Being of the Earth, we belong—to ourselves, to one another, to the living community of all beings. Join us for an exploration of that belonging, designed to help you meet the challenges of these particularly turbulent times. 

This nine-day retreat will provide abundant opportunities to practice among the animals, mountains, waters, trees, and rocks of Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center. There will be a one-night solo, offering an even deeper immersion in nature (see more about the solo below). Each day will include time for sitting in beautiful places on the land, hiking/walking meditation, nature meditation instruction, and nightly dharma talks around the campfire. Early August is incredible in the mountains, typically with warm sunny days, cool nights, a full creek, abundant animals, and life everywhere.

The overall intention is to foster the joy and healing that comes with a profound connection in nature, and to feel the presence of that connection ever more fully. In embracing our belonging, we come back home, to ourselves and the Earth. Johann is the founder of RMERC and has been leading retreats in nature for over 25 years, and has a unique connection with the land and with retreat participants, both of whom continue teaching him how to best catalyze a deep, quiet merging with nature’s energies and beings.

This retreat will be outdoors as much as the weather allows. There are no prerequisites, and with our three person teaching team we fully support beginning meditators and first time retreaters, as well as those with more extensive experience. All are welcome—Yes, you belong!

• Guidance and instruction for meditation in nature (both sitting and walking) to deepen our experience of connection with the earth and nature, while dissolving the sense of a fixed and separate self.
• Individual attention. Our three person teaching team allows us to fully support everyone who attends the retreat, from beginners to those much more experienced.
• The joy, healing and connection that comes with sitting and walking in beautiful wild settings.
• Free time for meditation and/or rest.
• Evening campfire dharma talks.
• One on one discussions with the teachers.
• Time for a one day and night solo in a place of your choosing.
• If you want to do this retreat and the four night Solo/Sangha retreat before it, please look at the information and register for both. The interim night is included for free.

Being alone in nature is a rare opportunity for healing and connection. Abiding in a spot of your choosing for a full day and night is time to explore and relax: opening deeply to the power and beauty of the environment, with the freedom that solitude provides. Over time, the elements, plants and animals become our teachers, the land our home, and silence our cherished companion.

The solo does not require any particular level of exertion, or even backpacking, you can solo in our campground near the lodge if you prefer not to go far. It is not a survival course or an ordeal, and does not require anything particularly challenging, except to simply be in nature, with one’s self.

There is ample instruction, preparation, support, and flexibility for the solo, so each participant can benefit fully from their experience. All necessary food is provided, with no cooking or stove necessary. Everyone can do their solo in a variety of locations, anywhere from next to the lodge to deep in the wilderness. Most past participants have found the solo a highlight of their retreat. If you are are physically or medically unable to camp during the solo, you can continue sleeping in the lodge during it. Otherwise plan on bringing a tent, sleeping bag, pad, etc. so you can camp out.

We wake at first light, enjoy an outdoor meditation with the sunrise, then Chi Gong and breakfast. After a break there is nature meditation instruction followed by going out on the land in small groups walking and sitting, lunch, and then free time (on the land). Later on back at the lodge there is a group sit, dinner, and then a sunset meditation and campfire dharma talk until dark.