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Writing as a Spiritual Practice

Date
May 30 - June 1, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

We are honored to have Writer and Zen Teacher, Sallie Tisdale of Portland, OR to offer this contemplative retreat that merges your inner life with creative expression!

When we use writing as a spiritual practice, we realize that creative work and spiritual orientation feed each other. We also find the courage and freedom to express ourselves from the heart.

This curriculum has been taught as a live workshop and an online class through Tricycle Online Courses. This weekend is designed for both beginning and working writers, and as a creative expression for everyone.

Students will gain a sense of their internal censors and biases and how these limit expression.
Students will explore methods such as echo, repetition, and rhythm by encountering and practicing spiritually inspired work from many traditions.
Students will practice writing in traditional as well as freestyle forms on a variety of topics.

Throughout the retreat, we will alternate between listening to the sounds of traditional spiritual writing,  free writing, guided exercises, and creative writing.  The retreat includes exercises to help cultivate qualities like curiosity and fearlessness, and ways to create work which exudes these qualities.

COVID POLICY ( as of JAN 2025 ):  For your safety and ours, we require proof of vaccination AND negative test result from all visitors to Ratna Ling Retreat Center. We wish to provide peace of mind for all of our residents and guests.

Schedule (Subject to change):

FRIDAY

3pm Check in
5:30pm Dinner
7-8:30 pm  Opening Session

SATURDAY

7am Optional Meditation
8am Breakfast
9-11:30am Morning Session
12:15pm Lunch
3-5:30pm Afternoon Session
5:30pm Dinner
7-8pm: Optional peer discussion or solitary work and exercise

SUNDAY

7am: Optional Meditation
8-10am Morning session
10am Brunch
11:30am Closing session
1pm Checkout

For directions to Ratna Ling - Ratna Ling Retreat Center 35755 Hauser Bridge Rd Cazadero, CA 95421
Accommodations are beautiful lux cabins



ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Transportation to/from Ratna Ling is NOT included - carpooling encouraged
Payments are nonrefundable and transferable to a future Ratna Ling stay or retreat
Each cottage includes TWO private rooms with queen beds, large dining & living area, gas fireplace,
spacious deck, jacuzzi tub, linens/towels/hand soap, kitchenette with tea & coffee, complimentary wireless internet. Towels and hand soap are provided.
vegetarian meals are served during our weekend together.

What people are saying about our retreats:



“The accommodations were great along with the beautiful surroundings - everything was so peaceful and nurturing.”
“It was exactly what I needed – to disconnect, get in tune with my soul and recharge my spirit.”
“I loved having time to myself to reflect on my life and where I am going. Thank you Ratna Ling."


“Space for reflection while also giving me anchor points through teachings.”
“Space and time for meditation and movement classes were truly wonderful.”
“Being able to move at my own pace is a luxury. And of course the food was delicious."

Getting Here

Location icon Ratna Ling Retreat Center

Directions

San Francisco International and Oakland International airports are approximately three hours south of Ratna Ling by car. Alaska Airlines flies to and from Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa which is approximately 1.5 hours from Ratna Ling by car. Unfortunately, there are no shuttles that bring you directly to Ratna Ling, so it is best to rent a car or email us to support in coordinating a carpool with fellow retreatants.

Accommodation

14 guest cottages on 120 acres of property. Each spacious, quiet cottage has 2 private rooms, with high ceilings and a deck with a view. Cottages include jet tubs (or ADA shower), towels, deluxe linens, refrigerator, tea kettle, coffee/tea, kitchen sink/counter, diningware, dining table, and living room with a stove fireplace. Free wifi available and a landline telephone. Guests can choose to have an exclusive cottage for ONE person; a private room for ONE person in a SHARED cottage; or a cottage for TWO people. Any additional guest after TWO is $100 per person per night. Meals and classes included.

Private Room in a Shared Cottage, includes meals and classes

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Three miles from the beautiful Sonoma coast. Organic, vegetarian meals. 120 acres of redwoods, canyons, reservoirs, and wildlife. Sacred architecture timber cottages and communal spaces. Featured stupas, gardens, and temple empowered by Tibetan Buddhist Lama Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.

Meals

Menu Types

All of our meals are organic and vegetarian, made with love and care. We provide homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast. Lunches and dinners always include salads or salad bar. Each meal is self-served on a buffet table.

Customer Reviews

4.94 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Beautiful/Restful
Even though it was overcast, drizzly the weekend was perfect. The "cabin" (truly a house) was warm, clean and everything in it was aesthetically perfect. The furnishings, the linen, etc all comfortable and cosy for a rainy weekend. The food was amazing. Vegetarian with vegan options. We attended 2 meditation sessions and our guide was genuine and very helpful. I hope to go back in the near future.

5.0
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Truly 5 Stars
Fell in-love! Absolutely the most significant spiritual solo retreat I’ve experienced. Space & Ease: Insightful and inspiring meditation practice with RL icon George. Challenging yet healing yoga/bodywork with Gloria. Beautiful mission to preserve and further Buddhism. Fabulous food. Magical location. Exceptional cottages. Entire staff are dedicated and awesome volunteers. Highly recommend!

5.0
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Wonderful
Rarely do the pictures in the ads match the reality of the location. In the case of Ratna Ling, the facility is more magnificent than the pictures. From the grounds, room, and retreat center, everything was beautiful. The staff was graceful and ever-present. As a non-vegetarian, I was skeptical that I would enjoy the food. But the food was plentiful and delicious. Thanks for a great retreat.

5.0
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Thank you
I had a wonderful time at the spring Yoga retreat. The center is beautiful, the staff helpful and friendly, the food amazing and the Yoga practice just the right mix of slowing down and effort. I will be back !

5.0
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Nikki Estrada Yoga Retreat
This land holds so much love and is exquisitely tended to. I woke up in the morning with joy in my heart to have landed there. The cabins are well appointed with gorgeous natural woods. I loved sitting by the fireplace in the morning with my hot tea looking out over the redwood studded hills.
Nikki is a seasoned teacher. She teaches with much clarity and precision. Savasana was a dream on heated floors.
The food was well balanced cooked with love. The staff was very attentive and kind. I will definitely be back and shared ratna Ling‘s website with many of my friends. I highly recommend this place.

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