Personal retreats

Your own retreat

Personal Overnight Retreats are held on weekends when the Forest is not hosting a group or sponsoring a themed retreat. You can find open dates for Personal Overnight Retreats by checking our calendar:

Check the Calendar

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. Starting in 2026, we will also be offering limited dates for weeklong retreats in one of our hermitage-style cabins.

During the weekends, community sitting meditations, lasting approximately 30 minutes, are offered at the following times:

Morning Meditation: 8:00 a.m.

Noon Meditation: 12:00 p.m.

Afternoon Meditation: 4:30 p.m.

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.

Check Dates on the Calendar

  • 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, on the following schedule:

    Continental Breakfast 6 a.m.-9 a.m.
    Lunch: 12:30 p.m.
    Dinner: 5:30 p.m.

    On Sundays, we do not have the continental breakfast, and instead offer a hot breakfast at 9:00 a.m.

    For guests who stay in a hermitage during the week, meals are not provided, but may be prepared either in your cabin or in the main house kitchen.

    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. 

  • Our meditations have an interspiritual focus and combine sung chants (in English), 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, Friday - Saturday at:

    • 8 AM

    • 12 PM

    • 4:30 PM

    and Sunday at 8 AM (no other meditations on Sunday).

  • 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. If you arrive and no one is in the main house to check you in, please call or text 918-280-9364.

  • 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.

  • Single Cabin: $100/night

    Double Cabin: $170/night

    Upgraded Cabins: $135/night for the first person, $85 for an additional person, and $70 for a third person (where available)

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 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.

A cozy bedroom with a bed covered in a striped comforter and a pillow, a wooden desk with a chair by a window with green curtains, a lamp, and framed artwork on the walls.

Standard cabin

  • 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.

  • 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.

A bedroom with two twin beds covered in blue bedding, each with a beige pillow and a maroon throw blanket. There is a wooden desk on the left, a window with colorful curtains, a standing lamp between the beds, wall decor including woven wall hangings and framed artwork.

Upgraded cabin

  • A standard cabin that has more amenities or has been recently renovated. You can select the specific cabin if it’s available.

  • 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

Living room with two windows showing greenery outside, a wooden desk with a lamp, a chair, a trash bin, and a couch with pillows.

Hermitage

  • 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.

  • 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.

A small wooden cabin in a wooded area during daylight with trees and sunlight filtering through.
A simple bedroom with two twin beds, a window with green curtains, a nightstand with a lamp, and a framed picture on the wall.
Living room with two large windows, green curtains, a wooden desk with a lamp, a chair, a small black trash can, and a striped sofa with pillows and a white cloth, sunlight streaming through the windows.
Interior view of a cozy room with beige walls, white curtains, a small mirror, a wooden shelf with a book and decorative items, a microwave on a mini fridge, a tea kettle, and a wall-mounted picture of trees.
View of a brown wooden house with steps leading to a porch, surrounded by green trees in a wooded area.
A wooden desk and chair near two large windows with green curtains in a room with beige walls, a lamp on the desk, and a framed picture on the wall.

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.

Bedroom with two twin beds, one with a yellow pillow, the other with a beige pillow, blue bedspreads, a lamp between the beds, wall decorations including a framed landscape and woven wall hangings, and a window with colorful patterned curtains.
A cozy bedroom with two twin beds, a wooden desk and chair, a lamp, a window with colorful patterned curtains, and a floating shelf with decorative items.
Cozy living room corner with a window, colorful polka dot curtains, a wooden armchair with cushions, a small round side table with a white flower vase, wall art, a hanging lamp, and a decorative wall piece.
A small bathroom with a white toilet, a blue bath mat, a towel rack with a white towel, a window with a blue curtain, and a shower curtain with a leaf pattern in shades of blue and green.
A small brown wooden house in a wooded area with several trees and a gravel path leading to it.
A rustic wooden sign with the words 'St. Scholastica' painted in red, with decorative blue and red floral patterns beneath.

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.

A cozy bedroom with a single bed covered with a striped blanket, a wooden dresser, a window with light green curtains, a desk with a wooden chair, a table lamp, and framed artwork on the walls.
A woman sitting on a porch in front of a brown house, reading a book. She is wearing a blue sleeveless top and green pants, with two chairs beside her and trees and greenery in the background.
Side of a house with a porch and trees in the wooded backyard.
Small wooden cabin with a porch, surrounded by green trees in a forest setting.
A rustic wooden sign with the words 'St. Mary' embroidered in teal thread, decorated with white and beige floral accents and red beads, placed on a surface with some dust or debris.

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.

Small wooden cabin with a front porch, two chairs, and a small table, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves, during autumn.
A cozy bedroom with a bed covered in striped bedding, a wooden dresser, a small desk and chair near a window, and a lamp. There are framed pictures on the cream-colored walls, and a window with light green curtains showing leafless trees outside.
A small brown cabin in a forested area during autumn, with fallen leaves covering the ground and trees with orange and yellow leaves.
Small bathroom with a walk-in shower, a toilet, a wooden cabinet, a bathroom sink, and a towel rack with towels.
A cozy bedroom with two twin beds covered in colorful striped bedspreads. There is a wooden nightstand with a lamp between the beds, a framed picture above it, and a window with light green curtains and an air conditioning unit. A small rug is on the

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

Living room with two blue armchairs, a small wooden table, a floor lamp, religious wall art, curtains, a prayer cross, and a dog bed with a blanket.

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.

Trails

Group of five women with colorful hair and clothing, wearing outdoor gear, gathered around a small fire pit or memorial made of stones and natural objects in a forested area, participating in a ritual or ceremony.
A man sitting on a wooden bench in a forest, wearing glasses, a brown T-shirt, shorts, and black shoes, with his hand resting on his face.
An altar with a colorful tiled surface and backdrop, featuring religious statues, candles, and decorative items.