THIS RETREAT IS FULL.

We live in a dark and unsettled time.  This has given rise to a deep yearning within us to return to the ground of our being, to re-weave our connection to the living Earth and all that is Good and Holy, to find light in the darkness.

The Winter Solstice, the day the “sun stands still”, poised between light and dark, has been celebrated as a moment of transformation for thousands of years among many peoples on every continent.  It invites us to pause in awe at the wonder of the heavens and the cycle of the seasons and consider the role of mystery and the rhythms of grace in our lives, and so be restored in heart and soul.

This retreat is for all those who long for such solace and soulful transformation.  It is for those who want to hear wisdom in ancient tales and practice the art of restorying by listening for those stories that are germinating deep within our own souls, stories that carry the seeds of our own healing and path forward through darkness into light.

On this retreat we reweave our connection to Earth and Cycles and Mystery by wandering during the sacred time of Solstice in the enchanted world of nature, seeking to be met by bare-branched oak, by hawk and raven, by still and frozen stream.

We immerse ourselves in stories, poetry and art, and attend to the dreams that sing to us in the long nights.  We gather for ceremony, for sacred dance, drumming, and song, and for circles of shared wisdom.  We make generous space for silence, journaling, meditation, and rest.

This retreat is for men and women. It is for people of all faiths and traditions and those who might call themselves spiritual but not religious.

The retreat takes place at Rolling Ridge, more than a thousand acres of sacred forest on a small mountain between the Appalachian Trail and the Shenandoah River, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge.  Our simple, cozy, and lovely Retreat House has seven bedrooms.  Meals are lovingly prepared by the Rolling Ridge community from locally sourced, fresh ingredients.  Access to Rolling Ridge is by car or truck only.

The retreat begins at 5 pm Friday (includes dinner) and concludes with lunch on Sunday (departure by 3 pm).  Early arrival on Friday (beginning at 2 pm) is encouraged.

Cost (includes six meals, lodging, and program):
$299 – single room
$249 – shared room (come with a friend or partner)