Retreat as Ceremony: Mindfulness and Indigenous Presence for Wellness and Healing (218R25) - On Land

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on November 13, 2024, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on April 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.

Open to: Everyone

Description

Indigenous Presence blends aspects of Indigenous ceremony with the methods and outcomes of another ancient expression of wholesome presence: mindfulness and lovingkindness. This retreat is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from around the world. Together, we will explore the intersection of Buddhist practices from the Insight tradition such as mindfulness and mettā (lovingkindness) meditation, and Indigenous knowledge systems such as Intuitive Awareness. Both traditions are anchored in a meaningful relationship with nature, ancestors, and the sweet territory of silence.

For most of the retreat, practitioners will enter into a dedicated practice of Noble Silence and Wise Speech. The retreat will open and close with ceremonial talking circles, integrate small group practice meetings, and allow for breakout groups toward the end of the retreat to support integration. Together, we will have the opportunity to deepen our Intuitive Awareness, ripen our insight and wisdom, connect meaningfully with nature and the ancestors, and tend skillfully to our suffering.

This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

Teacher(s)-in-Training: Mario Castillo

Financial Details

Sliding Scale fees are for 4 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 – $2200
Benefactor Rate – $1280
Sustainer Rate – $1020
Basic Rate – $580
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $380

*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. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (e.g. staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you.

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 – $720
Basic-Commuter – $480

Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
This program offers 7.5 CE credits for $75 for psychologists, and California-licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. Please review our Continuing Education Credit information page to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.***

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. This retreat is relevant to healthcare providers as it integrates mindfulness and Indigenous knowledge systems, offering evidence-based strategies to enhance self-acceptance and emotional regulation.  By engaging in ceremonial practices and mindfulness exercises, providers can develop the ability to identify and address challenging areas of attention, which is crucial for managing stress and preventing burnout.  The retreat emphasizes the importance of adaptability and fluidity in self-concept, which can improve providers’ resilience and their capacity to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care. This retreat will provide tools to cultivate wellness and healing and improve the quality of care delivered to patients.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals
At the end of the program, you will be better able to:

• Describe and analyze how Indigenous knowledge systems and Buddhist mindfulness and mettā (lovingkindness) meditation intersect and can be integrated into healthcare practices, emphasizing their shared focus on nature, ancestors, and silence to create healing environments and enhance patient care;
• Utilize mindfulness and Indigenous practices that support self-care, professional resilience, and emotional balance, particularly during periods of professional dis-regulation, to prevent burnout and improve overall well-being;
• Utilize mindfulness principles and practices, including mind-body awareness, to construct effective interventions for self and clients dealing with depression, anxiety, and stress, while also improving the capacity for presence, connection, openness, and curiosity;
• Describe and apply mindfulness principles to skillfully cultivate focus, concentration, and self-regulation in navigating difficult emotions and thoughts in a clinical setting, thereby improving the ability to work with emotions, thoughts, and sensations;
• Describe to clients mindfulness techniques to cultivate emotions of well-being such as kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and support self-acceptance and orientation during periods of dis-regulation, enhancing clients’ ability to manage stress and anxiety effectively.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory

Schedule: (Full attendance is required. Times are listed in Pacific time.)

• April 16
  No CECs
• April 17 – April 19
  8:30am – 9:30am: ​​Guided meditation practice with Instructions and Q&A
  4:15pm – ​​5:15pm: Discourse
  7:30pm – 8:00pm: Lovingkindness Practice
• April 20
  No CECs

***Please note:

• For full Provider information, and additional CEC information, including attendance requirements, cancellation, and grievance policies, please visit our Continuing Education Credit information page.
• For those with a different license than listed above, or with a license from a different board or association than listed on our CEC info page, please contact your licensing board or association directly to request pre-approval/acceptance of CE credits offered at Spirit Rock. Spirit Rock does not confirm the applicability of credit for those with licenses different than those listed.
• Spirit Rock is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16905 for 7.5 contact hours.
• Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.