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Opening to Insight and Love

December 11 - 17, 2026

Woodacre, CA, United States

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Hosted By

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

286 followers

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6 nights, 7 days

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96 person retreat

Highlights

  • Silent with Specific Conversational Opportunities

  • Meet the Teachers: Erin Treat, DaRa Williams, Pamela Weiss, Kate Siber (Teacher in Training), Ronya Fakhoury Banks (Teacher in Training)

Details

It is easy for us to forget the heart’s capacity for wisdom and love. The term sati—mindfulness—means to remember. To re-member is to make whole. Meditation retreat invites us to remember our fundamental wholeness so we can respond to the cries of the world. Cultivating a clear mind and tender a heart, we can act with skill and kindness. Within the silent container of retreat, we investigate our experience with relaxed, focused attention, let go of habitual patterns of reactivity and fear, and rediscover the preciousness of human life and poignancy of our shared humanity. As our felt sense of separation heals and we remember our essential goodness, we can engage with life from a place of embodied compassion, freedom and peace. This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

Location

Woodacre, CA, United States

California offers an incredibly diverse array of landscapes and cultural experiences. From the iconic coastal cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco to the wine country of Napa Valley and the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park, California caters to all kinds of travelers. The state is also home to the entertainment hub of Hollywood, the tech innovation of Silicon Valley, and the surf culture of its many beaches. Whether you're seeking the city's glamour, the redwood forests' tranquility, or the adventure of its deserts and mountains, California provides a vibrant and dynamic destination.

Venue

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

4.5 ★ 145 Reviews

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On the land, online, or on-demand, Spirit Rock supports you at every stage of your path to grow a vibrant, nourishing spiritual life. Join us to practice Insight Meditation, Dharma teachings, and mindfulness in a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to the liberation of all beings.

Free Wifi

Free Wifi

Garden

Garden

Coffee / Tea

Coffee / Tea

Kitchen

Kitchen

Free Parking

Free Parking

Bathroom

Bathroom

Accommodation

Supporter Rate

Private room for 1

$3,660 USD total

Benefactor Rate

Private room for 1

$2,940 USD total

Sustainer Rate

2-person shared room

$2,220 USD / person

Basic Rate

2-person shared room

$1,470 USD / person

Reduced Rate

2-person shared room

$960 USD / person

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Spirit Rock Meditation Center primarily offers dormitory-style accommodations in simple, comfortable rooms for residential retreats. These rooms are typically shared, with some offering single occupancy options. The center also provides facilities for group activities, personal reflection, and connecting with nature.

Meals

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Meals provided

Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Diets catered

Vegan · Vegetarian · Gluten-free · Dairy-free

Our meals are sourced from local, sustainable, and organic growers and suppliers, with a focus on seasonal ingredients. We ground all of our cooking decisions in the principle of non-harm. Our menus are built around nutrient-dense whole foods; they are vegetarian, with abundant vegan and gluten-free options. We are mindful of common food allergies and take special care to nourish practitioners with dietary restrictions.

Schedule

The daily rhythm of a retreat usually involves alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, eating, and work meditations, as well as practice meetings, Dharma talks, and rest periods. The first sitting usually begins at about 6:00 a.m., and a typical day includes seven sittings and six walking periods of 45 minutes apiece. Each morning, the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness training, deep awareness of the body and environment, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of the mind and the laws that govern it. These are the same fundamental teachings of Insight Meditation offered in the Theravāda Buddhist monasteries of Asia. Additional Info Arrival Time: 2:30 - 4:30 PM Departure Time: 11:00 AM

Testimonials

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I am slowly transitioning back to the 'real world' after a month of silent meditation at a residential retreat at Spirit Rock. I feel blessed to have lived in that beautiful container and experienced the teachings and practices with so many profound lessons … So much love and beauty … deep gratitude.

Janey F., United States

Emerging from this week of silence, I feel more integrated than ever. In the past, speaking and other stimuli after silent retreats have felt overwhelming and even physically uncomfortable. This time, though, I noticed more ease. There was a steadiness, an equanimity, in my mind and body.

Hannah S., United States

Thank you Spirt Rock for a beautiful week of practice, wisdom, and sangha. If you’ve been curious about a silent meditation retreat, I heartily recommend Spirit Rock in Northern California. The land and food will heal you!

Lesley Y., United States

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Host

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Spirit Rock Meditation Center

Woodacre, CA, USA

Rooted in the teachings of Insight Meditation, Spirit Rock Meditation Center offers retreats, classes, and workshops on-land and online that support both beginners and experienced practitioners in dee...

1 language

English

Teaching for 1 year

Joined Insight Timer in Jul 2025

What's Included

Food

Accommodation

Not Included

Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana

Flights and Transportation

FAQs

Guest requirements

  • You must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats, each of six (6) nights or longer.

  • These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices, and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

Cancellation policy

The remaining balance for the retreat is due 14 days prior to the start date. If this balance is paid earlier than these 14 days, you are eligible to cancel and receive a full refund of this remaining balance, provided you do so at least 14 days before the retreat begins.