Awake in the Wild (October): Exploring Wisdom and Awakening in Nature
With Mark Coleman and Susie Harrington
October 8 - 15, 2026
This retreat will be spent meditating entirely outdoors in the natural beauty and mystery here at Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center. Whether it is during sunset meditations, listening to the soothing sounds of the river, or sitting graced in the stillness of the aspen trees, we will open to the profound serenity and wisdom of nature.
This silent retreat is grounded in the practice of Mindfulness—the capacity to be present to our inner and outer landscapes. Participants will learn to bring this receptive presence to develop a contemplative relationship with nature. By cultivating an inner quiet and curious spirit we can learn from nature as a perennial teacher. The natural world reveals timeless Dharma teachings that support a natural letting go and a wise relationship to all experience.
Participants will also discover how meditative time outdoors leads to beautiful states of joy, peace, wonder, love, and connection with oneself, each other, and the larger web of life. Also revealed are timeless insights into essential truths of life that can be a profound support for awakening
On the retreat there will be guided nature-based meditations, mindful walks, Dharma talks on meditation and nature, and group meetings with the teacher. There will be time to relish in the silence outdoors and to explore the wilderness of Vallecitos both as part of the group and also in plentiful solo practice time.
To support a depth of meditative awareness, complete silence is maintained throughout the retreat except during meetings with your teachers and group discussion.
This October retreat is appropriate for experienced meditators who are curious about meditation outdoors. You need to have sat at least one five-day silent mindfulness retreat prior to attending. On this journey, you will learn how to deepen your insight practice and to cultivate the conditions for awakening within the wisdom of the natural world. Be prepared for unexpected delight, awe, mystery, and illumination.
Be aware that while all lodging options have a propane heater, the Tent Cabins and Yurts tend to be colder than the Casitas during the shoulder season. Please select your lodging accordingly.
Prerequisite: Practitioners must have at least one five-day silent mindfulness retreat. Please note the June session of this retreat has no prerequisite.
Cancellation Policy:
- 45 days prior to retreat: Full refund, minus a $150 nonrefundable fee
- 44-22 days prior to retreat: 50% refund
- 0-21 days prior to retreat: No refund
Teachers
Mark is a life-long nature lover and is passionate about guiding people into the beauty of meditation and nature. He has led wilderness nature retreats for over 20 years worldwide. Through his organization Awake in the Wild Mark leads yearlong nature meditation teacher trainings in the US and Europe. Mark has trained extensively in the Buddhist tradition, both in the Insight Meditation and in the Dzogchen traditions. He is a senior teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught insight meditation retreats since 1997. Co-founder of the Mindfulness Training Institute, Mark also leads yearlong professional mindfulness teacher trainings in Europe…
Learn more about Mark Coleman
Susie Harrington has trained in the Insight tradition since 1989, and in 2005 was invited to teach. While her root tradition is with Thai Forest and Burmese lineages of Theravadan Buddhism, she has also practiced extensively with Tibetan Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachers. She teaches internationally, is the guiding teacher for Desert Dharma, and serves communities in the Southwest near her home in Moab, Utah. Her teaching is deeply grounded in the body and she brings the skills of inquiry, relational dharma, and the psychological/spiritual interface from her training in HakomiTherapy and the Diamond Approach. Believing nature to be a profound…
Learn more about Susie Harrington