Awakening through the Three Characteristics: A Women’s Liberation Retreat (260R25) - On Land
Erin Selover, MS, Kate Johnson, MA, Erin Treat, Victoria Cary and Monica Magtoto
September 20 - 25, 2025
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on February 19, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on September 19, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Looking for a scholarship? Scholarship Interest Form – Click Here
Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.
Retreat to be held on the land
Open to: Self-identified women and nonbinary folks nourished in women-centered spaces
Description
The radical promise of the Buddha’s teaching is that it is possible to be at ease and free, even in unfree conditions. During this retreat, we will practice mindfulness and compassion, looking closely at the unfolding of moment-to-moment experience and at ways of perceiving that are grounded in the three characteristics of reality: all things are impermanent (aniccā), imperfect (dukkha) and interdependent (not “me or mine, or anattā). Nourished by the 2600-year-old tradition of Buddhist communities abiding in silence, stillness, kindness, and clarity, our time together will include mindfulness meditation in stillness, movement, and all daily activities.
This retreat will include teachings that lift up women’s journeys of awakening from a diversity of lineages and traditions. We welcome all who identify as women, as well as non-binary folks who feel nourished in spaces centering women. The retreat will be held in noble silence with the exception of teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.
A Special Invitation and Aspiration!
Our aspiration for this retreat is to have a 50/50 ratio of BIPOC to non-BIPOC participants. Our strategy to achieve this while meeting the needs of Spirit Rock is to hold 50% of the spaces until July 20th for BIPOC retreatants. We are prioritizing all BIPOC participants. If you cannot register by July 20th, we encourage you to reach out to us even if the retreat might be full. After July 20th, any remaining unfilled spots will be open to all.
Financial Details
Sliding Scale fees are for 5 nights including food and lodging. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock’s efforts in offering lower sliding scale rates and supporting the large number of scholarship requests.*
Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $2750
Benefactor Rate – $2200
Sustainer Rate – $1650
Basic Rate – $1100
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $475
*Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.
Pay in full or Payment plan: You can either pay in full or pay a deposit when you register. Payment plans are available to everyone! If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged to your payment card in equal installments on a monthly basis. Full payment is due 2 weeks prior to the retreat start.
Scholarship offerings: Our scholarship process has changed for 2025. Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need. If you fall into that category, please complete the Scholarship Interest Form – Click Here. To be scholarship eligible, you cannot already be registered in the same retreat.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2024 – Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats have been updated..
Cancellation Policy (Residential Retreats):**
Standard Cancellation Fees:
- $50: On or before 12 weeks
- $100: 8-12 weeks before
- $175: 4-8 weeks before
- $300: 2-4 weeks before
- No refunds as of 2 weeks before
Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:
- Full refund: On or before 12 weeks
- $75: 8-12 weeks before
- $100: 4-8 weeks before
- $200: 2-4 weeks before
- No refunds as of 2 weeks before
**Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family
Retreat Commuter Option
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is FULL with a waitlist.
Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:
You must have attended at least one 7-night or two 5-night silent, Insight (vipassanā) meditation residential retreats PRIOR to attending this retreat.
What is a Retreat Commuter?
A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are listed below for retreat commuters
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org
Commuter Sliding Scale:
Sustainer-Commuter – $900
Basic-Commuter – $600
About the Teachers
Erin Selover, MS
Erin Selover is a Dharma teacher with over 20 years of Buddhist training and serves as a residential retreat teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She currently works as a Spiritual Strategist with individuals and is a Somatic-Based Marriage and Family Therapist.Since 2018, her passion has been distributive governance and needs-based gift economics. She has […]
Learn more about Erin Selover, MSKate Johnson, MA
Kate Johnson is a meditation teacher, facilitator, writer and mama. She has practiced Buddhist meditation in the Insight lineage since her early 20’s, and was authorized as an independent dharma teacher through Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s four-year retreat teacher training. Kate began facilitating organizational training and retreats after co-founding the Meditation Working Group at Occupy […]
Learn more about Kate Johnson, MAErin Treat
Erin Treat has been practicing Buddhist meditation for nearly 30 years. She is the Guiding Teacher of Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center in northern New Mexico and served as Guiding Teacher of the Durango Dharma Center. Erin teaches the practical and the profound, from a heart grounded in respect for mystery and the many faces of […]
Learn more about Erin TreatVictoria Cary
Victoria Cary is a Dhamma teacher and leader who co-founded the San Francisco Black Indigenous People of Color Insight Sangha and continues as one of its core teachers. She loves the Dhamma and is interested in supporting people in their practice by focusing on integrating Dhamma into everyday life. Her identity as a queer, bi-racial […]
Learn more about Victoria CaryMonica Magtoto
Monica Magtoto is an artist, yoga instructor, energy worker, educator, and tarot reader based in San Francisco, Ca. Monica believes all work is energy work. Whether painting, teaching yoga, practicing reiki or other modalities, she believes everything is a collaboration with the universe to bring something new into view that was not there before. Monica’s […]
Learn more about Monica MagtotoCategories : Multi-day, On-land, Residential, Retreat, Women