Grief as a Change Agent of Transformation and Resiliency (280X25) - Lottery

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on February 19, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on July 16, 2025.

Admission for this retreat is by application and a lottery-style selection in order to maintain a diverse community of practitioners – see Selection Details below for more information.

Description:

Grief is not sequestered to the life loss of loved ones. It traverses beyond the terrain of physical death and seeps into disappointments in relationships, the loss of dreams, ancestral anguish, and unnamed disappearances. Understanding the personal nature of grief and the tenderness of being with a broken heart, we will create a container that honors all individuals moving through their sorrow.

During the retreat, we will practice silent meditation both indoors and in nature. There will be Dharma talks, embodiment practices, and meetings with teachers. The retreat will unfold with an opening ritual each morning and offer opportunities to experience silent time together in affinity groups that honor the diversity of the saṅgha. In beloved community, we will create a space of sacred refuge that offers freedom for inner reflection that deepens our mindfulness practice and brings us into closer alignment with Earth Medicine.

Teacher(s)-in-Training: Mario Castillo

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 August 31st for BIPOC retreatants. We are prioritizing all BIPOC folks. If you cannot register by August 31st, we encourage BIPOC folks to reach out to us even if the retreat might be full. After August 31st, any remaining unfilled spots will be open to all.

Financial Information:

Sliding Scale fees are for 6 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 (guaranteed single room) – $3600
Benefactor – $2880
Sustainer – $2160
Basic – $1440
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship Rate (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $570
BIPOC Scholarship Rate (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $570
Young Adult Scholarship Rate (for young adults ages 18-26 years) – $570
*Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an opportunity to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Important Notes:
Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee and are limited to those with significant financial needs. Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “pay what you can” type of scholarships for in-person retreats, we invite you to email us if the lowest rate does not fit your circumstance.

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2024 – Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats have been updated..

Selection Details:
Applications are accepted between July 2 – 16, 2025 (end of the day). Applications received after the close date are automatically placed on the wait list (and will not be included in the first round of selections); however, will be considered as soon as spaces open up. Notification rounds can move quickly in the first few weeks following the first acceptances, so we recommend staying ready. You may be accepted sooner than you realize!

All applications are assigned a random number for the selection process. The lottery-style selection process helps us balance many factors to create equity, diversity, inclusion, and access across our community of practitioners. The factors include: age, gender, scholarship needs & availability, affinity group participation, and stage of practice (new to experienced).

You will be notified about the selection results within two weeks of the initial application close date. If you have been offered a space, you will have two days to pay a deposit to accept/hold the space. If you don’t accept the space within this deadline, we will offer it to the next person in line.

CANCELLATION POLICY (Residential Retreats):**
Standard Cancellation Fees:

• $100 On or before 8 weeks
• $175 4-8 weeks before
• $300 2-4 weeks before
• No refunds as of 2 weeks before

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:

• $75 On or before 8 weeks
• $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:
Commuter-Sustainer – $1080
Commuter-Basic – $720

All prices above are subject to change.