What does Acem stand for? Acem is an organization that has grown and evolved organically. Seven central “pillars” can be highlighted as fundamental in Acem.

The Non-directive Meditation Technique

There are many different meditation techniques. Most use various forms of concentration. Acem meditation is one of the few that is based on the principle of the free mental attitude, combined with the use of a meditation sound: “Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, repeat the meditation sound easily and effortlessly in your mind, and let thoughts freely come and go.”

Doing this elicits a spontaneous relaxation response, allowing more unprocessed issues to surface naturally. Over time, training in the free mental attitude also creates opportunities to release what binds and limits us. The combination of sound and free mental attitude has been fundamental in Acem ever since the organization was founded by Are Holen in 1966. The process is not static, but open and nuanced—something one can return to again and again. The principle of the free mental attitude is fundamental in Acem’s activities.

Meditation Guidance

Teaching Acem meditation to others has demonstrated the value of putting words to what may feel unclear in the meditator’s practice. Verbalization of underlying issues reinforces the meditative process. Group-based meditation guidance, therefore, became an important supplement at an early stage in Acem’s development, and remains a fixed part of Acem’s courses and retreats.

Learning the basic principles of meditation guidance is central to training new instructors. Meditation guidance is a skill that takes time to cultivate. The key is to ask open questions that prompt the meditators to reflect on their own experience. Sometimes it also involves catching what has not been explicitly expressed. The guide does not provide ready-made answers but instead facilitates the meditator’s deeper understanding of their own practice and process.

Long Meditation

Early experience showed that longer meditation sessions deepen both the benefits and the understanding of meditation. A long meditation — continuous practice lasting more than an hour — soon became an essential element of Acem’s beginners’ course. Participants are introduced early on to the possibility of longer sessions, allowing them to discover whether this approach resonates with them.

All Acem centers regularly offer long meditations of about 1 ½ hours. In addition, a wide range of opportunities exists through drop-in retreats, week-long retreats, and advanced retreats. These longer meditations are typically combined with group guidance and seminars that explore themes with a meditative focus.

Meditative Yoga

Meditative yoga consists of calm stretching exercises combined with free, natural breathing. Practiced alongside meditation, it often enhances the quality of the meditation itself.

The Norwegian Yoga School — Norway’s first yoga school—was formally founded by Are Holen as early as 1968. The school offers evening yoga courses as well as yoga retreats. Meditative yoga has since become a regular feature of Acem’s meditation retreats.

Communication Groups

Communication groups are open group processes in a secure setting that provide opportunities to better understand oneself and others. Every year, Acem organizes an eight-day communication course at Halvorsbøle.

These groups began internally in 1970, originally for the purpose of strengthening Acem’s leadership community. Their effectiveness soon became evident, and from 1983 the groups were opened to all interested participants. Prior experience with Acem Meditation is not required to take part.

Books and Buildings

At an early stage, Acem emphasized taking part in the culture. The Acem Magazine and the cultural journal Dyade were established, along with the guiding idea of “Books and Buildings.” Both publishing and creating physical meeting places became essential goals.

The understanding of the technique and meditation psychology has continually evolved. In 1976, Acem published The Psychology of Silence, the organization’s foundational book on meditation. It has since been reprinted in several large editions, revised and expanded, and translated into multiple languages, including Swedish, Danish, Dutch, English, Spanish, and Chinese. To date, Acem has published 54 books and CDs.

For many years, Acem’s activities took place in rented or borrowed spaces — classrooms, libraries, offices, hotels, and student residences. Securing permanent facilities became a major undertaking, supported by large volunteer-led flea markets in Oslo, sales of art portfolios and symbolic “Sporveisparter” shares, and bank loans. In 1976, Acem purchased its first premises: a dilapidated parish house at Sporveisgata 37, which was renovated largely by volunteers and later inaugurated by Oslo’s mayor. Since then, Acem has obtained additional facilities, including the international retreat center Halvorsbøle, acquired in 2003, and the scenic Lundsholm retreat in Värmland, Sweden.

From the beginning, Acem’s venues and events have followed a “green line”: serving vegetarian food, maintaining smoke-free environments, and excluding alcohol — long before such practices became common in Norway.

Idealistic Work

The driving force behind Acem’s existence is volunteerism. Hundreds of people in Norway and abroad — teachers, moderators, meditation instructors, and members — have contributed unpaid, idealistic work. Their motivation is the meaningful opportunity to help others benefit from Acem meditation and to support the realization of Acem’s broader vision.

— Sigrun Hobbel

(Language editor: Eirik Jensen)