby a venue and suitable transportation to and from an event. Therefore, we strongly advise arranging accommodation and researching transportation options before purchasing a commuter ticket.

Any transportation or accommodation information provided on Rupert’s website is intended as a resource only. It does not imply that we recommend or have any affiliation with the listed options, nor is the information guaranteed to be up-to-date and accurate. We cannot be held responsible for anyone who follows that information without researching it themselves first.

Anyone who books a commuter ticket (non-residential) is not permitted to stay overnight on the venue grounds, whether in a vehicle or camping. Additionally, staying overnight onsite at the venue in any communal space or bedroom is not allowed.

Children Attending Events

Some venues may have restrictions regarding children attending events at their facility. It is essential to contact the event organiser prior to booking or arriving with children.

Parents or guardians who wish for their of children to attending an event will be required to read and sign a waiver and release of liability form for their attendance. This form will be provided by the event organiser prior to the event.

Individuals under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian to attend residential retreats. If a person under 18 wishes to attend one of Rupert’s retreats, a parent or adult guardian must contact the retreat organiser beforehand to confirm the policy regarding minors for that particular event before booking.

Purchase of Goods

Making a purchase is easy on the website. Simply browse through the relevant section of the website and follow the purchase instructions, using the Add to Basket button and following the payment instructions through the checkout process.

Payments

Payments can be made online through our automated system with a credit or debit card. We cannot accept credit/debit card details over the phone or by e-mail as this is not a secure payment method.

Please note that we cannot dispatchdespatch any physical goods until the payment has cleared.

Postage and Packing

Information for postage and packing is detailed in the specific information for each product where applicable.

Delivery and Returns

Delivery: Your order will normally be despatched and delivered within 7 working days (within the UK). We will inform you if we need to back-order any items, giving you the option to cancel your order if you would rather not wait.

Returns: We can only accept returned goods if they are still of merchandisable quality. We will not accept returned goods if they have obviously been used or damaged.

‘What if I just don’t like the goods when they arrive?’ Return it to us as unused within 14 days of purchase and we will give you the option of a refund or replacement. Ensure that the product is in its original packaging and that the manufacturer’s tags are still attached where appropriate.

‘What if I discover they are faulty?’ If on receipt of your goods you discover they are faulty or damaged, please contact us as soon as possible. We will either refund or replace the goods or issue a credit note.

Returns Procedure

If you need to return an item we want to make it as easy and painless as possible for you. Please take the following steps so that we can process the package on its return.

Please email [email protected] to explain the situation.
Once we have agreed to accept your return, please send it back to us packaged appropriately, including your name and address.
Enclose a brief note explaining the reason for the return.

If you follow these steps we will be able to process your return quickly and efficiently. This does not affect your statutory rights. We will try to respond to all suggestions and delivery issues within 48 hours during the working week, and all contact information is kept confidential.

Any product information is correct at the time of writing and will be updated as soon as any changes are required.