A monk, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree or to an empty place, sits down with legs crossed, keeps the body erect and mindfulness alert.

This is an instruction of the Buddha that points to a supportive condition for practice. A condition which is easily met in the beautiful mountain wilderness of Vallecitos among the Aspens and the Ponderosa Pines. This retreat container allows for relaxation of the busyness of the mind and supports the conditions to take refuge in our ability to awaken, in the wisdom of the Dhamma, and in our BIPOC community. Nurturing conditions to support relaxation and regulation of our hearts and minds during these times of so much difficulty and challenge.

We gather together to practice the Dhamma and to find the balance of deep rest and a nourishing commitment to meeting ourselves in each moment, just as we are through loving awareness. We will offer Dhamma talks, meditation, guided exploration on the land, heart-centered practices, and chanting, held in a container of silence and nurturing spaciousness. Rooted in a land-based lineage that goes back to the Buddha, we practice outdoors and in deep connection to the natural world.

This retreat is appropriate to all practitioners new and experienced. This is a retreat for self-identified Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

APPLICATION PROCESS: (Please read until the end.)

Registration for this retreat is by application and lottery.  Together with the lottery we are curating additional variables to encourage greater equity, diversity, inclusion, and access for our many popular retreats. To create an optimal retreat container, some of these factors include affinity group membership, age, gender balance, and experience level.  

Registering for a lottery or completing an application does not ensure a space in the retreat.  Applications received after February 5th are automatically placed on the waitlist and will be notified of availability on a rolling basis. Notifications often move quickly so we recommend checking your email regularly. Please note that you will be asked to complete your registration details and pay your retreat fees within 48 hours of your offer to attend. If you are in need of financial assistance to attend, you will be invited to complete a scholarship application once you have been accepted and completed your registration.

We recognize that this is an imperfect system and we have carefully considered valuable feedback from many of you in designing our registration system for this year.  If you have questions about this new registration process, please contact Jan at refuge@vallecitos.org or by calling 505-469-9017.

COVID Safety Measures: Please review our current COVID Safety Measures, which are subject to change.