Personal retreats
Your own retreat
During a personal retreat, you structure your own time and select for yourself how best to be present to the Sacred. You can take time to be alone and read, journal, sit in silence, walk in the woods, be creative, or whatever calls to you.
Personal retreats are available for certain weekends on our calendar, from Friday - Sunday. You can often optionally add-on Thursday night to make it a three-day weekend.
You are free to join our community in our daily sitting meditation times (Thursday through Saturday at 7:00am, noon and 4:30pm, and Sunday at 9:00am) or to spend your time in solitude.
You book a cabin when you register (see more about cabins below). You can stay in a cabin on your own, or as double occupancy with someone else in your party.
Each night you book with us comes with three meals: a light dinner (the night you arrive), self-serve silent breakfast, and lunch.
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Our meals are when we gather together as a community at a common table, nourish ourselves with food, and share our stories. All meals are included for overnight guests.
The meals are cooked with love and include options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free (please specify during registration).
You are free to eat with us in community or, if you wish to be in solitude, you can take your meal to your cabin.
We are unfortunately unable to accommodate dietary needs more specific than vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free; we ask that guests with more specific needs bring their own meals. We have a guest refrigerator available for use.
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Our meditations have an interspiritual focus and combine sung Hindu chants (in English), Buddhist prayers, periods of sitting in silence, walking meditation, a reading from a sacred text, and community prayer time. Beginners are welcome! Held in our chapel in our Main House.
All overnight guests are welcome to join us, Thursday - Saturday at:
8 AM
12 PM
4:30 PM
and Sunday at 7 AM (no other meditations on Sunday).
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Upon arrival, you can park in our guest parking lot.
Please come to the Main House to check in. If you are a day visitor, please fill out a registration form on the table by the front door.
Note that our Main House is not always staffed or we may be out on the property.
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All buildings have free Wi-Fi for your convenience. The coverage can vary, however, depending on your location and the weather. We also invite guests to take the opportunity to disconnect.
Most cell phone providers are covered onsite, though in the months when the trees are in full foliage, the coverage can vary.
Map
You can see a digital map of the Forest below. Click on the image to make it bigger.
Upcoming personal retreat weekends
Our cabins
Our guest cabins are cozy and simple so guests can focus on what truly matters during their retreat. Many comment that they experience deep peace when they arrive at the Forest. Staying in a cabin gives you the experience of serene rest that comes with sleeping in the woods.
All of the cabins have twin beds, except for one cabin that has a double bed. You may request the double bed for your retreat in the comments of your registration form, though we can’t guarantee it’ll be available.
Standard cabin
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One of our standard cabins is assigned for your retreat when you register.
We can take requests for a specific cabin, but can’t guarantee you’ll be assigned to it.
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Our standard cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. They include:
Two twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Photos shown are for a typical cabin setup. Cabin layout and furnishings may vary.
Upgraded cabin
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A standard cabin that has more amenities or has been recently renovated. You can select the specific cabin if it’s available.
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This cabin includes:
Two twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Hot water kettle
Coffee pot
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Hermitage
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A two-room cabin that has more space, a mini fridge, microwave, and more amenities. You can select the specific cabin if it’s available.
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This cabin includes:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Microwave
Mini fridge (without freezer)
Plates and utensils
Coffee pot
Hot water kettle
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Guadalupe hermitage (#12)
Our Guadalupe hermitage cabin is located in a private spot with big picture windows for looking out at the forest. This cabin features two rooms, one with a sofa. A private porch is perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
Subiaco hermitage (#11)
Our Subiaco hermitage cabin is located in a private spot with big picture windows for looking out at the forest. This cabin features two rooms and a larger bathroom. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, plates, mugs, and eating utensils. A private deck is perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
Scholastica (#10)
Our Scholastica cabin (#10) has been freshly renovated!!!
It has new flooring, paint, and fixtures, along with gorgeous new curtains, bedspreads, and decorations. This space is light, bright, joyful, and colorfully soothing.
Scholastica is a standard cabin located in a private spot with a private porch perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
Mary (#6)
Our Mary cabin (#6) is one of our most beloved standard cabins, located in a private spot with a private porch perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
Standard cabins (#1-5, 7, 13, 14)
Our standard cabins offer rustic Forest simplicity and feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. One of these cabins will be automatically assigned to you by our booking system. You may request a specific cabin, but we can’t guarantee it’ll be available.
Photos shown are for a typical cabin setup. Cabin layout and furnishings may vary.
Our sacred spaces
Our main chapel is our central gathering place and the heart of our facility. This is where our daily community meditations take place. There are large picture windows looking out into the woods. If the chapel is not in use or reserved for a group, you’re free to use it for meditation or to simply sit and look out at the trees.
Main chapel
Our Zen Garden is meant to be contemplative and removes all but the most essential. Here you can empty your mind or tie a prayer flag to the tree.
Zen garden
Our woodland labyrinth is a delightful place for walking meditation under the shelter of trees, contemplation, and prayer. Labyrinth walking is an ancient spiritual practice for centering, contemplation, and prayer.
Labyrinth
Our Cave of the Mothers is an underground meditation chamber and storm shelter. This is a womb-like space to descend into darkness and rebirth yourself in a new way.
Cave of the Mothers
Our Cor Jesu, or Blessed Sacrament, Chapel is a small meditation and prayer space.
Cor Jesu chapel
Our trail system is a nearly 3-mile loop that meanders along wooded bluffs. You’ll encounter Mary’s Grotto, Redbud Grove, Balance Rocks, Hermit Hill, and Dragonfly Meadow.
