Retreat as Ceremony: Mindfulness and Indigenous Presence for Wellness and Healing (220R27) - On Land

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2026, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on April 18, 2027. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early.

This program offers 7.5 CEs at $75. More Continuing Education (CE) details below.

In need of a scholarship? – see “Scholarship offerings” information below.
Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.

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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 peoples from around the world and allies. 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.

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

Assistant Teacher: Mario Castillo

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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.

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.

Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $2500
Benefactor Rate – $2000
Sustainer Rate – $1500
Basic Rate – $1000
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $380

Important Note for CE participants: Continuing education credit (CE) fees are NOT included in the registration fees. If you are interested in receiving CEs, you must pay for CEs at the time of your registration and prior to the start of the retreat (no retroactive CECs will be given). Please review the detailed CE information below.

Scholarship offerings: Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need. If you need a scholarship to attend, we encourage you to complete the Scholarship Request Form which will be available starting July 15, 2026 up until the retreat starts. Scholarship allocations generally occur 4-5 months prior to the start of the retreat.

Pay in full or Payment plan: You can either pay in full or pay a minimum 30% deposit when you register. Payment plans are available to everyone! If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically set up and charged to your payment card in equal installments on a monthly basis. Full payment is due two weeks prior to the retreat start.

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

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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. (“Personal circumstances” could be situations like if you are a sole caregiver, or parent w/young children where you need to be home each night, for example.)

Prerequisite for Commuters:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation 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 at their own expense. 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 additional questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org

Commuter Sliding Scale:
Sustainer-Commuter – $760
Basic-Commuter – $500

Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats

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Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
This introductory-level program offers 7.5 CE credits for $75. This program is applicable for licensed and license-eligible mental health and healthcare professionals including, psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors seeking education in culturally responsive care with Indigenous communities, the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems and contemplative practice to support culturally responsive care, and the application of mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to improve health outcomes and quality of care for Indigenous and underserved populations. Please review our Continuing Education information page to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.

Grounded in the intersection of Buddhist Insight meditation and Indigenous knowledge systems, this program supports healthcare providers in developing research-informed tools for emotional regulation, stress management, and culturally responsive engagement with Indigenous and underserved populations. By engaging in mindfulness and lovingkindness (mettā) meditation alongside Indigenous frameworks of awareness and relational presence, providers can develop the ability to identify and address challenging areas of attention, manage occupational stress, and prevent burnout. The retreat strengthens providers’ resilience and their capacity for compassionate, patient-centered care, with particular relevance for those serving Indigenous communities. CE credit hours reflect instructional and applicable guided practice segments only; unguided silent periods and ceremonial talking circles are excluded from the creditable total.

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

• Describe how Indigenous knowledge systems and Buddhist Insight meditation share foundational principles of present-moment awareness and relational attunement, and how integrating these frameworks supports culturally responsive care with Indigenous communities.
• Identify habitual patterns of stress reactivity and professional dysregulation, and apply mindfulness practices to restore equilibrium and sustain effective, compassionate engagement in clinical settings.
• Utilize lovingkindness (metta) practice to cultivate emotional resilience and strengthen therapeutic presence with patients and clients.
• Describe how mindfulness-based awareness practice supports the recognition and skillful navigation of difficult emotions and thoughts, and how these capacities strengthen providers’ ability to engage effectively with the needs of diverse populations.
• Utilize contemplative practices rooted in both Indigenous and Buddhist traditions to support sustained attention, emotional stability, and empathic engagement with patients and clients.
• Describe the intersection of Indigenous ways of knowing and mindfulness practice as a foundation for self-care, professional resilience, and culturally responsive engagement with Indigenous communities and patients.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory

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

• April 19
  No CE
• April 20-22
  8:45am – 9:45am: Morning Instructions and Q&A
  4:45pm – 5:15pm: Guided lovingkindness practice
  7:45pm – 8:45pm: Evening discourse
• April 23
  No CE

Attendance policy for CE participants:

• To ensure your attendance is recorded:
• Check in for CE instructions in the Council House at the beginning of the retreat, during the regular check-in period.
• Sign in at the CE table, in the retreat hall foyer, within 5 minutes of the start of each required session. A list of required sessions will be posted with the retreat schedule and available at retreat check-in in the Council House.
• Complete attendance is required. Incomplete attendance nullifies CE eligibility, board regulations prohibit partial credit for partial attendance.
• Certificates are issued only to those who meet the attendance requirements—without exception—to maintain compliance with our provider licenses and ensure the continuation of future CE programs.
• After the program participants who meet the attendance requirements will be emailed a form to submit their professional information. There is a 1 week deadline to complete and submit this form in order to receive the Certificate of Attendance.

***Please note:

• Please visit our Continuing Education information page for complete provider details and additional CE information, including attendance requirements and our cancellation and grievance policies.
• If you hold a professional license that is not listed on our CE Information page, or if your license is issued by a board or professional association other than those listed, you are responsible for contacting your licensing board or association directly to request pre-approval or confirmation of acceptance of CE earned at Spirit Rock. Spirit Rock does not determine or guarantee CE applicability for licenses outside those listed.
• Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.
• Continuing Education is sponsored by Mindful CECs.
• Mindful CECs is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Mindful CECs maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• Mindful CECs is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17985 for 7.5 contact hours.
• Potential Conflict of Interest Statement: These instructors may have authored publications relevant to the subjects covered in this course, and may teach additional programs. The instructors might reference these publications and programs during the course, and the instructors may receive financial compensation if participants choose to purchase them.