Group retreats
Join a group retreat
During a Forest-sponsored group retreat, be present to the sacred while in community with others. Groups gather here to dream, grow, heal, grieve, recover, dance, drum, knit, chant, create, be silent, be joyful.
The Forest offers retreats throughout the year with various themes that exemplify a rich diversity of spiritual paths. We offer day retreats and events, as well as retreats with overnight stays over a weekend.
For weekend retreats, you can often optionally add-on Thursday night to make it a three-day weekend and settle into the forest quiet before the retreat begins. You can typically select to stay in a cabin for the retreat or to commute from your home.
If you commute, please commit to the schedule of the retreat so as not to disturb the rhythm of the group.
You can stay in a cabin on your own, or as double occupancy with someone else in your party.
All meals are included with your retreat.
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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:
7 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.
Our cabins
Our guest cabins are cozy and simple so you can focus on what truly matters during their retreat. 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.
Our cabins feature a bathroom with shower, heating and air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. They include:
Two twin beds (except for one cabin with a double)
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Side 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.
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.
